ebay selling business plan

How to Start an Ebay Business

Candice Landau

16 min. read

Updated March 18, 2024

Free Download:  Sample Retail and eCommerce Business Plan Templates

If you’re researching how to start an eBay business, you’ve come to the right place.

Ebay is an online shopping and auction venue that allows people to buy and sell used or new products, either as a business or as a way to clear out clutter and make a bit of extra cash.

While the site is free to use, eBay does charge some seller fees . There’s a per-item insertion fee and a final value fee, as well as fees for any additional but optional features used. We’ll go into this in more depth later.

• 1. Decide what to sell

Pick a product that works for you

One of the first things to consider when you want to start a business on eBay is what you’re selling.

Figuring out what to sell isn’t something only aspiring eBay entrepreneurs need to do; it’s key for anyone starting a business . What service or product is a good fit for you, for your location, over the long-term, or just for the moment because it’s selling like hot cakes?

Factor in shipping and storage

As you work through the process of deciding what to sell, remember to keep things like shipping and storage costs in mind. Mailing a USB drive is a whole lot easier than a billiards table. If you’re thinking of selling fragile items, consider the extra packaging costs and the potential for breakage.

Be aware of restrictions

That said, you’re free to sell pretty much anything—well, almost anything. Ebay does have a list of things you cannot sell, or that have restrictions. It’s worth reviewing the list as it does include things like art, event tickets, and gift cards.

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Start with what you know

If you’re not sure what to sell, it’s a good idea to think of what you love and what you know. Do you have a hobby ? Perhaps you’re an avid collector of Polaroid cameras and you know everything there is to know about how the products have developed over time.

We suggest picking something you know because an important part of selling on eBay is knowing what the market for these items looks like.

Ask yourself:

• Is it in demand?
• What do people looking for it consider before buying?
• What does it typically sell for?
• How should you describe it?
• Where should you list it (category)?
• Do you know where to get ahold of it at an affordable price so that you can resell for a profit?

Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t pick something you’re less familiar with. If you’re a great researcher and are looking for a new hobby, perhaps now is the time to branch out.

Research popular products

Ebay has a great section on “what to sell”  on their site. Electronics, fashion, and collectibles are consistently listed among the most popular categories.

Popular selling items in electronics in 2018 include:

• Game consoles
• Mobile phone accessories
• Bluetooth speakers

A word of warning regarding electronics: If you’re just getting started, it might be good to stay away from them for a while, especially if you’re selling second-hand electronics. Figure out how the site works before you have to deal with complaints and returns, regarding faulty monitors, keyboards, or hard drives.

Popular selling items in fashion in 2018 include:

• Athletic shoes
• Accessories like belts and sunglasses
• Replacement bands for smartwatches
• Hair accessories

Popular selling items in collectibles in 2018 include:

• Trading cards
• Gaming sets like Magic the Gathering and YuGiOh
• 2. Set up your eBay store account

If you’re going to be listing a lot of items each month, an eBay store is a good idea, if for no other reason than because it will save you money.

Normally, when you list items on eBay, you are doing so as a member of the general public and you do not need to commit to any monthly fees. With an eBay store, however, you are required to pay a monthly fee. You can decide on a package that best suits your needs and keeps costs relatively low.

At present, eBay offers five store packages with varying discount structures:

• Starter: 100 free fixed-price listings/month and costs $4.95 per month (billed annually)
• B asic:  250 free fixed-price listings/month and costs $21.95 per month (billed annually)
• Premium: 1,000 fixed-price listings/month and cost about $59.95 per month (billed annually).
• Anchor: 10,000 fixed-price listings/month and costs $299.95 per month (billed annually).
• Enterprise: 100,000 fix-priced listings/ month and $2,999.95 per month (billed annually)

A store is a good idea if you don’t have an ecommerce website and you want a more personalized place to direct people to. It’s also a good idea if you sell a lot of similar products. People may want to browse and see what else you have.

Africa Direct’s eBay store is a great example of a store that operates as a website in micro. Given that it’s so easy to purchase on eBay—many people already have their card details saved and linked with PayPal—it’s more likely that someone will buy from your eBay store than from an eCommerce website they may not trust, or that requires them to get up and find their credit card.

• 3. Make your Ebay business official and legal

What you need to know about starting a business

Use this free downloadable business startup checklist to help you stay organized as you get closer to launching your eBay store. Operating an online store, especially one that’s so easy to set up, does not mean you are exempt from all of the legal requirements a “normal” business has to meet.

In fact, as soon as you start selling a lot on eBay, or turning a regular profit, the IRS will classify you as a business, and you will need to meet all the requirements a normal business has to meet. If you do intend to run a business, even if you’re not yet making regular sales, it may be worth formally registering your business. It costs very little and will keep you in the clear.

This will include:

• Registering your business name
• Obtaining a Federal Tax ID number
• Obtaining any federal and state licenses or permits
• Deciding on a legal business structure

Business structures

Broadly speaking, there are four legal structures or business formats. For some people, picking a form of business is straightforward; for others, a consultation with a lawyer is necessary.

If you’re relatively comfortable handling these processes yourself, you can go through a company like LegalZoom, which helps hundreds of small business owners prepare legal documents for business incorporation and the likes. However, if you’re at all unsure about which one will best suit your needs, we strongly advise consulting with a legal professional .

If you can, look for someone that’s a member of your local Chamber of Commerce. Here’s a brief overview of each business formation, with a little bit of information regarding their suitability to your eBay business, as well as things you may want to consider.

Sole proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is the preferred type of business for many individuals running either a part-time or full-time business on their own. It’s the simplest form of business and is incredibly easy and affordable to set up. You can run a sole proprietorship from your personal checking account and can deduct many of the expenses related to the running from your state and federal taxes.

The risk associated with a sole proprietorship is that all business liabilities are linked to you personally. If you default on loans or have outstanding debts, you could lose your personal assets.

Partnership

Forming an eBay partnership with one or more people can be a very productive way of making money on this platform. It may start out with an oral agreement, but a formal written agreement should always be created; consider all duties, possible disputes, restrictions, and provision for worst-case scenarios—i.e., “What happens if…”

The partnership itself must file Form 1065 to the IRS, and the profits are taxed based on individual returns (established by terms stated in the written agreement, or by percentage of ownership). Legally, each partner is responsible for themselves and each other. Any lawsuits that occur can potentially involve all or both of you, so be sure that partners are aware of their duties and any legalities that may surround them.

A word to the wise: Ebay states in its User Agreement that you may not “transfer your eBay account (including Feedback) and user ID to another party without our consent.”

So, if your partner decides to back out, or you go separate ways and want to start separate businesses, if you haven’t made it clear from the start who gets the account, you may be looking at starting from scratch or undergoing a heavy legal dispute. This is one agreement you should probably read.  

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

As the name suggests, the liabilities of Limited Liability Companies are generally not passed on to the owners. This means that the owner or owners’ liability does not extend beyond the amount they invested in the company.

In terms of taxation, however, the owners or members are all liable. When taxes are due, profits and losses are calculated for individuals based on their percentage ownership or investment. The Form 1065 must still be filed to confirm proper income reporting by members. The LLC itself can reduce the tax paid by members by paying as a corporation and keeping some profits in-house.

Corporation

A corporation is a legal entity operating entirely in its own right. As an employee-owner you cannot take money from the company bank account for your own pleasure. It must be for an officially accountable purpose.

There are two types of corporation you can set up: S or C. The former allows profits to be passed to your own tax return, and the latter files its own tax returns, and you are officially an employee. The state in which you set up your corporation will determine how much tax you pay and the rules you must follow.

You should make yourself aware of tax rates in your state, and never set up a corporation before you’re totally aware of exactly what it means, and the implications for you as an individual owner and employee.

• 4. Start listing your items

Understand the fees

If you haven’t already, take a moment to familiarize yourself with eBay’s selling fees .

Be proactive about your policies

Think through how you’ll answer buyers’ questions. Don’t skip laying out clear customer service and return policies.

Determine the payment methods you’ll accept from buyers

Ebay offers a few different payment options for sellers : Paypal, credit and debit cards, as well as checks and money orders, payment on pickup, or bank transfers.

Create your seller account

Before you can list any of your items, you’ll need to set up a seller account. First thing, you’ll have to decide whether to set up a “personal account” or a “business” account .

If you’re starting an eBay business and plan to sell a good volume of items each month, you’re going to want to pick the business account—the personal option is for casual sellers. The process is simple and straightforward and eBay will guide you through it all. Once you’re set up, take some time to familiarize yourself with your seller dashboard.

Create your listings

To create your first listing, log into your eBay account. Click the “sell” link in the top right-hand corner. This will take you to your Summary page.

Once you’re on this page, you will see a vertical navigation on the left side of your account. Click the blue “Sell an Item” button. Ebay will guide you through the rest of the process.

One of the first choices you’ll have to make is whether to create a template for your listing. If you know that you’re going to sell a lot of the same type of category, setting this up from the beginning can save you a lot of time. Don’t underestimate how important your product description wording is in helping your item be seen and sold.

In order to sell your items and maximize your chances of getting seen, you will need to include:

• A strong title and description (pick something people will be searching for)
• Additional information about specific aspects of the item (some categories allow for this)
• The condition of the item
• Pictures of your item (the higher the quality, the better)
• A selling format (auction-style or fixed price)
• A listing duration
• A starting price (see our tips above on pricing your items)
• The payment methods you’ll accept (see our explanation above)
• Your shipping costs and locations
• Your return policy
• 5. Price your items

Fortunately, there’s a lot of information available on how to price your items . Performing a simple eBay search for the specific item you’re looking to list should give you a good idea of the right ballpark figure.

However, sometimes prices may vary wildly—some sellers prefer to list items with fixed prices while others prefer to start with a much lower price and run their sale as an auction.

Tip: Use eBay’s Advanced Search feature to find out how much an item you want to list has sold for in the past.

Don’t forget that eBay’s default search method is “Best Match,” which takes into account both the item’s shipping price and its list price.

The combined price is what really matters

As with a real-life store, you’ve got to make sure your products are easy to find. The best way to do this is to balance your shipping and list price to ensure it’s fair, and to keep your seller rating high through good customer service. A fair price will make it more likely that your results come up higher when people look for items like yours.

Tip: If you want to increase your search visibility, you can experiment with eBay’s “ reserve price ” settings.

Basically, you’ll be able to set a low price but at the same time, set a lower price limit, so that if your reserve price is not met when people bid on your item, it will not sell. To set a reserve price you will need to pay a small fee per item . Be sure to look closely at your item listing preview so you can catch any errors or things you missed before it goes live

• 6. Ebay legalese and stuff you ought to know

Running a business isn’t supposed to just be hard work; you’re supposed to enjoy it too. One of the things that can get in the way of this is not knowing the rules you should be playing by.  

To keep problems to a minimum, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with eBay’s values, understand what you can and cannot sell on the site, know what to do when your competition doesn’t play fair, and of course, what to do about a “difficult bidder” or a buyer who doesn’t pay.

Each of these problems has been covered in depth by eBay, so we’ll include the most important links to each one here:

• Know eBay’s values and honor them
• A list of prohibited and restricted items
• Ebay’s profanity policy
• What to do when you can’t follow through on a sale
• 7. Set up your offline eBay headquarters

While you’re still in the beginning stages of building your eBay business, spend a little time thinking about how it will function offline. Meaning—where do you store your inventory? Do you have a dedicated workstation for packaging up your shipments?

Especially when you’re first starting out, just make it work for you. You can get started in your spare room or garage.

Don’t over complicate it. But do think ahead, especially if you’re looking at growing your business and inventory quickly. Start with putting together a good record-keeping system so you know what you’ve got on hand in terms of inventory, and you can find it easily.

Decide how to store your eBay stock

Depending on what you sell, some good items to stock up on that will make storing goods easier include:.

• Plastic or steel shelves
• Clear plastic boxes (if you’ve got a lot of stock) with clear labels
• Plastic Ziploc/snack bags (good for smaller items)

We recommend clear storage boxes so that it’s easy to see what you’ve got on hand.

Keep track of your inventory

Whether you prefer to use a paper notebook or a software program, there’s no doubt about it—keeping a record of all your inventory is important, especially as your business grows and as it becomes more important to keep good records in case the IRS ever looks into things. The best way to keep track of a lot of inventory is to invest in a good bookkeeping system.

Set up your packing supplies and workstation

An essential part of your HQ is “the shipping department.” In order to ensure a smooth-running operation, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got everything you need readily available, especially if you’ve promised to ship items fast.

Items you should always have on hand:

• Something to clean up packaging with—a sticker removal product like Goo Gone or un-du, or simply WD-40
• Bubble wrap
• Shipping tape
• Styrofoam packing peanuts
• Plastic bags and trash bags (good for wrapping larger items and for waterproofing)
• A variety of envelopes (including the handy bubble mailer envelopes that keep items safe)
• Boxes (check out your local USPS store for more info)
• Now go and master selling!

You’ll learn a lot as you go—test your prices, listing language and processes often so you can be sure you’re being as efficient as possible.

Also, put together an ecommerce or online business plan. You can use this free downloadable business plan template to get started, and you can take a look at some example eCommerce business plans in our library to help you think through the process.

Why build your own business plan? Think of it as a framework to help you think through what you need to do to be successful. Do you have financial goals for your business? Your business plan should be a tool to help you meet those milestones and become the most successful eBay business you can be.

Clarify your ideas and understand how to start your business with LivePlan

Candice Landau is a marketing consultant with a background in web design and copywriting. She specializes in content strategy, copywriting, website design, and digital marketing for a wide-range of clients including digital marketing agencies and nonprofits.

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How to Start an eBay Business: 15 Things to Know

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If you're an aspiring e-commerce merchant, you may have wondered what it takes to start a successful business on eBay. After all, eBay is one of the oldest and most recognizable e-commerce platforms. The site had 182 million active buyers in the second quarter of 2019 and averages 1.8 billion site visits per month — second only to Amazon. In other words, it's a great place to launch your e-commerce career.

However, selling on eBay isn't a walk in the park. It takes skill, dedication and more than a little insider knowledge to turn your online store into a respectable operation. Below you'll find some key tips that can bolster your chances of success as an eBay seller.

How to start an eBay business: The basics

The process of starting an eBay business is actually fairly simple. But before you dive in, we recommend doing a little planning. Namely, consider what you will be selling, what payment methods you'll accept, customer service policies and shipping methods. Also, have a look at the eBay seller policies and rules to make sure eBay can support your e-commerce business idea . Once you feel ready, here's what you do:

1. Choose your account type

To get started with eBay, select the "Register" button on the homepage. You'll be directed to a page where you can create an account. eBay allows you to choose between a personal account and a business account. A personal account is for casual selling, while a business account allows you to sell large quantities of products. You can also register a legal business name and customize your store with your business's branding. While it’s free to create an eBay business account; you will have to pay seller fees associated with the listing and selling of your products.

2. Register your account

To register your account, you’ll need to provide your legal business name, email and phone number, and create a password. Next, you’ll be prompted to create a username. Then, eBay will ask for your legally registered business address and phone number in order to verify your credentials. Once you provide all this information and click "Register," you should have immediate access to your account.

3. Set account preferences

The first thing you want to do when you log into your account is adjust your account preferences. To do so, click “Account settings" on the menu bar. From here you will be able to update shipping information, buyer requirements, communication preferences and addresses associated with your account.

The most important thing to update here is your payment method, as this will be how you pay for your selling fees. You can choose among PayPal, direct debit or credit card. This card or account will be charged automatically based on your seller invoice.

4. Add inventory

Now comes the fun part — adding products to your store. Start by clicking the “sell” link in the upper right-hand corner of your account page. eBay offers two methods for adding inventory: A quick listing form and an advanced listing form. The quick listing tool expedites the process of adding products by allowing you to enter keywords to describe your item. eBay will place you into one of their product categories and offer listing suggestions based on your descriptions.

The advanced listing tool allows you to go more in-depth with the information you provide. You can input a product title, product categories, photos, item description, selling details and shipping information, among other criteria. With both the quick listing and advanced listing methods, eBay calculates your seller fees based on the product information you provided. Therefore, it's important to pay close attention to the information you enter.

The most important elements include your selling information (auction vs. fixed-price), payment information (PayPal, eBay Managed Payments , offline credit card payments or pay upon pickup), return information and shipping details (flat-rate vs. calculated).

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Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

How to start an eBay business: 15 tips

Now that your business is off the ground, let's talk about some tips that will help you navigate the marketplace and take your eBay store from ordinary to extraordinary.

1. Start small

Don't invest a large sum of money into inventory when first learning how to start an eBay business. Instead, start small. Find a few items to sell, and get some experience taking photos, writing listings, testing pricing options and interacting with buyers. Make sure you can handle the core functions of maintaining an e-commerce business (filling orders, handling returns etc.) before you start to scale up with more products. Even if your eBay business is a side hustle, you need to dedicate time to it every day if you want to see real results.

2. eBay's free — up to a point

You can list 50 items per month for free. You’ll pay a small fee for each listing beyond that allotment. This is known as an insertion fee. These fees are charged per listing, per category. For most categories, the fee is 35 cents per listing.

You also pay a final value fee (a small percentage of the sale price) once an item sells. This is called the final value fee, which is a percentage of the total amount paid by the buyer, including shipping and handling. For most categories, the final value fee is 10% of the total sale amount with a maximum fee of $750. Also, don't forget about payment processing fees. If you use Managed Payments, the fees will come directly from eBay

You can also ramp up to a more robust eBay store by paying for a subscription (known as eBay Stores). Starting at $19.95 a month (for an annual subscription), this option gives you hundreds or thousands of free listings per month.

Visit eBay Fees for details about fees, including a fee calculator and a tool to help you pick the right eBay store option.

3. It helps to have a niche

One of the keys when figuring out how to start an eBay business is to identify a niche. Your eBay business is simply more likely to succeed if you develop a specialty. For example, if you sell only collectibles, buyers are more likely to come back to you again and again than if you sell collectibles along with used smartphones, video games, handbags and cookware. Better yet, specialize in niche collectibles, such as 1960s Disney collectibles or Bakelite bracelets.

Check out what's hot on eBay right now, to pick up product ideas.

4. You can’t get away with amateur photos

As with any e-commerce site, you need good product shots. Use well-lit, high-resolution photos on a plain background that show products from multiple angles. Include close-ups, and indicate scale. Use eBay's picture service tool to ensure that photos render properly on mobile devices.

5. The more detail, the better

A picture may be worth 1,000 words, but detailed product descriptions help items sell too.

Start by choosing a category for your item. Then write a listing title using keywords such as brand name, size, color or model number — any term people might use when searching for this product. In the description, include plenty of product details and more keywords.

You should also try to optimize your product listings for SEO and take advantage of eBay’s Best Match algorithm. In the same way that Google sorts search results, the eBay Best Match considers factors like listing title, item popularity, price, listing quality and more to determine what customer's see first when they search the eBay site.

6. You’ve got to price it right

While eBay is best known for auction-style listings, you can also set a fixed price for an item to help it sell faster. eBay's quick listing tool suggests the best pricing options to attract buyers based on how similar products sold in the past.

7. It’s not over when the item sells

Once you make a sale, it’s important to complete that sale quickly and accurately. To do so, make sure you send out the correct product through the shipping method you’ve indicated as quickly as possible, as this creates a good customer experience. eBay has tools you can use to calculate postage, print shipping labels and pay for shipping right from home. Plus, you can get free shipping supplies from the U.S. Postal Service, UPS and FedEx.

Learn about eBay shipping options .

To check the status of a payment on a sale you've made, go to "My eBay" on your account home page, navigate to “Sold” items and select “Awaiting payment.” If you find that there seems to be an issue with receiving payment, contact eBay customer service or reach out to the buyer directly.

8. Be ready for some returns

To compete with other e-commerce sites, your eBay business should offer returns. It's best to deal with returns as quickly as possible so as not to upset the customer. You can customize return options and choose whether you or the buyer pay for return shipping via your account settings.

You can also reduce the likelihood of a return by using clear photos and detailed descriptions in your listings and clearly stating your return policy.

9. Face issues head on

Aside from returns, you're likely to face a situation where the product you shipped out got lost in the mail, or a customer had an issue with a problem they received. The best way to handle these situations is promptly and professionally. You should refer to eBay's policies on dealing with these kinds of customer concerns so that you approach them in the best way possible.

10. Use the eBay seller hub

With this free seller tool, you can access a dashboard to see how your listings are performing, quickly list new items, and see the status of orders and returns. Viewing this data regularly helps you improve your listings for better results.

If you’re an eBay Stores subscriber, you can use eBay Seller Hub to create promotions, discounts and other marketing messages.

11. Improve your seller profile

Consider your Seller profile as your eBay reputation. When you receive positive reviews and ratings, you’ll add clout to your seller account — which is why it is extremely important to prioritize good service. Positive reviews make your business more appealing to customers and can also help your products rank in eBay. Furthermore, having a good Seller profile will give you more leverage with eBay. For instance, you may be able to get an increase in listing limits if you're known as a highly reputable merchant.

12. Solicit feedback

Because positive reviews are so important for the success of your business, you need to be proactive about seeking them out. If you delivered excellent service to a customer and they were pleased with their experience, ask them to leave a review. If you receive a negative review, you can reply to the feedback, request a revision from the seller or contact eBay and ask for it to be removed.

13. Download the eBay app

Downloading the eBay mobile app allows you to manage your business on-the-go. The app is free and available for Android, iPhone and iPad devices.

Using the eBay mobile app, you can create, edit and monitor your listings, relist items, provide tracking information and respond to questions from customers.

14. Connect eBay to your own store

If you already operated your own e-commerce store before launching a store within the eBay marketplace, be sure to connect your store to your eBay account. This is a great way to filter traffic from eBay onto your own website and allow customers to learn more about your brand.

Note that many e-commerce platforms come with a free eBay integration — including Shopify and BigCommerce.

15. Network with other sellers

Hundreds of thousands of merchants sell on eBay — why not get to know them? The eBay Community was designed to teach merchants how to start an eBay business. On the eBay Community webpage, merchants share information on growing their business, marketing strategies, buying inventory and more. For those new to e-commerce, this is a great place to learn more about selling on eBay.

Start Your Dream Business

Frequently asked questions

Can i sell on ebay without a store.

Yes, you can sell on eBay without opening an eBay store. You can also ramp up to a more robust eBay store by paying for a subscription (known as eBay stores).

Do I need a tax ID to sell on eBay?

No, a tax ID number is not a requirement to sell on eBay, although income earned from eBay sales may still count as taxable revenue. Those looking to turn their eBay shop into a business should obtain a tax ID.

How many things can you sell on eBay for free?

You can list 50 items per month for free on eBay. You’ll pay a small fee for each listing beyond that allotment. This is known as an insertion fee. These fees are charged per listing, per category. For most categories, the fee is $0.35 per listing.

How much is an eBay store per month?

Starting at $19.95 a month (for an annual subscription), an eBay store gives you hundreds or thousands of free listings per month. Visit eBay Fees for details about fees, including a fee calculator and a tool to help you pick the right eBay store option.

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Start » business ideas, how to start a business selling on ebay.

From choosing the perfect product to sell to making sure your product stands out, there are several key tips when it comes to successfully selling on eBay.

An international marketplace with 170 million active users, eBay boasts over 25 million sellers. Getting a piece of that action is as simple as listing an item and as complicated as beating out that competition.

Find the perfect product

Before you book your first sale, you’ve got a lot of decisions to make. None will be as impactful as your choice of product. Here are some basic criteria you should review before purchasing or manufacturing inventory.

• Permissibility — While eBay seems the place to sell absolutely anything, there’s actually a list of prohibited items . Avoid future heartache by checking it first.
• Availability — Consider the mechanics of replenishment. Products with long lead times require large purchases (read: bigger outlay) to avoid inventory gaps. Those that are available on a just-in-time basis may be more suitable if cash or storage space is a concern.
• Demand — Whether its appeal is broad or narrow, your product needs a fan base. Specialization will separate you from the crowd and lessen the competition. It will also shrink your customer pool. An eBay search for a few specific items will reveal what you’re up against. Find information about what’s hot on the site’s What to Sell page.
• Practicality — Some things are just too big or fragile or have too short a shelf life to be a practical choice. Can you successfully store, photograph, describe, pack and ship the item? Can you provide after sale support?
• Profitability — This is the big one, but it’s easy to calculate. EBay will give you a very good estimate of what your product will sell for. When determining your cost, be sure to consider packing and shipping along with eBay seller fees. This rough calculation will tell you how much you can make per item. If you know your projected business overhead, you can determine the volume necessary to turn a profit.

Pay attention to the details

With your product(s) chosen, it’s time to get down to the business of business. The steps to setting up a business are straightforward.

• Choose a name and register your business. Requirements vary from state to state — check with yours.
• Open a business bank account. Keeping your business finances separate from your personal will make bookkeeping simpler.

[ Read : How to Open a Business Bank Account ]

Whether its appeal is broad or narrow, your product needs a fan base.

• Open an eBay business account—not to be confused with an eBay store, which you may choose to open at a later date. A business account separates your new endeavor from casual sellers and qualifies you for promotions, professional tools and increased selling limits.
• Open a PayPal account. While PayPal is not the only way to get paid for eBay transactions, it is by far the easiest. PayPal accounts are free to set up and customers trust the platform.

Differentiate yourself

There are 25 million sellers on eBay so make sure your listing stands out.

• Photography: Plain white background, diffused light, shots from every angle. Follow eBay’s guidelines . They know what works.
• Title: Use keywords in a logical, readable order. This is how customers will find you.
• Descriptions: Make them clear and accurate. EBay will suggest item specifics , designed to guide customers to your listing.
• Listing type: Auction, buy-it-now or a combination. Choose one or try them all. The outcome will help you with future listings.
• Pricing: You know the optimal price for your item, but some flexibility may be required. As a new seller, you will have a low rating which can be a turnoff to some buyers. For a monthly fee, leverage eBay’s Terapeak tool to find your pricing sweet spot.

[ Read : [ How Should I Price My Product or Service ?]

With your first products listed, you are officially in business. There is a lot more to do, including packing, shipping and follow-up. It’s all important to your success. EBay’s Seller Center has detailed advice on every aspect, including utilizing customer feedback to boost business.

CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.

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• For Small Business

How to Start a Profitable eBay Business: An In-Depth Guide for New Sellers

• November 26, 2023
• by Tom Wells

With over 147 million active global buyers and over 1.5 billion live listings, eBay offers an immense opportunity to start a business selling products online to a worldwide audience.

In 2021 alone, eBay enabled over $87 billion in merchandise volume, demonstrating the platform‘s dominance and relevance in ecommerce. For entrepreneurial individuals, eBay provides a major avenue to earn significant income from home.

However, succeeding on eBay takes knowledge, preparation, and continual optimization. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll leverage my experience consulting for dozens of small eBay businesses to walk you through exactly how to start a profitable eBay store step-by-step.

Size of the eBay Opportunity

To understand the money making potential of eBay, it helps to grasp some key statistics:

• eBay has 147 million active buyers globally, with 183 million downloads of its mobile app as of 2021.
• 79% of eBay sales are new or used physical products, with the rest digital goods or services.
• Top selling eBay product categories include electronics, motors, fashion, collectibles & art, home & garden.
• The average eBay user spends around $80 per transaction, compared to $40 at Amazon.
• There are typically 1.5 billion live listings at any given time, receiving around 1.5 billion searches per day.

With a massive base of eager buyers looking for virtually every type of new and used product imaginable, eBay offers a ripe sales opportunity, especially for smaller sellers unable to list on major platforms like Amazon.

But beyond understanding eBay‘s immense market size, prospective sellers need to learn what exactly it takes to build a thriving eBay business.

Costs of Selling on eBay

While eBay enables anyone to start selling quickly, it does come with fees and expenses to factor in. As an entrepreneurship consultant, I advise all new eBay sellers to budget for:

Listing fees – For auction-style listings, this fee is based on the starting price. For fixed price listings, it is charged at a flat rate based on the product category.

Final value fees – This commission ranges from 10-20% charged on the total amount of each sale.

Optional promoted listing fees – If you choose to pay to boost search visibility for listings, this ad spend averages around 15% of the final price.

PayPal transaction fees – If using PayPal payments, each sale incurs a 2.9% fee plus a flat $0.30 charge per order.

Shipping supplies & postage – You‘ll need boxes, bubble wrap, tape, labels etc. Plus USPS, UPS, or FedEx shipping expenses.

Accounting software costs – Paid tools like QuickBooks help efficiently manage eBay bookkeeping, taxes, inventory etc.

Photography equipment – Producing quality product images requires a decent camera, lighting, and editing apps in most cases.

Customer service systems – Live chat apps and ticketing systems are ideal for managing customer inquiries at scale.

As you can see, eBay selling does entail considerable costs across the entire business operation. The key is pricing your products to produce sufficient profit margin to offset these expenses and earn strong income.

Next I‘ll share tips for keeping startup costs low when first launching your eBay business.

Minimizing Startup Costs

Based on my experience advising eBay entrepreneurs, it‘s possible to minimize initial startup costs by:

Leveraging existing electronics – Most sellers have old smartphones with decent cameras and available computers for managing the backend. Use what you already own first.

Sourcing free boxes – Ask local stores for spare boxes instead of buying packing supplies. Cut down boxes to fit products snugly.

Using basic imaging tricks – Set up neat backdrops using sheets, tablecloths, or large pieces of paper. Use natural lighting near windows to avoid buying lights.

Renting photography equipment – Many camera stores offer affordable rentals of high-end equipment for 1-2 days as needed for photographing inventory.

Handling customer service manually – Initially communicate with buyers directly via eBay messaging and email to avoid paid tools.

Using QuickBooks Self-Employed – This basic QuickBooks accounting software package costs just $7/month for core features.

Shipping from home – Make regular post office runs instead of paying for pickups during startup phase.

Listing small batch initially – Start listing less than 50 items to verify product demand before investing in bulk inventory.

The goal is to validate your eBay business model with minimal investment. Once you start seeing consistent sales and revenue, you can then upgrade processes with more advanced tools and scale up.

Selecting Profitable Products to Sell

The key factor that will determine the success and profitability of your eBay business is picking the right products to sell from the start.

Based on the eBay sellers I‘ve advised, ideal items to sell have:

• High demand and search volume – Use eBay‘s advanced search filters to identify categories with many existing listings and monthly sales. Electronics, jewelry, books, and collectibles are typically high volume.
• Low sourcing costs – Seek unused inventory and wholesale deals from suppliers and distributors to keep per item costs down. Expect bulk pricing 30-60% off retail prices.
• High profit margins – Estimate total expenses for an item, then price it to produce a 50-100% profit margin. Some categories like used books can yield 200% margins.
• Easy storability – Opt for products that are shelf-stable and won‘t spoil or expire while listed, like media, electronics, home goods.

Wide sourcing availability – Ensure multiple distributors carry the product so inventory shortages won‘t become an issue as you scale up.

I recommend new sellers create a spreadsheet to track profit margin estimates on prospective products before importing inventory.

Creating Compelling Listings

One advantage of selling on eBay vs other platforms is the ability to create highly customized listings that maximize exposure for your specific products.

Based on the top-performing eBay listings I‘ve analyzed for clients, here are proven tips for writing effective titles, descriptions, and taking appealing photos guaranteed to drive more bids and sales:

Craft Appealing Titles

Your title is the first thing browsing buyers notice, so make it count:

• Lead with your most powerful keywords – Brand name, item specifics like size, color, defining features
• Include price and condition – New players underprice to get sales. State condition clearly.
• Note special features/limited editions – Flag rare attributes that appeal to collectors
• Use numbers – Studies show including dimensions/specs in titles improves CTR

Write Detailed Descriptions

Really sell the sizzle and value of your product in the description:

• Elaborate specifications – Provide all dimensions, materials, weights, configurations etc.
• Highlight comparable retail value – Show what the item would cost at major stores to emphasize the deal
• Outline technical features and capabilities – For electronics, share display specs, connectivity options, special modes
• Note any flaws or wear – Disclose blemishes and defects so buyers know exactly what to expect

Take High Quality Photos

Great visuals attract interest and convey important product details at a glance:

• Use DSLR camera not phone – Invest in entry-level DSLR for under $500 for crisp, well-lit shots
• Take photos against a white backdrop – Hang up a sheet or use large poster boards for clean background
• Capture multiple angles – Take front, back, side views plus close ups of logos, functions etc
• Stage props and accessories – Show items in use and with complementary products

With this guidance, new eBay sellers can create listings positioned for maximum exposure and engagement.

Pricing Strategies for Profitability

A huge factor that will make-or-break the profitability of eBay items comes down to pricing. Based on the data I‘ve analyzed from top sellers across categories, effective pricing strategies include:

• Check completed listings for price benchmarking – Filter for your exact item and condition to see true market value
• Price within 10% of competitors’ rates – Align closely to prevailing market prices for exposure but undercut slightly to stand out
• Use psychological pricing tricks – Price at $X.97 or $X.99 price points to signal "deal" pricing
• Offer Best Offer option – Allowing buyers to negotiate 10-20% off listing price converts more browsers to buyers
• Create tiered shipping discounts – Offer free shipping on orders above $50 and discounted shipping above $35 to incentivize larger purchases
• Run frequent promotions – Leverage Markdown Manager to schedule periodic 15-25% off sales events to spur purchases

Continually monitor your prices against competitors and make small adjustments as needed stay aligned with the market. With the right pricing model, profit margins of 40-60% are very feasible.

Fulfilling Orders Professionally

Beyond listing and pricing considerations, new eBay sellers need to have solid order fulfillment processes and policies in place right from the start.

As an entrepreneurship consultant, I always emphasize to new eBay retailers the importance of:

• Shipping quickly – Get items out within your stated 1 business day handling time with tracking. Long processing causes poor feedback.
• Packing securely – Use bubble wrap, air pockets in boxes to avoid damage. Reinforce seams with ample tape.
• Offering fair return policy – Accept returns within 14 days in original condition with receipt for refund. Buyers value flexibility.
• Providing contact options – Share email and phone to resolve issues promptly. Invest in live chat eventually to improve support.
• Seeking feedback – Follow up with buyers asking how satisfied they were with items and service. Fix recurring complaints.

By making the post-purchase experience smooth and professional for customers, you drive positive word of mouth and convert one-time buyers into loyal return customers.

Growing Your eBay Business

Over time, successful sellers are able to continually expand their eBay business far beyond a side hobby. Based on the scaling strategies I‘ve helped dozens of sellers implement, proven growth tactics include:

• Diversifying product inventory – Expand into complementary product lines that leverage existing knowledge and appeal to your buyer base
• Hiring virtual assistants – Delegate time-intensive tasks like inventory management, shipping, customer service to remote VAs
• Creating an eBay store – eBay store subscriptions provide discounted fees, increased visibility, and advanced features
• Running email/social marketing – Drive repeat business through email newsletters, social media posts highlighting new inventory
• Expanding to additional platforms – List products across multiple channels like Etsy, Amazon Handmade, Facebook Marketplace

For most eBay sellers, bringing on employees to manage shipping logistics and customer service is the biggest inflection point that enables aggressively scaling product listings and sales.

Final Takeaways for eBay Success

Starting a profitable eBay business provides a major opportunity to earn income on your own terms. But it does require diligent preparation and continual refinement.

To achieve eBay selling success, remember to:

• Select high-margin products in-demand across eBay
• Create compelling listings with great photos/descriptions
• Continually monitor and optimize pricing
• Ship quickly and pack items securely
• Provide quality customer service
• Reinvest profits into growth opportunities

By following this guide, new eBay sellers can build a thriving business equipped to generate impressive income levels each year. Just stay nimble continually evaluating new product and promotion opportunities as you scale.

Not working with an expert ecommerce accountant or bookkeeper? Find one on the A2X Partner Directory 🚀

eBay Business Plan Template [Highly Actionable]

There are over 25 million sellers on eBay.

No matter what you sell, with competition like that, you need to have a plan. Fortunately, with around 182 million users, there’s plenty of opportunity to grow and thrive.

The purpose of an eBay business plan is to articulate your idea and figure out how to make it feasible.

To do this, you will need to explore the different aspects of your business which define what it is and how it will operate. Once you have a handle on the crux of your business, you will be able to determine the resources you’ll need to succeed and which areas you can automate.

In this eBay guide, we will cover the following bases:

• 10 benefits of an eBay business plan
• How to start your plan
• Your eBay business plan template
• Business plans and the bigger picture
• Plan to save time and money with A2X accounting

10 Benefits of an eBay Business Plan

Why bother with a business plan for your eBay store in the first place? Let’s see.

• Cash flow will be managed better: Meaning, quite simply, a better chance of survival.
• Stick to your strategy: You can more easily avoid getting caught up in routine and interruptions as life takes over.
• Measurable objectives are easy to track: See your progress, plan for and celebrate it! You can decide ahead of time what you do next at each stage of your growth.
• Your instincts and educated guesses will be more accurate: You’ll have the data as well as the experience to back them up.
• You’ll better manage interdependencies: When one thing relies on another, you will be able to plan for that and ensure you are prepared for multiple scenarios.
• Delegation and automation will be easier: You’ll be able to see where it slots into the bigger picture, as will any employees you might take on.
• You can be proactive rather than reactive: Basing your decisions on evidence and data means you can take more calculated risks and push forward.
• Never base decisions on assumptions: With solid records and information about your business, you won’t risk making baseless assumptions ever again. You know what they say about assumptions…
• Easy to correct your course: If you are tracking your journey and its projections aren’t matching your goals, you can act early with less fallout.
• Provides solid foundations for investment or sale: If you want others to invest in your business or even buy it, giving them this level of detail and records could prove invaluable and get you a higher price.

That’s a pretty strong argument for making a business plan. And remember, at this stage, you don’t need all the answers for how you will make millions. Growth strategy comes next.

For now, we want to focus on articulating the spine of your business and its vital organs - what does it need to exist and function efficiently?

Starting a Business Plan: eBay Guide

Feel free to play along with us. Here are some questions for you to start thinking about in preparation for writing your eBay seller business plan. This should help you get into the zone and start covering off the basics.

After we explore these, we will move onto an example eBay business plan template which you can bookmark and use for your own business.

Who are you?

Your store came into being for a reason. Why? What was the problem, and how are you attempting to solve it for customers? This should become your value proposition.

Do you have a brand identity yet? This is an important part of growing an ecommerce store. If you want to earn customer loyalty and build awareness, you will need to consider this.

What is your brand positioning? What do you want customers to think and feel about you?

Discover strategies for building your ecommerce brand .

Where are you going?

What are your short and long-term goals? Ensure that most of them are SMART goals , i.e., measurable. This way, you can use them to make informed decisions about your business, make realistic predictions and forecasts, and grow in an intentional, proactive way.

How to set business goals and strategies to achieve them .

What will help you get there?

What tools and resources might you need to help you achieve your goals? What will they cost? How will you measure the return they should give you? Will you set parameters for when to invest in them, and when to pull back?

You don’t need too much detail on these in your initial plan, but it’s good to have an idea of your dream ecommerce toolkit.

By thinking through any future commitments you might make to software or human resources, you can ensure you get the maximum output from calculated input, with profit at the end.

How and why you should be planning for your ecommerce technology development .

eBay Business Plan Template

Now that you’ve had a chance to lay the foundations of your eBay business plan, let’s get to work!

Just as every business is unique, there will be a multitude of business plan options out there to match. Some fit on one page, some spread across one hundred pages.

This is our eBay business plan sample based on the critical elements every ecommerce seller should consider in the early stages, made simple and easy to digest. Anyone should be able to pick up your plan and understand it.

If you’re more of a visual learner, scroll down for an infographic that shows how each element of your plan relates to the others and the bigger picture.

Remember, as you grow and develop, so can your eBay business plan. Get good at prioritizing!

____________________________________________________________________________

Executive Summary

A one or two-line summary of your business idea.

An overview of your product - what is it? Where are you sourcing it from? How much are you paying for it? Does this change based on volume?

Value Proposition

Keep it short and simple: how will your product beat the rest. What makes it unique?

How to build a value proposition .

Target Market and Competition

Who is your target demographic and who else is selling to them? How will you cut through the rest and stand out to that audience? You could also do a SWOT analysis for inspiration.

How to define your target market .

Marketing Strategy

Where does your audience spend time and how will you reach them there? How much will you spend on marketing efforts?

Guide to ecommerce marketing in 2021 .

Fulfilment Model

How will you ship your products? What will this cost you? Will you explore dropshipping? Will you start out one way and evolve as you grow? What will be your parameters for this?

eBay shipping options and advice for sellers .

Budget and Sales

Forecast your sales and outgoings. What should your profit margins be? What volume of sales do you need to survive and thrive? Is your business financially viable?

How to forecast sales for your ecommerce business .

Ecommerce demand forecasting: what it is and why you should care .

Break down your goals into bite sized chunks. Set a timeline, what you want to achieve by then and what you’ll need to make that happen. Be realistic!

Examples of milestones for small businesses .

Team and Resources

What roles exist within your team, or may exist in the future? What will they need to succeed? What roles can be outsourced or automated?

Funding and/or Investment

Identify how much you need or have raised, from whom, and when you plan to pay it back. Alternatively, you might look for this at certain milestones. The more information you can offer potential stakeholders, the better.

Tips to fund your ecommerce business .

Business Plans and the Bigger Picture

This helpful infographic offers a way to visualize some of the elements of a business plan and how they relate to each other:

Image source .

Save Time and Money with Automated Accounts

Money will be the lifeblood of your business.

No matter how strong and in depth your eBay business plan is, without efficient accounting, your business won’t survive.

Luckily, accounting is a critical element of your ecommerce gig that you can automate.

Repetitive number crunching is what software is designed for, so why not leave it up to the mechanical experts?

See what A2X can do for your business:

Try A2X for eBay for free today! Sign up here .

Also on the Blog:

• Ecommerce Accounting and What Makes It So Different
• Ecommerce Accounting Principles
• Find an Ecommerce Accountant
• The Best eBay Accounting Software for Sellers
• eBay Managed Payments: Everything You Need to Know

Learn how to manage your eBay accounting the right way

Accounting for eBay sales comes with a unique set of challanges and opportunities. Discover the key challenges sellers face, the taxes and fees, and a free setup checklist.

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• eBay Xero Integration: How to Set it Up

Looking to simplify your eBay accounting?

Learn how to manage your finances the easy way with our free eBay accounting 101 guide.

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Ebay Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Starting an online business can be a daunting task, especially when trying to find the right resources and strategies to set yourself up for success. Fortunately, with the #1 Ebay Business Plan Template & Guidebook, aspiring entrepreneurs can quickly access a comprehensive and easy-to-follow plan that covers every step of the process, from setting up an account to launching a successful business. This guide contains invaluable tips and insights that are essential for anyone wanting to launch their own online business.

Get worry-free services and support to launch your business starting at $0 plus state fees.

• How to Start a Profitable Ebay Business [11 Steps]
• 10+ Best & Profitable Ebay Business Ideas [2023]

How to Write a Ebay Business Plan in 7 Steps:

1. describe the purpose of your ebay business..

The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your ebay business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers’ problems. It also helps you identify what makes your business different from others in its industry.

It also helps to include a vision statement so that readers can understand what type of company you want to build.

Here is an example of a purpose mission statement for a ebay business:

Our mission at Ebay is to provide an exceptional online marketplace that empowers buyers and sellers to establish successful, mutually beneficial relationships through the trust and convenience of our platform.

2. Products & Services Offered by Your Ebay Business.

The next step is to outline your products and services for your ebay business. 

When you think about the products and services that you offer, it's helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my business?
• What are the products and/or services that I offer?
• Why am I offering these particular products and/or services?
• How do I differentiate myself from competitors with similar offerings?
• How will I market my products and services?

You may want to do a comparison of your business plan against those of other competitors in the area, or even with online reviews. This way, you can find out what people like about them and what they don’t like, so that you can either improve upon their offerings or avoid doing so altogether.

3. Build a Creative Marketing Stratgey.

If you don't have a marketing plan for your ebay business, it's time to write one. Your marketing plan should be part of your business plan and be a roadmap to your goals. 

A good marketing plan for your ebay business includes the following elements:

Target market

• Who is your target market?
• What do these customers have in common?
• How many of them are there?
• How can you best reach them with your message or product?

Customer base 

• Who are your current customers? 
• Where did they come from (i.e., referrals)?
• How can their experience with your ebay business help make them repeat customers, consumers, visitors, subscribers, or advocates for other people in their network or industry who might also benefit from using this service, product, or brand?

Product or service description

• How does it work, what features does it have, and what are its benefits?
• Can anyone use this product or service regardless of age or gender?
• Can anyone visually see themselves using this product or service?
• How will they feel when they do so? If so, how long will the feeling last after purchasing (or trying) the product/service for the first time?

Competitive analysis

• Which companies are competing with yours today (and why)? 
• Which ones may enter into competition with yours tomorrow if they find out about it now through word-of-mouth advertising; social media networks; friends' recommendations; etc.)
• What specific advantages does each competitor offer over yours currently?

Marketing channels

• Which marketing channel do you intend to leverage to attract new customers?
• What is your estimated marketing budget needed?
• What is the projected cost to acquire a new customer?
• How many of your customers do you instead will return?

Form an LLC in your state!

4. Write Your Operational Plan.

Next, you'll need to build your operational plan. This section describes the type of business you'll be running, and includes the steps involved in your operations. 

In it, you should list:

• The equipment and facilities needed
• Who will be involved in the business (employees, contractors)
• Financial requirements for each step
• Milestones & KPIs
• Location of your business
• Zoning & permits required for the business

What equipment, supplies, or permits are needed to run a ebay business?

In order to run a successful eBay business, you will need the following equipment, supplies, and permits:

• Computer: You will need a computer with an internet connection to list and manage items.
• eBay Seller Account: You will need to create an eBay seller account in order to list and manage items.
• Camera: A digital camera is necessary to take photos of your items that you list.
• Storage Space: You will need a safe place to store your items until they are sold.
• Payment Processor: You will need a payment processor (such as PayPal) for customers to pay for their purchases.
• Shipping Supplies: You will need boxes, packing materials, and shipping labels in order to ship items out when they are sold.
• Business Permits & Licenses: Depending on the state or country that you live in, you may need certain permits and licenses in order to operate an eBay business. Be sure to research what your local laws require.

5. Management & Organization of Your Ebay Business.

The second part of your ebay business plan is to develop a management and organization section.

This section will cover all of the following:

• How many employees you need in order to run your ebay business. This should include the roles they will play (for example, one person may be responsible for managing administrative duties while another might be in charge of customer service).
• The structure of your management team. The higher-ups like yourself should be able to delegate tasks through lower-level managers who are directly responsible for their given department (inventory and sales, etc.).
• How you’re going to make sure that everyone on board is doing their job well. You’ll want check-ins with employees regularly so they have time to ask questions or voice concerns if needed; this also gives you time to offer support where necessary while staying informed on how things are going within individual departments too!

6. Ebay Business Startup Expenses & Captial Needed.

This section should be broken down by month and year. If you are still in the planning stage of your business, it may be helpful to estimate how much money will be needed each month until you reach profitability.

Typically, expenses for your business can be broken into a few basic categories:

Startup Costs

Startup costs are typically the first expenses you will incur when beginning an enterprise. These include legal fees, accounting expenses, and other costs associated with getting your business off the ground. The amount of money needed to start a ebay business varies based on many different variables, but below are a few different types of startup costs for a ebay business.

Running & Operating Costs

Running costs refer to ongoing expenses related directly with operating your business over time like electricity bills or salaries paid out each month. These types of expenses will vary greatly depending on multiple variables such as location, team size, utility costs, etc.

Marketing & Sales Expenses

You should include any costs associated with marketing and sales, such as advertising and promotions, website design or maintenance. Also, consider any additional expenses that may be incurred if you decide to launch a new product or service line. For example, if your ebay business has an existing website that needs an upgrade in order to sell more products or services, then this should be listed here.

7. Financial Plan & Projections

A financial plan is an important part of any business plan, as it outlines how the business will generate revenue and profit, and how it will use that profit to grow and sustain itself. To devise a financial plan for your ebay business, you will need to consider a number of factors, including your start-up costs, operating costs, projected revenue, and expenses. 

Here are some steps you can follow to devise a financial plan for your ebay business plan:

• Determine your start-up costs: This will include the cost of purchasing or leasing the space where you will operate your business, as well as the cost of buying or leasing any equipment or supplies that you need to start the business.
• Estimate your operating costs: Operating costs will include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, as well as labor costs for employees, if any, and the cost of purchasing any materials or supplies that you will need to run your business.
• Project your revenue: To project your revenue, you will need to consider the number of customers you expect to have and the average amount they will spend on each visit. You can use this information to estimate how much money you will make from selling your products or services.
• Estimate your expenses: In addition to your operating costs, you will need to consider other expenses, such as insurance, marketing, and maintenance. You will also need to set aside money for taxes and other fees.
• Create a budget: Once you have estimated your start-up costs, operating costs, revenue, and expenses, you can use this information to create a budget for your business. This will help you to see how much money you will need to start the business, and how much profit you can expect to make.
• Develop a plan for using your profit: Finally, you will need to decide how you will use your profit to grow and sustain your business. This might include investing in new equipment, expanding the business, or saving for a rainy day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ebay Business Plans:

Why do you need a business plan for a ebay business.

A business plan for an eBay business is an important tool for outlining the direction of a business and for capturing attention from potential investors. A well-developed business plan can help entrepreneurs assess their current business as well as create strategies to grow their eBay business. Additionally, a business plan can be used to define the mission and objectives of a business, establish financial goals, and communicate the potential of the eBay business to potential partners or investors.

Who should you ask for help with your ebay business plan?

It would be best to speak with a business professional or a mentor with experience in creating business plans for e-commerce businesses. Additionally, there are resources available online that can provide guidance on creating an effective ebay business plan.

Can you write a ebay business plan yourself?

Yes, it is possible to write a business plan for eBay yourself. You will need to create a detailed plan that outlines the business objectives, target market, competitors, marketing strategy and financial goals for your eBay business. You will also need to consider any potential risks and develop strategies for mitigating them. Additionally, you should conduct research into how other successful eBay businesses have operated in your industry and use that information as a guide when creating your own business plan.

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I'm Nick, co-founder of newfoundr.com, dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs succeed. As a small business owner with over five years of experience, I have garnered valuable knowledge and insights across a diverse range of industries. My passion for entrepreneurship drives me to share my expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs, empowering them to turn their business dreams into reality.

Through meticulous research and firsthand experience, I uncover the essential steps, software, tools, and costs associated with launching and maintaining a successful business. By demystifying the complexities of entrepreneurship, I provide the guidance and support needed for others to embark on their journey with confidence.

From assessing market viability and formulating business plans to selecting the right technology and navigating the financial landscape, I am dedicated to helping fellow entrepreneurs overcome challenges and unlock their full potential. As a steadfast advocate for small business success, my mission is to pave the way for a new generation of innovative and driven entrepreneurs who are ready to make their mark on the world.

How to Start an eBay Business in 5 Simple Steps

You might find eBay to be the platform of choice if you’re looking to start a business with minimal capital and a broad reach. This online marketplace has low barriers to entry and the potential to reward successful entrepreneurs with good profit for a low-risk business. 

5 Steps to Start an eBay Business

Ready to start selling on eBay? Just follow these simple steps:

• Create a formal business
• Create your eBay seller account
• Choose a product to sell
• Set up your accounting with QuickBooks
• Get ready to sell your first product

The Easy Parts of Starting an eBay Business

The barriers to entry in entrepreneurship have never been lower. Setting up your eBay account only takes a few minutes. You simply need to enter your details, complete a few steps, and you’re ready to sell.

Your eBay account comes with a storefront, so you don’t even need a separate business website to sell your products online.

eBay seller accounts also come with valuable tools to make it easier for novices to compete with more seasoned sellers. For example, eBay has exclusive insights tools called Terapeak Product Research and Terapeak Sourcing Insights .

You can use it to find popular products that sell well on eBay. You can also use it to analyze product availability, sales volumes, and pricing trends over time. In short, you’ll be able to make data-driven decisions without complicated and time-consuming market research.

Finally, keeping track of your accounting can seem daunting if you’re starting a business for the first time. But QuickBooks can help make the process much easier.

The best part is it integrates natively with eBay. Using QuickBooks to manage accounting for your eBay business allows you to:

• Monitor your inventory
• Track sales tax
• Analyze sales reports
• Generate federal reporting forms for payroll

The Difficult Parts of Starting an eBay Business

Unfortunately, some aspects of starting an eBay may prove challenging. Still, it is possible to overcome these hurdles and create a successful business. Anticipating these challenges beforehand will increase your chances of success.

The first obvious hurdle is high competition. eBay is saturated with vendors. Many of these vendors most likely already sell the kinds of products you hope to stock. So you’ll have your work cut out for you attracting a steady stream of customers.

This is especially true in the beginning when you don’t have customer feedback to boost your credibility.

eBay also imposes selling limits for new vendors. These limits make sense from eBay’s perspective. New sellers need to build credibility by providing high-quality products and maintaining high service levels.

But the limitations can make it challenging to be profitable right out of the gate. Furthermore, this limit is based on potential sales rather than actual sales, which many new vendors find arbitrary.

An eBay business is still worth starting, even with these challenges. So if you’re ready to set up your business, here’s how to go about it step-by-step.

Step 1 – Create a Formal Business

You’ll need to register your business if you want to create an eBay business account. If you haven’t already, get the formal requirements to register your business out of the way. The IRS still considers eBay a business, and you’ll need to meet the requirements as a business.

Choose a Business Structure

A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is the best business structure for an eBay business. In addition, you will be eligible for limited liability protection. This means that the courts can’t come for your personal finances or assets if your business fails or is sued.

Some of the requirements for forming an LLC include:

• Business name
• Article of organization
• Operating agreement
• Business licenses and permit

There are excellent online business formation services you can use to help form your LLC. These services take charge of all the challenging aspects of forming your LLC, including filing the appropriate paperwork. 

Register for Taxes

Once you have an official LLC, apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN). You can get your EIN for free by submitting your application to the IRS website. You need an EIN to open a business bank account and when hiring employees.

You’ll be reporting your business income on your personal tax return. You may also need to pay self-employment taxes. Any other taxes you need to pay depends on your total sales and profit.

Step 2 – Create Your eBay Seller Account

Now you’ll create your eBay seller account. The account comes with valuable tools for market and product research that you’ll need in the next step. Also, you have a chance to get familiar with the platform before you start selling.

Choose Your Plan

eBay offers a personal account for casual selling. But if you’re hoping to run a business, it is better to go with the business account from the start. The business account supports selling bulk products.

You also get the chance to run your business under its legal name and brand it to your liking. The personal account is limited mainly to selling things you no longer need. 

eBay offers five subscription options:

• Starter Store – Costs $4.95 per month
• Basic Store – Costs $21.95 per month
• Premium Store – Costs $59.95 per month
• Anchor Store – Costs $299.95 per month
• Enterprise Store – Costs $2,999.95 per month

We recommend getting started with the basic plan. It’s affordable and a good option for entry-level sellers. Then, you can easily upgrade to a plan with higher sales volumes when your business takes off.

Register Your eBay Account

Now it’s time to create your eBay store. The process is straightforward. Just follow the prompts and provide the required information. It only takes a few minutes to complete the registration process.  

Some of the information you’ll need to provide include:

• Your company’s legal business name
• The registered business address and phone number
• Business bank account number
• Tax information

Step 3 – Choose a Product To Sell

You’ll first need to decide which product to sell. Remember, eBay has selling limits for new sellers. So you’ll need to pick your products carefully to maximize your chances of success.

Do Product Research

eBay’s product research tool, Terapeak , will prove invaluable for this step. You get this tool with all plans, including the basic seller account. You can find it under the Research tab in your Seller Account.

You’ll get all the insights you need to pick your first product. Be sure to check out metrics such as categories with high demand and low supply, top-performing products, competitive listings, and trends in prices.

Some of the essential metrics you’ll be able to track for your first product include:

• Total sales
• Total sellers
• Sell-through rate
• Sold price range
• Average sold price

Choose Your Products

By now, you should have a list of potentially profitable products. Price is an important consideration at this point. You’ll lose some of the retail prices because of eBay and payment processing fees. So, choose a product that gives you an excellent chance to make a profit.

It is usually worth choosing at least two different types of products to sell. More than the price, choose products that you are familiar with and passionate about. It’s hard to market a product you don’t believe in.

Finally, it may be worth staying away from electronics. At least for now. Electronics have high demand and good profit potential. But you’ll almost certainly get returns and complaints about faulty products. So it is better to get some experience under your belt before moving on to these products.

Step 4 – Set Up Your Accounting With QuickBooks

You’ll need to pay taxes for your eBay business. At the very least, you’ll need to keep track of your profits, losses, and cash flow. Setting up accounts for your first business can be daunting.

But QuickBooks is an easy-to-use accounting software to help you with this step. It makes the process so much easier and stress-free.

Choose Your QuickBooks Plan

You can go to their site to choose your QuickBooks plan and sign up for the accounting software. QuickBooks offers four subscription options. These include:

The Simple Start plan is good enough for newbie eBay sellers. It comes with great accounting functions, including:

• Track income and expenses
• Accept payments
• Manage invoices
• Capture and organize receipts
• Send estimates
• Manage cash flow
• Run general reports

Sign Up For QuickBooks Ecommerce

Your basic plan is good enough. But you can make accounting even simpler by signing up for QuickBooks Ecommerce . QuickBooks has an accounting software plans specifically for ecommerce sellers. Plans begin at just $15 per month. You’ll be able to:

• Track and fulfill eBay orders
• Track eBay fees and payouts
• Manage eBay inventory
• List product details directly to eBay

You still get the major accounting features that QuickBooks online offers, including:

• Tracking income and expenses
• Maximizing tax deductions
• Calculating tax on invoices automatically
• Running custom reports for your eBay business

Plus, you’ll be getting 50% off for the first three months. Then, you can decide if you want to continue to pay for the current monthly price depending on the results and benefits you’ve enjoyed.

While QuickBooks Ecommerce comes with the Simple Start plan, you’ll need to upgrade to the Essentials plan to enjoy additional accounting functions like time tracking and managing bills. You’ll even be able to add two more users and sales channels to your accounting software with this plan.

Connect QuickBooks to Your eBay Account

eBay connects natively to QuickBooks Ecommerce. You can do this from your QuickBooks navigation bar. Simply click Browse Apps > eCommerce > eBay built by QuickBooks Ecommerce .

The best part is QuickBooks Ecommerce allows you to sync orders, inventory, vendor information, expenses, employee information, and customer information across sales channels. In addition, you’ll get all this information on a single platform, allowing you to manage multiple sales channels easily.

Step 5 – Get Ready to Sell Your First Product

You’re almost ready to make your first sale. But, you’ll need to complete setting up your eBay account before you can make your first sale.

Add a Payment Method

Your payment method is essential for two reasons. First, you’ll need a way to receive payment from your customers. Second, you’ll also need to pay your eBay fees. You can set up your preferred payment method by navigating to My eBay > Selling > Accounts > Payments.

We suggest opting for eBay’s Managed Payments. Here, eBay manages your payments in one place. This option also allows you to set your preferred payouts frequency. Managed Payments also offers your customers a good range of payment options, so you don’t miss out on a sale.

It is also a good idea to set up automatic payments for your seller fees. This option ensures that you’re always on top of the fees rather than allowing them to pile up.

Set Up Shipping

eBay allows you to choose how you’d like to get purchases to your customers. You’ll want to offer multiple shipping options to cover all your bases. Either way, you have total freedom to determine how to ship products.

You can even choose to exclude specific countries, regions, and shipping locations.

eBay integrates with the most popular and trustworthy carriers, including FedEx, USPS, UPS, DHL, Lasership, and Lonestar Overnight. Finally, you’ll want to offer your customers regular shipping updates or a way to track their shipments. 

Don’t forget about handling returns. This factor is a common pain point for sellers and customers. To this end, eBay lets you create a returns policy under Returns Preferences .

For example, you can choose to automatically refund clients in case of a dispute. You can also let them keep the item if it’s below a certain amount. 

Create Your First Listing

You are ready to make your first sale! You’ll see the Sell button at the top of the eBay page.

Click it and complete the form with the relevant product information. Some of the information you’ll be asked to provide includes the product category, product title and description, item specifics, product pictures, price, and listing format.

You’re now ready to sell your products and make money!

Privacy Overview

• Getting started

Seller stories

• Fees and allowances
• Consumer selling

Grow your business with eBay

Expand your selling horizon.

We're one of the world's largest marketplaces, connecting you with buyers near and far.

Comprehensive seller protection

You’re protected by policies, monitoring, and a customer support team created to keep you and our community safe.

A community of sellers

Connect with other sellers through hosted meetups, community forums, seller events, and more.

It's easy to get started on eBay

Create a business selling account.

This step requires you to have your bank account and company information.

Set up your account policies

Pick your postage, return and payment policy preferences that will then be used for your listings.

Upload your inventory

Use our suite of tools to onboard your inventory and start selling!

We’re where the world shops

A car part is purchased every, a cosmetic is purchased every, a video game is purchased every, a trading card is purchased every, a watch is purchased every.

Based on eBay 2020 data

Get inspiration from other sellers. Here are some of our favourites.

The Whitby Cobbler

Love me afro hair, sustain furniture, everything you need to run your online business.

From uploading inventory to fulfilling orders, we’ve got the tools you need. We also support integration with tools you already use.

Inventory management

You'll gain access to a variety of tools that help you list, bulk upload, and integrate with APIs. You can also use third-party tools.

Manage orders

Our sellers receive discounted postage labels from major carriers. You can also set up international delivery with intermediated postage options.

Research & Insights

Terapeak is a tool exclusive to eBay. It shows you how other sellers are pricing their listings, so you can monitor your competition. It also gives you data about supply and demand for different categories.

Marketing tools

Use our suite of marketing tools to create promotions and make your inventory stand out. Sponsor your listings with Promoted Listings to help boost your visibility.

Brand-building tools

Get an eBay Shop subscription to unlock a customisable shopfront where you can showcase your brand and inventory to buyers.

The eBay app

Manage your business on the go with our app. Control listings, fulfil orders, respond to buyers and more - anytime, anywhere.

Open your shop on eBay

Pick a shopfront plan that works best for your business needs to start building out your brand on eBay.

Build your brand with an eBay shop

Shops give buyers a destination to browse whilst learning more about your brand. There are a variety of options if you want to have your very own shopfront on the eBay site. From basic to anchor, to a featured shop, we have a shop plan to suit your business strategy.

Fees for selling on eBay

Insertion fees.

Insertions fees vary from a fixed price per listing, to reduced or no fees with shop subscriptions.

Final value fees

When your item sells, you pay a final value fee. How much you pay varies by category and is calculated as a percentage of the total amount of the sale.

Got questions? We’re here to help

Here are some resources that sellers new to eBay find helpful.

Seller Centre

A vast library of searchable learning resources.

A forum for support and advice from eBay staff and expert sellers.

Customer service

Get 24/7 help from eBay specialists and automated assistance.

Not a business? Not a problem.

Make extra cash as a private seller. You'll have access to millions of buyers and can list 1000 items for free each month.

How to Start an eBay Business

Starting an eBay business can be very profitable. With proper planning, execution and hard work, you can enjoy great success. Below you will learn the keys to launching a successful eBay business.

Importantly, a critical step in starting an eBay business is to complete your business plan. To help you out, you should download Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template here .

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here

14 Steps To Start an eBay Business :

• Choose the Name for Your eBay Business
• Develop Your eBay Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your eBay Business
• Secure Startup Funding for Your eBay Business (If Needed)
• Secure a Location for Your Business
• Register Your eBay Business with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your eBay Business
• Buy or Lease the Right eBay Business Equipment
• Develop Your eBay Business Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your eBay Business
• Open for Business

1. Choose the Name for Your eBay Business

The first step to starting an eBay business is to choose your business’ name.  

This is a very important choice since your company name is your brand and will last for the lifetime of your business. Ideally you choose a name that is meaningful and memorable. Here are some tips for choosing a name for your eBay store:

• Make sure the name is available . Check your desired name against trademark databases and your state’s list of registered business names to see if it’s available. Also check to see if a suitable domain name is available.
• Keep it simple . The best names are usually ones that are easy to remember, pronounce and spell.
• Think about marketing . Come up with a name that reflects the desired brand and/or focus of your eBay business.

2. Develop Your eBay Business Plan

One of the most important steps in opening an eBay business is to develop your business plan. The process of creating your plan ensures that you fully understand your market and your business strategy. The plan also provides you with a roadmap to follow and if needed, to present to funding sources to raise capital for your business.

Your business plan should include the following sections:

• Executive Summary – this section should summarize your entire business plan so readers can quickly understand the key details of your eBay business.
• Company Overview – this section tells the reader about the history of your eBay business and what type of eBay business you operate. For example, are you a trading, dropshipping, or affiliate marketing business. 
• Industry Analysis – here you will document key information about the eBay industry. Conduct market research and document how big the industry is and what trends are affecting it.
• Customer Analysis – in this section, you will document who your ideal or target customers are and their demographics. For example, how old are they? Where do they live? What do they find important when purchasing products like the ones you will offer?
• Competitive Analysis – here you will document the key direct and indirect competitors you will face and how you will build competitive advantage.
• Marketing Plan – your marketing plan should address the 4Ps: Product, Price, Promotions and Place.
• Product : Determine and document what products/services you will offer 
• Prices : Document the prices of your products/services
• Place : Where will your business be located and how will that location help you increase sales?
• Promotions : What promotional methods will you use to attract customers to your eBay business? For example, you might decide to use pay-per-click advertising, public relations, search engine optimization and/or social media marketing.
• Operations Plan – here you will determine the key processes you will need to run your day-to-day operations. You will also determine your staffing needs. Finally, in this section of your plan, you will create a projected growth timeline showing the milestones you hope to achieve in the coming years.
• Management Team – this section details the background of your company’s management team.
• Financial Plan – finally, the financial plan answers questions including the following:
• What startup costs will you incur?
• How will your eBay business make money?
• What are your projected eBay sales and expenses for the next five years?
• Do you need to secure funding to launch your business?

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

3. choose the legal structure for your ebay business.

Next you need to choose a legal structure for your eBay business and register it and your business name with the Secretary of State in each state where you operate your business.

Below are the five most common legal structures:

1) Sole proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is a business entity in which the owner/eBay seller and the business are the same legal entity. The owner of a sole proprietorship is responsible for all debts and obligations of the business. There are no formalities required to establish a sole proprietorship, and it is easy to set up and operate. The main advantage of a sole proprietorship is that it is simple and inexpensive to establish. The main disadvantage is that the owner is liable for all debts and obligations of the business.

2) Partnerships

A partnership is a legal structure that is popular among small businesses. It is an agreement between two or more people who want to start an eBay business together. The partners share in the profits and losses of the business. 

The advantages of a partnership are that it is easy to set up, and the partners share in the profits and losses of the business. The disadvantages of a partnership are that the partners are jointly liable for the debts of the business, and disagreements between partners can be difficult to resolve.

3) Limited Liability Company (LLC)

A limited liability company, or LLC, is a type of business entity that provides limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners of an LLC are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The advantages of an LLC for an eBay business include flexibility in management, pass-through taxation (avoids double taxation as explained below), and limited personal liability. The disadvantages of an LLC include lack of availability in some states and self-employment taxes.

4) C Corporation

A C Corporation is a business entity that is separate from its owners. It has its own tax ID and can have shareholders. The main advantage of a C Corporation for an eBay business is that it offers limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The disadvantage is that C Corporations are subject to double taxation. This means that the corporation pays taxes on its profits, and the shareholders also pay taxes on their dividends.

5) S Corporation

An S Corporation is a type of corporation that provides its owners with limited liability protection and allows them to pass their business income through to their personal income tax returns, thus avoiding double taxation. There are several limitations on S Corporations including the number of shareholders they can have among others.

Once you register your eBay business, your state will send you your official “Articles of Incorporation.” You will need this among other documentation when establishing your banking account (see below). We recommend that you consult an attorney in determining which legal structure is best suited for your company.

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4. Secure Startup Funding for Your eBay Business (If Needed)

In developing your eBay business plan, you might have determined that you need to raise funding to launch your business. 

If so, the main sources of funding for an eBay business to consider are personal savings, family and friends, credit card financing, bank loans, crowdfunding and angel investors. Angel investors are individuals who provide capital to early-stage businesses. Angel investors typically will invest in an eBay account that they believe has high potential for growth.

5. Secure a Location for Your Business

When starting an eBay business account, you’ll need to find a location for your inventory. Here are a few tips on how to find the perfect spot:

• Decide what you need: before you start looking for a location, decide what you need in terms of space and storage. Do you need a lot of room to store inventory? Or would a small garage work for you?
• Consider your budget: when it comes to finding a location, remember that you’ll need to factor in both rent and utilities. Make sure you have enough money saved up to cover these costs.
• Think about your commute: one of the most important things to consider when choosing a location is how far it is from your home or your physical storefront. You don’t want to have to drive too far, so keep this in mind while you search.
• Get creative: while you may think you need a lot of space for your business, consider options other than renting an entire warehouse. For example, could you use storage units? Maybe someone’s garage? Could you rent space in a larger warehouse? Think outside the box and you may find a solution that’s better than renting an entire building.
• Consider your home: while some people choose to start their business in their homes, it can be difficult to manage both at once. If you have enough room, however, it could be an excellent idea. Just make sure your family is aware of what you’re doing; you don’t want them to be surprised if they find customers in your house.
• Be patient: finding the perfect location takes time, so it’s best not to rush into anything. Keep an eye out for spaces that fit your needs and make sure that none of them slip away before you can act.

6. Register Your eBay Business with the IRS

Next, you need to register your business with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which will result in the IRS issuing you an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Most banks will require you to have an EIN in order to open up an account. In addition, in order to hire employees, you will need an EIN since that is how the IRS tracks your payroll tax payments.

Note that if you are a sole proprietor without employees, you generally do not need to get an EIN. Rather, you would use your social security number (instead of your EIN) as your taxpayer identification number.

7. Open a Business Bank Account

It is important to establish a bank account in your eBay business’ name. This process is fairly simple and involves the following steps:

• Identify and contact the bank you want to use
• Gather and present the required documents (generally include your company’s Articles of Incorporation, driver’s license or passport, and proof of address)
• Complete the bank’s application form and provide all relevant information
• Meet with a banker to discuss your business needs and establish a relationship with them

8. Get a Business Credit Card

You should get a business credit card for your eBay business to help you separate personal and business expenses.

You can either apply for a business credit card through your bank or apply for one through a credit card company.

When you’re applying for a business credit card, you’ll need to provide some information about your business. This includes the name of your business, the address of your business, and the type of business you’re running. You’ll also need to provide some information about yourself, including your name, Social Security number, and date of birth.

Once you’ve been approved for a business credit card, you’ll be able to use it to make purchases for your business. You can also use it to build your credit history which could be very important in securing loans and getting credit lines for your business in the future.

9. Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits

The licenses and permits you may need to start an eBay shop depend on the nature of your business. For example, if you are going to be selling goods, you will need a seller’s permit from your state. If you are going to be running a business from your home, you may need a zoning permit from your local government. To find out what licenses and permits you need, contact your local business licensing office or small business development center.

10. Get Business Insurance for Your eBay Business

You need business insurance to operate an eBay business. This will protect you in the event of any legal issues that may arise, as well as any property damage or theft that may occur. Make sure to research the different types of insurance available and find one that fits your needs.

Other business insurance policies that you should consider for your eBay business include:

• General liability insurance : This covers accidents and injuries that occur on your property. It also covers damages caused by your employees or advertising cliams.
• Product liability insurance: This helps protect online stores from third-party claims of bodily injury or property damage caused by a product that it made or sold. This type of policy will cover physical or property damage as a result of manufacturing defects; design flaws; and any shortfalls in instructions, labels, or warnings.
• Auto insurance : If a vehicle is used in your business, this type of insurance will cover if a vehicle is damaged or stolen.
• Workers’ compensation insurance : If you have employees, this type of policy works with your general liability policy to protect against workplace injuries and accidents. It also covers medical expenses and lost wages
• Cybersecurity insurance : If your ebay account is hacked, and your customers’ information is leaked, this covers the cost of notifying your customers, investigating the incident and providing credit monitoring services.

Find an insurance agent, tell them about your business and its needs, and they will recommend policies that fit those needs. 

11. Buy or Lease the Right eBay Business Equipment

Most sellers on eBay don’t need much equipment. To start an eBay business, you only need a computer, phone and internet access.

12. Develop Your eBay Business Marketing Materials

Marketing materials will be required to attract and retain customers to your eBay business.

The key marketing materials you will need are as follows:

• Logo : Spend some time developing a good logo for your eBay business. Your logo will be printed on company stationery, business cards, marketing materials and so forth. The right logo can increase customer trust and awareness of your brand.
• Website : Likewise, a professional eBay page provides potential customers with information about the products and/or services you offer, your company’s history, and contact information. Importantly, remember that the look and feel of your website will affect how customers perceive you.
• Social Media Accounts : establish social media accounts in your company’s name. Accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and/or other social media networks will help customers and others find and interact with your online store.

13. Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your eBay Business

To run an eBay business, you’ll need to use software that can help you create listings, manage your orders, and track your sales. There are a few different software options that are available, and each one has its own set of features. The software you use depends on the size of your business and what features you need to manage your business effectively.

There are comprehensive software options that allow you to create and manage your listings, track your sales, and manage your finances, along with customer management. There are options that also encompass all the facets of marketing your listings. Affordable options are available, and work well for smaller businesses.

Whatever software option you choose, it’s important that you understand how to use it before getting started with an eBay business. You should also be aware that many software packages are monthly subscription-based services; so while they are affordable, you’ll need to pay a monthly fee to use them.

14. Open for Business

You are now ready to open your eBay business. If you followed the steps above, you should be in a great position to build a successful business. Below are answers to frequently asked questions that might further help you.

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With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

How to Start an eBay Business FAQs

Is it hard to start an ebay business.

Starting an eBay business can be hard because it takes a lot of time and effort to build up a successful business. However, if you are motivated and have the drive to succeed, then it is definitely possible. There are many resources available to help you get started, so don't be afraid to ask for help when needed.

How can I start an eBay business with no experience?

One option for starting an eBay business with no experience is to join an existing eBay business. This can give you the opportunity to learn from someone who has already been a successful eBay seller . Another option is to do some research on how to start an eBay business and then follow the steps that are outlined. Regardless of which option you choose, be sure to take your time in order to learn as much as possible about running an e-commerce business before diving in.

What type of eBay business is most profitable?

The types of eBay stores that are most profitable are the ones that offer a unique product or service. This could be a business that specializes in selling rare or vintage items, or it could be a business that offers a specialized service, such as personalized gift-wrapping.

How much does it cost to start an eBay business?

Launching a business on eBay is free. The expenses an eBay startup incur include any domain name registration, product inventory and shipping supplies needed. The great thing about starting an eBay store is that there are no expensive overhead costs to worry about. For this reason, it is often called "Retail without the Rents."

What are the ongoing expenses for an eBay business?

There are a few main ongoing expenses for an eBay business:

• Seller fees associated with eBay and PayPal (which can be waived if you reach a certain sales volume)
• Shipping supplies (boxes, packing material, postage stamps, labels, etc.)
• Postage fees
• Supplies for your business (business cards, stationery, brochures, inventory storage/display boxes, etc.)
• Marketing and promotional materials (if your own business has a physical location or storefront)

How does an eBay business make money?

eBay sellers make money by listing items for sale, and completing a transaction. The seller then keeps a large percentage of the final sale price, and pays a commission to eBay. The amount of the commission varies depending on the category of item being sold. For most items, eBay takes 10% of the final fixed price.

Is owning an eBay business profitable?

eBay is a platform where people can buy and sell products, so it's a great place to start a business if you're looking for something that has the potential to be profitable. In addition, there are a number of ways to make money with an eBay business, including selling products, or providing services. And since eBay is such a large platform with millions of users, you'll have plenty of opportunity to reach new customers and grow your business.

Why do eBay businesses fail?

There are a number of reasons why many eBay sellers can fail. One reason is that it can be difficult to stand out from the competition. Another reason is that it can be challenging to generate traffic and online sales. Additionally, it's important to have a solid marketing strategy in order to attract buyers and create a brand that people will trust. Without a plan, it can be difficult to succeed on eBay.

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eBay scraps fees for sale of second-hand clothing

Online marketplace eBay announces the new policy for the sale of second-hand garments, which it says is an effort to reduce waste and keep more clothes out of landfills - but which analysts say is driven by a desire to compete with popular apps such as Vinted and Depop.

Monday 8 April 2024 11:25, UK

eBay has dropped fees for the sale of second-hand clothing.

The online marketplace has scrapped any charges for the sale of pre-owned clothes as of today, in what it says is an effort to keep garments out of landfill .

This means it is now free to sell second-hand clothing through the site, even if it has never been worn and has tags on.

Analysts say the move is being driven by eBay desire to compete with popular second-hand clothing apps such as Vinted and Depop. These apps tend to attract a younger market - which eBay is eager to infiltrate.

However, trainers, watches, handbags and jewellery are not covered by the new policy and seller fees still apply.

eBay has said that encouraging more people to buy and sell pre-owned clothing is key in reducing waste from fashion, and moving towards a circular economy.

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Kirsty Keoghan, general manager of global fashion for eBay, said: "Free fashion selling has come at the right time for a nation sitting on billions of pounds worth of unwanted clothes.

"We know selling clothes can sometimes feel like a chore, so free selling and new updates like new AI-powered listings will help more of us to sell clothes easily, putting more cash in pockets.

"By encouraging more people to buy and sell pre-loved clothing, we'll keep more clothes out of landfill as we collectively enable a circular economy for fashion."

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The e-commerce company also claimed that over 1,600,000kg of waste was saved from going into landfill last year through the sale of second-hand clothing on their platform.

The fashion industry is responsible for around 10% of annual global carbon emissions - more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.

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Jamie Dimon nets $183M after completing planned stock sale

Dimon's latest sale of jpmorgan chase stock is worth about $33m.

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JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon finished the planned sale of his 1 million shares in the bank Monday.

Dimon offloaded the remaining 178,222 shares on Monday, which were worth about $33 million, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He sold 821,778 shares in February at a value of roughly $150 million. 

The bank said in late October that Dimon and his family would sell 1 million shares in 2024 "for financial diversification and tax-planning purposes." JPMorgan Chase said at the time it was his "first such stock sale during his tenure at the company."

JAMIE DIMON SOUNDS ALARM OVER ‘PERSISTENT’ INFLATION, FED POLICY

Dimon’s total direct and indirect holdings of JPMorgan stock totaled about 7.7 million following Monday’s transaction.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon at the UK Global Investment Summit at Hampton Court Palace in London Nov. 27, 2023. (Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

DIMON SAYS AI COULD HAVE SIMILAR IMPACT AS THE PRINTING PRESS, ELECTRICITY AND INTERNET

The JPMorgan Chase CEO has now collected nearly $183 million from the sale.

JPMorgan Chase

The JPMorgan shares that Dimon owns have contributed to his $2 billion personal fortune, according to Forbes.

JPMorgan Chase's Jamie Dimon detailed the recession "possibility" facing Americans on "Mornings with Maria." (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

JPMorgan shares are up 4.6% year to date. In the past 12 months, they have climbed nearly 29%.

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"We continue to be a pillar of strength for our clients, communities and markets across the world — while also delivering for shareholders," Dimon said earlier this month about JPMorgan Chase.

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Seller Center

Store subscriptions and benefits, let’s talk shop, which ebay store option is right for me, selling scenarios to help you choose.

Whether you’re a business or a casual seller, we offer a Store subscription with the right tools and benefits to help you grow your sales.

Your own online store

Showcase your brand and build customer loyalty with newsletters, coupons, and more.

More free listings

Get more zero insertion fee listings with an eBay Store and lower your upfront costs.

Lower final value fees

Save up to 50% on final value fees compared to non-Store subscriber rates.

Answer two simple questions to find the Store subscription options that best fit your needs.

How many items do you plan to list each month?

Which description most closely matches your eBay selling?

Starter Store

Best for sellers who have a handful of products and want a storefront to brand and promote their business.

Free auction listings or fixed-price listings

30¢  insertion fee for additional listing

Basic Store

Just getting started? Enjoy more free listings, final value fee discounts, and a quarterly coupon for eBay-branded shipping supplies.

Free fixed-price listings

25¢ insertion fee for additional listing

Free auction listings in  select categories

Premium Store

If you have an extensive product assortment, a Premium Store subscription gives you substantially more zero insertion fee listings.

10¢ insertion fee for additional listing

15¢  insertion fee for additional listing

Anchor Store

For high volume sellers who have an extensive product catalog or are running a business that would benefit from dedicated customer support.

5¢ insertion fee for additional listing

10¢  insertion fee for additional listing

Enterprise Store

For enterprise sellers who have an extensive product catalog or are running a business that would benefit from dedicated customer support.

100,000 /mo

A few things to consider when choosing your eBay Store

How many free listings do you need.

Do the math to see if you need the allotted zero fee insertions—sometimes fewer free listings can actually save you money.

Have you checked your final value fees?

If you choose a Basic Store or above, fees go down.

What level of support do you want?

Anchor and Enterprise Stores have access to dedicated customer support by phone and email—wherever, whenever you need it

Even more reasons to get an eBay Store

Marketing tools and support.

• Run a sale or offer coupons with exclusive eBay promotional pricing tools
• Access exclusive eBay sales insights to help you decide what to sell, when to sell and how much to sell for
• Easily manage your Store in Seller Hub
• Choose your Store name and custom design your homepage

Some benefits are not available with Starter Store subscription.

Perks to boost your profits

• Get unlimited insertion fee credits for auction listings that end in a sale
• Use your quarterly coupon for eBay-branded shipping supplies

Explore the scenarios below to help you decide which eBay Store option will work for you.

Antiques, Basic Store

Paolo lists about 1,100 items per month. He chose a Basic Store to get extra free monthly listings and unlock a discounted final value fee rate of 12.35% for antiques sales, compared to 13.25% without a Store. His Basic Store gets him 1,000 zero insertion fee listings each month, and it only costs him 25¢ per listing after that, or $25 a month at his current volume. If he upgraded to a Premium Store with 10,000 free listings per month, it would cost him $13 more. For Paolo, it made more sense to keep his Basic Store with the lower monthly fee.

Jewelry, Premium Store

Jasmine chose a Premium Store because she loves the freedom of having 10,000 free fixed-price listings per month, since she sells multiples of 100 different products. She also likes the $50 coupon per quarter for eBay-branded shipping supplies to give her customers a consistent, seamless shopping experience.

How difficult is it to change my eBay Store subscription?

How can i make changes to my ebay store.

Not difficult at all. Simply go to My eBay and click on Account, then Subscriptions . From the Subscriptions page, click “Change level” to upgrade—or downgrade—your eBay Store. Your live listings will remain live on the site after changing your Store subscription level.

You can change your logo, Store name, categories, and more at any time by going to Manage My Store located in the left navigation column of My eBay.

Where can I find a detailed view of the Store selling fee rates for different categories?

See  Store selling fees  for a complete list of fee rates by category for each Store subscription level.

How do I edit or cancel my Store subscription?

Simply visit your  Subscription Management  page and select “Change subscription” or “Cancel subscription” options.

Where can I see my current Store subscription level and rate?

Visit your  Subscription Management  page to view your current Store level and billing cycle.

Don’t see your question here? Visit the  Help Center  for more detailed information on selling features and fees.

Subscribe to a Store Store fee rates Manage your current subscription General fees information

JPMorgan CEO Dimon sells about $33 mln shares, completes planned sale

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AJ Bell reported record assets under administration of 80.3 billion pounds ($100.23 billion) on Thursday, up 5% in the three months to end-March and 17% higher than the same period in 2023, pointing to signs of rebounding sentiment among investors.

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Tesla has let go of 300 temporary workers in Germany in keeping with their contract period, the e-car maker said on Thursday, amid a drive by the company to slim down its global workforce by 10%.

Business | Disneyland annual passholder fights 1-year ban…

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Business | tech layoffs jolt bay area economy with hundreds of new job cuts, business | disneyland annual passholder fights 1-year ban for selling tickets on ebay, andrew rich found out the hard way that disneyland’s magic key review board and revocation team does not accept appeals..

Magic Keyholder Andrew Rich found out the hard way that Disneyland has a Magic Key Review Board and Revocation Team after he sold a pair of Sweethearts’ Nite tickets on eBay and had his annual pass revoked for a year.

Andrew and his wife, Jen, both in their 50s, are hard-core Disney fans who have been annual passholders since the late 1990s and travel to Disneyland from their home in Spokane, Washington, half a dozen times a year.

They renewed their Disneyland Magic Key passes in September — paying $2,198 for a pair of Believe passes.

Just before Christmas, Rich bought Sweethearts’ Nite tickets as a Valentine’s gift.

During the holidays, the couple spent New Year’s Eve at Disneyland, flew to Florida for the Disney World Marathon Weekend, hopped on a cruise aboard the Disney Wish and then jetted back to Anaheim for the Disneyland Half Marathon .

After the New Year’s trip, they both came down with COVID-19 — forcing them to cancel their plans to travel to Disneyland for Sweethearts’ Nite on Feb. 6.

Rich put the tickets for the sold-out event up for sale on eBay — without reading the fine print on his annual pass or the special event tickets.

“To ensure somebody would use the tickets, I offered them for sale at face value,” Rich said by email.

The tickets got snapped up almost immediately.

That’s when the trouble started.

An eagle-eyed Disneyland fan notified the park that Sweethearts’ Nite tickets were being resold on eBay and Rich immediately lost his annual pass privileges.

“Because I was logged into my Magic Key account when purchasing the tickets, my Magic Key privileges were revoked for one year,” Rich said by email.

His annual pass suspension stretches to Jan. 24, 2025.

The Disneyland website says special events tickets may not be resold or transferred. Disney reserves the right to cancel, suspend or revoke any Magic Key pass at any time for any reason, according to the park’s website.

Issues related to Magic Key policy are handled on a case by case basis, according to Disneyland officials. Guests with extenuating circumstances are encouraged to contact Disneyland regarding potential options based on ticket type, according to Disneyland officials.

Over the past few months, Rich discovered through calls to Disneyland’sMagic Key Revocation Team that appeals were not accepted.

Rich wrote follow up letters to Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock and Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro admitting with a “heavy heart and regret” that he’d broken the rules and took full responsibility for his mistake.

The Disney executives — through their representatives — declined to overrule the decision of the Magic Key Review Board.

Besides losing his pass, Rich learned he’d get no refund for the 257 unused days on his revoked $1,099 Believe annual pass that he paid for in full.

The monthly payment plan would not have saved him any money. A member of Disneyland’s Executive Correspondence team told Rich that Magic Keyholders must continue making monthly payments after their annual passes are revoked — before wishing him a magical day.

Feeling unfairly treated and with no recourse, Rich now calls the consequences for selling his Sweethearts’ Nite tickets a “wildly out of scale response” to a comparatively minor infraction.

Rich reached out to the nonprofit consumer advocacy organization Elliott Advocacy to intervene with Disneyland on his behalf. Disney told Elliott Advocacy it would not consider changing its decision.

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Despite pushback from community, plan to bring storage unit to san marco moves forward.

Aaron Farrar , News4Jax reporter

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A controversial plan to bring a storage unit to San Marco advanced Tuesday night when the city’s land use and zoning committee voted 4 to 3 in favor of the project.

The plan, which has received a lot of pushback from the community, will now head to the Jacksonville City Council for a final decision.

Some very vocal neighbors live near Hendricks Avenue and River Place Boulevard, which is in the general area where the storage facility would built.

Several people who do not want the storage facility have not been shy about sharing their feelings on the proposed project.

Along Hendricks Avenue near the intersection of RiverPlace Boulevard, there is a banner hanging that reads: “Say No to Self-Storage in San Marco!”

A blueprint of the storage unit was revealed during Tuesday’s meeting, along with renderings.

It would have 10 floors for storage, shopping, parking and even apartments.

Neighbors who are fighting to stop the project say it would ruin the charm of the neighborhood, affect their safety, create traffic problems and take away walkability.

Jon Livingston, who lives in San Marco, spoke at the meeting.

“You want to believe that the government is doing the right thing for the constituents,” Livingston said. “But unfortunately, lobbyists are winning. So it is frustrating.”

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Livingston said he is disappointed by the board’s decision to move forward with the project.

“Think about what you want this future of Jacksonville to be,” he said. “Do you really want self-storage, something that you voted against in 2019 to not be in the area? Do you want that to be a new use for the area? This gives an open door to other self-storage units not only on the Southbank but also in downtown across the river. We really want to go down that road?”

Some are in favor of the facility and don’t think the project is as bad for the neighborhood as people are making it seem.

Allen Graetz, who spoke to News4JAX after last week’s Downtown Development Review Board meeting, is embracing the idea. He said this could be good for the area, especially the housing aspect to it.

“My concern is that we have those components so that people can enjoy being able to walk to everything that they want to walk to,” Graetz said. “I walk to the office. I walk to the grocery store. It’s great and I want others to enjoy that.”

The city council will have the final say. It is unclear when that vote might happen.

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Are you a Masters collector? This year's souvenirs are already selling on eBay, Facebook

The 2024 Masters Tournament is a day old, but everything from gnomes and jewelry to jackets and mugs from this year's line-up of souvenirs are already being re-sold online.

Here are some of the most expensive items up for auction on eBay from this year's collection of merchandise as of Thursday:

• Mignonne Gavigan charm bracelet with four bids up to $373.
• A pre-sale of this year's collectible gnome with six bids up to $315.
• Set of five various hats with one bid up to about $250.
• Branded XXL navy performance hoodie with three bids up to $207.50.
• Branded XXL green sweatshirt with 16 bids up to $172.50.

Live Masters traffic updates: Thursday closures, wrecks in Augusta

Monday's practice round was particularly unique as it featured a partial solar eclipse overhead. While it was not a total eclipse resulting in darkened skies, it was visible to those with the proper equipment. That's why the Augusta National had branded eclipse glasses available for the patrons.

Since then, the glasses have appeared on various re-sale sites being sold individually, in sets, and as part of Masters gift bundles. The prices vary from about $50 to $250. These may prove to be an especially rare find as t he next eclipse won't be visible or coincide with the Masters for more than 20 years .

These sales come from across the nation, but plenty of Augusta-area residents are selling new merchandise from this year. Here are some of the more expensive items up for sale on Facebook Marketplace from the area:

• Amen Corner teddy bear from North Augusta for $900.
• This year's collectible gnome from Augusta for $350.
• Ladies large, branded zip-up jacket from Jackson, S.C., for $250.
• An XL scoreboard-style polo from Augusta for $220.
• The latest edition of the 1,000-piece Masters puzzle from Jackson, S.C., for $99.

Because the Augusta National Pro Shop is only open for a limited time to those allowed through the gates, many of these items can be and are being sold at large mark-ups. The retail price of the full-sized garden gnome is about $50. The clothes have a range of prices. The eclipse glasses were given out for free. So, if you're a Masters collector and couldn't make it to the pro shop, make sure you budget properly.