Listing Policy

Last updated: January 2025

Purpose of This Policy

This Listing Policy sets out the standards and requirements for all business listings on BuyBiashara. It applies to all sellers and covers what can be listed, how listings must be presented, and what happens when these standards are not met.

All listings are reviewed by our admin team before going live. This policy is the basis for that review.

What Can Be Listed

BuyBiashara is a marketplace for the sale of legitimate, operating businesses. The following types of businesses may be listed:

  • Physical businesses such as shops, restaurants, cafes, salons, hotels, and service businesses
  • Online businesses including ecommerce stores, software products, and digital service businesses
  • Hybrid businesses that operate both physically and online
  • Wholesale, distribution, manufacturing, agricultural, and professional service businesses

You must own or have explicit authorisation to list the business on behalf of the owner.

What Cannot Be Listed

The following are not permitted on BuyBiashara:

  • Businesses that are not legally registered or operating in clear violation of Kenyan law
  • Shell companies with no genuine operating history or assets
  • Businesses involved in illegal activities, including unlicensed financial services, narcotics, or prohibited goods
  • Franchise opportunities, pyramid schemes, or multi-level marketing structures presented as business sales
  • Listings created to test the platform without genuine intent to sell
  • Duplicate listings for the same business under different accounts
  • Real estate listings (land or property without an attached operating business)

Accuracy and Honesty Requirements

All information in a listing must be accurate, honest, and not misleading. This includes:

  • Financial information: Revenue, profit, and cost figures must reflect actual trading performance. Projections or forecasts must be clearly labelled as such.
  • Asset descriptions: Assets listed must genuinely belong to the business and be included in the sale at the stated values.
  • Business descriptions: Must accurately describe the nature, scale, and status of the business.
  • Media: Images and videos must be of the actual business being sold, not stock photos or images of a different location.
  • Documents: Uploaded financial documents, leases, and licenses must be genuine.

Submitting false or misleading information is grounds for immediate listing removal and account suspension.

Anonymisation Requirements

To protect seller confidentiality, all public-facing listing content should avoid directly identifying the business by name until appropriate access levels are granted. Specifically:

  • Business name should not appear in the public short description or public label
  • Exact street address should not appear in the public location field — use area or neighbourhood instead
  • Business website URL should not appear in publicly visible fields
  • Staff names or personal details should not appear in public-facing content

For Detailed Sale listings, stricter anonymisation applies. Exact location, website, and recent financial performance are gated behind NCNDA signing.

Media Requirements

Images and videos submitted with listings must meet the following standards:

  • Images must be clear, well-lit, and accurately represent the business premises or product
  • Maximum 5 images per listing
  • Maximum 1 video per listing
  • Accepted image formats: JPEG, PNG, WebP
  • Maximum image file size: 5MB per image
  • Accepted video format: MP4
  • Maximum video file size: 100MB
  • Images must not contain visible contact information, email addresses, phone numbers, or social media handles

Document Requirements

Documents uploaded to listings must be in PDF format and must be genuine business documents. Accepted document types include:

  • Financial statements or management accounts
  • Business licenses and permits
  • Lease or rental agreements
  • Valuation reports
  • Other relevant business documentation

Documents must not contain personally identifiable information beyond what is necessary for the business sale context.

Admin Review Process

Every listing is reviewed by the BuyBiashara admin team before going live. The review checks:

  • That the listing meets all requirements in this policy
  • That financial information appears plausible and internally consistent
  • That images and media are appropriate and represent the business
  • That the listing is not a duplicate of an existing listing
  • That the listing type (Simple vs Detailed) is appropriate for the business described

Admin may approve, reject, or request changes. Sellers are notified by email of the outcome.

Listing Lifespan and Renewal

Listings are live for 90 days from the date of approval. Sellers will receive an email reminder before their listing expires. Listings can be renewed for an additional period by paying the renewal fee.

Expired listings are removed from public view but remain in the seller's account history. They cannot be reactivated — a new listing submission and payment is required.

Seller Conduct During Active Listings

While a listing is active, sellers must:

  • Respond to buyer inquiries in a timely manner
  • Not attempt to direct buyers to contact them outside the Platform
  • Update the listing if material information changes
  • Mark the listing as sold promptly once a deal is concluded
  • Not negotiate with multiple buyers simultaneously without disclosing this to all parties

Enforcement

Violations of this Listing Policy may result in:

  • Listing rejection or removal
  • Request for corrections before a listing can be resubmitted
  • Account suspension for serious or repeat violations
  • Reporting to relevant authorities in cases of fraud

Listing fees are not refunded for listings removed due to policy violations.

Questions or concerns about this policy? Contact Admin.