How to Make Money Online Selling on eBay in 2025: Step-by-Step Guide

eBay remains one of the best platforms for making money online in 2025. Whether you want to flip items for profit, start a dropshipping business, or build your own eCommerce brand, eBay offers low startup costs, a massive audience, and easy-to-use tools for sellers.

This step-by-step guide will show you exactly how to start selling on eBay, find profitable products, optimize your listings, and scale your business. Even if you’re a complete beginner, by the end of this guide, you’ll know how to generate a consistent income on eBay.

For a full walkthrough, watch our YouTube tutorial here:

 

Step 1: Create Your eBay Seller Account

Before you can start selling, you need to set up an eBay account.

How to Set Up Your Account:

1. Go to eBay.com and click “Sign Up”.
2. Choose between a Personal or Business Account:
   • Personal Account – Best for casual sellers flipping items.
   • Business Account – Best for long-term sellers and drop shippers.
3. Verify your identity by providing accurate personal details.
4. Set up PayPal or eBay Payments to receive payouts.

If you plan to sell regularly, a Business Account gives you better tools and higher selling limits.

 

Step 2: Decide Your Selling Model

There are three main ways to make money on eBay. Pick the one that suits your business goals.

1. Reselling (Flipping)

• Best for beginners who want to start with little investment.
• Sell used or new items found at home, thrift stores, garage sales, or clearance sections.
• Example: Buy a pair of Nike shoes for $10 at Goodwill and sell them for $50 on eBay.

2. Dropshipping (No Inventory Needed)

• You list products from suppliers and only purchase them after making a sale.
• Suppliers like ZenDrop and CJ Dropshipping handle shipping.
• Low-risk model but requires careful supplier selection.

3. Private Label (Building Your Own Brand)

• Source products in bulk from manufacturers (Alibaba, DHgate).
• Sell under your own brand with custom packaging.
• Higher profit margins, but requires upfront investment.

Beginners should start with reselling and then scale into dropshipping or private labels.

 

Step 3: Build Your Feedback Score

Your eBay feedback score is your reputation. New accounts often struggle because buyers prefer sellers with positive feedback.

How to Build Feedback Fast:

• Buy a few cheap items (stickers, books, accessories) and leave reviews.
• Sell low-cost, in-demand products first to get positive feedback.
• Provide fast shipping and excellent customer service to earn 5-star ratings.

 

Step 4: Understand eBay’s Selling Limits

New eBay accounts have selling limits to prevent fraud. Most new sellers can list 10 items or $500 worth of products per month.

How to Increase Selling Limits:

• Sell consistently and ship on time.
• Request a limit increase after 30 days.
• Link your verified PayPal or bank account.

 

Step 5: Find Profitable Products to Sell

To make money on eBay, you need high-demand, low-competition products.

Where to Find Profitable Products:

1. Around Your Home – Start with used electronics, clothes, and collectibles.
2. Thrift Stores & Garage Sales – Look for brand-name clothing, shoes, and rare items.
3. Retail Arbitrage – Buy clearance items from Walmart, Target, or TJ Maxx and resell them.
4. Wholesale Suppliers – Use Alibaba, DHgate, or Faire for bulk deals.
5. Product Research Tools – Use Jungle Scout and Analyzer.tools to track top-selling items.

Get Started with Jungle Scout

We recommend you use eBay’s “Sold Listings” filter to see what’s already selling well.

 

Step 6: Create High-Converting Listings

A great product listing makes all the difference in getting sales. Here’s how to optimize yours.

How to Write a High-Quality Listing:

• Title: Use keyword-rich titles (e.g., “Nike Air Max 90 Men’s Running Shoes Size 10”).
• Photos: Use bright, high-quality images from multiple angles.
• Description: Clearly list the product’s features, benefits, and conditions.
• Item Specifics: Fill out details like brand, size, material, and model number.

The more details you include, the higher your ranking on eBay search results.

 

Step 7: Set Competitive Prices

Pricing your product correctly helps you win more sales.

How to Set the Right Price:

• Search for “Sold Listings” on eBay to see what similar items sell for.
• Consider shipping costs and eBay fees before setting a price.
• Use auctions for rare/collectible items and fixed prices for everyday products.

 

Step 8: Shipping

Fast, reliable shipping improves your seller rating and helps increase future sales.

Shipping Best Practices:

• Choose the right packaging – Use padded envelopes or sturdy boxes.
• Print shipping labels via eBay – Saves time and offers discounts.
• Use USPS, UPS, or FedEx for fast delivery.
• Ship on time – Always stick to your handling times.

Offer free shipping and increase the price slightly—it helps with eBay search rankings.

 

Step 9: Promote Your Listings for More Sales

To stand out from competitors, you need to drive traffic to your listings.

Best Ways to Promote Your Listings:

• eBay Promoted Listings – Pay a small fee to boost visibility.
• SEO Optimization – Use keywords in titles and descriptions.
• Social Media Marketing – Share listings on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook Marketplace.

Use YouTube or TikTok to show product demos and link to your eBay store.

 

Step 10: Scale Your eBay Business

Once you start making sales, reinvest your profits and scale up.

How to Scale Successfully:

• Upgrade to an eBay Store for lower selling fees and bulk listing tools.
• Expand into new niches or add more inventory.
• Keep detailed records of profits, shipping costs, and taxes.

Bonus Tip: Create a Website for More Sales

• Use Hostinger to build a store with WordPress.

 

• Link your eBay listings to increase brand visibility.

 

Final Thoughts

Selling on eBay in 2025 is one of the easiest ways to start an online business. With low startup costs, a huge customer base, and proven strategies, anyone can succeed.

Key Takeaways:

• Start with reselling, then expand into dropshipping or private labeling.
• Find high-demand, low-competition products.
• Optimize your listings and offer great customer service.
• Use eBay SEO and promoted listings to boost visibility.
• Scale by reinvesting profits and upgrading to an eBay Store.