How to Start a Used Bookstore Business
If you are someone who loves to read and loves the sound, smell and feel of real books, then you probably have wondered from time to time about starting a used bookstore business. While starting an actual brick-and-mortar store is one way to do this, it can also be the most expensive way, so this article will show you how to start an online used bookstore business. The advantages of having an online used bookstore business are many. For one thing, you don't have to spend as much money to get started; for another, you can sell both physical books and e-books if you want, and finally, it is relatively easy to actually make a profit in your first month.
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Instructions
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1
Buy books for your inventory. You can do this by frequenting garage and yard sales and buying all your books there, or you can go to Friends of the Library sales where library books are often sold.
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2
Catalog all of the books in your inventory. The best way to do this is with a software program such as the one from Booktrakker.com, TheArtOfBooks.com or ABEBooks.com. Most of these will also allow you to upload used books to several websites that sell them.
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3
Open a business checking account and a PayPal account. Many people prefer to pay for their online purchases using PayPal. It's therefore important to make sure you have a Premier or Business PayPal account so patrons can purchase your used books this way if they prefer.
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4
Check with your state to determine if it is necessary for your online bookstore business to have a business license. In some states, it is not necessary, but if your state requires it, then you will need to purchase one.
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5
Go through your inventory and list your books on websites that will allow you to sell your used books there. You can sell used books on Amazon.com, ABEbooks.com and ChooseBooks.com, to name a few. The softwares referred to in Step 2 have the capability of posting books from your used book inventory to these websites and others.
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6
Ship your books right away when an order comes through. This is important because you want to have a good reputation as an online used book seller.
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Tips & Warnings
You'll save money if you purchase padded envelopes in bulk in different sizes for different sized books. Open an account with Stamps.com. That way you won't have to go to the post office to ship your books, and you can even have them picked up by someone from the post office. If you don't have much or any money to purchase inventory, consider joining Freecycle, a free e-mail exchange list where people give away all sorts of things, including books. Also consider contacting local libraries. They often throw away books and magazines, though they may not admit to it. Ask if you can make a donation in return for any they are planning to toss. Be sure and keep careful track of all your income and expenses, as you will be responsible for paying income taxes on what you make with your online bookstore business.
Some of the softwares that you can use to catalog and list books on websites that allow you to sell your used books on them do cost money. ABEbooks.com's software is free, but there is a $25 a month fee to list 500 books. Booktrakker.com's software can cost as much as $250. Don't sell your own books or just the books you like to read; get a selection that includes all sorts of genres. If you do try to sell just the books you like to read, you'll be disappointed.
Resources
- Photo Credit http://www.flickr.com/photos/brewbooks/179550407/
