Online watch seller with battery and strap service

Online buyers looking for good-value watches, collectors hunting specific models, and people who mail in a watch for a new battery or strap.

The margin between what you pay for a watch and what you sell it for, plus fees for mail-in battery, strap and cleaning services.

• Spotting genuine, fairly priced watches
• Product photography and listing writing
• Customer service and packing carefully
• Basic watch maintenance

• Counterfeit and 'frankenwatch' risk, so verify every piece before buying and describe condition honestly
• Check whether your state requires sales tax registration, and whether marketplaces collect tax for you
• Rules for buying and reselling used goods vary by state and city, so check whether secondhand dealer rules apply
• Home occupation permits and HOA or lease rules may apply to a home business
• Insurance for shipped items and for customers' watches while in your care

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your photography and packing setup, and insurance. Verify every piece before buying so you don't tie up cash in problem watches.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on the watches you source, your pricing and the hours you put in, starting from around 10 hours a week. Revenue is before stock and shipping costs.

Check whether your state requires sales tax registration and whether marketplaces collect tax for you. Also check secondhand dealer rules, home occupation permits, HOA or lease rules, and insurance for shipped items and customers' watches in your care.