Online trading card seller

Collectors, players and parents buying for children, mostly through marketplaces, social media groups and your own website.

You buy stock from distributors, at trade events or from collections, then sell at a margin. Singles and accessories often carry better margins than sealed products.

• Knowing card games and what collectors want
• Pricing singles accurately
• Careful packing and posting
• Basic photography and listing

• Fakes and proxies: buy from trusted sources and check authenticity before listing
• Card prices can move quickly, so avoid tying up too much money in one product
• Marketplace fees and postage costs can eat into margins, so work them out before pricing
• Check HMRC rules on registering as a sole trader and on VAT once your turnover grows
• Check whether your home insurance covers stock stored at home

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £300 to £3,000, depending on how much stock you buy, packing supplies, and whether you stay on marketplaces or build your own website.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £300 to £3,000, depending on your stock, pricing and hours. The estimate starts from about 6 hours a week. Marketplace fees and postage can eat into margins, so work them out first.

Check authenticity before listing, as fakes and proxies exist, and buy from trusted sources. Check HMRC rules on registering as a sole trader and on VAT as turnover grows. Also check whether your home insurance covers stock stored at home.