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How to Start an eBay Business: 15 Things to Know
Rieva Lesonsky covers small-business trends, employment and leadership advice. She is the CEO of GrowBiz Media, a media company specializing in small business and entrepreneurship. Before GrowBiz Media, Rieva was the editorial director at Entrepreneur Magazine.
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .
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.
LLC Formation
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.
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.
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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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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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!
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How To Sell On eBay In 2024
Updated: Feb 26, 2024, 2:00pm
Table of Contents
Why sell on ebay, how to sell on ebay, ebay selling tips and strategies, exploring ebay’s fees, bottom line, frequently asked questions (faqs).
eBay is one of the oldest and most recognized e-commerce platforms on the internet. Hundreds of millions of buyers flock to the site each year, spending billions on all kinds of items, from yachts and baseball cards to handmade scarves and running shoes.
But eBay is also a highly competitive marketplace, which makes it difficult for sellers to stand out from the crowd. The platform might make it easy for sellers to create listings and boost their odds of making sales, but there is a science to creating the ideal listing and beating the competition. In this article, we will explain how to sell on eBay and provide advice and best practices to help you maximize your sales on the platform.
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There are about 132 million eBay buyers worldwide and 100 million visitors to the site each month. The platform accounts for about 5% of all online sales, which represents billions of dollars in sales each year. Compared to Amazon , these numbers are paltry. But when you compare the cost of doing business on eBay vs. Amazon, eBay takes a significantly smaller cut than Amazon. On top of that, eBay isn’t competing with resellers on its platform the way Amazon does with its own Amazon Basics line.
Margins aside, you have to take your customers’ preferences into consideration. Not everyone wants to buy from Amazon (or from other platforms). Selling on eBay, along with every other relevant e-commerce platform, such as Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, should be part of your business strategy. By not selling on eBay, you could miss out on a certain percentage of buyers.
Particular types of sellers—such as those dealing in collectibles, rare items or anything that would (likely) fetch the highest price at auction—also stand to benefit from leveraging eBay. It’s not just that eBay can help you maximize the value of your items through an auction format—it’s that it’s the place where most consumers know to go to find such items. In other words, listing these items on eBay can help maximize the number of interested buyers, even if total user and sales volumes are lower.
To get started selling on eBay, you need an eBay account, a bank or PayPal account and something that people want to buy.
Set Up an Account
You don’t have to jump through hoops or upload documents to set up an account. But before you get started, you should familiarize yourself with eBay’s rules and regulations and make sure that you are allowed to list your item on eBay:
- Create your account: For a personal account, simply enter your first and last name and your email address. If you are using eBay as a digital storefront for your business, then you’ll have to sign up for a business account. Once you’ve registered your account, eBay will email you a link with a code to verify your account.
- Create a username: After you’ve verified your account, you’ll be asked to create a username. You can skip this step during initial setup, which provides you additional time to think of an eye-catching username. Keep in mind that certain terms cannot be included in your username, such as eBay or administrator, for example.
- Link your payment method: eBay can be linked to a PayPal account, checking account or credit/debit card. If you are signing up for a personal account, then the process is complete. You can start listing (and buying) items on eBay.
- Register as a business seller: If you are setting up a business account, then the last step is to provide eBay with business details, such as your employer identification number (EIN), stakeholder information and banking information. The process is wizard-driven and takes between 10 and 15 minutes to complete, depending on your business’s size and structure, according to eBay.
Create a Listing
Creating a listing is a simple process: enter product information, set your price and price format (fixed or auction), select which shipping options are available, define return policies and tell eBay how you’d like to be paid. eBay offers a lot of useful information and suggestions throughout the creation process to help you optimize your listing.
The important thing to keep in mind when you create your listing is to be as descriptive as you possibly can. Leave no field empty. Include all the keywords that buyers use to find your item. Add a lot of pictures and videos to highlight important features and to assure buyers of the item’s condition. Provide as many details as possible in the description. Remember, your listing needs to stand out from the thousands of others for items like yours.
- Start your listing: Once you’ve navigated to the start your listing page , enter product information, including the brand, model and other pertinent details. For example, if you are selling a digital camera, then you’d want to add the ISBN, UPC, manufacturer, series and model name of the product. eBay will recommend items based on the text you enter.
- Find a match: eBay will present you with items from its product library. You can provide additional details to refine the search. Once you find the item you want to list, you select the condition of your item (“new,” “open box,” “used” or “for parts or not working”) and click “Continue to listing.” If your product is listed in the product library, then eBay will be able to prefill a lot of the information in the listing and provide stock images.
- Title and item specifics: eBay provides you with a suggested listing title based on the information you provided thus far in the process. If your item wasn’t in eBay’s product library, then you’ll need to enter that information manually. eBay will “rate” your title based on its length and remind you to include details, such as brand, color, size, condition and so on. Your title is your chance to make a first impression—make it count.
- Add pictures and a description: You can add up to 24 images and videos to your listing and create a stylized description. eBay provides you with a stock image if you can find your item in its product library. You should add images and videos to highlight special features and ensure buyers of the product’s condition. The description can be stylized using different fonts, font sizes, bulleted lists and more. Artificial intelligence (AI)-generated descriptions can be created with one click.
- Pricing: eBay recommends selling format and listing price based on the item you’re listing. You can adjust the format manually and allow potential buyers to make an offer (you can set a minimum price). eBay lets you see how other sellers have priced your item in the past 90 days, which can be useful in determining the ideal price point for your listing. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on competitors’ pricing when determining your own.
- Shipping: You can select up to two domestic and one international shipping provider for each listing. Sellers define who is responsible for shipping costs. Providing free shipping is a good strategy for attracting more customers, but it can also cut into your margins. This can be offset by pricing the cost of shipping into your list price. You can also allow for local pickup so buyers in your area can come retrieve the item for you (all payments are handled on eBay).
- Payment options: When you create a listing, eBay automatically adds credit/debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover Card and American Express are supported, albeit not on every listing), Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal payment options. Depending on your category and location, you can also accept checks, money orders, cash on pick up and wire transfers.
- Listing preferences: The last thing to do is configure your handling time (you can offer between same day and three business days), confirm your location information and set your return policy. You can put a time limit on returns (14, 30 or 60 days) and define who is responsible for shipping costs in the event of a return.
eBay is an inherently competitive marketplace and finding an edge on the platform is very difficult. There is a learning curve to creating the ideal listing and finding the magic price point to maximize the number of buyers you attract. Once you find a strategy that works, it’s not guaranteed that it will work forever (or for long). Succeeding in online marketplaces requires constant evolution.
Set Up an eBay Store
eBay Stores enables you to aggregate all your listings in a branded page and comes with additional tools to help you build your brand and reach more customers. For example, you can create and distribute newsletters, run sales and provide coupons to maintain constant connection with customers and drive repeat business. eBay Store subscribers also have access to discounted eBay-branding shipping supplies and preferred rates for selling fees.
One of the biggest advantages that come with the eBay Store subscription is access to Terapeak Sourcing Insights . Available to all eBay Store (Basic and above) subscribers, this tool provides you with real-world sales data on all eBay categories so you can optimize your strategy.
eBay Stores aren’t for everyone. If you don’t list a lot of items each month or don’t have a lot of different items listed at a given time, then an eBay Store won’t be necessary.
Leverage eBays Partner Programs
Over the years, eBay has developed different programs to help sellers overcome trust, shipping and payment problems inherent to ecommerce platforms:
- eBay Guaranteed Delivery ensures that items will arrive within a specific time frame or customers receive financial compensation. Fast shipping is an important factor for eBay buyers, so qualifying for and participating in this program can help bring more buyers to your listings and increase the probability of making a sale.
- eBay International Shipping simplifies selling internationally for United States-based sellers. The program “handles international shipping, customs clearance, tracking and post-transaction requests and return,” according to eBay.
- eBay Academy is a free learning program that helps sellers learn how to get the most out of the platform. Think of it as a guided tutorial that introduces you to all the tools and features that eBay has to offer and the best practices for leveraging it.
eBay makes money from “selling fees” (insertion fees on the front end and final value fees on the backend) and add-on programs that enhance the seller’s experience within the platform, such as eBay Stores. Selling fees vary, depending on your conduct and performance on the platform, the listing format and category, the item’s price and add-ons. Programs, such as eBay Stores, also vary in price depending on the tier you purchase.
Understanding eBay’s fee structures can help you determine which type of account and what type of programs you should take advantage of. For example, if you list a lot of items every month and make a lot of sales, then you might want to pay for an eBay Stores subscription. If you have an international clientele, it might make sense to leverage eBay International Shipping.
Insertion Fees
Every eBay user is allotted 250 “zero insertion fee listings” each month. After those are exhausted, customers must pay an insertion fee of 35 cents for every item they list (or relist). Insertion fees are nonrefundable and sellers are charged whether the listed item is sold or not. Keep in mind that if you list an item in more than one category or post duplicate listings, then you must pay the insertion fee for each category or duplicate listing.
There are additional insertion fees for optional listing upgrades, such as increased listing durations, using bold text, including subtitles, listing a reserve price and more. These upgrades range from a few cents to a few dollars but can make the difference between a buyer selecting your item over a competitor’s.
Final Value Fees
Final value fees are charged at the point of sale (POS). The cost of final value fees vary depending on the listing’s category, price and your performance and conduct on the platform. In general, you pay 30 cents plus a percentage—usually between 10% and 15%, according to eBay—of the total amount of the sale (includes the item price, shipping and handling charges and sales tax).
eBay Stores
eBay Store fees vary by tier and payment plan. Not only does an eBay Store subscription unlock additional tools to manage and promote your business within eBay, but it also increases the number of zero insertion fee listings each month, lowers insertion fees for additional listings and lowers your final values fee on each sale.
- Starter: $7.95 per month or $4.95 per month when you sign up for a year
- Basic: $27.95 per month or $21.95 per month when you sign up for a year
- Premium: $74.95 per month or $56.95 per month when you sign up for a year
- Anchor: $349.95 per month or $299.95 per month when you sign up for a year
- Enterprise: $2,999.95 per month; this tier is only available with a one-year commitment
While getting started on eBay and creating listings is very simple, outperforming the competition isn’t. There is a learning curve that comes with establishing your brand, crafting the perfect listing, finding the ideal price point and understanding and adjusting to constantly changing customer and market trends. But if you can crack the code, then eBay can be a fruitful platform for your online business (or just for clearing closet space).
What does it cost to sell on eBay?
The cost of selling on eBay is minimal. The first 250 listings are free and only cost 35 cents per listing thereafter. From there, sellers can expect to pay between 10% and 15% of the total sale value.
Is selling on eBay worth it?
Selling on eBay is certainly worth your time and effort. The cost to list items is minimal—if not free—and all the significant fees are levied if and when your product sells. The cost to sell on eBay is also lower than other platforms, such as Amazon.
Who pays for shipping on eBay?
The seller dictates which party is responsible for the cost of shipping when they create the listing. The seller can choose to cover the cost of shipping or pass the costs on to the buyer. Shipping costs can be based on the calculated rate or pay a flat rate. With the former, customers pay the estimated cost of shipping based on buyers’ locations and the weight and dimensions of the package. With the latter, buyers pay a flat fee set by the seller when they create the listing.
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Lee Davis is a tech analyst who has been covering the document imaging industry for over five years. Currently, Lee is the Associate Director of Software and Scanners at Keypoint Intelligence, where he is responsible for maintaining coverage of document imaging software and office scanning technology. Lee also contributes editorial content centered on news and trends in the document imaging industry.
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For enterprise sellers who have an extensive product catalog or are running a business that would benefit from dedicated customer support. $2,999.95/mo. with annual subscription. 100,000 /mo. Free fixed-price listings. 5¢ insertion fee for additional listing. 2,500 /mo. Free auction listings in select categories.
Third Party Providers on eBay offer services like inventory management and eCommerce platforms to help you run your eBay business more efficiently. Their services complement the existing functionality on eBay and can be used to unlock more potential for your business. Access more resources.
The eBay app. Manage your business on the go with our app. Control listings, fulfill orders, respond to buyers, and more from anywhere, at any time. Open your store on eBay. Pick a storefront plan that works best for your business needs to start building out your brand on eBay. Open store.
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 ...
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.
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. Start your eBay business right with this eBay business plan template to manage cash flow, measure objectives, stay proactive, and impress potential investors.
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.
Register as a business seller: If you are setting up a business account, then the last step is to provide eBay with business details, such as your employer identification number (EIN), stakeholder ...
FREE business consultation: Save money, optimize your strategy, boost sales! • The eBay Seller Development team helps sellers grow—we want you to succeed! • New Businesses on eBay—Download the New Business Seller Guide • Take your sales to the next level—Download the Advanced Business Seller Guide
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. Find out more about shops.
2. Why produce a business plan • To aid and support the business vision • To have a clear idea of the future direction and business purpose • To keep ahead of competition • As a selling document if seeking funds • Keep it short and simple, be realistic and honest. Start with an outline. 3. Business Plan Format 1. Business description
Seller News. Announcements. Seller Update Archive. 2022 Fall Seller Update; 2022 Spring Seller Update; 2022 Winter Seller Update; 2021 Fall Seller Update; 2021 Spring Seller Update; 2020 Fall Seller Update; 2020 Spring Seller Update; What's New. Seller Check-In. Buying & Selling. Selling. Shipping. Buying. Payments. Returns. Seller Tools. iOS ...
eBay is the go-to destination for buying and selling refurbished inventory. Sellers who qualify for the program can sell refurbished products that meet a variety of different condition requirements (Certified, Excellent, Very Good, and Good). Your buyers can shop with confidence on eBay knowing they can find fully functional refurbished ...
hell community , I want to register my self as seller tell me the process what documents are required
This fee is calculated based on the total amount of the sale, including the cost of the item and shipping, sales tax, and other applicable fees. Category. Final value fee % + per order fee. Most categories (exceptions apply). 13.25% on total amount of the sale up to $7,500 calculated per item. 2.35% on the portion of the sale over $7,500.
eBay's job is, and has always been, to seamlessly connect buyers and sellers. Our position as a marketplace is one of the things I love most about being here, and I believe that marketplaces like ours are best positioned to deliver what today's consumer wants. But in today's intensely competitiv...
If you're a business seller, you may be eligible to receive funding through eBay Seller Capital to help you grow and run your business. eBay Seller Capital | eBay 829830647595 88bc3fc5-1730-499e-bb1f-a40bd62ad9c3:1907626f322 19997
respected sir/madam, i have some doubts about the form. 1.User deatails -i dont have any registered company.Please suggest me what should i fill in the column -Company Name. 2.Business plan -in point no.4 ,what are SKU's?
Running your business. Grow your brand and improve your business efficiency with a new messaging experience in the eBay app, more help reducing unpaid items, and updates to how feedback is collected and displayed. Home. Resources. Seller Updates. 2022 Winter Spring Update.
Women in Business: 'We don't get ... Under the current pricing plan, practical driving tests cost £62 during weekday daytimes and £75 during evenings, weekends, and bank holidays. 10:35:21.
Simply list items in a different category. If 'change business plan' you mean a different sign on, you can create a new account. You can also change this account from 'personal' to 'business' by simply changing in the 'account' tab. Message 2 of 3. latest reply.
Help & contact. Announcements. Community. Feedback. Find the information and inspiration you need to start selling and grow your business on eBay. Everything you need is here in the eBay Seller Center.
I'm new to ebay and managed to gain bronze PS (1.5 yrs selling); I'm trying to build out a business plan. So I understand listing activity (new items for sell) per week, Sell thru Rate of items (40% or greater), and profit per item are the foundations to a strong business. I'm struggling with how ma...
hello team,i don't konw about business plan.please tell me about the business plan and i want to increase my sell limit.help me for this.