Should You Start a Reselling Business Out of Your Small Home?
If you found this site, chances are good that you live in an apartment or condo and are thinking about starting an Ebay or other reselling business out of your home. Maybe you’ve seen some reseller videos on YouTube or TikTok and thought, “Hey, I could do that.” Well, you totally can. I started selling on Ebay about six months ago, and have already made nearly $3,000 in sales. Are there people out there making way more than that? Definitely. But I’ve taken a slow and steady growth attitude, and it’s paying off. I want that for you, too, and will show you on this blog exactly how I’m doing it.
Reselling can be a great way to make extra money, declutter your home, or even build a full-time business. But before you dive in, there are a few real-world things to think about. Here are some things you’ll want to consider.
What do you want to get out of a resale business?
There are several reasons why you might want to start a resale business. You might simply want to earn some extra cash. Maybe you already have a large number of items related to a hobby, like video games or records that you want to get rid of. Or you might be dream of being able to give up your day job. and be thinking about making reselling a full time gig. All of these are good reasons to start a reselling business, but it’s important to get clear on your reason before you take any action.
You’ll need space (and a system).
Even if you’re selling small things like clothing or collectibles, inventory adds up fast. Before you start, figure out where you’ll store everything (you can expand on your storage spaces as your inventory grows, as I did).
Do you have a closet, shelving unit, or under-bed bins you can dedicate to inventory?
Can you keep your items organized and easy to find once they sell?
A messy setup turns into chaos quickly - trust me, I speak from experience! A clear system - like labeling bins and keeping a spreadsheet of what’s where - will save you a lot of frustration. I wrote more about how I have found storage spaces around my condo here. I also use a tool called FlipWise to keep track of where I store things.
Where will you source items to sell?
You need to have a long term plan for finding inventory. Maybe you are a thrifting enthusiast, or you love to hit up yard sales. Or maybe you have a large, readymade inventory of CDs, video games or comic books that you want to unload. You can also sell items you have lying around your home! I have sold my kids’ old clothes and toys, as well as my own sunglasses and some unused office supplies. Mostly, though, I buy my inventory from thrift stores and the occasional estate sale.
I see large resellers talk about buying pallets of items and bulk buying at flea markets, etc. They seem to make a lot of money doing those things. But the reality is that when you live in a small home, you can only store so much inventory. Chances are that you are not ready to rent a storage space for your business, and if you’re like me, you never will.
The truth is that there is room in the reselling world for all sizes of seller, and we small home dwellers can absolutely find success! But you have to have a long term plan for restocking your inventory.
Listing takes time.
Sourcing is the fun part, but then you have to actually list your items! This is where many people fall short. Each item has to be photographed, measured, described, and priced - and that takes longer than most people think. The last thing you want is for your inventory items to end up in a messy pile that sits, untouched, forever.
So ask yourself … do you have the discipline to consistently list your items? Setting up systems helps. You can set up systems for photographing, listing, labeling and storing your items, but it ultimately takes discipline to do it. The difference between people who make money reselling and those who don’t often comes down to having the discipline to actually list their items consistently over time.
And listing doesn’t have to take a ton of time. Many successful resellers spend 30-60 minutes per day listing items. I have a goal of listing three items per day, and that takes me about 30 minutes. But the trick is to be consistent.
There is a learning curve.
You won’t be successful right away. You’ll have to put effort into learning what sells and how to price items, determine your shipping costs, take good photos, source shipping materials, and more. Are you the kind of person who can learn from mistakes and be nimble? Are you perseverant or easily discouraged?
All of this matters when deciding whether to start a reselling business. Just like with any other business, you’ll have to make adjustments as you go. The average person quits selling on Ebay after three months. But in order to find success, you have to be willing to treat every challenge as a lesson, adopt a growth mindset, and just keep going.
Final thoughts
Starting an eBay reselling business is absolutely doable - even from a tiny condo or apartment. The key is to start slow, stay organized, and treat it like a work-in-progress. You’ll make mistakes, but you’ll also learn what sells, what doesn’t, and what kind of business you want to build.
If you’re still excited after reading this, that’s a good sign. You’ve got the curiosity and motivation that make for a great reseller.