Online second-hand reselling from home

Online shoppers looking for vintage, brand-name or hard-to-find items at lower prices, plus local buyers who pick up.

You profit on the gap between what you pay for an item and its sale price, after platform fees and postage.

• Researching what sells and for how much
• Photographing and describing items
• Packing and posting parcels
• Basic record keeping

• Check with your state's fair trading office whether second-hand dealer rules or record-keeping requirements apply to you
• Selling regularly for profit is business activity, so check tax and GST obligations with the ATO
• Platform fees and postage can eat your margin, so cost them in before you buy stock
• Check council approval requirements if you store stock or run the business from home
• Avoid unsafe or banned second-hand products, such as certain children's items, and check the rules
• Stock can sit unsold and tie up your cash

Startup costs are typically around $200 to $1,500, depending on how much stock you buy and what packing and photo supplies you need. Platform fees and postage can eat your margin, so cost them in first.

Monthly revenue is typically around $300 to $2,500, depending on what you sell and how many hours you put in. Stock can sit unsold and tie up your cash, so keep early buying modest.

Selling regularly for profit is business activity, so check tax and GST obligations with the ATO. Check with your state's fair trading office about second-hand dealer rules, and check the rules on unsafe or banned second-hand products.