Online secondhand bookseller working from home

Readers, collectors and students looking for out-of-print, niche or good-value books.

You sell each book for more than you paid for it, minus marketplace fees and postage. Specialist subjects and collectable editions usually earn the most per book.

• Spotting books people want
• Careful listing and photography
• Organised stock and order handling

• Register as a sole trader with HMRC once you are trading, and check the trading allowance rules
• Marketplace fees and postage costs can eat into thin margins, so price carefully
• Check the condition and description of every book to avoid returns and bad reviews
• Check whether your landlord or mortgage lender allows storing stock at home

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £200 to £1,500, depending on how much stock you buy, packaging, and any equipment or website costs. Marketplace fees and postage also affect your margins.

Monthly revenue is typically around £200 to £1,500 in our estimates, depending on the books you find, your pricing and the hours you put in. Around six hours a week is a possible starting point.

Check that you register as a sole trader with HMRC once trading and look at the trading allowance rules. Price carefully for marketplace fees and postage, describe condition accurately, and check whether your landlord or lender allows stock at home.