Online sports card seller

Collectors, players completing sets, and people buying gifts. Buyers are Australia-wide, and some overseas.

You sell cards for more than you paid for collections, packs and boxes. Fees from marketplaces and payment providers come out of each sale, so margins matter.

• Knowing card values and player or team history
• Good photos and clear listings
• Careful packing and posting
• Basic bookkeeping

• Fakes, reprints and altered cards: check authenticity before buying expensive items
• GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold: check with the ATO
• Check whether your state has second-hand dealer rules that apply to buying from the public
• Check whether your local council needs to approve a home-based business
• Card values can drop quickly, so avoid tying up too much money in one player or product
• Insurance for stock and for postage losses

Startup costs are typically around $500 to $2,500, depending on how much stock you buy and what you spend on sleeves, packaging and photography gear. These are estimates, so start with a modest first purchase.

Check authenticity before buying expensive cards, as fakes, reprints and altered cards exist. Also check GST registration with the ATO, whether state second-hand dealer rules apply, and whether your council needs to approve a home-based business.

Monthly revenue is typically around $600 to $3,000, depending on the cards you stock and how often you list. The estimate assumes from about 8 hours a week. Card values can drop quickly.