Business Overview:

Fashion trends come and go…and come again, which is why learning how to open a vintage clothing store is a great business idea for a stylish entrepreneur. Vintage clothing is the term used for new or used clothing items from a past era. Fashion is cyclical and trends from the past tend to be trendy once again even decades later. Young people seem most interested in resurrecting trends from the past, but older adults will also be attracted to a nice second-hand store for a hip vintage fashion item. You will first need to find a storefront location and secure funding for rent and inventory. Scour garage sales, estate sales, second-hand shops and the internet for high quality gently worn items. Also research what current designers are putting out items reminiscent of the past and purchase a few items from their lines to sell in your store. Opening a vintage clothing store will take some thought and planning so it’s important that you have a business plan that will help you to focus your efforts. Be sure you have a clear method of obtaining your inventory since it is a little trickier than buying from a distributor and stocking items in a boutique. In addition to clothing, you should try to find vintage accessories like handbags, sunglasses and shoes to complement your clothing and to attract more customers. Advertise your business in the phone book, newspaper and in magazines that target your market. Post flyers in neighborhood parks and community centers to attract a younger clientele. Aside from your regular customers, you can expect to be busier around Halloween as customers will be looking for vintage items to use as costumes. Be sure your store is fully stocked at that time of year and even include some flashier items that wouldn’t ordinarily be worn day-to-day. With a good stock of quality vintage clothing, you’ll find your customers will come back again and again for something unique from your collection.

A Day in the Life of a Vintage Clothing Business Owner:

Your day will begin by making sure your displays are properly arranged before opening the doors. You will spend your day helping customers find just the right item for their needs. If you have staff, you will oversee their work to be sure they are giving your customers topnotch service. On days you are closed, you will work on securing more inventory and marketing your business.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals looking for vintage clothing and accessories for everyday wear or for use as a costume.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Funding
• Storefront
• Marketing materials
• Inventory
• Staff (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• Vintage stores are very popular.
• Much of your inventory can be purchased inexpensively.
• A vintage clothing store is a fun atmosphere.
• It’s rewarding to help customers find just what they’re looking for.
• You can expect a bump in traffic around Halloween.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is high.
• Finding enough items to keep your store stocked can be challenging.

Resources:

• American Apparel and Footwear Association
• International Textile and Apparel Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Clothing, Accessory and General Merchandise Stores
• Wikipedia on Vintage Clothing

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Business Overview:

Learn how to open a maternity & children’s consignment shop and help expectant mothers and new moms find the clothes, toys and accessories they’re looking for. Buying clothing can get expensive especially when you need a new size every few weeks. That’s the reality for pregnant women when shopping for maternity wear. And expectant mothers need an entirely new wardrobe in various sizes that will get them through nine months of work, play, sleep and exercise. Likewise, mothers of growing children can appreciate how quickly their kids outgrow an article of clothing and it’s back to the store for a bigger size. This is why consignment shops are such great business ideas and why you should look into opening one that caters to pregnant women and moms. After a baby is born, the mother soon returns to her pre-pregnancy size and her maternity wardrobe goes into a box where it sits and gathers dust. Meanwhile a newly pregnant woman is facing months of buying new clothes that she will only need for a short time. Why not have a place that benefits both of these women and makes you a profit as well? Unlike a resale store that purchases items up front from the seller, selling maternity clothing on consignment means a woman would give you her maternity wear and when you sell it, you would pay her a portion of the profit. Same concept for children’s clothing – moms would bring in clothes their kids had outgrown, you would sell it and give them a portion of the sale. Consignment is a great way for people to get items out of their homes and make some money on the side. Owning a consignment shop means that you don’t have to buy anything to sell and everything you do sell will earn you a profit. And there are many other items other than clothing that you can sell at your consignment shop. Toys and baby gear like bouncers, high chairs, car seats, etc. are items that typically take up space in parents’ homes and they are glad to sell them when their kids outgrow them. Market your business in local parenting magazines and in the newspaper. Put fliers up in grocery stores, libraries, parks, fitness centers and anywhere you know expectant moms and new moms gather. Contact any moms you know and ask if they will bring you some of their old items to stock your store and attract customers. Have a clear consignment policy drawn up so you can easily explain how the system works and when your consignors can expect to be paid. Designer maternity clothing and kids’ clothes are expensive. Giving customers the opportunity to buy gently used items at a major discount will bring your business major profits.

A Day in the Life of a Maternity & Child Consignment Shop Owner:

You will spend the majority of your day helping customers find items they are looking for. You will also accept items from consignors (either by appointment or you can accept walk-ins) and you will process these items and get them on the floor for sale. You will contact consignors when their items sell and arrange payment to them. At the end of the day you’ll want to attend to your finances and close up your shop.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be individuals looking for high quality, gently used maternity and children’s clothing, baby gear and accessories. You will also work with individuals wanting to sell their items on consignment.

What You Need to Start:

• Business plan
• Storefront
• Starter inventory of items (yours or from friends)
• Marketing plan and materials
• Staff (optional)
• Computer with finance software

The Good:

• There will always be a market for discounted maternity wear and children’s items.
• Since you don’t have to purchase the items up front, your sales are all profit (some of which goes to the owner of the items).
• Franchises are available to help you get started.
• You are likely to see repeat customers who buy items and then bring them back to sell on consignment later.
• You don’t need any training or experience to start a consignment shop.

The Bad:

• The start-up investment is relatively high.
• You will need to build your inventory before you can expect to sell any items.

Resources:

• Association of Resale Professionals
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Clothing, Accessory and General Merchandise Stores
• Wikipedia on Consignment

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Business Overview:

If you are looking for a business idea that is easy to start, profitable, and green, you must learn more about how to open a consignment shop. Opening a consignment shop can be exciting and fairly easy. What you need to start, aside from the usual business license, permit, and insurance, is a good storefront location. Once you’ve gotten this far, a catchy name and a supply of the type of inventory you are interested in selling will get you on your way to starting a consignment shop that is fun and profitable. The inventory you’ll need to start a consignment store comes from individuals who want to sell their gently used goods but who want a reputable store to help them sell their items. This can be a real win-win situation in that you get your shop’s inventory for free (on promise) and the client has an opportunity to sell their treasures for a solid profit without any of the work. Plus, you can decide precisely which items you want to stock for sale and which ones you want to pass on. While you might initially think of a consignment shop as a place to sell used clothing, there are so many more options. You might choose to sell home goods or baby gear, or perhaps your store is chockablock with decorative treasures for the home that you adore. You could even focus on more practical household items such as dishes and pictures to help the first time homeowner. In this business model, the world is yours. After you and the client have signed off on a consignment policy outlining all the details of your business transaction, you put the items up for sale in your store. When the item sells, you contact your client (usually on a monthly basis) and they receive the percentage of the profits that they agreed upon in the consignment policy. When you’ve figured out how to start a consignment shop that fits your entrepreneurial desires, you can rest on your laurels knowing that you’re doing your part to reduce, reuse, and recycle while you and your clients profit.

A Day in the Life of a Consignment Shop Business Owner:

Once your shop is ready for business, a typical day will start with a review of your inventory. This is crucial since you will not only be looking to profit on your stock, you will also be beholden to your clients and so you’ll need to ensure that you are super organized when it comes to inventory. Next, you will want to see that your salable stock is in pristine condition and that your store looks as good as a retail store with brand-new items for sale. The goal here is to eradicate any feelings a potential customer might have that things in your store are “used” and therefore sub-par. You will also want to decide how you’ll accept items on consignment. Perhaps you allot certain days for drop-offs or maybe you schedule one-on-one meetings with your clients to review their goods. Regardless, getting your hands on the next wave of inventory will always be on your mind. Finally, reviewing your finances and ensuring that you and your clients are profiting well from your sales will keep your business afloat and a smile on your face.

About Your Customers:

In this business, you will have customers and you will have clients. Your customers will be browsers and shoppers who are looking for gently used treasures for a good deal less than they were originally priced. Your clients will be those savvy individuals who brought items in on consignment for you to sell on their behalf. They will be looking forward to earning money on something they no longer use without having to do any of the work in selling it.

What You Need to Start:

• A storefront location
• Business license, permit, and insurance
• Inventory on consignment
• Detailed consignment contracts and legal paperwork, plus a customer return policy
• Employees, if you desire
• Inventory-tracking software
• Financial-tracking software

The Good:

• You can start this business with a reasonable investment—about $10,000 USD.
• Your inventory is populated for free.
• You will be helping the environment in the sense that your store naturally encourages people to reuse items instead of buying them new.
• You will be helping your clients earn money from their unwanted goods.
• You can include employees to help run your shop, thereby providing a good local small business.

The Bad:

• The startup, though reasonable, is still enough that you should be quite serious about your interest in a business like this before you jump in.
• It takes a bit more work to make your shop enticing since your items are used—you’ll want to make sure everything you sell is sparkling clean.

Resources:

• Association of Resale Professionals
• American Apparel and Footwear Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Clothing, Accessory and General Merchandise Stores
• Wikipedia on Consignment

Technorati Tags: how to open a consignment shop, how to start a consignment shop, opening a consignment shop, start a consignment store, starting a consignment shop

Business Overview:

Weddings are big business, but these days helping the betrothed save money is vital, and here’s where a used wedding gown store can be a great business idea. To start a business like this, you will need a solid chunk of startup capital (think: $10,000 to $15,000 USD) and a retail location for your store. Your location will have to be accessible and large enough to house your inventory of gently used wedding gowns. Speaking of inventory, you can build yours by purchasing gowns outright from individuals or you can work on consignment or even a combination of the two. If you buy your inventory, you’ll want to get the gowns for a very competitive price so that you can offer deep discounts to your own customers, which is why consignment can work so well in this business. It keeps your startup costs in check and still enables your business to profit well with each sale. Because you’ll want to offer personalized attention to each bride-to-be, you’ll also likely want to elicit the help of competent salespeople to run your store and help your customers find the perfect wedding gown. With the additional prerequisites like a business license and permit, plus insurance to protect your assets, you can open your store and watch as brides-to-be find their dream dress at a great price.

A Day in the Life of a Used Wedding Gown Business Owner:

A typical day will start with a check on your inventory and a review of your store to ensure your gowns are displayed in the most sales worthy fashion. You will also want to keep your sales staff up to date on your business goals, and check in with everyone to keep the store running smoothly. Aside from your stock and your salespeople, your calendar will be your saving grace. Each day, you’ll want to make sure you know which customers need their gowns on which days and have them set aside and ready for pick-up. The easier you make this process on your brides, the more successful your store will be. Finally, you’ll have to keep a close eye on revenue and expenses so that you know best how to price your gowns and how many you need to sell to keep your profits high.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be future brides who want to find a beautiful gown for their wedding day without breaking the bank. Some customers might just be in the market to browse, but many will come seriously seeking their dream dress. It’s up to you and your staff to provide them with the same experience they would have in an upscale gown store as you show them dresses with price tags that make them smile.

What You Need to Start:

• A storefront location
• A supply of used wedding gowns
• Business license, permit, and insurance
• A competent sales staff
• Financial-tracking software

The Good:

• This type of business can grow with your experience and can be very rewarding, both personally and professionally.
• You will be providing a valuable business for brides-to-be and for the local community.
• You can keep your inventory costs down by having your dresses for sale on consignment.
• This is a fairly easy business to operate if you’re prepared to provide stellar customer service.
• There are many accessories and add-ons you can incorporate into your store to increase your profit.

The Bad:

• The startup investment is enough that you will want to ensure this is the business for you.
• You might encounter a few so-called “bridezillas” in your shop; providing good customer service to all your potential customers will ensure your shop maintains a solid reputation.

Resources:

• Association of Wedding Gown Specialists
• Association of Resale Professionals
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Clothing, Accessory and General Merchandise Stores
• Wikipedia on Wedding Gowns

Technorati Tags: used wedding gown store

Business Overview:

If shopping for antiques is your favorite pastime and you often find hidden gems, you might want to consider learning how to start an antique business. Not only can starting an antique business be great fun for someone who truly appreciates all that is vintage, it’s a business idea that can prove very lucrative. If it sounds like an enterprise for you, here’s more on how to open an antique store of your own. Among the first things you’ll need to work on is finding the right location and space for your shop. While diehard antique seekers will search your store out, it’s nice to be in the heart of town or in a quaint shopping district so that you can lure in curious passersby and make sales that you otherwise might not make. So real estate should be one of your top priorities. Next up is your inventory. You’ll want to have a nice variety of high-end and very affordable antiques, in addition to unique items that will draw in shoppers. Some antique shop owners sell their goods on consignment to curb their investment costs, and you can consider doing this too. In this case, you offer other people’s antique goods for sale in your shop, and if they sell, you get a percentage of the revenue. It’s a great way to increase your inventory without breaking your budget. You will also have to decide on your sales policy—are your items returnable? Do you negotiate prices? You’ll want to have a clear idea of your rules before you open your doors. Of course, there are a number of tasks that must be completed on the business side of things, including licensing, permits, and insurance, as well as bookkeeping and employee payroll.

A Day in the Life of an Antique Business Owner:

Since you’ll be running a shop, you’ll likely spend some or all business days in your store, checking on inventory, maintaining the atmosphere, and keeping the records, even if you have employees working for you. These daily activities will take up a good portion of your time. When you’re not maintaining what you already have, you will likely be shopping for items to add to your antiques inventory. Your shopping might be web-based or it might be that you go scouting for new goodies at estate sales and thrift stores. If you choose to sell items on consignment, you’ll want to ensure you have your client’s items properly tagged and logged so that there’s never any confusion about how much your business earned and how much your consignment client earned. Finally, you will want to spend some of your time interacting with your customers. They likely share your passion for antiques and might have some interesting stories to trade—a most enjoyable aspect of your new business!

About Your Customers:

Customers of an antique business will be in the market for acquiring new items to add to their own collection of antiques. They might be serious collectors or just dabblers—you can learn more about them when you strike up a conversation. You will likely find some customers who are just browsing the unique or reminiscent items you have for sale, or customers who are looking for the perfect gift for a friend or loved one. If you and your sales staff are there to answer questions and explain why an item is unique, you will be more likely to find success at the sales register.

What You Need to Start:

• A storefront in a good location
• Business license, permit, and insurance
• Antiques inventory
• Sales and pricing policies
• Employees
• Financial-tracking software

The Good:

• This is a passion-turned-business type of venture where you can truly enjoy what you do each day.
• You can build your inventory slowly and even open a second shop or online component if you find initial success.
• You’ll meet likeminded hobbyists who enjoy learning about and discovering antique items and the stories that go along with them.
• It’s a trendy business that continues to gain popularity.

The Bad:

• The initial investment can be steep, especially the real estate and inventory outlay. You have to be well-prepared with savings or a small business loan.
• Your revenue might grow slowly—as you start out on some days you might only sell a couple of antique items, though you’ll also likely have some highly profitable days.

Resources:

• Antiques Dealers’ Association of America
• National Art and Antique Dealers’ Association of America
• Antiques and Collectibles National Association
• Wikipedia on Antique Shops

Technorati Tags: how to open an antique store, how to start an antique business, starting an antique business

Business Overview:

You’ve heard the saying that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, but in the estate sales business that treasure can become a truly lucrative enterprise. The gist of a business idea like this is that people hire you to hold an estate sale (or yard sale, tag sale, garage sale, etc.) on their behalf while you take a percentage of the profit they earn from the sales. Your clients benefit because your company does the hard work of organizing, marketing, and selling their stuff; your business benefits because their sales become your revenue. There are a few keys to finding success in a business like this. For one thing, you’ll want to find clients who have fairly valuable items to sell—a junk collector’s garage sale might not bring in enough profit to make it worth your while. But if a client has antiques, collectibles, or nice furniture and decorator items to sell, your company can stand to make a good deal of money for a day or two of work. Once you find a client with merchandise to sell, you will need to work hard to set up a good date for your sale (usually one or both days of a weekend), and then advertise, advertise, advertise! Here’s where you can get creative on the cheap: Oak tag signs in the neighborhood are an old-fashioned but effective method in spreading the word about an upcoming estate sale. Add to that the power of a community website like Craigslist, and print media like the local news or Pennysaver, and you might find yourself with a line of customers a block long. Once the sale begins, you would do well to have some help—you can’t keep a watchful eye on things and engage in sales transactions all by yourself. Offering a nice “shopping” ambience is also a good idea (consider offering a cold drink and a snack to your shoppers to keep them around longer). Finally, you must keep stringent track of your transactions. Having an inventory of salable goods would help so that you can cross off each item purchased and keep a log of how much each item earned. Not only will your customers appreciate this inventory system, it can also help you determine how to price future clients’ items. At the end of the sale, your client gets money for their unwanted stuff and you take your cut and go. All in a day’s work!

A Day in the Life of an Estate Sales Business Owner:

It is very likely that even if you prefer working alone, you will have to have at least one employee in a business like this, at least on the day(s) of the estate sale. That said, a typical day in this business is very dependent on what sales you have on the horizon. Let’s say you’ve will have an estate sale this weekend. You will want to ensure an ad goes into the local paper for at least the week leading up to the sale. You will also want to post news of the sale in as many places online and around the neighborhood as you can in the days leading up to the sale. On the day before the sale, you will want to meet with your client and review inventory, price items, and set up the space for the impending sale so that when you arrive on the morning of, you can just finalize the details and get ready for your customers. Again, at the end of the day you will want to review your profits and wrap things up with your customer.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be in need of someone who will organize, price, advertise and hold a sale for their unwanted items. They will likely be getting ready to move or they might even be the executor of items that belonged to someone else. No matter, they will want to pass off the responsibility of taking care of the merchandise, but they will want to reap the benefits of selling them.

What You Need to Start:

• Availability to work (or at least manage) on weekends
• Transportation to get to your estate sales
• Knowledge of community websites and blogs
• Office supplies for taking stock and pricing items for sale
• Good people skills
• A desire to sell items, perhaps even negotiate prices with potential customers

The Good:

• You can start this as a weekend-only business, or you can make it your full-time business.
• You can stand to make solid profits on some sales, especially higher-end estate sales.
• It requires little to no startup money to embark on a business like this.
• It can be fun to organize and work with other people’s treasures.

The Bad:

• Estate sales are almost always held on weekends; be prepared to give yours up to work.
• Some potential customers will try to pay next to nothing for valuable items; you might need to polish your “firm-but-nice” side.

Resources:

• National Association of Estate Sales Coordinators and Liquidators
• Antiques & Collectibles National Association
• Wikipedia on Estate Sales

Technorati Tags: estate sales business

Business Overview:

For a business idea that will have you earning a solid extra income with minimal effort, consider starting an eBay business selling vintage postcards. With just a few simple steps you can start an eBay business and start earning easy money. First you will need to open an eBay account for your new business. Then you will need to locate and purchase vintage postcards, ideally at low or below cost so that you can turn them around for a profit. Finally, you will list your items on eBay and wait for a buyer to whom you can ship your postcards and earn your money. Of course, for this online business idea to be successful, you’ll need a computer with internet access and a scanner to scan your postcards and post them on your eBay site. Chances are you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how popular and lucrative sales of vintage postcards can be. You might also discover that once you’ve learned how to start, eBay business ideas will start jumping out at you from every angle. Until then, you can make a name as a reputable seller of quality vintage postcards and enjoy a home-based business that grows with your experience.

A Day in the Life of an Vintage Postcards eBay Business Owner:

Once you’ve gotten the gist of how to start an eBay business, the number of hours or even days you will invest in your business is entirely up to you. There are a few things that will be required to maintain your business. Typical tasks will include ordering and maintaining your inventory of vintage postcards. You will also need to keep up with your eBay account, ensuring any customer orders are filled and your online “shop” looks enticing. Shipping your customers’ orders in a timely fashion will be imperative to earning high seller ratings on the site and guaranteeing return customers. Finally, a quick review to see that your finances are in order will sum up your business day.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be online shoppers who fit a variety of descriptions. You might have the serious vintage shopper who seeks out specialty postcards from businesses like yours, or you might have a customer who stumbled upon your site and became interested in a quirky postcard. Then again, you might have a customer who is shopping for a gift for a loved one. No matter the type of customer you find purchasing vintage postcards from your company, you will want to make sure their experience is a pleasant one. Not only will they be able to give you a high seller rating, they might also return for future purchases.

What You Need to Start:

• A computer with internet access and scanner
• An eBay account
• Vintage postcard dealers for wholesale or low-cost inventory
• Shipping materials
• Financial-tracking software

The Good:

• You can run this business entirely from your home.
• You don’t have to be an expert on vintage postcards to be successful.
• You can invest as much effort into your business as you see fit.
• Startup costs are minimal and you can jump into business quickly.
• Some cards can be quite profitable with little effort on your part.

The Bad:

• There are many sellers of vintage postcards on eBay. You will have to find your niche or create a strong reputation as a good seller.
• Not all of your inventory will sell, at least not right away, so you will need to keep your stock safe and clean.

Resources:

• Souvenir Wholesale Distributors Association
• Postcard Traders Association
• VintagePostcards.org
• Wikipedia on Postcards

Technorati Tags: how to start an ebay business, how to start ebay business, start an ebay business, starting an ebay business selling vintage postcards

Business Overview:

If you are a car lover looking for a way to turn your passion into a business, you should look into how to start a used car business without being a dealer. You may think that in order to start a used car business, you must have a dealer’s license but that’s not the case. You don’t even need to have any sales experience. You can access used car ads found in newspapers and online to find sellers. You also can work with dealerships looking to get rid of their older inventory. Desperate dealers will pay you to sell their cars for them. Private sellers will pay you to get top dollar for their cars. Used cars are always popular in any economy, and when times are tough used cars are much more sought after than new cars. Starting a used car business without being a dealer requires very little startup capital and no office. You can work on this business idea from home in your spare time. And the good news is the more cars you are able to sell, the more demand there will be for your services. You may even find yourself needing to hire a staff to help you. Soon you will be running a business that runs itself.

A Day in the Life of a Used Car Business Owner:

Your day will begin with a check of any new inventory. This may come online or from a dealer. You want to get the details of these cars and see if you have any buyers in your system looking for similar cars. Then you’ll spend some time matching up your current list of cars for sale with potential buyers. You can visit any local dealerships you don’t have relationships with to see if they are interested in your services. If you have a staff working for you, you’ll give them their assignments and get them started matching up buyers and sellers. Finally, you’ll want to take a look at your finances to make sure your commission payments have been paid.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be private sellers and dealerships looking to sell used cars and people looking to buy used cars.

What You Need to Start:

• Computer with software capable of keeping track of all your buyers and sellers
• A solid marketing plan
• An advertising plan
• Finance software

The Good:

• Once you form relationships with sellers, this business is easy to maintain.
• The return on investment is huge.
• The demand for used cars will always be high.
• Even in an unstable economy, used cars will be popular.
• You don’t need any equipment or a storefront.

The Bad:

• Building up your virtual inventory requires patience and persistence.
• It could take some time to get really good at this business and get it working on its own.

Resources:

• Wikipedia on Used Cars
• Kelley Blue Book
• AutoTrader

Technorati Tags: how to start a used car business without being a dealer, start a used car business, starting a used car business without being a dealer

Business Overview:

If cars are your thing, you might be surprised to learn that the eBay car business is thriving and is a very lucrative way to start your own online company. Unlike a local car dealership, the eBay used car business gives you access to customers nationwide and at all hours of the day and night. It has been estimated that a vehicle listed on eBay takes fewer than seven days to sell—it could be much sooner than that when you have solid cars to sell and your profits could easily be doubled. There’s really no limit to how many cars you turn over for profit with this business idea. In fact, selling cars on eBay is fairly easy once you have all the necessary permits and paperwork in place. For one thing, you must have a dealer license in your state in order to sell multiple cars for profit on eBay Motors. You may also need a business license to sell cars in your state, and you’ll definitely want to have a foolproof business plan in place before you begin. Perhaps the best part of selling cars on eBay is just how profitable—and scalable—the business can be. You can sell a car per month or per week, depending on your inventory and your ability to invest in cars to sell. Speaking of cars to sell, it will be imperative that you find a wholesale car dealer that offers solid cars in your price range. With good cars and lots of photos, you can translate this online business idea into well over six-figures in no time.

A Day in the Life of an eBay Car Business Owner:

As an owner of an online car business, you will want to ensure your sales page on eBay is easy to navigate, flashy enough to lure in customers, and loaded with information and photos of your inventory, so keeping up with your site and keeping it updated will be of paramount importance. You will also have to maintain your inventory—deciding how many cars you want to sell and keeping them prepared for sale will be a daily task. As always, keeping track of your finances daily will be important to the success of your business.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be varied but they will all have one thing in common: They will all be willing to use the internet to find a good deal on a car. It’s up to your company to provide them with the car they want and the customer service that makes the experience a positive one.

What You Need to Start:

• A sales page on eBay
• A digital camera
• An inventory of cars to sell
• A dealer license
• A business license (if required in your area)

The Good:

• Your profits can be quite high.
• It’s an enjoyable business if you like cars.
• You can reach customers far beyond your immediate area.
• The business can be as small or as large as you desire.

The Bad:

• A thriving online marketplace, while good for your business, means that you’ll have lots of competition. Providing good products and good customer service will drive your company to the top.
• You really need to do your homework so that you know the real value of any cars you are buying and selling.

Resources:

• National Independent Automobile Dealers Association
• National Automobile Dealers Association
• Bureau of Labor Statistics on Automobile Dealers
• Wikipedia on Used Cars

Technorati Tags: eBay car business, eBay used car business, selling cars on eBay

Business Overview:

If you love hunting for treasure at flea markets and think you could sell treasures of your own, you should consider starting your own flea market business. There is a lot of competition at flea markets so the first thing you’ll want to do is come up with a few flea market ideas for things you’d like to sell. Maybe you make crafts or jewelry and think selling at flea markets is perfect for your products. Or if you don’t have any products of your own, you can look at garage sales, in classified ads or antiques and collectibles stores for items to sell. Take some time to visit your local flea markets to see what other vendors are selling. You’ll want to set yourself apart with your products but keep your prices reasonable. And customer service is key when learning how to sell at a flea market. Even if your products aren’t fancy, a friendly disposition will make you a sale just as quickly. As long as you have properly priced, quality products arranged neatly in your booth, flea marketing will be a breeze.

A Day in the Life of a Flea Market Business Owner:

Your day as a flea market business owner will vary depending on what types of products you sell. If you make your own products, you will spend some time each day beefing up your inventory by creating new products. If you purchase your products elsewhere for resale, you’ll need to spend some time every few days shopping for new products either locally or online. On days when you sell at a flea market, you will pack up your items and take them to your booth where you will arrange them neatly and price them. At the end of your day, you will pack up your items and go to your home office where you will record your day’s sales.

About Your Customers:

Your customers will be flea market shoppers. They will be looking for specific items or just browsing for unique gifts and collectibles.

What You Need to Start:

• Products to sell
• Flea market booth space
• Computer with bookkeeping software

The Good:

• Start up costs are low.
• Return on investment is high.
• You can work as much or as little as you want.
• Indoor flea markets keep you and your items out of the elements.

The Bad:

• Coming up with a unique idea might take some time.
• Competition is fierce at flea markets.

Resources:

• National Flea Market Association
• Wikipedia on Flea Markets
• Flea Market Directory

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