Many individuals have successful work-at-home businesses selling products on ebay. If that sounds interesting to you, why not try it yourself? Once you have made the decision to start your own ebay home business, here are some suggestions to help you get started.
Make sure you have a good digital camera. Every product you put up for sale should include several clear photographs from different angles. Use outdoor lighting when possible and make sure the photos are close ups.
Set aside a designated amount of time each week to work at your business. Don’t become distracted. Remember this is a business and not a hobby. It is important to treat it just as seriously as any other owner treats their brick and mortar business.
Good feedback is essential on ebay. To start off, list just a few insignificant things and sell them at a low price. Make sure your customer is happy and is willing to give you positive feedback. Once you have 20 separate positive feed backs you are entitled to additional privileges as an ebay seller.
Find a way to accept debit and credit cards. The easiest way to do this is to sign up for a PayPal account. You can also use snail mail and accept money orders or cashiers checks. Don’t take regular checks and be cautious before you accept buyers from third world countries. There was an outbreak of buyers in Nigeria using stolen credit cards. When accepting payment from overseas it is best to accept only PayPal.
Watch your listings closely. When people ask questions answer them immediately. This will keep your customers happy and will earn you positive feedback. Always know when each auction is due to close and then act immediately once it closes. Always keep a professional attitude and treat every transaction seriously.
Ship sold items immediately upon receipt of payment. This is vital because nothing will earn you negative feedback faster than slow shipments. Make sure that you fully disclose how your items will be shipped and what you will be charging for shipping and handling. Don’t overcharge for shipping and handling, but don’t cheat yourself either.
Learn how to package and ship your items safely and efficiently. You don’t want items to arrive broken or crushed. You can actually use PayPal now to print shipping labels for the post office. Take the time to learn about all the different shipping options available to you.
Learn all the ways you can save money on ebay. For instance, you don’t have to pay an additional charge for each photo you post. You can join a photo hosting site, upload your photos onto this site, and then post them on ebay at no cost. Learn about the different ebay stores and programs. Start off with as little expense as possible and more add features (if you need them) as you start making money.
Many individuals just like you have started their own home businesses selling products on ebay and have been very successful. There is no reason why you can’t be successful, too. Once you make the decision to get started, work hard at it and follow these helpful suggestions.
Ideas For A Home Business
Many people have lost their jobs and are finding it extremely difficult to find new jobs. The recession has affected many businesses that have had no alternative but to close their doors. This environment of joblessness has prompted many to look for opportunities to start a home business. The one problem that people face is what type of home business to start. The best option if you are undecided is to make use of your qualifications, skills and experience gained during your career. However, this is not your only option and you may well want to venture into something new.
Accounting and Tax Consulting
If you have experience in the accounting or bookkeeping field, you could offer prospective clients a bookkeeping service. If you are a qualified accountant with the necessary certification to undertake audits and sign financial statements, you can open an accounting practice. Many small and medium-sized companies look for bookkeepers to do the full bookkeeping function for them. A good idea is to offer a package service where you do absolutely everything from books of prime entry through to financial statements and tax returns. Arrange to do all this for a monthly fee. For companies where they do not require a full service, you could charge on a consulting basis.
To do this from home, you may have to invest in office and computer equipment, if you do not already have it.
Telephone Answering Service
Many sole traders have realized that because their telephone is not answered promptly, they are losing trade to more efficient businesses. Most clients who call a business service expect the telephone to be answered by a live person, not an answering machine. It annoys customers when they go to voice-mail and many of them simply hang up and go elsewhere. Offering these business people an answering service is a low overhead, easy to setup home business.
You will have to make a decision regarding the level of answering service you wish to offer. The service could be offered on an ad-hoc basis, full time, 24-hours, or business hours only. A decision must be made as to whether you will be available on public holidays and over the weekend.
Playgroup
If you are a parent who wishes to spend time with your small children, you could start a home playgroup scheme. This could be set up as a half-day venture to allow other mothers time for their own home-based businesses. You could offer the service as a full day option as this will suit parents who work full-time. If you offer a full-day service, you will require assistance if you have several children to care for.
Online Opportunities
There are many online opportunities for home businesses. There are several online job sites where there are transcription, writing and other types of jobs available. Your online options are endless.
Before you start a home business, you must check if your local council has any special regulations regarding the requirements for a home business. You need to register as a self-employed person with the Inland Revenue Service if you do not intend to form a company.