How to Start Reselling in 2025

Reselling is the practice of buying items at a lower price and selling them at a higher price for profit. It's one of the oldest forms of commerce, and in the digital age, it's become accessible to anyone with a smartphone.

Modern resellers source products from thrift stores, retail clearance, online arbitrage, liquidation pallets, garage sales, and wholesale suppliers. They then list these items on marketplaces like eBay, StockX, Depop, Grailed, and others.

The key to successful reselling is finding items that are undervalued in one market and selling them where demand (and prices) are higher.

Reselling offers unique advantages that make it an attractive business model:

• Low startup costs: Start with as little as $50-100 buying items to flip
• Flexible schedule: Work whenever you want, from anywhere
• Scalable income: Grow from side hustle to full-time business
• Learn valuable skills: Marketing, photography, customer service, negotiation
• No inventory creation: You're selling existing products, not manufacturing
• Quick cash flow: Many platforms pay out within days of a sale

While you can resell almost anything, focusing on a niche helps you:

• Develop expertise and spot deals faster
• Build a reputation with repeat buyers
• Understand market prices without constant research
• Create efficient workflows for listing and shipping

Choose a niche based on your interests, local sourcing opportunities, and profit margins. Don't pick something just because it's trendy—pick something you can learn deeply.

Here are the most profitable reselling niches in 2025:

• Sneakers: Limited releases, collaborations, vintage Nike/Jordan. Platforms: StockX, eBay, Grailed
• Streetwear: Supreme, Palace, BAPE, Off-White. Platforms: Grailed, StockX, Depop
• Vintage clothing: 80s/90s band tees, vintage denim, sportswear. Platforms: Depop, eBay, Grailed
• Trading cards: Sealed Pokemon boxes, sports cards, MTG. Platforms: eBay, StockX
• Electronics: Phones, gaming consoles, laptops. Platforms: eBay, Facebook Marketplace
• Designer goods: Luxury bags, watches, authenticated items. Platforms: eBay, The RealReal
• Toys & collectibles: LEGO, Funko Pops, vintage toys. Platforms: eBay, Mercari

Finding inventory at the right price is the foundation of reselling. The best resellers develop multiple sourcing channels to maintain consistent inventory flow.

Your goal is to buy items for 20-50% of their selling price, leaving room for fees, shipping, and profit.

• Thrift stores: Goodwill, Salvation Army, local thrifts. Best for vintage clothing, unique finds. Go often—inventory rotates daily.
• Retail arbitrage: Clearance sections at Target, Walmart, TJ Maxx. Scan items with the Amazon/eBay app to find markdowns selling for more online.
• Garage/estate sales: Best prices on weekends. Arrive early for best selection, but late for better negotiation.
• Online arbitrage: Buy discounted items online to resell. Check Slickdeals, Honey, and retailer flash sales.
• Liquidation pallets: Buy returned/overstock merchandise by the pallet from B-Stock, BULQ, or Direct Liquidation.
• Wholesale: Buy in bulk from manufacturers or distributors. Higher upfront cost but better margins at scale.
• Retail drops: For sneakers/streetwear, enter raffles and buy at retail to resell limited items above retail.

Different platforms attract different buyers and have different fee structures. Most resellers use 2-3 platforms to maximize exposure.

Consider these factors when choosing:

• Platform fees (typically 10-15% of sale price)
• Payment processing fees
• Buyer demographics and what sells well
• Shipping options and seller protections
• Listing requirements and effort

Platform	Best For	Fees	Pros
eBay	Everything, especially electronics & collectibles	~13%	Huge audience, auction option, buyer trust
StockX	Sneakers, streetwear, trading cards	9-10%	Anonymous, no photos needed, price transparency
Grailed	Men's fashion, streetwear, designer	9% + PayPal	Fashion-focused audience, great for rare pieces
Depop	Vintage, trendy fashion, Gen Z buyers	10%	Social features, younger audience, vintage-friendly

Pricing is both art and science. Here's how to price items effectively:

1. Research sold listings: Check eBay "Sold" filter, StockX sales history, or Grailed sold items for the same product.
2. Account for condition: Adjust price based on wear, defects, or missing pieces.
3. Calculate your floor: Add up purchase cost + fees + shipping supplies to know your minimum price.
4. Consider competition: If 20 people are selling the same item, you may need to undercut or wait.
5. Leave negotiation room: Price 10-15% above your target to allow for offers.

Great listings sell items faster and at higher prices. Focus on these elements:

Photography

• Use natural lighting or a lightbox
• White or neutral background
• Multiple angles: front, back, sides, tags, flaws
• Show scale (items on a mannequin or model perform better)

Title

• Include brand, model, size, color, condition
• Use keywords buyers search for
• Example: "Nike Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Chicago Size 10 DS"

Description

• Be honest about condition and flaws
• Include measurements for clothing
• State shipping times and return policy
• Tell a story if it adds value (vintage provenance, limited release)

Efficient shipping protects your margins and keeps buyers happy:

• Use free supplies: USPS offers free Priority boxes. eBay and Pirate Ship offer discounted labels.
• Calculate shipping before listing: Weigh and measure items to quote accurately.
• Offer free shipping: Build it into the price—buyers prefer "free shipping" psychologically.
• Ship fast: Same-day or next-day shipping builds reputation and earns positive reviews.
• Always track: Use tracking numbers on every shipment. Never ship without proof of delivery.

Many resellers fail because they don't track their true profits. What feels like a $50 profit might be $20 after fees and costs.

Track these metrics for every sale:

• Purchase price (cost of goods)
• Platform fees (commission, payment processing)
• Shipping costs (labels, boxes, tape)
• Time invested (your hourly rate matters)
• Other expenses (storage, supplies, mileage)

Use inventory management software to automate tracking. Spreadsheets work at first, but dedicated tools save hours and reduce errors as you scale.

Once you're consistently profitable, here's how to grow:

1. Reinvest profits: Put 50-70% of profits back into inventory to compound growth.
2. Improve sourcing: Find new channels, build relationships, buy in larger quantities for better prices.
3. Optimize listings: Test different photos, titles, and prices to improve sell-through rate.
4. Expand platforms: Cross-list to reach more buyers (use tools to sync inventory).
5. Outsource low-value tasks: Hire help for shipping, photography, or listing as volume grows.
6. Develop systems: Create SOPs for every task so the business runs smoothly.

Learn from others' mistakes to accelerate your success:

• Buying before researching: Always check sold prices before purchasing inventory.
• Ignoring fees: A $100 sale is really $70-75 after fees. Calculate profit BEFORE buying.
• Holding too long: Sitting inventory ties up capital. Price to sell, not to maximize every sale.
• Poor record keeping: Not tracking costs leads to thinking you're profitable when you're not.
• Spreading too thin: Master one niche and platform before expanding.
• Ignoring customer service: Bad reviews tank your visibility. Resolve issues quickly and professionally.
• Not treating it like a business: Separate finances, track mileage, save for taxes.