Online Second-Hand Instrument Seller

Beginners, parents buying for children, hobby players and gigging musicians looking for a good instrument at a lower price.

You buy below market value and sell for more, keeping the difference after fees, postage and any small repairs. Part-exchange deals can bring repeat customers.

• Knowing instruments and fair used prices
• Good photography and honest descriptions
• Careful packing and customer service

• Fakes and stolen goods: ask for proof of ownership on higher-value items and keep purchase records
• Distance selling rules give buyers a right to cancel and return, so check what applies to you
• Insurance for stock and for items in the post, plus courier cover for fragile items
• Marketplace fees, and registering as a sole trader with HMRC once trading regularly
• Check whether you need permission to store stock at home

Our estimates put startup costs typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on how much stock you buy first and what you spend on photography, packing materials and any marketplace fees. Insurance for stock and posted items is worth checking.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £500 to £3,500, depending on the instruments you stock, how quickly they sell and how well you list them. This is revenue, not profit, and marketplace fees and postage come out of it.

Check for fakes and stolen goods by asking for proof of ownership on higher-value items and keeping purchase records. Also check distance selling rules on cancellations and returns, insurance for stock and posted items, and registering as a sole trader with HMRC.