Online retro and used game seller
Buy, test and resell used games and consoles online and at markets, working from home.
- A$500-4k
- Side hustle
- Online
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A home-based seller sourcing used and retro games, consoles and accessories, then cleaning, testing and listing them on marketplaces, your own web shop or at gaming and collector markets.
Your first three steps
- Register an ABN and pick a starting niche, such as retro Nintendo or PlayStation 2 games
- Buy a small first batch of stock, then test, clean and photograph it for listing
- List on a couple of marketplaces and try a table at a local gaming or collectors market
Who pays
Retro collectors, gamers after hard-to-find titles and people wanting cheaper pre-owned consoles.
How it makes money
Profit comes from the gap between what you pay for stock (garage sales, online listings, bulk lots, trade-ins) and your selling price, plus postage charges and any extra for tested or boxed items.
Skills that help
- Spotting valuable titles and fair prices
- Testing and cleaning consoles and discs
- Photography and writing clear listings
- Packing and posting carefully
Watch out for
- Fakes and reproduction cartridges, learn how to spot them before buying
- Check second-hand dealer rules with your state's fair trading body
- Check council rules if running the business from home
- Postage costs and damage in transit, so consider insurance on higher value items
- Platform fees eat into margins, so factor them into your prices
- GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: online retro and used game seller
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 selling retro games online?
Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $500 to $4,000, depending on how much stock you buy and the testing, cleaning and packing supplies you need.
What rules apply to reselling used games and consoles in Australia?
Check second-hand dealer rules with your state's fair trading body, and council rules if you run the business from home. Learn to spot fakes and reproduction cartridges, and check GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold.
How much can an online retro game seller make?
Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $3,500, depending on the titles you find and where you sell. Platform fees and postage reduce margins, so factor them into prices.
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