Online used book seller
Find used books at sales and thrift stores, then list and ship them to readers online.
- $200-2k
- Side hustle
- Online
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
What it is
A home-based used bookshop that sells through online marketplaces or your own site. You source books from estate sales, library sales, thrift stores and people selling their collections, then list, pack and ship them.
Your first three steps
- List 20 to 30 books from your own shelves on a marketplace to learn pricing, fees and shipping
- Visit library sales, thrift stores and estate sales and track what you pay against what similar copies sell for
- Set up a shelving system at home, buy packing supplies and a shipping scale, and open a business bank account
Who pays
Readers, students, collectors and people hunting for out-of-print or niche titles.
How it makes money
You sell each book for more than you paid for it, plus shipping. Specialist subjects, collectible editions and textbooks tend to earn more per book than common paperbacks.
Skills that help
- Spotting books that will resell
- Careful listing and grading of condition
- Packing and shipping
- Basic bookkeeping
Watch out for
- Check whether your state requires a seller's permit or sales tax registration, and how marketplace sales tax collection works
- Check home occupation, HOA or lease rules if you store stock at home
- Marketplace fees and shipping costs can eat into thin margins, so work out your profit per book
- Damp or smoky stock can ruin books, so check condition before buying in bulk
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: online used book seller
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 selling used books online?
Startup costs are typically around $200 to $2,000, depending on how much stock you buy and your packing supplies. Check condition before buying in bulk, since damp or smoky books can be ruined.
How much can an online used book seller earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $300 to $3,000, depending on your stock and listing volume. Marketplace fees and shipping can eat into thin margins, so work out your profit per book.
Do I need a permit to sell used books online?
Check whether your state requires a seller's permit or sales tax registration, and how marketplace sales tax collection works. Also check home occupation, HOA or lease rules if you store stock at home.
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