How Much Do Resellers Make a Year (And What It Really Takes to Get There)

The Real Numbers Behind “How Much Do Resellers Make a Year”

Back in March 2021, I sold a vintage Patagonia fleece for $127 on eBay. It was my first big flip. And honestly, it felt like hitting the jackpot. But here’s where it gets interesting: that single sale didn’t define the year. What defined it was the pattern that emerged when I analyzed 300+ transactions—20% of the inventory made up 80% of my profit.

Based on my experience and peer reports (from marketplaces like eBay, Poshmark, and Depop), annual reseller income breaks down roughly like this:

Tier	Experience	Annual Revenue	Net Profit (Est.)	Typical Tools Used
Beginner	0–1 year	$15K–$40K	$5K–$15K	Linktree Pro Plan, Google Sheets
Intermediate	2–3 years	$40K–$90K	$20K–$45K	Closo Crosslister, Shopify
Advanced / Full-time	3+ years	$90K–$200K+	$50K–$120K	Lister Connect, Airtable, ShipStation

Note: These numbers reflect net, not gross, which matters far more than people admit.

How to Do Reselling (And Actually Make It Sustainable)

I’ll be blunt: reselling isn’t passive. In 2022, I overbought inventory—$4,000 worth of mid-range sneakers that moved slower than expected. That mistake tied up capital for three months. But it also forced me to systematize. That’s where marketplace listing services saved me.

Here’s the flow I use now:

Niche down – focus on 2–3 product categories with proven sell-through rates.
List fast – I use Closo and Lister Connect to post to eBay, Poshmark, and Mercari simultaneously.
Automate the boring parts – pricing updates, delisting, and relisting are automated.
Track data weekly – (I used to do this manually, now it’s mostly automated).

And, most importantly—avoid overestimating your margins. Shipping, fees, taxes, and returns eat at your bottom line more than you’d think.

Here’s Where It Gets Interesting: Real Income Depends on Strategy

People always ask me, “Can I make six figures reselling part-time?”

Short answer: possible. But not easy.

When I started in 2021, I spent 12–15 hours/week sourcing and listing. I made about $2,700/month gross by Q4 that year. By Q2 of 2023, I’d doubled that with the same time commitment—but I wasn’t listing manually anymore. Using Closo’s marketplace listing services and dynamic pricing features, I pushed my high-margin items faster.

Common Question I See: What’s the “Best” Marketplace to Start On?

Here’s something everyone wants to know: there isn’t a single “best” platform. It depends on your niche.

eBay – Best for electronics, vintage, collectibles.
Poshmark – Great for fashion and shoes.
Facebook Marketplace – Ideal for local flips.
Mercari – Good for lightweight consumer goods.
Shopify – Excellent for scaling your own storefront.

Personally, eBay brought me 60% of my total sales volume in 2022, but Poshmark had better margins per item. I use Linktree Pro Plan to centralize everything for buyers, and it’s honestly underrated for branding.

A Brutally Honest Look at Failure (and What It Taught Me)

I’ll admit something: In late 2022, I bought 80 pairs of clearance sneakers. They were supposed to net $50 per pair. They didn’t. Only 40 pairs sold. Twenty were returned. Ten got scuffed in storage. That $4,000 mistake taught me two things:

Volume doesn’t equal profit.
Automation doesn’t save a bad buy.

I bounced back because I used Closo to identify high-sell-through items before restocking. By early 2023, I was back in the black.

Scaling with Systems (and Why Automation Matters More Than You Think)

When resellers ask me how I scaled past $100K, I don’t talk about hustle. I talk about systems.

Here’s my stack:

Closo Crosslister – cross-listing and inventory sync
Lister Connect – bulk listing
Linktree Pro Plan – buyer funnel and contact hub
Airtable – product tracking
ShipStation – shipping automation

These tools save me about 8–10 hours a week, which means I can focus on sourcing smart inventory. I even use Closo to automate pricing markdowns—saves me about 3 hours weekly.

Another Common Question: Can You Make This a Full-Time Income?

Yes—but.

I left my corporate job in September 2023, and my annualized net that year was $96,000. But I also dealt with burnout twice and had to rethink how I ran the business. Profit is one thing. Stability is another.

If you treat reselling like a structured business, not a side hustle, six figures is doable. If not? You’ll plateau fast.

Honest Numbers from Other Sellers I Know

James (California) – $74K/year net on sneakers and apparel. 4 years in. Uses Closo and Shopify.
Marissa (Florida) – $42K/year part-time flipping kitchenware. Uses Lister Connect.
Dev (New York) – $128K/year, full-time electronics. Heavy on eBay and Facebook Marketplace.

Their common thread? They all track margins closely and automate aggressively.

Authentic and Naturally Linked Resources

For a deeper dive into setting up systems, check out the Closo Seller Hub. It’s where I learned to structure my listings efficiently.

Conclusion: A Realistic Look at Reseller Income

So, how much do resellers make a year? Most of us earn between $40K and $120K net, with a few hitting $200K+. But it takes time, mistakes, and smart systems.

My honest take: you can make great money reselling, but only if you approach it like a real business. I wouldn’t trade it for my old job, but I also wouldn’t pretend it’s effortless.

If you’re ready to scale faster, I use Closo to automate cross-listing, pricing, and inventory—and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made.