Absolute Beginners Guide to Launching an eBay Business

Chances are you're just starting out on your online auction adventures ”learning how to buy and sell and take advantage of everything eBay has to offer. As you gain more experience, however, you may decide that you want to try to make a living from selling goods online. (That's why you bought this book, after all.)

For tens of thousands of eBay users, making a living from online auctions isn't a dream ”it's reality. It's definitely possible to sell enough items to generate a livable income from eBay auctions. It takes a lot of hard work and it's as complex as running any other business, but it can be done.

While most eBay users are simple hobbyists, a surprisingly large number of users sell enough items to actually make a living from their eBay auctions. Officially or not, these users are running eBay businesses ”and many of them make really good money from it.

There are two keys to making money on eBay. First, you have to sell a large volume of merchandise. (Alternately, you can sell a small number of high-priced items ”which isn't as easy as it sounds.) Second, you have to control your costs. Sell enough items while keeping your costs under control, and you'll have a profitable business on your hands.

That sounds simple, but there's a lot that goes into the process. Still, the big difference between the occasional eBay seller and the person running a successful eBay business is nothing more than volume. Whether you're selling one item a month or a hundred, the process is basically the same. It's just that the professional seller has to manage a lot more activity ”and do so with the lowest possible expenditure of time and money. Manage this process well, and you'll have a successful eBay business on your hands.

Which, of course, is what the rest of this book is all about. So now that you have the basics down, read on to discover how to become a true eBay power seller.