If you look around, you’d probably find tens of books you no longer use. These are probably old textbooks you don’t need or novels that you bought and didn’t like so much.
So, is there a way you can resell books and make some money? Would this be a successful business?
Luckily, you can learn about this topic by reading our article and learning how to resell books for a profit.
Is it Possible to Resell Books?
You can become a book reseller by selling books you no longer need. These books have been sitting on your shelves and under the bed for years, occupying precious space. At the same time, there might be someone looking for them.
Books reselling can be a successful business because it’s a win-win situation for the buyer and the seller. The buyer can get good books for a discounted price if they can’t afford the new ones. Some books can no longer be found in stores, and collectors might end up with some unique items.
At the same time, the seller will be able to declutter. You’ll get rid of something you no longer need to make space for new and useful items. You’ll also be making some cash out of it.
Some book resellers practice this activity professionally. They approach people willing to resell books and ensure they’re in a saleable condition. They buy used books from students and garage sales and resell them to those interested.
What Kinds of Books Sell Well?
All kinds of books can sell well if you pick the right customers. People might be interested in buying hardcovers, paperback, and even ebooks.
Textbooks are a popular resale item that appeals to clients like students, researchers, and scholars. Some book genres sell better than others. These include romance, young adult, horror, and memoirs.
What is the Value of Books?
Books’ value can be determined according to several factors. These include the title, the book’s nature, the author’s name, the year of publication, and the book’s condition.
Some titles are rare, so you can sell one book for hundreds of dollars. Others aren’t that special, and you might be able to offer someone a bargain where they can get several books for a discount.
Do Books Lose Value Over Time?
Books don’t lose value over time. Some books will sell for hundreds and even thousands of dollars years after they’ve been published because they’re linked to a particular person or occasion. Some rare publications exist, and they appeal to collectors who will be interested in buying them.
Things to Consider When Reselling Books
Selling used books can be successful when you know how to pick the right items.
There’s a growing market for used books because some of these books are no longer available in bookshops. You can also get some valuable books for a discount.
Being a successful book reseller requires picking the right audience and books to sell. Here are a few things to consider if you want to resell books.
1. Find Books
This is the first thing you should consider when trying to resell books. You can do this by reselling the old books you no longer need, but some people choose to become professional resellers.
They go around and try to find decent book deals in yard sales, garage sales, and Facebook marketplace to resell them. You might also find some hidden gems in the flea market, where people get rid of items they no longer need.
2. Sort Books
Being honest about the nature and condition of the books you’re selling is crucial. This means you should sort them out and group them into genres, then examine their condition.
Understanding how to categorize the books you can sell online will help you determine a fair price. You can also offer budget-friendly and even books to students and charity organizations if you have a lot of books you want to get rid of.
3. Set a Pricing Plan
After assessing the books’ condition, you should determine a fair price for every item. You should research the market to see how the new books sell. Some genres or books might be more expensive than others, so consider this.
4. Find a Platform
You should think carefully about where you’ll sell used books. There are several forums where you can advertise your business to sell books online. There are also several online marketplaces, and you can compare their pros and cons.
Some people are old school and will set up a stand to resell used books. It can be part of a garage or yard sale, where you can dispose of the things you no longer need.
5. Pack Your Books
People will be impressed by the way you present your books. Even if they’re old books, you can restore them and make them look better. Yet, some people prefer to buy old books as they are, without any extra work done to them.
Once customers have agreed to buy your books, you should pack them properly. The packaging shouldn’t damage the books or affect their condition.
6. Build Your Brand
If you’re considering becoming a professional book reseller, you should think about building your brand. You can set up a website to advertise all the second-hand books you can resell, and you should have a reliable billing and paying system.
You must have a customer care representative to respond to clients’ requests and questions. Be clear regarding your exchange and refund policy, as this will increase the clients’ trust in your brand.
Where to Resell Books
There are several options to consider if you want to set up a physical stand to resell books. You can resell books on the weekend in a garage sale or set up a stand at a local store where people can pick some of your old books.
Some people prefer online platforms where they can advertise their book reselling business and contact clients. Each one of these platforms has some advantages and disadvantages.
1. Amazon
Amazon is one of the world’s biggest marketplaces where you can find hundreds of items to buy. Used and old books are popular on Amazon because people can get them for a discount.
People can search books by browsing categories, conditions, author names, and ISBNs. You should list a detailed and honest description of the book’s condition to establish your image as an established seller.
What Makes This Option Great
Selling books on Amazon is an excellent way to become a professional reseller because you can list new, used, or like new books. You can also sell ebooks on the platform.
People prefer Amazon over other online marketplaces because they can use the vast number of customers and fantastic customer service and promotion strategy.
Listing books for resale on Amazon is straightforward, and payment methods are secure, so people will be interested in doing business with you.
Some people don’t even list books on Amazon, but they can be part of the affiliate program. If you have a blog, you can post a link to an online bookstore, and you’ll gain a bonus when people buy books.
- Fees: Amazon advertising follows a PPC model, and the average click costs around $0.81. You can start with a small budget and then increase it according to the number of customers. Some campaigns can cost up to $50 to $100 per day.
- Payment Methods: Amazon accepts most debit and credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, Diners Club, and American Express.
2. eBay
You can sell any used or unwanted books on your seller account on eBay. Once you’ve registered your account, you can access free eBay listings, so you won’t have to pay anything to list your books.
The nature of your store limits the number of listings you can publish. So, you can post up to 250 listings if you don’t have a store package.
If you have an enterprise store package, you can list up to 100,000 fixed-price items in select categories plus 2,500 auction-style items.
What Makes This Option Great
eBay is a famous market, and people trust it. It’s an easy-to-use platform, so you can list your books even if you’re a first-time user.
- Fees: The fees for listing items on eBay differs according to the type of items. Books are qualified for zero insertion fee listings. The final value fee is calculated based on the total order value. That is 14.95% for orders up to $7,500 and 2.35% for sales above $7,500.
- Payment Methods: The fees can be deducted from your payout account, or you can pay using debit and credit cards.
3. Craigslist
Craigslist is an excellent and affordable way to connect with interested clients and offer your used books. You can list items for free, and customers will contact you to buy your second-hand books.
What Makes This Option Great
This is an excellent choice for someone trying this business for the first time. You can post, edit, and delete ads as often as you want.
- Fees: You won’t pay anything to post your listings.
- Payment Methods: No payment method is needed.
What You’ll Need to Resell Books
You don’t need much preparation to become a successful book reseller. Here are the things you’ll need to sell books.
- Find books that you can sell to interested customers.
- Examine and sort books, dividing them into fiction and non-fiction genres.
- Assess the condition of books.
- Choose a platform to advertise your books.
- Prepare your ads and listings.
- Pack the books and ship them to clients.
How To Resell Books: Step-By-Step Instructions
You should do some research to find interesting and rare books that clients would be interested in buying. Here are the proper steps to resell books.
1. Search for Books
If you have some old textbooks in the basement, you can use them to start a business by reselling books. You can also contact neighbors and friends for their unwanted books. Go to old bookshops that are going out of business, and you might find some valuable items.
Categorize your Books
You should examine the books you plan to sell to determine their genre and condition. This will help you list them, as you can target interested clients.
3. Pick a Platform
Luckily, there are several online platforms and locations where you can resell books. Examine different options and compare their pros and cons to pick the best one.
4. Determine Prices
Compare the books you have to the ones available on the market. If you have a book in excellent condition, you can resell it for a decent price. Some old books can be cheap, but others can be rare and difficult to find. In this case, you can charge a higher price.
5. Prepare your Listings
Be honest while preparing listings and list the actual condition of the books. You don’t want to deceive your customers because they will lose trust in your brand.
6. Pack and Ship Your Books
Make sure to pack your books correctly. You can find ways to clean them without damaging them if they’re dirty. You don’t have to restore old books, because some people prefer to buy them in their current old and used condition.
After charging your clients, you should ship them directly to their location. People might contact you with questions, so be ready with answers. You might need someone to be devoted to taking care of customer service.
Can You Make Money Flipping Books?
Retail arbitrage is a good way to make money if you know to find valuable items to resell. Books are among the best things to flip if you know where to find valuable and rare books that might interest others.
What is a Books Resale Business?
This is a business model where people buy old books for the sole purpose of selling them. It can be a good chance for people to declutter and get rid of the books they no longer need. You can also sell these books for a profit.
Is Reselling Books a Good Way to Make Money?
You can make decent money from reselling books. Some items can be sold for a high price because they’re in excellent condition.
Others can be rare books that interested people would pay hundreds of dollars for. Yet, some old textbooks might be sold for an affordable price.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Best Place to Sell Second-Hand Books?
There are several online platforms and brick-and-mortar stores where you can resell second-hand books. Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Craiglist, Half Price Books, and local stores are the best choices.
Do Online Books Make Money?
Online books or ebooks can generate lots of money for authors and sellers. You should examine the market to find interested clients and offer the kind of books that appeal to them.
Similar Tutorials to Check Out
You can make money by reselling different items.
- Resell Tickets: If you have tickets you no longer need or have bought tickets in bulk, you can resell them for a profit.
- Resell Textbooks: The textbooks you no longer need might be what someone else is looking for. You can sell them for a good price and declutter your space.
- Resell Items From Costco: People can resell discounted wholesale items from Costco for good money.
Wrapping Up
There are several good ways to make good money online, and one of them is reselling books. It’s a good business idea if you want to get rid of the books you no longer need. You can also buy books for the purpose of reselling them.
If you know someone who might be interested in making good money, don’t hesitate to share this business idea with them. Tell us what you think about it in the comments section.
