Online Businesses · Part-Time Businesses · Customer-First Business Ideas
Reselling secondhand goods
Buy underpriced used items at thrift stores, yard sales and estate sales, then resell them online or locally. You can test it by selling things you already own before buying inventory.
Cash to start (upfront + working capital)
$20–$380 + unverified items
Ongoing costs per month
$10–$50 + unverified items
Time
Part-time possible, ~4+ hrs/week
What it costs to start
Amounts are itemized estimates. “Not verified” means we don’t have a defensible figure; it is not $0.
| Item | Type | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Business registration or sales tax permit Rules vary by state; some marketplaces collect sales tax for you, others do not. | Initial setup | Not verified |
| Shipping supplies (boxes, mailers, tape) | Equipment | $20–$80 |
| Postal scaleOptional Helps avoid shipping undercharges. | Equipment | $15–$40 |
| Simple photo setup (backdrop, light)Optional Daylight and a plain wall work at first. | Equipment | $0–$60 |
| Starter inventory Zero if you begin by selling items you already own; this is a budget you choose, not a requirement. | Inventory | $0–$300 |
| Upfront costs (required) | $20–$380 + unverified items | |
| Working capital | Not verified | |
| Optional extras | $15–$100 |
Ongoing costs
| Item | Per month |
|---|---|
| Marketplace and payment fees Usually a percentage of each sale; varies by platform. | Not verified |
| Inventory reinvestment You decide how much to buy; unsold items tie up cash. | Not verified |
| Shipping supplies | $10–$50 |
What you need
- Smartphone with camera
- Shipping supplies
- Storage space
- Transportation for sourcing
Licensing: A general business license and a state sales tax permit may apply once you are buying to resell. Payment platforms may report sales on Form 1099-K. Some items carry extra rules, such as recalled products, children’s items and cosmetics, so research before buying.
Skills that help: Sales, Logistics and delivery, Marketing. People commonly start without specialized skills.
Time: Sourcing, photographing, listing and shipping all take time; weekends suit yard and estate sales.
Typical customer: Online shoppers looking for used clothing, collectibles, electronics, furniture, books and tools at lower prices
How it makes money: Sell each item for more than you paid after marketplace fees and shipping
Business model: Online business, Product business, Side hustle
Risks and downsides
- Inventory that does not sell ties up cash and space.
- Buying counterfeit or recalled items can lead to refunds, account bans or legal trouble.
- Returns, damaged shipments and buyer disputes eat into margins.
- Marketplace fee and policy changes can shrink what each sale leaves you.
- Treating a business as casual selling can cause tax surprises; keep cost records for every item.
Your first step
List ten items you already own on an online marketplace and track what sells, how fast and what is left after fees and shipping before buying any inventory.
Then
- Pick one or two categories you can judge well.
- Check your state sales tax and resale certificate rules.
- Record what you paid for each item to calculate profit and taxes.
- Set a rule for marking down or donating items that do not sell.
Sources and review
- Form 1099-K FAQs: What to do if you receive a Form 1099-K (Internal Revenue Service). Supports: Payment platforms may report sales; gains on personal items are taxable, and being in the business of selling changes how proceeds are treated.
- Business guide (licenses and permits) (U.S. Small Business Administration). Supports: Licensing and permit requirements vary by city, county and state.
- Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes) (Internal Revenue Service). Supports: Self-employed people generally owe self-employment tax on net earnings.
Last reviewed October 18, 2026. Method: Itemized editorial estimate built from typical starter equipment and setup items. Cited sources support the requirements and context, not each dollar figure. Items we could not price defensibly are marked "Not verified" instead of $0. Local prices vary.
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