How to Sell on eBay in 2025: Expert Tips for Success

As of the third quarter of 2024, eBay had 133 million active buyers worldwide. This means that 133 million people have purchased something on the platform in just three months, which is a clear indication of its massive reach. 

Whether you’re decluttering your home or running a small business, eBay offers countless opportunities to make money online. Its user-friendly interface, built-in tools, low startup costs, and flexible listing options make it accessible for beginners and professional sellers. Plus, the platform’s diverse categories mean you can sell almost anything. 

In this article, we’ll guide you through proven methods to make money from home by selling things on eBay. Without further ado, let’s dive in!

How to Start Selling on eBay

eBay hosts over 2.1 billion live listings; that’s more than 13 times the number of its 133 million active buyers. With so many products competing for attention, how can you ensure your listings stand out, rank higher, and ultimately make money on eBay?

Learn the Basics of Selling Items on eBay 

First, you need to understand how the platform works, including eBay’s search algorithm, selling methods, and policies.

Selling Options

eBay selling options are Auction Listings and Buy-It-Now. In an auction, buyers place bids, and the highest bidder wins. This method works well for unique items such as collectibles. On the other hand, Buy-It-Now allows you to set a fixed price, allowing buyers to purchase the item immediately without waiting.

eBay Business Models

You can choose from various eBay business models to suit your goals.

• Dropshipping: This is an eCommerce business model that allows you to sell products directly from suppliers without holding inventory.
• Online arbitrage: This involves buying items from one platform, such as Amazon, and reselling them for a profit on eBay. 
• Wholesale: Here, you purchase products in bulk at discounted rates and sell them individually.
• Reselling: Selling used or refurbished items for profit.
• Brand Owner: Selling your own unique or private-label products.

eBay’s Policies and Rules

These policies cover:

• What You Can Sell: eBay has a list of prohibited items, so it’s important to make sure your items are not included.
• eBay Fees: eBay charges fees for listing items and takes a percentage of the sale price. Understanding these fees will help you set realistic prices.
• Returns and Refunds: eBay has specific rules for handling returns and refunds, so be sure to familiarize yourself with them to avoid disputes and getting bad reviews from customers.
• Shipping costs: eBay encourages free shipping. Offering it to customers can increase your store’s visibility and incite customers to visit your store.  
• Seller Protection: By following eBay’s policies, you’ll be protected in case of disputes with buyers.

Now that you know how the platform works, it’s time to start selling on eBay. 

Also, you can explore more in our high ticket e commerce program and what it has to offer.

Create a Buyer’s Account

Rushing to create a seller’s account without experiencing the platform from the customer’s standpoint is like jumping into a game without learning the basic rules. Before selling on eBay, take a step back and experience the platform as a buyer. 

Open a buyer’s account to see firsthand how customers search for products, compare listings, and complete purchases. You’ll also learn what makes certain listings stand out, how sellers package and deliver items, and what kind of service buyers expect. 

This knowledge will give you a solid foundation for crafting your own selling strategy and make you a better seller right from the start. Once you have this information, you can move on to the next step.

Do the Right product research

Most beginners make the mistake of thinking they can create a winning eBay product just by guessing. The key to finding profitable items to sell on eBay lies in product research. It also helps you know which products have low competition and can generate healthy profits.   

There are two main approaches to product research: Inside Out and Outside In.

Inside Out Strategy; Seller Analysis

The Inside Out strategy analyzes successful sellers and learns from their success. Examining their top-selling products gives you an idea of what’s in demand. 

SupplierHQ can help you find successful competitors in your niche. For instance, if you want to sell Motion Sensor Lights, SupplierHQ will show how many sellers who listed the product made a sale and how much income the product could generate.

Look at the competition and how they price their products, what features they highlight, and the shipping times they offer. After understanding the competition, you can check your potential supplier for pricing and additional costs.

Outside-In Strategy; Niche analysis

The Outside-In strategy takes a different approach. It starts by analyzing trending niches and then drilling down to specific products within those niches. Tools like SupplierHQ can help you with this. 

Supplier HQ’s Product Explorer helps you discover products within your niche with insights on seasonality, 5-year popularity trends, and average price points. Using the Search Demand feature, you can track how many people are searching for a product and whether its popularity is rising or falling. 

Once you’ve identified a winning product idea, it’s time to evaluate it for profitability. Carefully evaluate the sourcing costs, eBay fees, and shipping expenses to ensure a healthy profit. This step is critical to avoid surprises down the road and ensure that the product will deliver the desired results.

Set Up an eBay Seller Account

Now that you have found and decided on the product you want to sell, it is time to grab the bull by the horns. Set up your eBay account and brand your store around that niche and product. Here’s how to do so;

• Go to eBay.com
  
  

• Click on “Register” at the top left corner of the homepage.
  
  

• Fill in your details (name, email, password). Use an email address dedicated to your eBay store for better account management.
• Select “Personal Account” for casual selling or “Business Account” for professional selling.
• Provide additional business details if choosing a business account.
• Verify your account by entering a phone number that can receive SMS messages.
• Enter the verification code sent via text to complete the process.
• Log in to your account and navigate to My eBay > Selling.
  
  

• Complete your profile by adding your country, address, and contact details.
• Navigate to Store Settings > Payments. eBay supports multiple payment methods, including credit cards and PayPal. Select the option that works best for you and link it to your account to ensure seamless transactions.
  
  

• Next, start listing your items under the Selling Overview section of your dashboard.
  
  

That’s it!

After creating your account, add a professional touch to your business page using eBay’s custom templates to design your store to match your products and niche. Include your logo and customer reviews (with pictures, if possible) on your storefront to build trust and loyalty. 

For instance, if you sell pet products, a picture of a dog on your storefront can quickly inform customers what your store offers. This approach increases brand trust and assures buyers that they purchase from someone knowledgeable — not just someone focused on sales.

Understand eBay SEO

eBay functions as a search engine – like Google – where people enter specific terms to find items to purchase. To ensure your listings appear in eBay’s search results (SERPs), you need to optimize them effectively to align with what buyers are searching for. Here are some tips on how to optimize your listings and make profit: 

Optimize Your Product Titles

Your product title is the first thing buyers and eBay’s search algorithm see. Here’s how to make it work for you:

• Research popular search terms using tools like eBay’s search bar, Google Trends, or third-party tools like SupplierHQ. 
• Include the main keywords that best describe your product. For instance, instead of “Stylish Top,” use “Women’s Cotton Blouse – Long Sleeve, Casual Wear.” See this example: 

• Think like your buyers: What would someone type in the search bar to find your item? Use long-tail keywords where needed. For instance, if they were looking for a laptop, they might search “Dell Inspiron 15 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Windows 11.”
• eBay has an 80-character limit, so focus on key details and avoid filler words.
• Place the most relevant keywords at the beginning of the title. For instance, instead of “Amazing New Smartphone, Samsung Galaxy S23,” write “Samsung Galaxy S23 Smartphone – 256GB, 5G.”

See this example from Puma Store: 

• Don’t overuse unnecessary keywords like “Best” or “Cheap,” which can confuse buyers and reduce trust. Instead of these words, offer special discounts. See this example from Outletsales store: 

Write Clear and Informative Descriptions

Your product description helps buyers make informed decisions. A good description can increase visibility and attract buyers searching for the products you’re selling.

Include product features, dimensions, materials, color options, and other relevant information your audience may be interested in. See this example from e-Bay Racks running water bottle. The description is succinct, describes the benefits to the users and subtly guides them to make a purchase: 

Use subheadings like "Features," "Specifications," and "Condition" to make the text easy for buyers to scan. You can also use bullet points to make the information clearer.

Post high-quality photos of the items you’re selling

Good pictures catch buyers’ attention and make your listing look better. If you sell handmade items, take photos from different angles to show buyers exactly what they’ll get. Remember to add ALT texts to increase accessibility. eBay favors listings with good photos, and positions you on the search results to attract customers. 

Here’s an example from Outlet Sales: 

Charge the right postage and offer free shipping to improve your listing’s rank

Charging the right postage fee is important for optimizing your eBay store. Use tools like Royal Mail’s price finder to estimate costs accurately. High postage fees can turn buyers away, so consider including the postage cost in the product price.  

Many buyers also filter search results to show only items with free shipping. This is an example below: 

While offering free shipping might seem like a cost burden, you can add the shipping fee to the product price to cover costs while maintaining competitiveness.

Upload and Promote your eBay Products

After optimizing your listing, you can upload and promote your product listings to get more visibility. This involves accurately categorizing your items, timing your listings, using eBay’s promotional tools, and monitoring performance for improvements.

Use the Right Category

When buyers search for items on eBay, they often use filters based on categories. A well-categorized product is more likely to appear in relevant searches, which increases the chances that buyers will find and purchase your item.

For example, if you’re selling a vintage wristwatch, placing it in the "Wristwatches" category under "Jewelry & Watches" will attract more serious buyers than listing it under a generic category like "Collectibles." eBay provides category suggestions when you create a listing, so use this feature to ensure accuracy."

Optimize Your Storefront

Optimize your store’s search function to help buyers quickly filter products by attributes like size, color, or brand. Also, showcase new arrivals, top sellers, or seasonal deals on your store’s homepage to direct customers toward trending or featured items.

Leverage eBay Promoted Listings

Promoted listings let your products appear at the top of search results or alongside similar items. This increased exposure can help your items stand out in a crowded marketplace. This is how it looks: 

eBay charges a fee for this service based on the ad rate you set and the income the promoted item generates, making it a flexible and cost-effective option.

Create Sales and Discounts

Offering discounts or running sales events can attract price-sensitive buyers. With eBay’s Markdown Manager, you can create temporary price reductions that appear on your listings. Items with a "sale" or "discount" badge often catch shoppers’ attention and can lead to quicker sales.

Use Social Media and other forms of Marketing

Promoting your eBay listings doesn’t have to stay within the platform. Use social media channels, email newsletters, and influencer marketing to showcase your listings to reach a broader audience. 

Share links to your listings on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and add relevant hashtags to boost visibility.  By reaching a broader audience and driving traffic to your store, you increase visibility and boost sales.

Always Consider eBay Fees for Product Pricing

You don’t want to charge too much or less for your products. Look at listings for similar products to understand what buyers are willing to pay. You can also use eBay’s pricing feature to access data-driven recommendations based on historical sales. For example, if eBay suggests pricing a product between $40 and $60, this range can guide your strategy while keeping your offer competitive.

When setting prices on eBay, consider these key factors:

• eBay Fees: To avoid losses, account for selling fees, including listing and final value fees.
• Shipping Costs: Add shipping costs to your item price to offer “free shipping.” This strategy boosts visibility and buyer appeal.
• Product Demand: High-demand or unique items may justify higher pricing, while prices of everyday essentials must be kept competitive.
• Psychological Pricing: Use pricing at $49.99 instead of $50 to make your listing more appealing.

Understand Dropshipping in eCommerce 

Dropshipping is the easiest and lowest-risk business model for earning money on eBay, especially for beginners. It involves listing products on eBay without holding inventory. 

Here’s how it works: 

When a customer places an order, you purchase the item from a supplier, who then ships it directly to the buyer. This method eliminates the need to worry about storage, packaging, and other shipping responsibilities. 

However, to succeed, you must find reliable suppliers, focus on trending or in-demand products, and price competitively to ensure profit margins. Doing this search manually may take a lot of time and resources, which is why you need third-party tools like the SuppliersHQ. 

Supplier HQ is more than just a supplier database; it’s a comprehensive tool for anyone looking to build or grow a high-ticket dropshipping business.

Why Suppliers HQ?

• Extensive Supplier Database: Supplier HQ hosts the largest high-ticket supplier database in the world. It is regularly updated to include new suppliers, providing a wide range of options for finding the right partner for your business, regardless of your niche.
• Organized Niche Exploration: One of Supplier HQ’s most intuitive features is its niche organization. The platform breaks down niches into "meta niches," making it easier to identify opportunities. 

For example, if you’re interested in barbecues, the tool lists barbecue suppliers and suggests complementary niches like cooler suppliers, helping you expand your product offerings.

• Supplier Details at a Glance: The platform provides a comprehensive overview of suppliers, including critical details such as Direct-to-consumer (DTC) status, Product types and price ranges, Search demand and average margins, and Minimum advertised price (MAP) enforcement.
  
  

• Distributor Information: Beyond individual suppliers, Supplier HQ includes distributor information, which can be a game-changer for some niches. For example, Supplier HQ highlights Tri-State, a well-known distributor, and its associated brands in the barbecue niche. Access to such details can save time and provide direct access to sought-after products like Blaze, a popular brand in the barbecue industry.

Build Good Customer Relationship 

You can rank high on eBay if you build good customer relationships and get positive reviews from them.  Happy customers leave positive feedback, which improves your seller rating. Great reviews also attract more buyers, showing you’re trustworthy and provide excellent service. Here are some tips to achieve this:

• Provide Accurate Listings: Ensure your product descriptions and images accurately represent the item. This will reduce misunderstandings and build trust.
• Communicate Proactively: Respond to buyer inquiries and messages quickly. Keep customers informed about their orders, including shipping updates, to show reliability and care.
• Deliver Excellent Service: Ship items promptly and package them securely. To make a memorable impression, consider adding a handwritten thank-you note or a small gift with the order.
• Handle Returns Gracefully: Accept returns without hassle and address issues professionally. Offer a clear and fair return policy to reassure buyers. Even if a sale doesn’t work out, good return handling can turn a dissatisfied customer into a loyal one.
• Learn from Returns: Analyze why certain items are being returned to spot any patterns and improve your products. If customers keep returning certain items, check if their descriptions are clear or their quality needs improving.
• Encourage Photo Reviews: If buyers love their purchase, ask them to share photos in their reviews. For example, if you sell decorative items, you can ask buyers for pictures showcasing how they styled them. Photo reviews not only attract potential buyers but also boost eBay SEO.

Monitor Performance and Adjust Listings

Your work doesn’t stop after listing and prompting your products. Monitoring your performance is key to understanding what’s working and needs improvement. eBay provides robust analytics tools to help you track essential metrics, such as:

• Views: The number of people who visit your listing.
• Clicks: How often users interact with your listing.
• Conversion Rates: The percentage of visitors who make a purchase.

Steps to Improve Underperforming Listings:

Here are some ideas to improve listings  that aren’t performing well: 

1. Refine Titles and Descriptions: If a product isn’t getting enough clicks, check if your title and description include relevant keywords. For example, if you’re selling a "wireless gaming mouse," make sure terms like "wireless," "gaming," and "mouse" appear in your title.
2. Upgrade Images: Poor-quality photos can discourage buyers. High-resolution images from different angles with good lighting show professionalism.
3. Adjust Pricing: Compare your product’s price to similar items in the marketplace. A slight price adjustment could make your listing more appealing.
4. Change Listing Format: If a product isn’t selling through auction, try switching to a fixed-price listing to attract buyers who prefer immediate purchases.

Regularly updating your listings not only keeps them fresh in buyers’ eyes but also signals activity to eBay’s algorithm, which may help maintain or improve your rankings in search results.

11. Engage actively in the community

Engaging actively in the eBay community can boost your success as a seller. Participate in eBay forums and groups to share experiences, learn tips from seasoned sellers, and stay updated on marketplace trends. Answering buyer inquiries promptly and politely also builds trust and encourages positive reviews. 

Networking with other sellers can help you discover helpful tools or techniques to improve your listings and sales. 

Managing Your eBay Business

Effective business management on eBay requires organized systems for inventory tracking, shipping processes, and customer service. These core operations determine your store’s efficiency and profitability.

Inventory Organization

Start by implementing a SKU tracking system to monitor individual product variants and prevent overselling. Label storage bins with numbers or letters, then reference these locations in your eBay listings for quick item retrieval. You can create a digital spreadsheet for efficient tracking using these details: 

• Purchase price
• Storage location
• Listing date
• Item condition
• Product dimensions

Shipping and Handling Best Practices

Create clear shipping policies with specified handling times and delivery options. Ideally, you should process orders within 24 hours of payment to maintain positive seller metrics. To package your product items, always: 

• Use appropriate box sizes and a bubble wrap protection
• Add clear shipping labels and tracking numbers to reduce risks of lost or delayed deliveries 
• Have an insurance plan for valuable or luxurious items  

• Offer free shipping on selected products or product range 
• Communicate with your buyers at every step of the way  

Final Thoughts 

Making money on eBay requires strategy, dedication, and excellent customer service. You can build a strong reputation and grow your business by sourcing the right products, creating enticing listings, and actively engaging with buyers. 

If you’d rather shorten the learning curve to find out how successful entrepreneurs like Brook Hiddink (yup, that’s me), Kabrin J, Tryggvi S., and many others at our academy make six-figure via eCommerce, sign up for my HighTicket Accelerator Course. 

In this self-paced course, you’ll learn how to create a sustainable online business under the guidance of people who have walked this path, and have access to the premium tools we use. You can also apply for my free training, or watch my free courses on my YouTube channel to get started. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Make a Living Selling on eBay?

Yes, you can make a living on eBay with dedication and strategy. Many full-time sellers earn substantial incomes by maintaining a consistent inventory, providing excellent customer service, and understanding their market. Success typically requires treating it like a business, investing time in research, and building a solid reputation.

What’s the Best Way to Start Selling on eBay?

You can start by selling items from your home to learn the platform. Create a professional account, take quality photos, write detailed descriptions, and set prices for maximum profits. 

What Are the Most Profitable Items to Sell?

High-demand items include baby, office, pet, and gaming products. Be sure to focus on products with reasonable shipping costs and good profit margins.

Read more: Best profitable dropshipping products. 

How Much Does It Cost to Sell and Make Money on eBay?

eBay charges final value fees ranging from 13.25% or lower depending on the product category. Insertion fees may apply depending on your account type and listing volume. If you list more than 250 items per month, you’ll need to pay a $0.35 insertion fee per listing.   

Where Can I Source Products to Sell?

Find inventory at thrift stores, yard sales, clearance sales, and online liquidation sources. Consider dropshipping or print-on-demand services for a hands-off approach. Local sourcing can provide unique items at low prices, while wholesale suppliers work well for larger operations.

A better strategy is to use our proprietary supplier and distributor database tool, SupplierHQ. This tool connects you with over 9000 verified high ticket suppliers. You’ll also get access to inside data such as the search demand, dropshipping locations, contacts and verified margins of the products. Take advantage of our 14-day free trial to find winning products for your online store. 

How Do I Create Successful eBay Listings?

Follow these tips to create a successful listing on eBay: 

• Use clear, professional photos with natural lighting
• Write detailed descriptions with relevant keywords and bullet points. 
• Always structure your listings with clear headings and organize information logically to improve visibility and attract buyers.

How Can I Improve My Seller Rating?

To improve your reputation as a seller on eBay: 

• Maintain quick response times to messages and process orders promptly
• Provide accurate descriptions and photos to prevent disputes, 
• Ship items quickly 
• Offer excellent customer service and address issues professionally
• Consider offering free shipping and a reasonable return policy.

Is International Selling Worth It?

Yes, selling internationally can expand your customer base. You can use eBay’s Global Shipping Program to simplify international shipping. Also, remember to research international market demand for your products before expanding.

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