Where to start: your own home
Before spending a penny on stock, walk through your home with fresh eyes. Most households have £200–£500 worth of unused items that could sell on eBay — old electronics, clothes that no longer fit, books, sports equipment, kitchen gadgets. These cost you nothing and give you real selling experience before you invest any money.
Take clean, well-lit photos against a neutral background. Write honest, detailed descriptions. Price competitively — search eBay for the same item and check what completed listings actually sold for, not just what people are asking.
Where to find stock to resell
Car boot sales — the classic reseller's hunting ground. Go early (serious sellers arrive before the official start time). Focus on electronics, vintage items, branded clothing, and anything you can identify as underpriced. Budget £20–£50 per trip and expect to triple your money on good finds.
Charity shops — patient but rewarding. Branded items, books (especially textbooks), and vintage goods regularly get donated. Visit the same shops weekly — stock turns over constantly.
Facebook Marketplace and Gumtee — people list items cheap to get rid of them quickly. Search for items you know sell well on eBay and offer to collect same day.
Clearance and discount stores — B&M, Home Bargains, and similar regularly stock branded goods at below-RRP prices that resell profitably online.
How to write listings that sell
The title is the most important element — eBay's search algorithm reads titles, not descriptions. Include brand, model, size, colour, and condition. Use all 80 characters available. Don't waste space on words like 'lovely' or 'bargain' — include searchable specifics instead.
Photos matter more than most sellers realise. Natural daylight, neutral background, multiple angles, and a photo showing any defects (honesty builds trust and avoids returns) consistently outperform single dark photos.
Set a 'Buy It Now' price alongside auctions for items where you know the value. Auctions work well for rare or hard-to-value items. For predictable items, fixed price listings save time.
Understanding eBay fees
eBay charges roughly 12.8% of the final sale price plus 30p per transaction for most private sellers. Factor this in before pricing — on a £20 sale you keep about £17.14. If you sell regularly, upgrading to a Shop subscription (from £25/month) reduces fees and adds free listing allowances that pay for themselves quickly at volume.
PayPal fees no longer apply — eBay's managed payments system handles everything and deposits directly to your bank account, typically within 2 business days of the sale.
Scaling up: turning it into a business
Once you're consistently selling £500+/month, treat it as a business. Register as self-employed with HMRC (required once you exceed £1,000/year profit — see our UK tax guide). Open a dedicated bank account. Start tracking stock, costs, and profit per item.
The sellers earning £2,000+/month typically specialise in one or two niches they understand well — vintage clothing, used tools, specific electronics. Niche expertise means you can spot underpriced items others miss.