What to Sell to Make Money: 25 Best Items for Beginner Resellers in 2026

You want to make money reselling, but every time you walk into a thrift store or scroll through Facebook Marketplace, the same question stops you cold: What should I actually buy?

It’s the number one question every new reseller faces—and the wrong answer costs you time, money, and motivation. Pick the wrong category and you’ll spend weeks sitting on unsold inventory. Pick the right one and you could be pocketing $500-$2,000 per month within your first 90 days.

This guide ranks the 25 best item categories for beginner resellers in 2026. For every single category, you’ll get the source price range (what you’ll pay), the sell price range (what buyers actually pay), realistic profit margins, a difficulty rating, where to find inventory, and which platform sells it fastest.

No fluff. No vague advice like “sell things people want.” Just specific, actionable categories you can start sourcing today.

If you’re brand new to reselling, start with our complete beginner’s guide first, then come back here to choose your niche.

How to Read This Guide: The Beginner Score System

Every item category below gets a Beginner Score from ⭐ to ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (1-5 stars). This score factors in:

• Learning curve — How quickly can you identify profitable items?
• Starting capital — How much do you need to get going?
• Sell-through speed — How fast do items typically sell?
• Risk level — How likely are returns, counterfeits, or losses?
• Competition — How saturated is the market?

A 5-star item means almost anyone can start profiting within their first week. A 1-star item requires specialized knowledge or higher capital but offers bigger rewards once you learn the ropes.

Before buying anything, run the numbers through our Flip Profit Calculator to verify your potential profit after all fees and shipping costs.

The 25 Best Items to Sell for Money in 2026

1. Used Books & Textbooks

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Books are the single easiest category for beginners. You don’t need brand knowledge, authentication skills, or expensive equipment. Just a smartphone with a scanning app.

What to look for: Textbooks (especially STEM subjects), niche non-fiction (business, programming, medical), first editions, and out-of-print titles. A college organic chemistry textbook bought for $2 at Goodwill can sell for $45-$80 on Amazon.

What to avoid: Mass-market paperback novels (too cheap), outdated tech books, common self-help titles with millions of copies in circulation.

💡 Pro Tip: Library book sales are goldmines—many libraries hold bag sales where you pay $5 for an entire bag of books. You can walk out with 20-30 books and need only 2-3 winners to profit.

2. LEGO Sets (New & Used)

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

LEGO holds its value better than almost any consumer product on the planet. Retired sets regularly appreciate 10-15% per year—and some limited editions skyrocket hundreds of percent.

What to look for: Star Wars sets, Technic sets, Architecture series, and any sealed boxes from 2+ years ago. Even incomplete used sets sell well when you sort and bag the pieces. A used LEGO Millennium Falcon bought for $15 at a garage sale can fetch $80-$150 depending on completeness.

What to avoid: Mega Bloks and off-brand building blocks (no resale value), generic City sets from current year (too common).

💡 Pro Tip: Check brand resale values to identify which LEGO themes are commanding the highest premiums right now.

3. Athletic Clothing (Nike, Adidas, Under Armour)

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Athletic wear is everywhere at thrift stores, easy to identify by brand, and sells consistently year-round. Nike dri-fit shirts, Adidas track pants, and Under Armour hoodies are staples that move fast.

What to look for: Nike Dri-FIT, Adidas Originals, Under Armour HeatGear, and any athletic brand in excellent condition. Men’s sizes L-XL sell fastest. A Nike Dri-FIT polo bought for $4 at Goodwill sells for $18-$25 on eBay.

What to avoid: Items with stains, pilling, or strong odors. Generic store-brand athletic wear (Champion basics from Walmart, for example).

Use our Platform Fee Calculator to compare your take-home profit across eBay, Mercari, and Poshmark before listing.

4. Video Games & Consoles

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Video games are one of the most reliable reselling categories ever. Retro games (N64, GameCube, PS2) have been climbing in value for years, and even current-gen games hold strong resale value.

What to look for: Complete-in-box retro games, GameCube titles (Fire Emblem, Pokémon, Smash Bros.), Nintendo Switch games, and working consoles with controllers. A copy of Pokémon SoulSilver bought for $10 at a garage sale can sell for $80-$120.

What to avoid: Sports games from any year (except rare retro ones), loose discs without cases, consoles that won’t power on (unless you can repair them).

💡 Pro Tip: Always test consoles before buying. Bring a portable monitor or ask the seller to demonstrate that it powers on. Check our complete guide to the best things to flip for more gaming deals.

5. Lululemon Clothing

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lululemon is the gold standard of thrift store flipping for clothing resellers. The brand has fanatical customer loyalty and strong resale demand, especially for leggings, sports bras, and running shorts.

What to look for: Align leggings, Define jackets, Scuba hoodies, and Swiftly Tech tops. Check the rip tag inside the product for the size dot and style number. A pair of Align leggings sourced for $8 sells for $45-$65 on Poshmark.

What to avoid: Heavily pilled items, faded black pieces, and anything without a size dot (harder to identify accurately for buyers).

Check our guide on how to sell on Poshmark—it’s the top platform for Lululemon.

6. Small Kitchen Appliances

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kitchen appliances like KitchenAid mixers, Vitamix blenders, Instant Pots, and Keurig machines are donated constantly and sell reliably online. People upgrade and donate their old ones—your gain.

What to look for: KitchenAid stand mixers ($15-$40 at thrift, sell $100-$200+), Vitamix blenders ($15-$25, sell $80-$150), Breville items, Cuisinart food processors. Even basic coffee makers from quality brands sell.

What to avoid: Appliances missing key parts (blender lids, mixer attachments), off-brand units, anything with a damaged cord.

💡 Pro Tip: Always plug appliances in and test them at the store. Most Goodwill locations have a testing outlet available. Use our Shipping Box Size Calculator to price out shipping before you commit—heavy appliances can eat your profits if you miscalculate.

7. Cast Iron Cookware

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cast iron is nearly indestructible and highly collectible. Vintage brands like Griswold, Wagner, and Lodge command serious money. Even modern Lodge pieces can be flipped for profit when sourced cheaply.

What to look for: Griswold skillets (especially smooth-bottom, can sell $50-$300+), Wagner Ware, vintage Lodge (pre-1960s), and any cast iron Dutch ovens. A Griswold #8 skillet found for $10 at a garage sale can sell for $80-$150.

What to avoid: Heavily pitted skillets, items with cracks or warping, unmarked modern imports from China.

8. Sneakers (Nike, Jordan, New Balance)

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐

The sneaker resale market remains massive in 2026. While ultra-hyped releases are competitive, there’s a huge market for pre-owned and lightly used pairs that most beginners overlook.

What to look for: Air Jordan retros, Nike Dunk Lows, New Balance 550s/2002Rs, Adidas Sambas/Gazelles. Pre-owned pairs in good condition with the original box are your sweet spot. A pair of Jordan 4s bought for $30 at a thrift store can sell for $120-$200.

What to avoid: Fake sneakers (learn to authenticate), heavily worn pairs with sole separation, shoes with strong odor issues.

💡 Pro Tip: Use our Condition Grade Impact Calculator to estimate how wear affects resale value. A “Very Good” pair often sells for 60-75% of the “New” price.

9. Vintage Pyrex & Glassware

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Vintage Pyrex has a passionate collector community. The bright patterns from the 1950s-1970s—like Pink Gooseberry, Lucky in Love, and Butterprint—command premiums that would shock most people.

What to look for: Patterned mixing bowls, refrigerator dishes with lids, casserole dishes in rare patterns, and promotional pieces. A pink Gooseberry casserole dish bought for $5 can sell for $40-$80. Rare patterns like Lucky in Love can fetch $200+.

What to avoid: Faded/scratched patterns, chipped rims, common Pyrex with no pattern (clear glass basic pieces).

10. Power Tools

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Power tools are fantastic for beginner resellers because they’re high-value, easy to test, and sell quickly. Brands like DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, and Bosch have fiercely loyal customers who will pay near-retail for used tools.

What to look for: Cordless drill/driver kits, impact drivers, circular saws, and multi-tool kits. A DeWalt 20V drill bought for $15 at a garage sale sells for $50-$80. Milwaukee M18 tools are especially hot.

What to avoid: Corded tools (lower demand), tools with dead batteries and no charger (replacement batteries are expensive), off-brand/store brands.

Use our ROI Calculator to compare profit potential across tool brands before investing your sourcing budget.

11. Designer Handbags (Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors)

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐

“Accessible luxury” bags from Coach, Kate Spade, and Michael Kors are the sweet spot for beginner bag resellers. They’re common enough to find regularly, valuable enough to be worth your time, and lower risk than high-end luxury (Chanel, Louis Vuitton) where counterfeits are rampant.

What to look for: Coach crossbody bags, Kate Spade satchels, Michael Kors tote bags—all in clean condition with working zippers. Leather bags outperform canvas. A Coach crossbody bought for $8 at Goodwill sells for $35-$60 on Poshmark.

What to avoid: Bags with peeling faux leather, broken zippers, strong smoke odor, or obvious signs of being counterfeit. If you’re unsure about authenticity, skip it until you’ve learned more.

💡 Pro Tip: Move up to higher-end brands only after you’ve learned authentication. Our guide on how to source inventory covers how to spot authentic designer pieces at thrift stores.

12. Board Games & Puzzles

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Board games are massively overlooked by most resellers. Strategy games, modern hobby games, and sealed/complete vintage games sell for far more than people realize.

What to look for: Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, Pandemic, and any game by publishers like Fantasy Flight or Z-Man Games. Vintage games like HeroQuest, Dark Tower, and Fireball Island can sell for $100+. Check that all pieces are present before buying.

What to avoid: Common mass-market games (Monopoly, Life, Sorry) unless they’re rare editions. Incomplete games with missing pieces have almost no value.

13. Sports Equipment

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Most sports equipment is seasonal—which means smart sellers source in the off-season and sell when demand peaks. Golf clubs, tennis rackets, baseball gloves, and weightlifting equipment all have strong resale markets.

What to look for: Titleist/Callaway golf drivers ($10 at garage sales, sell $50-$80), Wilson/Babolat tennis rackets, quality baseball gloves (Rawlings, Mizuno), and home gym equipment like adjustable dumbbells and kettlebells.

What to avoid: Children’s sports equipment (low margins), heavily worn/damaged items, outdated ski/snowboard boots (tech changes reduce value fast).

Check our Best Time to List Calendar to know exactly when to post seasonal sports equipment for maximum demand.

14. Coffee Equipment

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The specialty coffee boom has made high-end coffee equipment highly desirable. Machines, grinders, and accessories from quality brands flip easily.

What to look for: Breville espresso machines ($20-$40 at estate sales, sell $80-$200+), Baratza grinders, Chemex pour-over brewers, and Nespresso/Keurig machines. Even manual espresso tools like Aeropress sell for good margins.

What to avoid: Drip coffee makers from unknown brands, machines with missing drip trays or water tanks, anything heavily calcified inside.

15. Smartphones & Tablets

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐

Smartphones and tablets are high-dollar flips, but they require more caution. You need to check for iCloud locks, carrier locks, screen condition, and battery health before buying.

What to look for: iPhones (always in demand—an iPhone 14 bought for $200 on Marketplace can sell for $350-$400 on eBay), Samsung Galaxy S series phones, iPads (especially iPad Air and Pro models). Older models like iPhone 12/13 still sell strong.

What to avoid: Devices that are iCloud/Google locked (worthless), phones with bad ESN/IMEI (blacklisted), heavily cracked screens (repair cost kills margin).

💡 Pro Tip: Always meet in public, verify the device isn’t stolen (check IMEI at imei.info), and factory reset in front of the seller. Use our Flip Profit Calculator to make sure the numbers work after platform fees.

16. Musical Instruments

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐

Musical instruments hold value exceptionally well, especially quality brand names. Guitars, keyboards, amps, and even accessories like pedals and cases sell reliably.

What to look for: Yamaha keyboards ($15-$30, sell $60-$120), Fender/Squier guitars, acoustic guitars by Martin/Taylor/Yamaha, guitar effects pedals (Boss, MXR), and band instruments like trumpets and clarinets for school band season (August-September).

What to avoid: Instruments with major structural damage (cracked necks, broken keys), no-name brands, electronic instruments with missing power supplies.

See our full guide on where to sell online in 2026 for platform-specific strategies for musical instruments.

17. Baby Gear & Kids’ Items

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Parents constantly buy gear their kids outgrow in months, creating a constant flow of barely-used high-end baby items into the secondhand market.

What to look for: UPPAbaby strollers ($40-$80 used, sell $150-$300), Ergobaby carriers, Baby Bjorn bouncers, high-end car seat bases, and name-brand kids’ clothing lots (Carter’s, Hanna Andersson, Primary).

What to avoid: Car seats older than 6 years (expired, can’t resell safely), recalled items (check cpsc.gov), heavily stained clothing lots.

💡 Pro Tip: Facebook parent groups and mom-specific yard sales are sourcing goldmines. Parents price things to move fast—they want it out of the house.

18. Vintage Clothing & Band Tees

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐

Vintage clothing is one of the highest-margin categories—if you know what to look for. Band tees, vintage sportswear, single-stitch tees from the 80s and 90s, and retro brand pieces command premium prices.

What to look for: Single-stitch tees (pre-mid-90s construction), Harley-Davidson shirts, vintage NFL/NBA merchandise, band tour tees (Metallica, Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd), and vintage Carhartt/Levi’s. A vintage 1990s Metallica tour tee bought for $3 can sell for $50-$150.

What to avoid: Modern reproductions (check tag construction), heavily damaged pieces (small holes are acceptable to vintage buyers, large tears are not), and oversaturated brands in poor condition.

19. Printers, Ink & Office Equipment

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Here’s a category most resellers walk right past: office equipment. Label printers (Dymo, Brother), laser printers, multifunction scanners, and even sealed/unused ink cartridges sell fast because businesses and home offices constantly need them.

What to look for: Brother laser printers ($10-$15 at thrift, sell $50-$80), Dymo label printers, sealed ink cartridges (check expiration dates), and document scanners. Unused/sealed ink is especially profitable—zero risk if you verify compatibility.

What to avoid: Inkjet printers (low demand, unreliable), ink cartridges past expiration, printers missing power cables.

20. Camping & Outdoor Gear

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Outdoor gear from quality brands like The North Face, Patagonia, REI Co-op, Osprey, and Coleman holds strong resale value. People upgrade their gear constantly, creating a steady stream of used inventory.

What to look for: Osprey backpacks ($10-$20, sell $50-$90), hiking boots (Merrell, Salomon), camping stoves, quality sleeping bags, and headlamps. Source heavily in the fall/winter months when people clean out garages and sell in spring/summer.

What to avoid: Tents with missing poles or rain flies, sleeping bags with broken zippers, and boots with delaminated soles.

Use our Margin vs. Markup Calculator to understand the real difference between a 50% margin and a 50% markup—it matters more than most beginners realize.

21. Collectible Trading Cards

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐

Pokémon cards, sports cards, and Magic: The Gathering cards continue to have massive demand in 2026. While the market has cooled from its 2021 pandemic highs, knowledgeable resellers still find excellent deals daily.

What to look for: Vintage Pokémon cards (Base Set, Fossil, Jungle—especially holos), sealed product from any era, sports rookies (check recent eBay sold comps), and Magic: The Gathering cards from older sets. A Base Set Charizard bought at a garage sale for $20 can sell for $100-$300+ depending on condition.

What to avoid: Modern bulk cards (pennies each), fake/proxy cards, and anything without researching comparable sold prices first.

💡 Pro Tip: Before buying any collection, check recent sold listings to verify current values. Prices can shift fast in the card market. Our guide on how to price vintage items covers using sold comps effectively.

22. Home Décor (Mid-Century Modern, Pottery)

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐

Mid-century modern furniture, vintage pottery (McCoy, Roseville, Haeger), brass decor, and unique art sell well online and locally. Interior designers and vintage enthusiasts are always hunting.

What to look for: Brass animals and candlesticks, pottery vases with makers’ marks, mid-century lamps, and wall art. A Roseville pottery vase found for $5 can sell for $50-$200. Brass animals from the 70s-80s sell for $20-$60.

What to avoid: Mass-produced Home Goods/Target decor (no resale value), chipped or repaired pottery (unless very rare), heavy furniture (shipping kills your margin).

23. Watches (Mid-Range Brands)

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐

You don’t need to deal in Rolex and Omega to profit from watches. Mid-range brands like Seiko, Citizen, Casio G-Shock, Fossil, and Timex have strong collector communities and consistent demand.

What to look for: Seiko automatic watches ($10-$30, sell $60-$150), Casio G-Shock models, vintage Timex, and Citizen Eco-Drive. A Seiko SKX007 found at an estate sale for $25 can sell for $150-$250.

What to avoid: Watches with dead movements that cost more to repair than the watch is worth, fashion watches with no horological value (most Daniel Wellington, MVMT), and anything where you can’t verify authenticity.

24. Vacuum Cleaners (Dyson, Shark)

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dyson vacuums are a thrift store staple—people donate them because the filter is clogged, the canister is full, or they simply upgraded. A quick clean and a $10 replacement filter turns a $20 thrift store find into a $100-$180 sale.

What to look for: Dyson V-series cordless (V8, V10, V11, V15), Dyson Ball uprights, and Shark Navigator/Rotator models. A Dyson V8 bought for $20 sells for $100-$150 after a cleaning and new filter.

What to avoid: Models with burned-out motors (won’t run), missing attachments (check what’s included), and very old models with no parts availability.

25. Craft Supplies & Sewing Machines

Beginner Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a hidden gem category. Quality sewing machines (Singer, Brother, Janome), Cricut/Silhouette machines, yarn lots, and fabric bolts have dedicated buyer communities with strong demand.

What to look for: Working Singer sewing machines ($10-$20, sell $50-$100), Cricut Makers and Explore machines, quality fabric bolts, and large yarn lots. Vintage Singer models (especially Featherweights) can sell for $200-$400+.

What to avoid: Machines that won’t power on or have broken needle mechanisms, generic no-name machines, and damaged fabric.

💡 Pro Tip: Estate sales after older relatives pass are the best sources—sewing rooms often have hundreds of dollars in supplies and equipment priced to sell quickly.

Quick Comparison: All 25 Categories at a Glance

How to Pick Your First Category

With 25 options, choosing a starting point can feel overwhelming. Here’s a simple framework:

If You Have Less Than $50 to Start

Start with books, board games, or athletic clothing. These categories have the lowest source costs ($1-$5 per item) and the fastest learning curves. You can source 10-20 items for under $50 and learn the entire listing-shipping-selling process with minimal risk.

If You Want the Fastest Sales

Choose video games, smartphones, or sneakers. These categories have the highest buyer demand and typically sell within 1-7 days when priced correctly. Use our Inventory Turnover Calculator to track how fast your items are moving.

If You Want the Highest Margins

Go with vintage clothing, cast iron, or vintage Pyrex. These categories regularly deliver 70-90% profit margins. The trade-off is that they require more knowledge to identify winners and may take longer to sell.

If You Want to Sell Locally (No Shipping)

Focus on kitchen appliances, power tools, baby gear, and sports equipment. These sell quickly on Facebook Marketplace with local pickup—no shipping costs, no packaging supplies, and instant cash.

Read our full Facebook Marketplace flipping guide for strategies to sell locally for maximum profit.

Where to Source Each Type of Item

Not sure where to find inventory? Here’s a breakdown by sourcing location:

Thrift Stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army, Savers)

Best for: Clothing, books, kitchen appliances, cast iron, Pyrex, home décor, craft supplies, board games, vacuums

Plan to spend 1-2 hours per trip scanning items. Check out our thrift store flipping guide for advanced sourcing techniques and our Thrift Store Color Tag Calendar to know when items are 50% off.

Garage Sales & Estate Sales

Best for: Power tools, video games, trading cards, musical instruments, sports equipment, baby gear, LEGO, vintage items

Estate sales are especially fruitful—they often have higher-quality items at lower prices because families want everything gone quickly.

Facebook Marketplace

Best for: Smartphones, sneakers, furniture, anything heavy or expensive that sellers want picked up locally

Set up alerts for your target categories and check new listings daily. Speed matters—the best deals go fast. Our retail arbitrage sourcing checklist helps you evaluate deals in under 60 seconds.

Retail Clearance (Target, Walmart, Nike Outlet)

Best for: LEGO sets, sneakers, small electronics, seasonal items

Retail arbitrage works best with clearance items priced at 50-70% off retail. Learn the basics in our retail arbitrage guide.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make When Choosing What to Sell

Mistake 1: Trying to Sell Everything

Pick 2-3 categories from this list and get good at them. Spreading across 10+ categories means you never develop the brand knowledge, pricing instincts, or sourcing routines that make reselling profitable. Specialists outperform generalists, especially early on.

Mistake 2: Ignoring Fees and Shipping

That $40 item you plan to sell for $25 profit? After eBay’s 13.25% final value fee, PayPal/payment processing, shipping supplies, and postage—you might net $12. Always calculate your actual profit using our Platform Fee Comparison tool before committing to a purchase.

Mistake 3: Buying Without Checking Sold Prices

“This looks valuable” isn’t a sourcing strategy. Before buying anything, check eBay’s sold/completed listings (filter by “Sold Items”) to see what the item actually sells for—not what people are asking for it. Major difference.

Mistake 4: Starting with High-Risk Categories

Luxury handbags, watches, and sneakers offer great margins, but they also come with authentication challenges, higher return rates, and bigger losses when you make mistakes. Start with lower-risk categories (books, LEGO, athletic clothing) until you’ve built experience and capital.

Mistake 5: Not Using a Break-Even Calculator

Every item has a minimum sell price where you just break even after all costs. Know this number before you buy. Our Break-Even Price Calculator makes it easy—plug in your source cost, estimated fees, and shipping, and it tells you the minimum price you need to charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest thing to sell to make money as a beginner?

Used books and textbooks are the easiest entry point. They require zero specialized knowledge, cost $0.25-$3 each to source, sell for $8-$80+, and are lightweight and cheap to ship. You can start with books from your own shelf and graduate to thrift stores and library sales. Board games and athletic clothing are close seconds.

How much money do I need to start reselling?

You can start with $0 by selling items from your own home. If you want to source inventory, $20-$50 is enough to buy 5-15 items in categories like books, clothing, and board games. Most successful resellers recommend starting with $50-$100 in sourcing capital for your first week. See our guide to earning your first $1,000 reselling for a complete week-by-week budget plan.

What sells fastest online in 2026?

Electronics (smartphones, tablets, video games) sell the fastest—often within 1-3 days of listing. Athletic shoes, name-brand clothing, and popular toys (LEGO, Barbie) also move quickly. Speed of sale depends on pricing, platform, and seasonality. Priced at market value, most items in this guide sell within 1-14 days.

What items have the highest profit margin for resellers?

Vintage clothing and band tees (70-90% margins), cast iron cookware (60-85%), and books/textbooks (60-85%) offer the highest margins. However, high margin doesn’t always mean the best hourly rate—sometimes a lower-margin item that sells in 2 days is more profitable than a high-margin item that sits for 2 months.

Should I specialize in one category or sell everything?

Specialize. Pick 2-3 categories from this list and learn them deeply. You’ll develop faster sourcing instincts, better pricing knowledge, and more efficient listings. Once you’re consistently profitable in your core categories (usually after 30-60 days), you can expand to new ones.

Which selling platform is best for beginners?

eBay and Facebook Marketplace are the best starting platforms. eBay gives you access to 135+ million buyers worldwide and works for almost every category. Facebook Marketplace is ideal for heavy/bulky items and local sales with no shipping. Use our Crosslisting Platforms Comparison tool to see which platforms are best for your specific items.

How do I know if an item is worth buying to resell?

Use the 3x rule as a starting guideline: an item is worth buying if you can sell it for at least 3x your purchase price. A $5 source cost means you need a $15+ sell price. This accounts for platform fees, shipping, and your time. For more precision, use our ROI Calculator to check the exact return on investment.

What items should beginners avoid reselling?

Avoid categories requiring authentication skills you don’t have yet (luxury handbags, high-end watches), oversaturated low-value items (common Funko Pops, basic fast fashion), heavy furniture (shipping is brutal), and anything with high return rates (electronics without testing, clothing in poor condition). Start simple and add complexity as you learn.

How long does it take to make money reselling?

Most beginners can make their first sale within 1-7 days of listing. Reaching consistent profitability ($500+/month) typically takes 30-60 days of dedicated effort. Read our reselling side hustle guide for realistic timelines and income expectations by hours invested per week.

Do I need to pay taxes on reselling income?

Yes. In the US, reselling income is taxable regardless of amount. Starting in 2022, platforms report earnings over $600 to the IRS via Form 1099-K. However, you can deduct sourcing costs, shipping materials, mileage, platform fees, and more. Our Tax Deduction Calculator helps you estimate your write-offs, and our complete tax guide for resellers covers everything you need to know.

Start Making Money Today

Here’s the truth: the “best” item to sell is the one you can find today, list tonight, and ship tomorrow. Analysis paralysis kills more reselling businesses than bad inventory choices.

Pick one or two categories from this guide. Head to your nearest thrift store or browse Facebook Marketplace. Source 3-5 items under $10 each. List them this week.

If you want to make smarter buying decisions from day one, try the Underpriced app — you get 10 free AI deal analyses to instantly check if an item is worth flipping before you buy it. Just snap a photo or enter the details, and the AI tells you the estimated resale value, best platform, and whether it’s a good deal.

No credit card required. No downloads needed. Just better buying decisions from your first flip.

Your reselling journey starts with a single item. Make it a smart one.