Reselling Sports Equipment

Do you have a passion for sports and the gear that comes along with it? If that’s the case, then you probably have plenty of unused equipment lying around.

For the most part, these items will sit in the back of your closet collecting dust. But what if we told you that you can turn the unwanted gear into a profitable side hustle?

So, if reselling sports equipment sounds like a good idea, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about making a profit off unwanted gear.

An Overview of Reselling Sports Equipment: A Primer

Over the past few years, people have started becoming more health conscious. This is especially true after the pandemic.

Because of that, athletes went out and bought the best sports gear they could get their hands on. They purchased durable equipment that could last them for years.

Yet, the sports world is forever changing. So, within the span of a few months, there may be new gear on the market that performs better than the set you own.

At this point, you reach a fork in the path. Do you invest in the new equipment or make full use of the old set?

What if we told you that there’s a way you can do both?

You can opt to buy the new gear and put the old set up for sale. Selling used sports equipment can be incredibly lucrative if you know what you’re doing.

How Much Can Reselling Sports Equipment Earn You?

According to Statista, the global sports equipment market is worth over $160 billion in 2023. That shows you how in demand the gear is.

Although, we all know how expensive exercise tools can be. It can cost an arm and a leg to buy a brand-name treadmill, for example.

Because of that, many people choose to buy used gear at a discounted price.

While secondhand equipment costs less than brand-new items, they still fetch a hefty price. So, you can potentially earn a stable living selling the gear.

However, how much you stand to earn will depend on the equipment you put up for sale. Some tools are in high demand, which means you can charge more for them.

A few examples of equipment that maintains a high resale value are:

• Balls (yoga balls, golf balls, basketballs)
• Racing bikes
• Dumbbells
• Rowing machines
• Treadmills
• Helmets and other protective gear
• Golf Clubs

How Much Does it Cost to Start a Side Hustle Reselling Sports Equipment?

There are a few costs associated with starting a fitness equipment resale business. First up, you should take the cost of the gear into account.

How much you spend on equipment will depend on the capital you want to invest. To maximize your profits, you should look for discounted gear.

That may mean scouring the internet or finding a clearance sale around you.

Moving on, if you plan on starting an online store, you’ll need a few items. These include permits and a computer.

You may also want to invest in a camera to help you take high-quality pictures of your items. This will make attracting potential buyers a walk in the park.

Where Can You Resell Sports Equipment?

At this point, you may be wondering where you can sell the used gear. Thankfully, there are several ways you can go about moving the items.

In this section, we’ll cover some of the options that you should consider.

Where to Independently Resell Sports Equipment?

If you want to launch this venture on your own, you can go about doing that in one of two ways. For starters, you may opt for a physical store.

Although, that means many expenses to start up the business. You’ll have to pay for staff, rent, and other utilities.

Besides that, a physical store will only get a limited number of visitors based on the location.

Moving on, an online store is also an option. It’s much more affordable than opening a physical store and it’s easier to run.

The process of creating the online shop may be a little complicated at first, but you’ll pick up all the skills you need in a flash.

Plus, you can use services like Squarespace or Wix to make creating the website a breeze.

Gig Economy Companies That Help to Resell Sports Equipment

As we mentioned, creating your own store from scratch can be incredibly taxing. So, if you’d like to avoid the hassle, you can choose a gig economy company instead.

It’s a business that specializes in selling items for hundreds of clients.

A great example of that is reselling on Amazon. This is an excellent option because the company has a massive international reach.

Today, it has over 310 million active users.

Besides that, reselling on eBay or Facebook Marketplace are other great choices. That’s because you can list your items up for auction.

This means you’ll get the best price for the gear.

Although, all of these companies may charge you a payment processing fee.

Plus, finding buyers may take some time. So, if you’re in a hurry, try opting for websites focused on reselling used gear.

Here are a few examples to help you get started:

• Switchbackr
• SidelineSwap
• Play It Again Sports

Why You Should Consider Reselling Sports Equipment As a Side Hustle

Here are a few of the benefits of starting a fitness equipment resale business:

• No Prior Knowledge: You don’t need any previous experience in sporting goods to start this venture. So, you can start the business overnight.
• Low Effort Operation: Once you list your gear on an online store, you won’t need to do much. You can sit back and enjoy the profits.
• Versatile Business: With gym equipment, you have countless items to choose from. You can decide to specialize in a certain type of gear or sell them all.

Problems With Reselling Sports Equipment for Money

Here are a few of the issues you may face with a used sports gear business:

• Loss of Value: As soon as sporting equipment leaves the store, it’ll depreciate in value. So, you need to sell many items to turn a profit.
• Trend Based: There’s usually a spike in sports gear sales around New Year’s. Sadly, that means your profits can take a hit after the holiday season is over.
• Limited Inventory: Depending on where you source the gear, finding new items to sell can be challenging.

Frequently Asked Questions