How to Start an Internet Book Selling Business

Start your own online bookstore.

An online book-selling business is easy to start up, and can make a great choice for extra cash if you also work or take care of kids during the day. This type of business can be kicked off and maintained on a shoestring budget.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Start with your personal inventory. Got some books lying around that you don't read anymore? Gather them up to sell instead. Condition is an important part in bookselling, so inspect each of your books fully to determine the shape it's in.

2. Create your online bookstore. While you could sell books directly from a website, you don't really need to. Selling on Amazon.com or Half.com is free and will gain your bookstore more exposure than if you tried to reach people yourself.

3. Decide on a name for your bookstore. Choose something that will give a favorable impression with buyers. While you could just name your store using your personal handle, it's usually a better idea to come up with a name that describes what you do but is still professional, such as "Quality Books," or "Reader's Central."

4. Be proactive with communication. Send an email to the buyer immediately upon receiving his order. Let them know his order is in process. Send another email when the order has been shipped, along with an expected arrival date. If a prospective buyer asks a question about a book, answer quickly, thoroughly and accurately.

5. Study the best methods for postage. Sending packages via media mail usually saves you money and adds to your profit. However, there are specific rules you must follow when using this method. There are also times when first-class mail is a better option. Learn about each choice from the U.S. Postal Service website or talk to the people who staff your local post office. Always use the "Zip + 4" postal code so your packages arrives quicker. If you find that you are sending several packages a week, an online postaging service like Endicia may be a time-saving option for you.

6. Acquire new inventory. Hit the rummage sales in your area, as well as library sales and flea markets. These are all cost-effective and easy ways to find new books.

7. Understand legal and tax implications. You may need a business license to sell books in your state. Check with your state's small business center for more information.

8. Study the market. Used book sales are actually opposite of what you might expect. For example, popular fiction books generally don't sell as well on the used book market. Aim for nonfiction instead, and the more obscure the title, the better. Books that were not very popular have extremely short press runs, and are therefore in higher demand on the used market. Conversely, popular books are easily found in stores, so people don't look for them online.

9. Have fun! If you're a booklover, this won't be difficult. Online used book selling can be a challenging yet satisfying side of business. Make the most of it.

References

• The Bookologist: Getting Started in the Bookselling Business

Resources

• Amazon.com: Selling on Amazon.com
• U.S. Postal Service
• Endicia
• Half.com: Sell Your Items on Half.com