Auctions

 Selling on online auctions is another great way to generate some extra cash. All it takes is an internet connection, an auction account, and something to sell. A digital camera would also be a good investment.

Get an Account

If you don't already have an auction account you can sign up at eBay! for free.  It would also be a good idea build up your ebay reputation by buying a few inexpensive items from other sellers. The higher your feedback number, the more potential buyers will trust you.

Click here to get an account started!

Research, Research, Research!

Take time to research the message boards and all the other good information on the eBay! website before you start selling regularly. You can learn a great deal of useful information just by reading about the experiences of other sellers. Ebay also has a section for people to post items they are looking for- you just might have some of those items!

Find Inventory

To get started selling, just find some items around your house that you no longer have a use for and list them. It is best to research similar items that have already been listed to get an idea of what your item might sell for. You don't want to start you asking price too high, because it will deter people from bidding. You also need to make sure you do not start the bidding price too low, because you do not want to lose money on the deal either.

You can find more items to sell by shopping at estate sales and yard sales. Sometimes you can find great items on clearance at nearby stores. Look around for some wholesale lots too. You can find some good wholesale items to sell at Dollar Days. However, to be able to get a catalog and buy from most wholesalers you will have to apply for a tax id number.

List Your Items

When listing your items keep this in mind - eBay! lets you add one picture per item for free. Although it is often helpful to have more than one picture of your items in your listing, don't waste  money on paying for the extra pictures through them. There are several companies out there that will host extra pictures for you for little or no charge. PhotoBucket is one such company.

Since I have my own website, I also use the domain server to store and link to my auction pictures. That saves me some expense, and also allows me to place as many pictures I want in my auctions with no extra listing fees.  If you have your own website, you might also want to use this method.

Below is a link to the web hosting company that I use. They have   good prices and great technical support. (EBay also lets you discretely place links to a website of your own, but that is another topic for discussion....)

Get Paid

If you find out like selling at online auction, you should consider opening a PayPal account. It makes getting your payments quick and easy, and if your buyer pays for his item through PayPal you can also print your shipping label online.  PayPal does charge a small fee for each transaction, so remember to figure that in your asking price.

Click here to join PayPal..

Ship Your Items

There are several convenient options when it comes to shipping your items. All of them are worth checking into to see which works best for you.

EBay has a fairly easy to use shipping calculator to add shipping charges to your item, and the US Postal Service makes it very convenient to ship your items. They will supply you with free Priority mailing boxes that you can order from their website, and they offer pick up service right at your doorstep.

Stamps.com offers a no-risk trial of their service and gives you a little free postage to start you off.

Keep Records

Be sure to keep good records of your income and expenses. Keeping your business organized is essential in maximizing your profits. You will need all those records for tax filing time! There are several good websites and books out there explaining how to set up and run home based businesses.