Starting an eBay business can be very profitable. With proper planning, execution and hard work, you can enjoy great success. Below you will learn the keys to launching a successful eBay business.
Importantly, a critical step in starting an eBay business is to complete your business plan. To help you out, you should download Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template here.
14 Steps To Start an eBay Business:
- Choose the Name for Your eBay Business
- Develop Your eBay Business Plan
- Choose the Legal Structure for Your eBay Business
- Secure Startup Funding for Your eBay Business (If Needed)
- Secure a Location for Your Business
- Register Your eBay Business with the IRS
- Open a Business Bank Account
- Get a Business Credit Card
- Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
- Get Business Insurance for Your eBay Business
- Buy or Lease the Right eBay Business Equipment
- Develop Your eBay Business Marketing Materials
- Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your eBay Business
- Open for Business
1. Choose the Name for Your eBay Business
The first step to starting an eBay business is to choose your business’ name.
This is a very important choice since your company name is your brand and will last for the lifetime of your business. Ideally you choose a name that is meaningful and memorable. Here are some tips for choosing a name for your eBay store:
- Make sure the name is available. Check your desired name against trademark databases and your state’s list of registered business names to see if it’s available. Also check to see if a suitable domain name is available.
- Keep it simple. The best names are usually ones that are easy to remember, pronounce and spell.
- Think about marketing. Come up with a name that reflects the desired brand and/or focus of your eBay business.
2. Develop Your eBay Business Plan
One of the most important steps in opening an eBay business is to develop your business plan. The process of creating your plan ensures that you fully understand your market and your business strategy. The plan also provides you with a roadmap to follow and if needed, to present to funding sources to raise capital for your business.
Your business plan should include the following sections:
- Executive Summary – this section should summarize your entire business plan so readers can quickly understand the key details of your eBay business.
- Company Overview – this section tells the reader about the history of your eBay business and what type of eBay business you operate. For example, are you a trading, dropshipping, or affiliate marketing business.
- Industry Analysis – here you will document key information about the eBay industry. Conduct market research and document how big the industry is and what trends are affecting it.
- Customer Analysis – in this section, you will document who your ideal or target customers are and their demographics. For example, how old are they? Where do they live? What do they find important when purchasing products like the ones you will offer?
- Competitive Analysis – here you will document the key direct and indirect competitors you will face and how you will build competitive advantage.
- Marketing Plan – your marketing plan should address the 4Ps: Product, Price, Promotions and Place.
- Product: Determine and document what products/services you will offer
- Prices: Document the prices of your products/services
- Place: Where will your business be located and how will that location help you increase sales?
- Promotions: What promotional methods will you use to attract customers to your eBay business? For example, you might decide to use pay-per-click advertising, public relations, search engine optimization and/or social media marketing.
- Operations Plan – here you will determine the key processes you will need to run your day-to-day operations. You will also determine your staffing needs. Finally, in this section of your plan, you will create a projected growth timeline showing the milestones you hope to achieve in the coming years.
- Management Team – this section details the background of your company’s management team.
- Financial Plan – finally, the financial plan answers questions including the following:
- What startup costs will you incur?
- How will your eBay business make money?
- What are your projected eBay sales and expenses for the next five years?
- Do you need to secure funding to launch your business?
3. Choose the Legal Structure for Your eBay Business
Next you need to choose a legal structure for your eBay business and register it and your business name with the Secretary of State in each state where you operate your business.
Below are the five most common legal structures:
1) Sole proprietorship
A sole proprietorship is a business entity in which the owner/eBay seller and the business are the same legal entity. The owner of a sole proprietorship is responsible for all debts and obligations of the business. There are no formalities required to establish a sole proprietorship, and it is easy to set up and operate. The main advantage of a sole proprietorship is that it is simple and inexpensive to establish. The main disadvantage is that the owner is liable for all debts and obligations of the business.
2) Partnerships
A partnership is a legal structure that is popular among small businesses. It is an agreement between two or more people who want to start an eBay business together. The partners share in the profits and losses of the business.
The advantages of a partnership are that it is easy to set up, and the partners share in the profits and losses of the business. The disadvantages of a partnership are that the partners are jointly liable for the debts of the business, and disagreements between partners can be difficult to resolve.
3) Limited Liability Company (LLC)
A limited liability company, or LLC, is a type of business entity that provides limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners of an LLC are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The advantages of an LLC for an eBay business include flexibility in management, pass-through taxation (avoids double taxation as explained below), and limited personal liability. The disadvantages of an LLC include lack of availability in some states and self-employment taxes.
4) C Corporation
A C Corporation is a business entity that is separate from its owners. It has its own tax ID and can have shareholders. The main advantage of a C Corporation for an eBay business is that it offers limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The disadvantage is that C Corporations are subject to double taxation. This means that the corporation pays taxes on its profits, and the shareholders also pay taxes on their dividends.
5) S Corporation
An S Corporation is a type of corporation that provides its owners with limited liability protection and allows them to pass their business income through to their personal income tax returns, thus avoiding double taxation. There are several limitations on S Corporations including the number of shareholders they can have among others.
Once you register your eBay business, your state will send you your official “Articles of Incorporation.” You will need this among other documentation when establishing your banking account (see below). We recommend that you consult an attorney in determining which legal structure is best suited for your company.
4. Secure Startup Funding for Your eBay Business (If Needed)
In developing your eBay business plan, you might have determined that you need to raise funding to launch your business.
If so, the main sources of funding for an eBay business to consider are personal savings, family and friends, credit card financing, bank loans, crowdfunding and angel investors. Angel investors are individuals who provide capital to early-stage businesses. Angel investors typically will invest in an eBay account that they believe has high potential for growth.
5. Secure a Location for Your Business
When starting an eBay business account, you’ll need to find a location for your inventory. Here are a few tips on how to find the perfect spot:
- Decide what you need: before you start looking for a location, decide what you need in terms of space and storage. Do you need a lot of room to store inventory? Or would a small garage work for you?
- Consider your budget: when it comes to finding a location, remember that you’ll need to factor in both rent and utilities. Make sure you have enough money saved up to cover these costs.
- Think about your commute: one of the most important things to consider when choosing a location is how far it is from your home or your physical storefront. You don’t want to have to drive too far, so keep this in mind while you search.
- Get creative: while you may think you need a lot of space for your business, consider options other than renting an entire warehouse. For example, could you use storage units? Maybe someone’s garage? Could you rent space in a larger warehouse? Think outside the box and you may find a solution that’s better than renting an entire building.
- Consider your home: while some people choose to start their business in their homes, it can be difficult to manage both at once. If you have enough room, however, it could be an excellent idea. Just make sure your family is aware of what you’re doing; you don’t want them to be surprised if they find customers in your house.
- Be patient: finding the perfect location takes time, so it’s best not to rush into anything. Keep an eye out for spaces that fit your needs and make sure that none of them slip away before you can act.
6. Register Your eBay Business with the IRS
Next, you need to register your business with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which will result in the IRS issuing you an Employer Identification Number (EIN).
Most banks will require you to have an EIN in order to open up an account. In addition, in order to hire employees, you will need an EIN since that is how the IRS tracks your payroll tax payments.
Note that if you are a sole proprietor without employees, you generally do not need to get an EIN. Rather, you would use your social security number (instead of your EIN) as your taxpayer identification number.
7. Open a Business Bank Account
It is important to establish a bank account in your eBay business’ name. This process is fairly simple and involves the following steps:
- Identify and contact the bank you want to use
- Gather and present the required documents (generally include your company’s Articles of Incorporation, driver’s license or passport, and proof of address)
- Complete the bank’s application form and provide all relevant information
- Meet with a banker to discuss your business needs and establish a relationship with them
8. Get a Business Credit Card
You should get a business credit card for your eBay business to help you separate personal and business expenses.
You can either apply for a business credit card through your bank or apply for one through a credit card company.
When you’re applying for a business credit card, you’ll need to provide some information about your business. This includes the name of your business, the address of your business, and the type of business you’re running. You’ll also need to provide some information about yourself, including your name, Social Security number, and date of birth.
Once you’ve been approved for a business credit card, you’ll be able to use it to make purchases for your business. You can also use it to build your credit history which could be very important in securing loans and getting credit lines for your business in the future.
9. Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
The licenses and permits you may need to start an eBay shop depend on the nature of your business. For example, if you are going to be selling goods, you will need a seller’s permit from your state. If you are going to be running a business from your home, you may need a zoning permit from your local government. To find out what licenses and permits you need, contact your local business licensing office or small business development center.
10. Get Business Insurance for Your eBay Business
You need business insurance to operate an eBay business. This will protect you in the event of any legal issues that may arise, as well as any property damage or theft that may occur. Make sure to research the different types of insurance available and find one that fits your needs.
Other business insurance policies that you should consider for your eBay business include:
- General liability insurance: This covers accidents and injuries that occur on your property. It also covers damages caused by your employees or advertising cliams.
- Product liability insurance: This helps protect online stores from third-party claims of bodily injury or property damage caused by a product that it made or sold. This type of policy will cover physical or property damage as a result of manufacturing defects; design flaws; and any shortfalls in instructions, labels, or warnings.
- Auto insurance: If a vehicle is used in your business, this type of insurance will cover if a vehicle is damaged or stolen.
- Workers’ compensation insurance: If you have employees, this type of policy works with your general liability policy to protect against workplace injuries and accidents. It also covers medical expenses and lost wages
- Cybersecurity insurance: If your ebay account is hacked, and your customers’ information is leaked, this covers the cost of notifying your customers, investigating the incident and providing credit monitoring services.
Find an insurance agent, tell them about your business and its needs, and they will recommend policies that fit those needs.
11. Buy or Lease the Right eBay Business Equipment
Most sellers on eBay don’t need much equipment. To start an eBay business, you only need a computer, phone and internet access.
12. Develop Your eBay Business Marketing Materials
Marketing materials will be required to attract and retain customers to your eBay business.
The key marketing materials you will need are as follows:
- Logo: Spend some time developing a good logo for your eBay business. Your logo will be printed on company stationery, business cards, marketing materials and so forth. The right logo can increase customer trust and awareness of your brand.
- Website: Likewise, a professional eBay page provides potential customers with information about the products and/or services you offer, your company’s history, and contact information. Importantly, remember that the look and feel of your website will affect how customers perceive you.
- Social Media Accounts: establish social media accounts in your company’s name. Accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and/or other social media networks will help customers and others find and interact with your online store.
13. Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your eBay Business
To run an eBay business, you’ll need to use software that can help you create listings, manage your orders, and track your sales. There are a few different software options that are available, and each one has its own set of features. The software you use depends on the size of your business and what features you need to manage your business effectively.
There are comprehensive software options that allow you to create and manage your listings, track your sales, and manage your finances, along with customer management. There are options that also encompass all the facets of marketing your listings. Affordable options are available, and work well for smaller businesses.
Whatever software option you choose, it’s important that you understand how to use it before getting started with an eBay business. You should also be aware that many software packages are monthly subscription-based services; so while they are affordable, you’ll need to pay a monthly fee to use them.
14. Open for Business
You are now ready to open your eBay business. If you followed the steps above, you should be in a great position to build a successful business. Below are answers to frequently asked questions that might further help you.
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How to Start an eBay Business FAQs
Is it hard to start an eBay business?
Starting an eBay business can be hard because it takes a lot of time and effort to build up a successful business. However, if you are motivated and have the drive to succeed, then it is definitely possible. There are many resources available to help you get started, so don't be afraid to ask for help when needed.
How can I start an eBay business with no experience?
One option for starting an eBay business with no experience is to join an existing eBay business. This can give you the opportunity to learn from someone who has already been a successful eBay seller. Another option is to do some research on how to start an eBay business and then follow the steps that are outlined. Regardless of which option you choose, be sure to take your time in order to learn as much as possible about running an e-commerce business before diving in.
What type of eBay business is most profitable?
The types of eBay stores that are most profitable are the ones that offer a unique product or service. This could be a business that specializes in selling rare or vintage items, or it could be a business that offers a specialized service, such as personalized gift-wrapping.
How much does it cost to start an eBay business?
Launching a business on eBay is free. The expenses an eBay startup incur include any domain name registration, product inventory and shipping supplies needed. The great thing about starting an eBay store is that there are no expensive overhead costs to worry about. For this reason, it is often called "Retail without the Rents."
What are the ongoing expenses for an eBay business?
There are a few main ongoing expenses for an eBay business:
- Seller fees associated with eBay and PayPal (which can be waived if you reach a certain sales volume)
- Shipping supplies (boxes, packing material, postage stamps, labels, etc.)
- Postage fees
- Supplies for your business (business cards, stationery, brochures, inventory storage/display boxes, etc.)
- Marketing and promotional materials (if your own business has a physical location or storefront)
How does an eBay business make money?
eBay sellers make money by listing items for sale, and completing a transaction. The seller then keeps a large percentage of the final sale price, and pays a commission to eBay. The amount of the commission varies depending on the category of item being sold. For most items, eBay takes 10% of the final fixed price.
Is owning an eBay business profitable?
eBay is a platform where people can buy and sell products, so it's a great place to start a business if you're looking for something that has the potential to be profitable. In addition, there are a number of ways to make money with an eBay business, including selling products, or providing services. And since eBay is such a large platform with millions of users, you'll have plenty of opportunity to reach new customers and grow your business.
Why do eBay businesses fail?
There are a number of reasons why many eBay sellers can fail. One reason is that it can be difficult to stand out from the competition. Another reason is that it can be challenging to generate traffic and online sales. Additionally, it's important to have a solid marketing strategy in order to attract buyers and create a brand that people will trust. Without a plan, it can be difficult to succeed on eBay.
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