I still remember the exact moment I realized that "junk" was subjective. It was late 2017, and I was holding a vintage TI-83 Plus graphing calculator I had found in a cardboard box at a garage sale. The sticker price was $2. I knew from my college days that these things were practically indestructible currency. I bought it, took two photos on my kitchen counter,and listed it on eBay. It sold twenty minutes later for $45.
That $43 profit margin didn't just pay for my lunch; it completely rewired how I looked at physical objects. Suddenly,every clearance aisle, thrift store rack, and dusty attic looked like a potential bank account. Reselling isn't just about commerce; it is about arbitrage—the art of finding value where others see none. If you are looking for a side hustle that requires zero permission and very little startup capital, this is it.
How to Start a Reselling Business Online (The Foundation)
When people search for how to start a reselling business, they often imagine they need an LLC, a warehouse, and a wholesale license immediately. You don't. You need a phone and a verified address.
The beauty of this business model is the low barrier to entry. However, that low barrier means competition is fierce. To succeed, you need to treat it like a job, not a lottery ticket.
The "Free Inventory" Phase
Here is where it gets interesting... The biggest mistake new sellers make is spending money before they make money. Do not go to the thrift store yet. Go to your closet.
I started by selling a pair of boots that hurt my feet and a textbook from a class I barely passed. This phase is crucial because it teaches you how to become a reseller without financial risk. You learn how to photograph, how to weigh packages, and how to deal with customer questions. If you mess up and lose money on shipping (which you will), it is better to lose it on a free item than one you paid $50 for.
My Honest Failure: In my first month, I sold a heavy wool coat for $30. I guessed the shipping weight was 2 lbs. It was 5 lbs. The shipping cost me $22. After fees, I made about $4. I essentially paid a stranger to take my coat. I never guessed on weight again.
Best Items to Resell for Profit
Once you have exhausted your own house, you need to source. Knowing the best items to resell is the difference between a hobby and a business.
Clothing and Soft Goods
This is the most accessible category. Look for brands with a cult following. I always look for "outdoor" gear like Patagonia, The North Face, and Carhartt.
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Why: They hold value and are easy to ship (they don't break).
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What to avoid: Fast fashion (Shein, H&M, Forever 21). The resale value is practically zero.
Electronics and "Hard Goods"
These are often the best items to resell for profit because the margins are higher.
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Remote Controls: It sounds boring, but original Sony or Panasonic remotes sell instantly to people who lost theirs.
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Discontinued Tech: VCRs, DVD recorders, and cassette decks.
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Video Games: Even loose discs can fetch a good price if they are rare titles.
(Parenthetical aside: I once found a copy of NCAA Football 14 for Xbox 360 at a thrift store for $3. I didn't know anything about sports games, but I scanned it. It sold for $75 because it was the last college football game made for a decade.)
How to Start Reselling on Amazon
Eventually, you might want to graduate from eBay to the big leagues. Learning how to start reselling on Amazon is a different beast entirely.
Amazon is not a flea market; it is a catalog. You aren't creating a listing; you are attaching your offer to an existing product page. This is usually done through "Retail Arbitrage" (buying new items at stores like Walmart or Target and selling them on Amazon).
The Gating Issue Now the tricky part... Amazon "gates" (restricts) many brands. You can't just sell Nike or LEGO on Day 1. You have to prove you are a legitimate seller.
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Start with books: Used books are rarely gated and are the classic entry point for Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon).
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Get Ungated: You can eventually get approved for big brands by buying 10 units from a legitimate wholesaler and submitting the invoice to Amazon.
Opinion Statement: I believe Amazon FBA is high-risk, high-reward. If you send 500 units to their warehouse and they decide to ban your account for a vague policy violation, your inventory is held hostage. I prefer eBay and Poshmark because I control my own stock.
The Niche Strategy: How to Start Reselling AirPods
I see this specific query constantly: how to start reselling AirPods. It makes sense. They are high-demand, small, and expensive.
However, this is arguably the most dangerous niche for a beginner.The Counterfeit Problem: The market is flooded with "Super Fakes" that look identical to real Apple products. If you sell a fake pair on eBay or Amazon, you will be banned for life. No appeal.
If you are determined to resell these, you have two safer options:
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Refurbishing: Buy broken authentic pairs, clean them, and sell them as "parts only" or replacements.
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Replacement Parts: There is a massive market for just the left earbud or just the charging case. People lose one piece all the time.
My Experience: I bought a "lot" of returned electronics in 2019 that included three pairs of AirPods. Two were fake. I could tell because the serial number on the box didn't match the one in the settings menu when I paired them. I had to throw them away. That was a $150 lesson in due diligence.
Sourcing: Where to Find Good Items to Resell
You can't sell if you don't buy. Here are my top sources for resell items.
The Bins (Goodwill Outlet)
This is the final stop for donations before the landfill. Items are sold by the pound (usually around $1.59/lb).
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Pros: Extremely cheap cost of goods.
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Cons: It is chaotic, dirty, and competitive. Wear gloves.
Garage Sales
The classic goldmine.
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Strategy: Go early. Ask "Do you have any video games?" immediately.
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Negotiation: Cash is king. Bundle items to get a better deal. "Will you take $10 for this entire box of toys?"
Online Arbitrage
Buying from one website to sell on another. I often buy items on Mercari (where prices are lower) and flip them on eBay (where prices are higher).
I use Closo to automate cross-listing my inventory – saves me about 3 hours weekly. When I buy something online to flip,I need to get it listed on multiple platforms as fast as possible to maximize exposure. Closo handles the tedious data entry so I can focus on finding the next deal.
Essential Tools to Become a Reseller
You don't need much, but a few tools will save your sanity.
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Shipping Scale: I use an Accuteck scale. It goes up to 50lbs. Never guess weight.
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Thermal Printer: A Rollo or Zebra printer. It prints labels on sticky paper without ink. It is an investment ($100-$180), but taping paper labels to boxes gets old very fast.
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Scotty Peeler: A plastic blade for removing price stickers without damaging the box. Essential for books and board games.
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Google Lens: The most powerful app on your phone. Point your camera at a weird vase or an unknown tool, and it will tell you what it is and what it's selling for.
Honest Failures: The "Death Pile"
Every reseller has a secret shame called the "Death Pile." This is inventory you bought but haven't listed. It sits in the corner of your room, mocking you.
I have a bin of vintage t-shirts from 2021 that I still haven't processed because they need to be washed and measured.The Lesson: Sourcing is fun. Listing is work. If your death pile gets too big, stop buying. You are not a reseller; you are a hoarder. Force yourself to list everything before you go to the thrift store again.
Understanding Sell-Through Rate
This is the most technical concept you need to know. Just because an item is listed for $100 doesn't mean it's worth $100.You need to check the Sold Listings.
If there are 500 active listings for a "Beanie Baby" at $100, but only 1 has sold in the last 90 days for $5, that item is worthless.Good items to resell have a high sell-through rate. You want items that sell fast.
My Rule: I generally don't buy anything unless I see that at least 50% of the active supply has sold in the last 90 days, or if the profit margin is so huge ($5 into $100) that I'm willing to wait a year for it to sell.
People Always Ask Me...
How much money do I need to start?
You can start with $0 if you sell things from your house. If you want to go sourcing, $50 is plenty for a first thrift store trip.Common question I see... "Do I need a business license?" Technically, yes, eventually. But for your first few sales on eBay, you are usually fine operating as a sole proprietor under your own name. (Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer/accountant; check your local laws).
Is reselling legal?
Yes. The First Sale Doctrine in the US allows you to resell almost anything you legally bought. Brands might try to bully you, but you have the right to sell your property.
How to Start a Reselling Business Online: The Listing Workflow
The bottleneck of this business is getting items online.
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Prep: Clean the item. Remove stickers.
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Photo: Clear, bright light. Show flaws.
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Draft: Write a title packed with keywords. "Men's Nike Hoodie Large Black Swoosh Pullover."
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Cross-Post: Don't just rely on one platform.
I use Closo to automate the cross-listing process – saves me about 3 hours weekly. It allows me to create a listing on eBay and then instantly clone it to Poshmark and Depop. This triples my visibility without triple the work.
Conclusion
Learning how to start reselling is the best business school you can attend for free. It teaches you market research,negotiation, logistics, customer service, and accounting.
It is not passive income. It is active work. There will be days when you drive home empty-handed and days when a buyer claims you sent them an empty box. But there is also the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction of turning a $5 bill into a $100 bill.
Start small. Start with what you have. And please, buy a scale.
If you want to dive deeper into the specific platforms to see which one fits your style, check out my breakdown of the Seller Hub to compare the pros and cons of each marketplace.
And if you are leaning towards fashion and vintage, my guide on Selling on Depop will help you navigate that specific audience.
