Online used and rare bookseller
Source secondhand books locally and sell them to readers and collectors through online marketplaces.
- $300-2k
- Side hustle
- Online
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
5,629 US businesses with employees in this field, -0.9% in a year
NAICS 451211 “Book stores”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A home-based bookshop that sells used, out-of-print and collectible books through online marketplaces and your own simple website. You find stock at estate sales, library sales and thrift stores.
Your first three steps
- Visit a few library sales and thrift stores and practice checking prices of sold copies on marketplaces
- Set up a seller account on one or two book marketplaces and list your first 50 books
- Pick a niche such as cookbooks, textbooks or regional history and build stock around it
Who pays
Readers, collectors, students and anyone hunting for a specific title across the country.
How it makes money
You buy books cheaply and sell them at a markup, keeping the difference after marketplace fees and shipping. Specialist subjects and good condition copies earn more per sale.
Skills that help
- Spotting books that will resell
- Accurate listing and photos
- Packing and shipping
- Basic record keeping
Watch out for
- Sales tax registration with your state, check whether marketplaces collect it for you
- Marketplace fees and shipping costs that can eat thin margins
- Storage space and any HOA or lease rules if you keep stock at home
- Check whether your city requires a business license for a home-based business
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: online used and rare bookseller
Researched with live web search for United States: 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 an online used bookselling business?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $300 to $2,000, depending on how much stock you buy and the supplies you need for listing and shipping. Marketplace fees and shipping costs can eat thin margins.
How much revenue can an online used bookseller make?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $300 to $3,000, depending on the stock you find, how many titles you list and how much time you put in. That is revenue, not profit.
What rules should I check before selling used books online?
Check sales tax registration with your state and whether the marketplaces collect it for you. Also check whether your city requires a business license for a home-based business, and any HOA or lease rules if you keep stock at home.
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Photo: wal_172619 on Pixabay