Teens Ebay Business: Run an eBay Business From Your Own Home - A Guide for Teens

Run an eBay Business From Your Own Home - A Guide for Teens
By R. Sharp

You've probably heard about other people making money selling on eBay. There's no reason teens can't do the same. This article is for teens who want to learn easy ways to make some spending money and will give you the tools and tell you how to do it.

Decide What To Sell

There are a few pointers to keep in mind as you decide what you're going to sell. First, try to pick a product that's reasonably unique, that a million other established sellers aren't already selling. The product might be something you make, like dolls, quilts, or candles. Or it may be a collectible like antique children's books, vinyl records, or vintage clothing. You can also sell things that people use in their every day life, like games, kitchen appliances, or fishing gear.

Second, pick a product that you're interested in. There may be days when you get tired of your product even if you start out loving it. If you start out hating it, your business is not likely to last for long.

Third, you should have a renewable supply of your product. As old items sell, you should have a way to get new items. For instance, if you're selling vinyl records, you might make it a point to go to every neighborhood garage sale you can find and buy up vinyl records wherever you see them. If you're selling vintage clothing, keep an eye out for sales at the thrift store. And so on.

Research

Once you have decided what you're going to sell, check eBay listings for similar items. Pay attention to the average starting prices and closing prices as well as to the layouts of the auctions. Which items seem to be getting the most bids? The ones in bold print? The ones that have a special look? You will want to incorporate this information into your own listings. For instance, if most items like yours are selling for $10, you won't want to set a starting price of $20.

Photograph

People don't like to buy what they can't see. You may persuade a few people to take a chance on books, DVDs, or games, but no one is going to buy, for instance, a dress or a homemade candle unless they can actually see what it looks like. If you don't already have one, invest in a digital camera and take pictures of the items to add to your listings.

Set the Right Price

The lower the starting price, the more likely people will be to bid on your auctions. But be careful--if you're selling something truly valuable, you don't want to let it go for $1.50 when it's worth $150. Luckily, eBay has what is called a "reserve price" feature. It is not visible to the public, but it allows you to set the absolute minimum you will accept on bids. Using the reserve price allows you to set the starting bid low, secure in the knowledge that you won't risk losing a valuable item for next to nothing if the bidding doesn't take off like you hope it will.

A word to the wise: only use the reserve price feature to protect a truly valuable item. Buyers tend not to like reserve prices and may steer clear of auctions that use them.

Accept Payments Online

Gone are the days when people had to mail you a check or money order. Now most eBay buyers prefer to pay quickly online using PayPal (eBay's partner) or another online payment service. Many buyers will bypass an auction that doesn't accept PayPal. If you're underage, you'll probably have to have your parents help you set up a PayPal account, but it's well worth the aggravation.

EBay is a viable home-based business for teens that can help you earn extra spending money with a relatively small investment of time and energy. Use these tools to get started on your new career!

Visit TeenMoneyMakingIdeas.Com for for ways for kids to make money At Teen Money Making Ideas, we show you countless ways for you to not only make extra spending money but how to start and run your very own teen business. Check us out now: http://www.teenmoneymakingideas.com

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