 So you want to be starting an eBay business in the new year. Hi everyone and welcome to my video on how to start an eBay business in 2024. I'm excited to be sharing this with you today because I believe that starting an eBay business is a great way to achieve financial freedom and be your own boss. I know that starting a new business can be daunting but I'm here to tell you that it's easier than you might think and eBay is the perfect platform for new entrepreneurs because it's easy to use and there are literally millions of potential customers waiting to buy your products. Whether you're looking to start a full-time eBay business or just to make some extra money on the side, this video is for you. So sit back, relax and let's get started. So what is eBay? eBay is a global online marketplace where people can buy and sell goods. It was founded in 1985 and has since become one of the most popular e-commerce platforms in the world. eBay works by connecting buyers and sellers directly, sellers create listings for the items they want to sell and buyers can browse and bid on those items. When a buyer wins the bid, they pay and the seller ships the item to the buyer. eBay is a popular platform for selling and buying goods because it offers a number of advantages including variety. eBay has a wide variety of items for sale from new new clothing to electronics to collectibles. There's something for everyone on eBay. Convenience. eBay is convenient for both buyers and sellers. Buyers can shop from the comfort of their own homes and sell and sellers can reach a global audience of potential customers. Affordability. eBay is often more affordable than traditional brick and mortar stores. Buyers can find great deals on new and used items and sellers can set their own prices. Security. eBay is a secure platform for buying and selling goods. eBay offers a number of buyer and seller protection such as buyer protection and seller protection. Starting an eBay business is a great way to achieve financial freedom and be your own boss. eBay businesses are also very flexible and scalable making them a good option for people of all skills and levels of experience. Here are some of the benefits of starting an eBay business. Working from home. eBay businesses can be operated from home which gives you the flexibility to work your own hours and set your own schedule. This is a great option for people who have children or other commitments outside of work. Be your own boss. As an eBay seller you are your own boss. You make all the decisions about what to sell, how much to sell it for and how to run your business. This gives you the freedom to control your own destiny and build a business that works for you. You can set your own hours. eBay businesses can be operated on a full-time or part-time basis. You can set your own hours and work as much or as little as you want. This is a great option for people who want to supplement their income who are looking for a side hustle. Flexibility. eBay businesses are very flexible. You can sell almost any type of product you want and you can choose to sell it in any way you want. You can sell new or used products and you can sell individual items or bulk quantities. Scalable. eBay businesses are highly scalable. This means that you can start small and gradually build and grow your business as you gain experience and success. You can increase a number of items you sell, you can expand your product selection and you can hire employees to help you manage your business. If you're looking for a flexible scalable business that you can operate from home then starting an eBay business is a great option for you. Now when it comes to sourcing products to sell. When you're starting out one of the most important things to do is to find reliable sources for products to sell. There are many different places where you can source products for your eBay business but some of the most popular options include thrift stores and garage sales. Thrift stores and garage sales are a great place to find unique and affordable items to sell. You can find everything from clothes and furniture to electronics and collectibles at thrift stores and garage sales. Online marketplaces. Online marketplaces are also great places to source products for your eBay business. You can find a wide variety of products at competitive prices on these online marketplaces. Wholesale suppliers. If you're looking to sell products in bulk you may want to consider sourcing them from wholesale suppliers. Wholesale suppliers typically offer lower prices than retail stores but they may have minimum order requirements. Direct from manufacturers. If you are selling branded products you may want to source them directly from the manufacturer. This can help you to ensure that you are getting authentic products and that you are able to offer competitive prices. Here are some tips for sourcing products to sell on eBay when you are starting out. Start small. Don't try to sell too many different products at first. Start by focusing on a niche market that you are knowledgeable about. This will help you to choose products that are in demand and that you can sell at a profit. Do your research. Before you source any products do your research to make sure that there is a demand for them on eBay. You can use eBay search tool to see how often similar products are selling and for what price. Negotiate with suppliers. Don't be afraid to negotiate to get the best possible price for your products. If you are ordering in bulk you may be able to get a significant discount. Building relationship with suppliers. Once you find reliable suppliers build relationships with them. This will help you get the best possible prices and service. Sourcing products to sell on eBay can be challenging but it is an essential part of running a successful business. By following these tips you can find reliable sources of products to sell and grow your eBay business. Here are some additional tips for sourcing products to sell on eBay when you are starting out. Look for unique items. Buyers are always looking for unique and unusual items on eBay. Consider selling items that are not readily available in retail stores. Sell seasonal items. Seasonal items such as Halloween costumes and Christmas decorations can be very profitable to sell on eBay. Just be sure to list your seasonal items well in advance of the holiday or season. Sell items that are trending. Keep an eye on the latest trends and start selling items that are in high demand. You can use eBay's trending searches page to see what buyers are searching for. Bundle items. Bundle similar items together. Bundling similar items together can help you sell more products and increase your profits. For example you could bundle a shirt, jeans and a pair of shoes together as a complete outfit. Offer free shipping. Free shipping is a great way to attract buyers and increase your sales. Consider offering free shipping on all orders or on orders over a certain amount. By following these tips you can find profitable products to sell on eBay and start building a successful business. Shipping and packaging. eBay offers a variety of shipping options for sellers to choose from. The most common shipping options include standard shipping. Standard shipping is the most affordable shipping option but it is also the slowest. Items shipped using standard shipping typically arrive within three to five business days. Expedited shipping. Expedited shipping is more expensive than standard shipping but it is also faster. Items shipped using expedited shipping typically arrive within one to two business days. International shipping. eBay also offers international shipping options for sellers who want to sell to buyers outside of their country. International shipping can be more expensive than domestic shipping and it can take longer for items to arrive. So how do you choose the right shipping option for your customers? When choosing the shipping option for your eBay customers there are a few factors to consider. Cost. How much is your customer willing to pay for shipping? If your customer is on a budget you may want to offer a standard shipping option. If your customer needs item quickly you may want to offer an expedited shipping option. Speed. How quickly does your customer need the item? If your customer needs the item by a certain date you will need to choose a shipping option that will ensure that the item arrives on time. Destination. Where is the customer located? If your customer is located outside of your country you will need to choose an international shipping option. It is important to package your eBay product carefully to prevent damage during shipping. A damaged product can lead to a negative customer experience and a return. So here are some tips for packaging. Use a sturdy shipping box. Wrap each item individually in bubble wrap or packing peanuts. Fill the box with packing material to prevent the item from moving around during shipping. Seal the box securely with packing tape. Label the box clearly with the shipping address and return address. By following these tips you can help to ensure that your eBay products arrive at their destination safely and in good condition. Using a shipping calculator to estimate shipping costs before you list your items. Ship your items properly after you receive payment and provide tracking information to your buyers so they can track the status of their shipment. By following these tips you can provide your eBay customers with a positive shipping experience. Now moving on to customer service. Providing excellent customer service to your eBay buyers is essential for your business success. It can help you to build a loyal customer base, increase your sales and improve your seller rating. Some excellent tips for customer service to your eBay buyers are responding to inquiries promptly. When a buyer sends you a message try to respond within 24 hours. If you are unable to respond immediately let the buyer know when you expect to get back to them. Be polite and professional in your communication. Always use your customer's name and address them politely. Be sure to answer their questions accurately and completely. Resolve customer issues quickly and fairly. If a buyer has a problem with their order do your best to resolve it quickly and to the buyer satisfaction. Be willing to offer a refund or exchange if necessary. Go the extra mile. Look for ways to go the extra mile for your customers. If a buyer has a question about a product take the time to answer it thoroughly and accurately. Provide additional information if possible such as photos. If a buyer places an order ship it promptly and provide tracking information. Keep the buyer updated on the status of their order if there are any delays or problems. If a buyer receives a damaged or defective item offer a refund or replacement immediately. Don't require the buyer to return the item first. If a buyer is unhappy with their purchase for any reason try to resolve the issue to their satisfaction. Be willing to offer a refund or exchange even if it's not your policy to do so. By providing excellent customer service to your eBay buyers you can build a loyal customer base and increase your sales. You can also improve your seller rating which can lead to more exposure for your listings and more opportunities to sell. Remember your customers are the reason you are in business by treating them well you can ensure that they will continue to buy from you and that they will recommend your business to others. So in conclusion and to summarize a few key points in this video we've discussed the benefits of starting an eBay business, how to source your products and sell, how to choose the right shipping options for your customers. We also emphasize the importance of providing excellent customer service. eBay businesses offer a number of benefits including the ability to work from home, be your own boss and set your own hours. eBay businesses are also flexible and scalable. There are many different places where you can source products to sell on eBay such as thrift stores, garage sales, online marketplaces and wholesale suppliers. When choosing a shipping option for your eBay customers consider the cost, speed and destination. It is important to package your eBay products carefully to prevent damage during shipping, provide excellent customer service to your eBay buyers is an essential aspect of your business success. The benefits of starting an eBay business, working from home, be your own boss, set your own hours, flexible, scalable, earn money doing things that you love and call to action. I encourage you to ask questions in the comments section below if you have any questions about starting an eBay business, be sure to subscribe to the channel for future videos and remember, keep it real.