Starting a Business on eBay

by Startacus Admin
Not every business has to start with grand ideals of corporate boardrooms, lunching with Lord Sugar and reusing a 4 year old suit until it starts to peel away, however even online businesses can require a significant amount of interaction, office space and to-ing and fro-ing.
An eBay business however is different. Imagine Bargain Hunt, only without Tim Wonnacott’s super sweet tweed and moustache combo. Even if you have those things, you probably won’t come near his level of exuberant machismo intellect. Anyway. Running an eBay company follows the exact same premise. Find something that somebody is selling at a low price; buy it, and turn it into a profit by selling it on.
In terms of what you need, the requirements are happily limited. A computer, an internet connection (which we’re presuming you have, considering you’re reading this) and some storage space.
From there you can go however you want. Many people when starting these types of companies vie to search for items that they have a personal interest in. The obvious benefit of this is that you’ll be able to spot a bargain immediately, and can tailor its description when you sell it on to outline what exactly there is to love about it.
There is the chance however, that this could limit your potential for growth, especially if there are already a number of players in this particular branch of bidding market. Book and game selling in particular seems overloaded with sellers, so unless you can find a particular niche in the market, you’ll need a lot of luck. On the topic of selling books, it’s worth having a look at Monevator’s detailing of his/her eBay business and the lessons learnt from it.
The most important thing to have sorted before you quit your 9-5 for the glamorous world of online selling is your supplier. From them, you will normally buy your first load of produce in bulk. Depending on what you’ve chosen as the first product, there will be a variation of people you can contact. Look at a company’s website and check if it has a ‘dealers’ section. Don’t be afraid to shop around quite a bit before you buy. In particular, you should make absolutely certain that there isn’t another seller online already selling your potential produce for a lower price than you’ll be buying them for, taking into account how much of a profit you want to be making.
One thing that is apparent, is that asking other eBay sellers who their providers are is fruitless. They will likely have spent a good deal of time and hard work – the same way you should – into getting those contacts, and there are zero reasons why they should give them up to a potential competitor. The same is true obviously with regards your own contacts when you find them. Don’t tell them to anyone.
Actually signing on with eBay is a surprisingly straightforward process. After creating an account (for free) it’s just a matter of clicking the Sell button and following the relevant steps. Once you’ve got 5 positive reviews from selling things, you can then create a business account with the website to sell under a brand. Just make sure and register with the taxman. They don’t like it when they find out you’ve been generating profit and not giving any to the government.
As you start selling items, try and get into a routine. Upload different types of things for sale on different days, have their deadlines close at the same time and package everything together. Make sure to organise your PayPal account so that it’s separate from your personal one. Keep an eye on it to see which items generate the greatest profit, and let go of those that are slow sellers. Finally, don’t be afraid to experiment. If you find you’re stuck in a rut that’s only letting you scrape by, then you’re your own boss. Change your prices, your product, your hours of selling. Your brand catchphrase, your social media, your description format. Change it all, and record what works and what doesn’t.
Written in sand by Ethan Loughrey
If you liked this article you may also be interested in reading our article on Top online payment options
If you like what you see here on Startacus and want to get involved yourself, why not become a member of our growing community by joining for free here!
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Tech Nation calls for tangible support to secure capital, talent, growth and exits needed to accelerate the growth of UK tech in decade ahead.

Glasgow-based This is Milk seeks investment for Neve Learning, its cloud-based Ed-Tech platform that has inclusivity and accessibility at its core.

With the UK facing a clear digital skills gap, Amy Caton, Digital Talent and Impact Senior Manager at BT Group shares some insights on what businesses should do to close that divide.

The lowdown on Berlin-based Beazy and its innovative solution that helps teams to plan, produce and deliver creative content and helps businesses to connect with talented content creators.

The lowdown on Fluffy, the app offering dog training, 24/7 vet messaging and insurance to give pet owners peace of mind and support them with their pet care responsibilities.

Huckletree's new Web3 HQ aims to put London’s West End at the forefront of Britain’s tech superpower ambitions.

Leading sports marketing platform, OpenSponsorship announces move into music sector, the first new vertical industry for the trans-Atlantic martech business.

Kingussie High School scoops first place for Junior and Senior categories at this year’s Growing Future Assets Competition.

The lowdown on Manchester-based Arctic Shores and its innovative recruitment solution to help candidate potential count as much as skills and experience.

With the demand for tattoo removal now greater than ever, specialist NAAMA Studios makes a bid for a further £11m in funding.
Published on: 20th March 2013
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.







- Tech Nation report reveals UK Tech could quadruple in value by 2032 with right conditions 23rd Mar 2023 Tech Nation calls for tangible support to secure capital, talent, growth and exits needed to accelerate the growth of UK tech in decade ahead.
- Neurodiverse learning and training platform Neve shares major six-figure investment opportunity 22nd Mar 2023 Glasgow-based This is Milk seeks investment for Neve Learning, its cloud-based Ed-Tech platform that has inclusivity and accessibility at its core.
- Huckletree opens new London hub for tech companies pioneering Web3 solutions 16th Mar 2023 Huckletree's new Web3 HQ aims to put London’s West End at the forefront of Britain’s tech superpower ambitions.
- OpenSponsorship making its move into the music sector 16th Mar 2023 Leading sports marketing platform, OpenSponsorship announces move into music sector, the first new vertical industry for the trans-Atlantic martech business.