Sell custom products without inventory
Wondering how to make money on eBay? It’s easier than you think. From flipping secondhand finds to selling custom products, eBay gives you all the tools to start earning fast.
This guide will walk you through every step to launch, grow, and scale your store and sell on eBay with Print on Demand.
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Key takeaways
- Success on eBay starts with setting up a professional seller profile and creating eye-catching listings with competitive prices to attract buyers.
- Offering excellent customer service and fast shipping will keep eBay customers happy and improve your seller rating.
- Using eBay’s promotional tools, like Offsite Ads or the subscription-based Promotions Manager, can significantly improve your eBay sales.
- Expanding your product range with Print on Demand, using automation tools, and closely monitoring your store’s performance will help you achieve eBay success.
Understanding eBay
eBay is a global eCommerce marketplace where you can buy and sell virtually anything. With a seller account, you get:
- No upfront costs. Listing products is free up to a certain limit, and eBay only charges fees once an item sells.
- Built-in traffic. With millions of active buyers, you don’t need a huge ad budget to get seen. Your listings show up in both eBay searches and external search results.
- Easy setup. Creating a seller account, listing products, and managing orders is straightforward, even if you’re just starting out.
- Built-in payment system. eBay handles payments and sends your earnings directly to your linked bank account.
- Marketing tools. From promoted listings to markdown sales, eBay offers built-in features to help boost your visibility and increase sales.
Explore how to make money on eBay with a massive range of product categories:
- Electronics and gadgets. Phones, laptops, accessories.
- Fashion and apparel. Clothing, shoes, bags.
- Collectibles and memorabilia. Vintage finds, toys, rare items.
- Home and garden. Furniture, kitchen tools, decor.
- Specialty items. Auto parts, wellness products, craft supplies.
Set up your eBay account for success
While you can sell with a personal eBay account, a business account is the smarter choice if you’re planning to build a brand or run an online business.
Follow these steps to discover how.
Register your eBay account
Go to the eBay website, click Register, and choose a personal or business account. Add your details, verify your email and phone, then secure your account with two-factor authentication (2FA).
Link your bank account to receive payouts
In My eBay → Account Settings → Payments, click Add a bank account.
Verify by signing in through your bank’s portal, or let eBay send two small test deposits and confirm the exact amounts through your eBay dashboard.
List your first item
- Click Sell at the top of the eBay page.
- Choose a product category or type in what you’re selling.
- Complete the listing by adding the product title, photos, description, price, and shipping details.
- Hit List item to publish.
After your first listing, you’ll unlock Seller Hub – a dashboard to manage your products, monitor sales, track performance, and run promotions.
Additional setup details
- Switching account types. Go to My eBay → Account → Personal Information → Account Type → Edit to switch between personal and business accounts.
- Upgrading to an eBay Store. Unlock more branding and promotional tools with a Store subscription.
For EU sellers. Provide a Tax Identification Number (TIN) for DAC7 compliance and verify your identity for cross-border sales.
Want in-depth setup instructions? Read our guide on how to start an eBay store for additional tips.
eBay store best practices
Once your account is live, your seller profile becomes your storefront. Make it clear, credible, and appealing for the best chances at making a sale:
- Use a professional profile photo. Upload a high-quality image – your business logo works best for brand building, while a friendly, clear headshot is ideal for solo sellers.
- Write a short, engaging bio. Keep it simple and inviting. Outline your unique selling point, like fast shipping or custom products.
- Set clear policies to build trust. Explain your shipping timelines, return policy, and how buyers can contact you.
- Keep your branding consistent. Use the same logo, color palette, and brand voice across your profile, listings, packaging, and marketing for a polished feel.
- Focus on customer satisfaction. Provide accurate descriptions, ship on time, and respond quickly to messages to score positive buyer feedback.
- Keep things fresh. Update your bio, profile image, and policies periodically – especially if you’re launching seasonal drops or new product offerings.
Explore our tips for selling on eBay to attract more buyers and maximize your sales potential.
Sell high-profit items
What you sell on eBay impacts your bottom line. If you want to make money fast, focus on items that meet current demand or fill gaps in the market.
You can list pre-owned products, trending goods, or unique finds – just make sure each item has a clear audience and strong profit potential.
1. Research other eBay sellers and market demand
Making good money on eBay starts with knowing what sells. Study what other eBay sellers are doing and find the gaps in their offerings.
Use smart research tools
- eBay’s search bar. Check what shows up in search results and review which listings rank well. Pay attention to the listing format, pricing, and presentation.
- Keyword tools. Platforms like Semrush and Google Trends can help you identify trending search terms and understand how interest changes over time.
- Third-party tools. eRank or ZIK Analytics (available in eBay’s Seller Hub) can help you dive deeper into pricing and competitor performance.
Identify profitable niches
- Spot market gaps. Review top listings and see if a certain customer group may be underrepresented – that could be your edge.
- Target high-demand, low-competition items. Find products with consistent sales but limited seller saturation.
- Track seasonal and trending items. Certain categories spike at specific times – like outdoor gear in spring or cozy gifts in winter.
Focus on niche markets that match your interests. It’ll help you spot trends, build a unique storefront, and write stronger listing descriptions that speak to buyers.
2. Choose product types
What you sell directly affects how much you earn. Some product types have bigger profit margins, while others win on demand or uniqueness.
- New products. These typically sell at higher prices and appeal to buyers looking for reliability and quality. Think phone accessories, new books, or custom-printed t-shirts.
- Used items. Prices vary significantly from cheap, pre-owned deals to rare, high-markup finds. Vintage denim, collectible action figures, or lightly used kitchen appliances can fetch strong prices.
When selling used items, be transparent about wear and functionality to avoid returns. Clarity helps you earn good feedback, which leads to stronger search visibility and repeat buyers.
3. Source inventory
There are plenty of ways to stock your eBay store without blowing your budget. Here are some top sourcing strategies to consider:
- Print on Demand. Create and sell custom products using your own designs. Your provider, like Printify, prints and ships after each sale – no upfront costs.
- eBay dropshipping. List generic items on eBay while a third-party supplier handles storage and fulfillment. No inventory, but limited profit margins.
- Thrift stores. Great for finding vintage clothing, unique collectibles, and niche home goods for cheap. Kick off your auction with a low starting price to spark bids.
- Wholesale suppliers. Check out platforms like Alibaba and SaleHoo. You’ll save money on costs per unit, but you’ll need storage space and capital for buying inventory.
- Local marketplaces and auctions. Visit garage sales, flea markets, and estate auctions to find underpriced items with resale potential. With some cleanup and smart positioning, you can sell these for a premium online.
- Online marketplaces. Sites like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and OfferUp are full of hidden gems. Some sellers specialize in flipping locally sourced items as a core eBay selling strategy.
- Retail. Purchasing smaller quantities from other retailers is a flexible way to curate your storefront, but it comes with higher per-unit costs.
Want to offer unique products without the high price tag? Go with Print on Demand. It’s a fast, smart way to sell on eBay. No inventory, no hassle – plus, you get to set your own margins.
Start selling with Printify today
Create optimized listings that convert
With your products ready, the next step is crafting listings that grab attention and bring in sales.
Listing optimization
Strong listings help your products show up in search results, attract clicks, and convert potential buyers. eBay’s listing tool makes it easy to get started, offering category suggestions and templates based on similar items.
But to stand out, you’ll need to go beyond the basics. Use search engine optimization (SEO) tactics and targeted keywords to improve visibility.
Here’s what makes a high-performing listing:
- Clear, keyword-rich titles. Keep them natural and descriptive. Include the brand, model, size, and key features buyers are searching for.
- Benefit-focused descriptions. Go beyond specs. Explain what the product does, why it’s valuable, and who it’s for to nudge buyers to purchase.
- Full transparency. Particularly on used items, it’s crucial to be honest about any flaws, wear, or missing parts upfront to avoid issues later.
- High-quality photos. Upload multiple well-lit images with a clean background, show different angles, and include close-ups. Discover how to take good product photos on our blog.
Check out our tips on eBay SEO to drive traffic to your store.
Pricing strategies
The key on how to make money selling on eBay is setting prices that actually earn you a profit. It should cover your expenses while still remaining attractive to potential buyers.
Before setting a price, factor in your production costs and eBay fees:
- Product and shipping costs. Include what you paid to source or produce the item, plus packaging and delivery.
- eBay selling fees. eBay gives you 250 free listings per month. After that, there’s a $0.35 insertion fee per listing.
- Final value fees. Usually 12.7%-15.3% of the total price per sale, depending on the category, plus a $0.30-$0.40 transaction fee per order.
- Other fees. You may incur additional optional costs for features like reserve price auctions, promoted listings, or advanced listing formats.
Next, decide on the selling format:
- Auction listings build urgency and are great for rare or collectible items. You can set a reserve price to protect your minimum sale amount.
- Buy It Now means selling at a fixed price – ideal for quick, predictable sales. Best for items with clear market value and steady demand.
On eBay, you can also implement different pricing strategies:
- Best Offer. Let buyers negotiate to add flexibility and help move listings faster.
- Promotional pricing. Offer discounts or coupons to boost visibility, especially during seasonal or clearance events.
- Condition-based pricing. Price new items higher and position used goods as bargains by clearly showing the value buyers get.
Manage sales and customer service
If you want to establish a good relationship with customers – and secure repeat business for your eBay shop – providing a great buyer experience is a must. Here are some factors to focus on.
Order fulfillment
Process orders quickly, use secure packaging, and ship on time. Calculate shipping costs accurately based on item weight, dimensions, and destination. To drive more checkouts, compare carrier rates and services to offer affordable options to buyers.
Offer free shipping
Free shipping can help increase visibility and sales on eBay. If you offer it, adjust your item price to cover the cost while keeping your margins intact. Be transparent about any conditions, like minimum purchase amounts.
Customer service
Respond to buyer messages promptly, resolve issues professionally, and follow eBay’s return policies. Excellent service leads to positive feedback, helping you qualify for Top Rated Seller status – which builds trust and improves your search placement.
Promote your eBay store
Implement various marketing strategies to increase visibility and drive traffic to your online business.
Use social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to promote your eBay listings. Share engaging content, showcase products, and send shoppers straight to your eBay store.
Check out our guide on how to get more views on eBay.
Don’t forget to create a strong brand identity on eBay to differentiate yourself from competitors:
- Design a memorable logo that embodies your brand’s core values and personality. Make sure it’s visually appealing and easily recognizable.
- Establish a cohesive color palette and visual style that reflects your brand and appeals to your target audience.
- Develop clear and compelling brand messaging that communicates your business’ mission, values, and unique selling point.
- Maintain consistency in language and tone across all communication channels, including eBay listings, customer interactions, and social media.
Scale your eBay business
Once you’re making sales, the next step is scaling your eBay business to maximize your income.
Advanced selling techniques
While you can manage your inventory, track sales, and run off-site ads directly from Seller Hub – no subscription required – an eBay Store subscription unlocks more powerful tools.
The Starter plan gives you access to Promotions Manager, where you can create coupons, set shipping and order discounts, run sales events, and offer volume pricing.
Once you’re ready to level up, the Basic or Premium plans give you access to Terapeak – a research tool that analyzes supply, demand, and pricing trends to help you decide what to sell and how to price it.
Expanding product lines
Adding new products is a simple way to reach more buyers, increase sales, and keep your store fresh. Look for items that complement what you already sell, or explore new categories that align with your niche.
Use on-demand services like Printify to expand your eBay storefront. With over 1,300 customizable products and a global network of Print Providers, you can start scaling immediately at no additional cost.
Stay updated on the top-selling items on eBay to capitalize on market demand.
Track your performance
Keeping an eye on your numbers helps you make smarter decisions and improve your results over time.
Use eBay’s built-in analytics tools to monitor sales trends, track listing performance, and spot new growth opportunities.
Set clear business goals – like monthly sales targets or new customer benchmarks – and review them regularly. Adjust your strategies as needed to stay on track and grow your store with purpose.
FAQ
Yes – you can make money selling on eBay by pricing smart, listing strategically, and delivering great service. With the right approach, it’s more than just a side hustle.
Whether you’re selling used stuff, collectibles, high-ticket products, or custom print-on-demand apparel, there are plenty of ways to explore how to sell stuff on eBay and make money.
Absolutely. Many eBay sellers hit this mark through smart sourcing, strong brand positioning, and attention to shipping, pricing, and feedback score.
The best way to cash in on eBay fast is through high-ticket categories like electronics, branded fashion, or collectibles that tend to offer the most money. But in general, it depends on demand, competition, and niche. The key is spotting gaps other sellers are overlooking.
It varies. Some earn pocket money, others make a full-time income. An average seller on eBay makes around $3,700/month. Income depends on selling items that are highly sought after, pricing, and how well you stand out in search results.
Use bulk-friendly strategies – source fast-moving products like phone accessories, fitness gear, pet supplies, or home essentials.
Streamline your listings, use eBay’s promotional tools, and offer a competitive selling price. It’s also important to build trust with buyers and monitor what makes top sellers stand out.
Beginners can start selling on eBay by listing their unused, second-hand items or selling print-on-demand products. This requires no upfront investment and is a quick way to get products in front of customers, fast.
Conclusion
Selling on eBay puts you on the path to real, scalable income – whether you’re offloading unused stuff or building a long-term brand. Set up a standout seller profile, write engaging listings, offer competitive pricing, and use eBay’s tools to reach buyers.
Want a faster way to launch? Partner with Printify to sell custom products without holding inventory. Our network handles production and shipping – so you can focus on cashing in.
