Online games seller with market stalls
Sell board games, retro games and collectables online and at markets and conventions, with no shop rent.
- A$1k-8k
- Side hustle
- Online
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A home-run games business selling through your own website, online marketplaces and stalls at weekend markets, fan conventions and swap meets. You focus on a niche such as retro video games, board games or trading cards.
Your first three steps
- Pick a niche and test the market by selling a small batch of stock on an online marketplace
- Register an ABN and set up a simple online shop with clear postage prices
- Book a stall at a local market or convention and bring trade-in pricing to attract sellers
Who pays
Collectors, hobbyists and families who buy online or browse stalls at events.
How it makes money
Margin on stock you buy from distributors, trade-ins and private collections, plus postage charges and stall sales. A clear niche helps you stand out.
Skills that help
- Knowing values in a niche such as retro games or card games
- Photographing and listing items
- Packing and posting orders
- Basic bookkeeping
Watch out for
- Running from home may need council approval for a home-based business, so check with your local council
- Storage space for stock at home
- Fakes and reproductions in retro and collectable stock, learn how to spot them
- Check age classification rules for the games you sell
- Market stall and convention fees, and public liability insurance that some organisers require
- Postage costs and lost parcels eating into margin
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: online games seller with market stalls
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an online games business?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,000 to $8,000, depending on your opening stock, stall gear and listing set-up. Market and convention fees and postage costs can eat into margins, so factor them in.
What should I check before selling games from home?
Running from home may need council approval for a home-based business, so check with your local council. Also check age classification rules for the games you sell, and public liability insurance that some market organisers require.
How much can an online games and collectables seller earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on your niche, sales channels and how many events you attend. That is revenue before stock and postage costs. You could start with about 8 hours a week.
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