A lot of people looking to start a side hustle today and considering setting up an eBay business don’t know what to sell on the platform, these eBay business ideas will give you some options to consider.
It is no secret that many businesses, such as home-based businesses, successful businesses, and small businesses, have either moved their business online or want to because it provides a larger audience, giving their products as much visibility as possible worldwide market.
In 2022, just about anyone can set up an online store to provide goods and make some money while doing it from the comfort of their home.
Thanks to online marketplaces like eBay and Amazon, the process has become even more convenient and inclusive as these platforms provide services that do the heavy lifting for their sellers in exchange for a fee.
eBay is an e-commerce platform that connects buyers with sellers of almost any legal product, from hair pins and clips to cars, gadgets, and even artwork.
Who is eligible to sell on eBay? Anyone from companies to individuals can set up an eBay account and eBay store and start making extra money.
This blog post gives you 39 plus 1 profitable business ideas to consider when starting a new business on eBay. Most of these businesses are home-based business, so you don’t need to rent an extra space till you grow very big.
You also don’t need a business plan in the traditional sense. Read our post about how to start an eBay business in 2022
Before we give our suggestions on eBay business ideas, let’s take a look at some of the stats that should interest you. These stats should give you more information to consider when taking your next steps.
One thing to point out is the number of people selling on eBay. eBay has over 19 million eBay sellers registered. This means that there will be competition; however, it is important to note that there are many categories that these sellers spread out across.
There are about 159 million people active on eBay, with most based in the US. In 2021 eBay generated $10.8 billion in revenue and gross merchandising volume on eBay reached $100 billion in 2020.
There are a couple of things that you should know about before going into any of these business ideas.
One good thing about eBay is that they have guidelines that help prospective sellers have a good idea about the category they intend to enter.
There are three areas that you should understand.
These are some of the steps in selling any product on eBay.
The first product I suggest is used clothing. Yes, you read correctly; used clothing can be sold on eBay. All you need to do when listing your item is describe the necessary details of the clothing, like colour, size or brand, etc.
Because the clothing is used, it is important also to make a detailed description of the conditions of the clothes. For example, if there is a slight problem, like a shirt missing a button, you need to state that as honestly as possible, so the buyer doesn’t have any surprises; this helps build your online business and grow into a successful business.
Selling wholesale is one of the modules available to sellers on eBay, but how does it work?
Luxury items are good eBay listings. eBay experts put the items through multiple authenticity checks before sending them to the buyer.
So the first thing and most important thing to note is that your item must be authentic. Luxury items must also be pre-owned.
eBay Motors is available to those who want to sell cars on eBay. To sell a car on eBay, you should first gather important information about the vehicle and take clear and professional photos, which plays a big part in the selling process.
Next, you create your listings, which include a detailed description, price, and terms of sale. You can also manage your listing by adjusting the price to suit the market when necessary.
Selling books is another option for those seeking to sell on eBay. After creating your account, search for the book you want to sell on eBay search, edit the listing best suited to your product to suit your situation, upload a real professional photo of the item, and you’re ready to sell. It’s as simple as that.
Selling toys is another option you can consider. Toys are a popular niche that sells all year round as gifts for kids or even pets. List your item, describe it accurately and upload clear pictures and you are good to go.
One area to pay attention to if you want to sell auto parts is your listing. Use keywords in the title of your listing that would make the product easily searchable.
You have to make sure to add parts compatibility or fitment in the description, like the Years of production, Makes, Models, Trims, and Engines that your part fits, which makes it easy for buyers to find the right parts for their vehicle. eBay has a resource center for motor parts and accessories that you can visit to get in-depth info for this category.
Jewellery is a nice item to sell on eBay to make an extra buck. Whether it’s a piece of handmade jewellery used once or twice or a completely new item, you could list them and sell them on eBay.
The advantage of handmade jewellery is that you can sell one-in-a-kind pieces, which many buyers are looking for; potential customers want something they wouldn’t see out there, and handmade jewellery provides that.
Just as you can sell used clothing on eBay, you can also do the same to watches. So if you have a used Rolex watch or any other type of luxury watch, you can list them and sell them on eBay. Before being shipped, the watch would be checked for authenticity.
Selling your paintings on eBay could be for you if you are an artist and want to sell your work faster while having access to a worldwide audience.
Be sure to price your work correctly, and also make sure to describe in detail the painting, as this will play an important role in swaying your buyers. Make sure to put clear and attractive pictures of your work also.
The first thing to do when selling antiques is to confirm properly whether what you have is an antique or not.
An antique is usually an item with a value based on how old it is, usually about 100 years old. Vintage items, on the other hand, is an item that is about 20 years old. Therefore, it is very important to classify your item properly.
Check sites like replacements, kovels, or rubylane to find similar items and how much they sell. You can also search for similar items on eBay to give yourself a good overview of the pricing.
There are more strict rules for selling e-books on eBay. First, you can only sell e-books you own the copyright to; you wrote the book yourself, or you have purchased the copyright to the e-book.
There are different ways to list e-books on eBay. One is through eBay classifieds, which keeps your
ad up for as long as possible, or you can go through the regular listing method to sell your book.
Selling used phones is similar to selling any other used item. First, you must ensure that the item is in good condition. Then, describe the item accurately, like what brand, model, color, phone capacity, etc. A good description will ensure you only get positive feedback and not negative feedback
The first thing to note is that eBay prohibits selling used cosmetics because it may be prohibited or regulated by law, so you can only sell them if they are brand new. That said, it’s also important to know that cosmetics are a very high-selling niche online, which is a great way to make money.
Like any other clothing, you can also sell baby clothes on eBay and make money.
As always, you would want to take many clear pictures and give detailed descriptions of the clothes you intend to sell, like the type of cloth, size, sex, colour design, and so on.
If you are selling used clothes, you have to describe the item properly; if there are things to note, like how long it was used or if there is a slight fade somewhere, then you have to state it clearly to enable the buyer to trust you.
People tend to gravitate towards designer brands when it comes to shoes, so if that’s your thing, you can make some money. While listing shoes, make sure to state the brand design you are selling, state the size and take good pictures of the actual item to show it’s current condition; search other listings to know the set prices other sellers sell for to guide you in pricing, then you are good to go.
Many movie lovers enjoy watching DVDs and purchase them online, so if you have DVDs that you would want to get rid of, eBay is one of the best places to do so and make money off of them.
The best way to sell DVDs is to sell them in the lot because the prices of a single DVD are so low that it’s almost a waste of time. The number of DVDs per lot is dependent on you. You can also group them by Actors.
Holiday decorations are another good option to sell on eBay for birthdays, holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, for special days like weddings, anniversaries, etc.
People are always having one occasion or the other and would be on the lookout for decorations. Holiday decor is also something that would benefit from your creativity.
You can sell decors for multiple themes and list them accordingly. Do some research on current listings on eBay to give an idea about pricing and keywords for listing. Giving free shipping will give your item a huge boost.
Hair accessories like hair bands, hair clips, barrettes, etc., will be helpful to have the items in different colours and sizes to satisfy the demands of your audience.
With new gadgets coming out every year or even after a few months, we would like to get new gadgets that are still fairly ok to use. You can sell those used electronics for a fair price on eBay. Search for the UPC or model number on eBay to get an idea of pricing.
When it comes to perfumes, eBay has prohibited the sale of used perfumes, so if you want to venture into selling perfumes, it has to be brand new.
There are a couple of regulations worth checking before you list your item
Once that is out of the way, you have to check for pricing, then take an actual picture of the particular item you intend to sell. When listing a perfume, your title should include the brand name, fragrance name, size, and condition.
You can describe further info like fragrance scent in the details box.
Like anything designer, eBay has a system that confirms the authenticity of designs, so make sure the bags you list are confirmed as original before you list them.
When describing, you can mention the design and model, the colors, and the sizes available. Make sure to use a real picture of the item with a model to increase the appeal of the item.
If you have a stack of vinyl records for sale, you might be surprised by how much they sell on eBay. Records vary in price depending on the record type and how rare, and in demand the record is.
Therefore, you should appraise the item correctly to determine a fixed price before listing. eBay also has an auction option that you can use to earn even more on your record.
When selling wedding gowns, you must describe the item’s condition well. If there are any stains or tears on used gowns, you should mention them. It would help if you also mentioned the gown’s age and how long you had it. Check for prices online to be able to get an outline of how much it sells for.
One advantage of selling sunglasses is that it has a reasonably high-profit margins. The sunglasses market is huge and is ever-increasing in revenue yearly; anyone can tap into this market. In addition, you can make a lot of money by selling different styles, kinds, colors, and sunglasses brands.
You can list your equipment in a specific category or multiple categories on eBay, which increases visibility. Use keywords while listing exercise equipment to enable fast visibility. Search for the prices of similar products on the website. Consider listing a slightly lower price instead of a higher price to give your item a better chance.
Apart from stating the exact sizes and types of extensions and wigs, one key factor that would help sell is the pictures you upload. Try to use a model for your pictures. The clearer and more professional your picture is, the higher the chance it appeals to the buyers.
If you are an artist and would like to sell your art on eBay, there are a few things you should have to know. First, items like sculptures and carvings sell well on the seller’s reputation.
I can buy a belt from just about anyone, but I want to buy my art from someone with good ratings. So you would want to sell by building trust with your buyers.
When listing your art, make a detailed description of the piece and add the artist’s name. Use real pictures of the artwork in a good mockup space to attract buyers. Giving free shipping for your more expensive pieces would also be a plus.
As mentioned above, your listings are very important; they play a huge role in selling. When listing, make sure to state the size. Do not list a wallet as new if it has no tag; you must list it as pre-owned or gently used. When taking pictures, take real pictures both inside and outside of the wallet. Many buyers would love a good idea of what they buy without contacting the seller.
eBay has a few belt categories, be it men’s or women’s belts, vintage, designer, or cheap belts; they can all be sold on eBay. When selling belts, you have to state the type of belt, whether it’s a leather or braided belt or a men’s or women’s belt.
If you intend to sell designers, then you should state the designer brand. Make sure to take real pictures to help show how the item looks.
Home decor is a good option to sell on eBay as there are many different items that can fit this description, from paintings to flower vases or lamps and lighting. Be sure to describe the item properly and put up pictures showing it clearly.
When listing laptops, state the make and model, colour, size, operating system, etc. Also, state if it has been used, how long, and whether or not it comes with any accessories.
Be very honest in your description and take clear pictures of the actual item you are selling. You should also search for similar products to know the exact price it sells for, so you have a good idea of how much you should sell.
Key rings are used for holding keys to avoid them being misplaced; they also are used with key chains and other key accessories. When selling key rings, you must differentiate them in sizes and types to give the buyer a good idea of what they are buying. Because of how small they are, it is advisable to sell them in groups of tens, dozens, or more.
If you are a golf lover with a collection of golf clubs or want to sell pre-owned or new golf clubs, you can sell them on eBay. Golf clubs are known by brands, so be sure to state clearly the brand and the condition of the golf club you intend to sell.
Check other product listings of the type of club you intend to sell for the price to give you an idea of how much it’s going for.
Can you sell gift baskets on eBay? The answer is yes. You must get your creativity game on to sell gift baskets 100%. Buyers of gift baskets look first at the creativity and the thought that was put into it, so you have to do some research and be constantly on the lookout for ideas that will sell.
Gift baskets can be done for birthdays, dates, anniversaries, holidays like Christmas and thanksgiving, etc.
Make sure to take a photo of the items they will be getting and describe the thought that went into the idea and what each item represents. Regarding gift baskets, the sky is your limit; you can go as far as your imagination and creativity will take you.
Be sure to give room for requests from the buyers, as some buyers may want to make some changes or add one or two things to your idea.
A belt is something that everyone wears, so it makes it a good option to sell on eBay. Make sure to describe properly what type it is, whether it’s vintage or not, designer or not.
It’s also important to state the buckle’s size to give the buyer an idea of how big or small it is. Finally, take clear pictures of the item.
Selling t-shirt is a business that has been around for a while now. There are a lot of platforms out there that specifically focus on selling T-shirts, and eBay is one of them.
Either you desire to start your print-on-demand T-shirt business, or you plan to source wholesale T-shirts from sites like Alibaba.com, with a good listing, you can sell them easily on eBay.
Whether it’s used or brand new, you can sell musical instruments on eBay, such as guitars, pianos, or an instruction book or tuner. In addition, you can take advantage of the musical community that buys stuff on eBay daily.
Although there are other places to sell video games, eBay is a great place or as some would say the perfect place to do that. Your core audience would be game lovers, so as long as your game is in good condition and good price, you should be able to make some cash-selling games.
Make sure to take enough real pictures of the game you intend to see. Also, make a detailed description of the game so the buyer knows what they are buying. Check the pricing first to guide you on what price to place your game.
According to Forbes, the average profit from selling candles is about 25 – 50%.
This makes it an option to consider while selecting what to sell on eBay—selling different types of candles like Vanilla Soy Candles, Almond Vanilla Candles, Sandalwood Amber Soy Candles, and Mineral Springs Candles.
Different types of candles would increase your chances of selling more and also give you an idea of what is popular among buyers while giving them other options to try out.
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