Learn the steps I take to make money selling on eBay and Poshmark – to date a total of $45,728.81 (net) just from selling used clothes during nap time!
In this post, I also share with you my exact income and expenses. Find out how I made $2,402.07 this month from flipping thrift store finds!
(Affiliate disclosure: this post may contain affiliate links through which I may make a small percentage from when you make a purchase. This is at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support of this website!)I Was Just Like You
Just a few short years ago, I was just like you.
I spent hours scouring Pinterest trying to find a way to make money.
But despite all the time I spent researching, there was just not much legitimate work out there that fit my lifestyle as a stay-at-home mom of three.
And maybe that’s where you’re at.
Finding Out About Reselling
A friend that was just getting into reselling told me about how she made money flipping thrift store items on eBay.
To be honest here, I was pretty skeptical.
At that point I had no idea thousands of people make money selling used items on eBay. Many even making a full-time income.
Giving Reselling A Try
I had pretty much tried every other way to make money, so I figured “What the heck? Let me try this out.”
My first trip to the thrift store I spent a whopping $7.
I figured out how to list the items on eBay. And to my surprise I made money!
Here’s a spoiler alert: I’ve been flipping that same $7 since and it has made me over $45,000!
Setting Goals
The most important thing to making money selling on eBay, is to set goals for yourself. These have been some of my goals along the way:
School Year One
When I first started, my goal was to be able to have enough to pay $205 each month for preschool.
Not only was I successful, but I made more than double my goal on average!
By the end of the year, I was making $600 in a single month.
And this was from working 4 hours a week during preschool time. My brand new baby slept most of the time in the baby carrier while I worked.
In year one, I made a total of $5,186.49 net. (This was with taking the summer off).
School Year Two
The next year, my preschooler went off to 1/2 day kindergarten.
My goal was to pay $500 for private school for two kids PLUS be able to contribute $500 monthly to my retirement account.
That was a big goal for me, but I averaged over $1,250 per month.
And this was from working about 10 hours a week while she was in kindergarten. The baby slept about half this time – a lot still in the carrier.
In year two, I made a total of $15,279.00 net.
School Year Three
I’ve had two kids in school (until COVID hit) plus the little one at home with me. I work mostly during afternoon nap time.
My goal this year was to start paying off my house by selling on eBay in addition to contributing $500 a month to my IRA.
Even with thrift stores being closed for nearly three months due to COVID-19, I have been able to average over $1,900 every month!
This year I made $22,861.30!
School Year Four
School year four just started!
Thankfully the two older kids were able to go back to school. The littlest is still home with me full time.
Most days he naps, but sometimes he doesn’t and I have to get creative to keep him busy while I get some work in.
My goal this year is to continue putting $500 a month in my IRA.
Plus I would like to put $1,600 per month towards principle on the house.
So far I am off to a great start!
Knowing What To Sell
If you are interested in selling on eBay or other platforms, knowing what to sell is half the battle.
Choose something you are interested in.
For me, that was clothes.
- They are easy to find
- Easy to store (and don’t take up a lot of room)
- Can be purchased cheaply
You also want to know what sells best.
These articles can help you identify what kinds of things you can sell:
I also have several posts featuring some of the items I’ve sold.
They cover how much I paid, how long they took to sell, why I thought they would be a good flip, plus how much I made.
Knowing Where To Sell
For me, I had sold on eBay before so it was easiest to stick with what I knew.
While eBay does have the largest number of customers, there are many other platforms you can sell on including:
- Poshmark
- Mercari
- etsy (for vintage items)
- Kidizen (sign up and get $5 off your first purchase through my link!)
You can read more about the best places to sell clothes in my Complete Guide To Selling Used Clothes For Top Dollar.
What You Need To Start Selling On eBay
The great things about selling on eBay is it doesn’t require a huge start up cost.
All you really need is your phone (for pictures) and preferably a scale.
You’ll also need supplies to ship your sales.
You can find the exact supplies I use here: Reseller Supplies I Use.
To Learn More
If you want to learn more about selling used clothes or other items on eBay, I’ve got you covered.
- If you haven’t sold on eBay before, I have step by step directions that will walk you through from account setup all the way through selling and getting paid.
- If you’re interested in selling clothes, see my Complete Guide To Selling Used Clothes
- If you’ve tried selling on eBay before and haven’t had any luck, check out 13 Reasons Why Your Stuff On eBay Isn’t Selling
I also have created a FREE 5-Day Reseller Bootcamp that is delivered straight to your inbox.
You can sign up here:
This Month's Income Report From Selling On eBay
Each month I share my exact revenue and expenses with you from running my reselling business.
In addition to eBay income, I had one sale on OfferUp and a couple on Poshmark that you will see listed as well.
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue (eBay) | $4896.64 | |
| Revenue (OfferUp) | $0 | |
| Revenue (Poshmark) | $32.28 | |
| Sales Tax | -$193.07 | |
| eBay Fees | -$569.19 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$216.03 | |
| Postage | -$1,206.41 | |
| Refunds | -$142.25 | |
| Sourcing | -$217.69 | |
| Office Supplies | -$0 | |
| Net Profit | $2,402.07 | |
Expenses For Selling On eBay
Here’s a few notes about expenses selling on eBay:
Sales Tax: Sales tax is collected and remitted by eBay. However the money comes into my account initially, so I have to subtract it out as an expense.
eBay Fees: These include all fees to sell on eBay including the cost of my eBay store subscription. Plus some shipping methods such as international shipping and FedEx are charged through eBay.
Paypal Fees: These are for payment processing.
Postage: Postage is my biggest expense. You can read here about how I save on shipping costs.
Refunds: I accept refunds for 30 days. Return shipping is paid by the buyer. You will get more sales if you offer returns. Only about half of my buyers that initially want to return an item actually follow through with the return.
Sourcing: This is cost of goods – how much I spend for the items I am selling.
Office Supplies: I keep office supplies low by taking advantage of free eBay-branded supplies that come with my store subscription.
eBay Charity: This is an optional amount I choose to donate on some items. There are many charities to pick from.
Consignment Payout: Paid to consignor for items consigned with me.
How To Sell Successfully On eBay
There’s just a few things required in order to be successful in selling on eBay:
- Set Goals - income goal PLUS number of items to list each month to get the income you want. I then break down my goals into manageable daily and weekly goals.
- If something isn't working, change it up! Don't be afraid to experiment with what you sell.
- Learn these 5 methods for increasing your eBay sales.
- List, List, List! If you're only listing like 5 items a month don't try to compare yourself to someone listing much more. For comparison, I list around 200 items a month.
Thanks For Joining Me!
I hope this is the start of an amazing journey for you of learning how to sell on eBay.
I’d love to help you out in any way I can
-Lee
P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for Reseller Bootcamp!
Previous Income Reports
You can find income reports from selling on eBay for previous months here:
2020
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $4211.08 | Now includes sales tax |
| Sales Tax | -$149.02 | |
| eBay Fees | -$374.94 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$194.01 | |
| Postage | -$1195.89 | |
| Refunds | -$71.36 | |
| Sourcing | -$228.71 | |
| Office Supplies | -$4.57 | Polymailers |
| Net Profit | $1992.58 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $5256.65 | Now includes sales tax |
| Sales Tax | -$189.40 | |
| eBay Fees | -$431.92 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$238.64 | |
| Postage | -$1493.01 | |
| Refunds | -$135.71 | |
| Sourcing | -$150.64 | Plus used $60 in free Goodwill Giftcards from Christmas giftcard promo |
| Office Supplies | -$39.27 | Label Paper |
| Net Profit | $2578.06 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $5078.19 | |
| Sales Tax | -$197.33 | |
| eBay Fees | -$492.70 | Includes some FedEx and eBay International Standard shipping |
| Paypal Fees | -$222.39 | |
| Postage | -$1100.98 | |
| Refunds | -$60.61 | |
| Sourcing | -$504.84 | In addition to thrifting during the first two weeks of the month, I bought 3 “lots” on eBay for next month |
| Office Supplies | -$36.02 | Polymailers, bubble wrap |
| eBay Charity | -$2.50 | Susan G. Komen eBay for Charity |
| Consignment Payout | -$266.62 | |
| Net Profit | $2101.00 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $3937.36 | |
| Sales Tax | -$152.65 | |
| eBay Fees | -$650.89 | Includes some FedEx and eBay International Standard shipping |
| Paypal Fees | -$169.83 | |
| Postage | -$953.05 | |
| Refunds | -$93.16 | |
| Sourcing | -$425.88 | |
| Office Supplies | -$14.65 | Polymailers, bubble wrap |
| eBay Charity | -$2.16 | Convoy of Hope |
| Consignment Payout | -$300.89 | |
| Net Profit | $1174.20 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $2945.26 | |
| Sales Tax | -$106.43 | |
| eBay Fees | -$485.83 | Includes some FedEx and eBay International Standard shipping |
| Paypal Fees | -$129.06 | |
| Postage | -$619.36 | |
| Refunds | -$39.91 | |
| Sourcing | -$55 | |
| Office Supplies | -$5.47 | Bubble wrap |
| eBay Charity | -$1.32 | Convoy of Hope |
| Consignment Payout | -$45.48 | |
| Net Profit | $1457.40 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $2891.94 | |
| Sales Tax | -$114.40 | |
| eBay Fees | -$413.20 | Includes some FedEx and eBay International Standard shipping |
| Paypal Fees | -$125.97 | |
| Postage | -$584.68 | |
| Refunds | -$51.28 | |
| Sourcing | -$228.11 | |
| Office Supplies | -$13.56 | Polymailers |
| eBay Charity | -$1.36 | Convoy of Hope |
| Consignment Payout | -$71.36 | |
| Net Profit | $1287.83 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue (eBay) | $4426.03 | |
| Revenue (OfferUp) | $50 | |
| Revenue (Poshmark) | $17.10 | |
| Sales Tax | -160.46 | |
| eBay Fees | -$375.91 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$194.07 | |
| Postage | -$965.56 | |
| Refunds | -$71.50 | |
| Sourcing | -$246.18 | |
| Office Supplies | -$2.61 | Polymailers with eBay |
| Net Profit | $2471.84 | |
2019
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $2453.54 | |
| eBay Fees | -$174.15 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$119.1 | |
| Postage | -$631.76 | |
| Refunds | -$46.98 | |
| Sourcing | -$295.09 | |
| Office Supplies | -$15.94 | ink refill/polymailers |
| Net Profit | $1110.52 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $3031.55 | |
| eBay Fees | -$325.01 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$129.7 | |
| Postage | -$756.33 | |
| Refunds | -$280.69 | $212.50 for one coat, returned for fit – buyer paid return shipping |
| Sourcing | -$209.98 | |
| Office Supplies | -$19.60 | light bulb replacement, tea tree oil |
| Business License | -$19 | |
| Net Profit | $1291.24 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $3098.76 | |
| eBay Fees | -$250.60 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$146.66 | |
| Postage | -$783.51 | |
| Refunds | -$56.49 | |
| Sourcing | -$117.72 | |
| Office Supplies | -$27.49 | polymailers |
| Net Profit | $1716.29 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $2612.40 | |
| eBay Fees | -$289.98 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$128.90 | |
| Postage | -$543.39 | |
| Refunds | -$14.36 | |
| Sourcing | -$273.01 | |
| Office Supplies | -$22.24 | polymailers, ink refills |
| Net Profit | $1340.52 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $3204.84 | |
| eBay Fees | -$308.12 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$160.19 | |
| Postage | -$1009.67 | |
| Refunds | -$89.59 | |
| Sourcing | -$385.35 | |
| Mannequin | -$30 | |
| Net Profit | $1221.92 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $3007.88 | |
| eBay Fees | -$332.82 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$134.86 | |
| Postage | -$741.23 | |
| Refunds | -$97.29 | includes $60 in order cancellations, one lost package |
| Sourcing | -$202.61 | |
| Mannequin | -$30 | |
| Office Supplies | -$35.99 | self-adhesive labels |
| Photos | -$75 | |
| Net Profit | $1358.08 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $3770.02 | |
| eBay Fees | -$300.74 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$174.45 | |
| Postage | -$1060.87 | |
| Refunds | -$53.20 | |
| Sourcing | -$248.78 | |
| Office Supplies | -$24.31 | Polymailers |
| Help in exchange for Youth Camp tuition | $-195.00 | |
| Net Profit | $1712.67 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $4580.18 | |
| eBay Fees | -$481.88 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$205.13 | |
| Postage | -$1202.88 | |
| Refunds | -$75.71 | |
| Sourcing | -$296.47 | |
| Office Supplies | $0 | |
| Net Profit | $2318.11 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $3669.07 | |
| eBay Fees | -$399.03 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$159.42 | |
| Postage | -$1062.73 | |
| Refunds | -$197.91 | |
| Sourcing | -$284 | |
| Office Supplies | -$15.47 | |
| Net Profit | $1550.51 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $4763.91 | |
| eBay Fees | -$448 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$209.31 | |
| Postage | -$1185.11 | |
| Refunds | -$62.14 | |
| Sourcing | -$217.10 | |
| Office Supplies | -$15.47 | Polymailers |
| Net Profit | $2626.78 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $3887.94 | Now includes sales tax |
| Sales Tax | -113.70 | |
| eBay Fees | -$461.48 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$167.72 | |
| Postage | -$973.74 | |
| Refunds | -$208.09 | About 90% customer cancellations prior to shipping. |
| Sourcing | -$309.47 | |
| Office Supplies | -$15.26 | Polymailers |
| Other | -$37.15 | Sweater Shaver |
| Net Profit | $1601.13 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $3712.94 | Now includes sales tax |
| Sales Tax | -96.93 | |
| eBay Fees | -$348.28 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$166.99 | |
| Postage | -$1063.23 | |
| Refunds | -$60.90 | About 90% customer cancellations prior to shipping. |
| Sourcing | -$233.95 | |
| Office Supplies | -$30.83 | Year Calendar/Dry Erase |
| Other | -$10 | Gift For Mailman |
| Net Profit | $1701.83 |
2018
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $636.27 | |
| eBay Fees | -$72.00 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$26.47 | |
| Postage | -$160.42 | |
| Refunds | -$129.90 | One return for fit of $111 (buyer paid shipping and return shipping), one order cancellation, and one small value return. |
| Sourcing | -$54.53 | |
| Office Supplies | $0 | |
| Net Profit | $192.95 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $1424.45 | |
| eBay Fees | -$110.60 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$67.36 | |
| Postage | -$362.03 | |
| Refunds | -$81.38 | Three returns and a $28 order cancellation. |
| Sourcing | -$114.17 | |
| Office Supplies | -$45.69 | ink refills |
| Net Profit | $643.22 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $1320.57 | |
| eBay Fees | -$136.95 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$65.56 | |
| Postage | -$398.84 | |
| Refunds | -$12.99 | |
| Sourcing | -$107.88 | |
| Office Supplies | -$9.73 | polymailers |
| Net Profit | $588.62 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $1190.89 | |
| eBay Fees | -$120.79 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$57.38 | |
| Postage | -$250.23 | |
| Refunds | $0 | |
| Sourcing | -$139.21 | |
| Office Supplies | -$31.40 | polymailers, adhesive labels |
| Lighting Kit | -$57.60 | |
| Net Profit | $534.28 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $1365.97 | |
| eBay Fees | -$153.81 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$72.13 | |
| Postage | -$383.41 | |
| Refunds | -$2 | |
| Sourcing | -$78.60 | |
| Office Supplies | -$43.78 | polymailers, photodrop photo background |
| Net Profit | $632.24 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $1119.88 | |
| eBay Fees | -$139.61 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$57.84 | |
| Postage | -$307.81 | |
| Refunds | $0 | |
| Sourcing | $0 | Taking the summer off! Just shipping when items sell. |
| Office Supplies | $0 | |
| Net Profit | $614.62 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $512.12 | |
| eBay Fees | -$86.95 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$25.74 | |
| Postage | -$138.9 | |
| Refunds | -$15.5 | |
| Sourcing | -$29.5 | |
| Office Supplies | -$34.93 | 1000 Self-adhesive labels, polymailers |
| Net Profit | $180.6 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $1941.38 | |
| eBay Fees | -$116.95 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$94.19 | |
| Postage | -$579.44 | |
| Refunds | -$123.46 | |
| Sourcing | -$139.1 | |
| Office Supplies | $0 | |
| Net Profit | $888.24 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $2479.14 | |
| eBay Fees | -$234.83 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$122.94 | |
| Postage | -$737.96 | |
| Refunds | -$12.34 | |
| Sourcing | -$144.35 | |
| Office Supplies | $0 | |
| Net Profit | $1226.72 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $2168.48 | |
| eBay Fees | -$264.28 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$107.45 | |
| Postage | -$566.48 | |
| Refunds | -$58 | |
| Sourcing | -$209.58 | |
| Office Supplies | $0 | |
| Net Profit | $962.69 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $3143.99 | |
| eBay Fees | -$262.84 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$149.92 | |
| Postage | -$813.5 | |
| Refunds | -$48.36 | |
| Sourcing | -$270.51 | |
| Office Supplies | -$36.38 | Polymailers |
| Dry Cleaning | -$17.39 | Dry cleaning for Filson coat |
| Net Profit | $1562.48 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $2004.97 | |
| eBay Fees | -$273.65 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$85.71 | |
| Postage | -$475.77 | |
| Refunds | -$115.41 | Two larger order cancellations made by me in order to take substantially higher offers. |
| Sourcing | -$153.94 | |
| Office Supplies | $0 | |
| Net Profit | $887.64 |
2017
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $320.48 | |
| eBay Fees | -$24.30 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$17.41 | |
| Postage | -$94.07 | |
| Refunds | 0 | |
| Sourcing | -$78.21 | |
| Office Supplies | -$2.7 | Shipping supplies |
| Net Profit | $103.79 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $827.39 | |
| eBay Fees | -$96.74 | Includes store subscription fee |
| Paypal Fees | -$42.47 | |
| Postage | -$278.9 | |
| Refunds | 0 | |
| Sourcing | -$96.71 | |
| Office Supplies | -$3.71 | Shipping supplies |
| Other | -$6.51 | Photo background – self adhesive |
| Net Profit | $302.36 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $1030.06 | |
| eBay Fees | -$97.24 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$48.45 | |
| Postage | -$295.35 | |
| Refunds | -$38.99 | |
| Sourcing | -$78.89 | |
| Office Supplies | -$35.08 | Shipping supplies – poly mailers, extra large poly mailers, self-adhesive labels |
| Other | -$13.02 | Photo background – self adhesive |
| Net Profit | $423.04 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $1017.86 | |
| eBay Fees | -$126.15 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$47.95 | |
| Postage | -$294.97 | |
| Refunds | -$7.98 | |
| Sourcing | -$121.38 | |
| Office Supplies | 0 | |
| Net Profit | $419.43 |
| Amount | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $1027.18 | |
| eBay Fees | -$111.11 | |
| Paypal Fees | -$45.30 | |
| Postage | -$227.65 | |
| Refunds | -$19.99 | |
| Sourcing | -$46.26 | |
| Office Supplies | -$25.53 | Packing tape |
| Net Profit | $551.34 |
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