Online refurbished phone and accessory shop

Budget-conscious buyers, parents buying a first phone for a child, and people who want a cheaper unlocked phone without a contract.

The gap between what you pay for tested stock and your selling price, plus margin on cases, chargers and other accessories.

• Testing and grading used phones
• Online listings, photos and customer messages
• Packing and shipping carefully

• State sales tax registration and collection rules for online sales, check with your state
• Local business license or home occupation permit, and HOA or lease rules if you work from home
• Some states and cities have secondhand dealer rules for used electronics, check what applies
• Always check device status (stolen, blacklisted, locked, activation locks) before buying or selling
• Marketplaces have their own rules, fees and seller protection policies for refurbished phones
• Returns and disputes can eat into margins, test thoroughly and describe condition honestly
• Safe storage and shipping of lithium batteries, check carrier rules

Startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your testing and cleaning supplies, and your packaging and listing setup. These are estimates and will vary with the models you sell.

Monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your stock, pricing, sales channels and how many orders you ship. Returns and disputes can cut into margins, so test thoroughly and describe condition honestly.

Check state sales tax rules for online sales, any local business license or home occupation permit, and secondhand dealer rules for used electronics. Also check device status such as stolen, blacklisted or activation locks, marketplace rules, and carrier rules for shipping lithium batteries.