The boss has moaned at you again for something trivial, always breathing down your neck and throwing his weight around. This is an ongoing saga and you’ve had enough of the long hours and pay, which as far as you’re concerned, isn’t anywhere close to the amount you’re worth for the work you’re expected to do in a day. Typical story is it not?
Not sure how much more of the boss’s slander you can take, your inner ‘motivate’ gremlin raises his hand with a twinkle in his eye, whispering again and again ‘Start your own business…at home…on ebay!” Because you work for pittance, your savings is meagre, just barely nudging the $1000 mark. But have no fear, that ‘motivate’ gremlin is not phased and knows that it can still be done. Here are a few tips on how you can be your own boss and start an eBay store from home with under $1000 in your pocket.
Step One: Just do it!
Firstly, in order to start a business on eBay you have to just go ahead and do it, instead of pondering about the possibility of doing it. Essentially, starting a business on eBay costs basically nothing. You find something to sell, open an ebay account and list your item. Maybe someone buys your item, but you want to make sure that you build a successful business right from the get go and this requires a small amount of spending.
Step Two: Choose your niche
While it’s true that you can sell anything on eBay, it’s important to find your niche – something that you’re good at, which is also in demand.
Step Three: Visual appeal
Regardless, of what you sell, it’s critical to provide a good image of the item to the buyer, even if it’s small. So, you will have to invest in a decent digital camera with a macro setting. These can be obtained at any large retailer for around $400, but you can also get them for a ridiculously discounted amount on the eBay platform itself, which will give you the chance to see how sellers list their products.
Step Four: Invest in good software
Once you get the hang of how the online auction machine works and start to feel comfortable buying and selling your products over a period of time, it is worth obtaining special software which will provide you with valuable information about potential buyers, as well as listing, managing and tracking auctions. Packages vary from $12.99 – $35.99 per month, and you can include this cost in your initial start-up costs so that you have the software on hand when you need it.
Step Five: Get a pro to design your store
As you make more sales and the dough starts rolling in, the sound of your boss nagging at your heels gets fainter and fainter. It’s time to take your budding online eBay business to the next level so that you can tell him to get lost once and for all. Your final cost outlay will be to get a third party to design an online eBay shop for you. Companies like sixty4ebayshopdesign.com will make your eBay store look professional for better credibility and higher conversion rate for as little as $399. A recognizable and memorable brand helps customers identify and remember you. Not only does it look sleek but having a unique logo and store design is the most competitive way to generate sales and ensure your customers keep coming back.
So, little gremlin’s sums being correct, the cost for starting your professional home eBay business shouldn’t be more than $840. Irritable boss will shout at you for the last time as you move towards your own fully fledged home business and you’ll still have savings left for your own shopping.