When most people think of eBay, they think of auctioning off their old junk to make a few bucks. But did you know that you can also use eBay to start and run your own business? In this blog post, we’ll teach you how to start a dropshipping business on eBay. We’ll cover everything from finding products to sell, setting up your store, and marketing your business.
Create a Seller Account on eBay
The first step to starting a dropshipping business on eBay is creating a seller account. This is a fairly straightforward process, and you can find step-by-step instructions on the eBay website. When you create your account, you’ll need to choose between a business and an individual account. If you’re just starting out, we recommend choosing a business account, as this will give you access to additional features that can help you run your business, such as eBay Stores.
Find a Supplier and Product to Dropship
Now that you have a seller account set up, it’s time to find a product to sell. Dropshipping is a type of ecommerce where you sell products without actually having to carry any inventory. When a customer places an order on your eBay store, you simply contact your supplier and they will ship the product directly to your customer. This allows you to sell a wide variety of products without having to worry about storage or shipping.
There are a few different ways to find dropship suppliers. You can search for dropship companies online, or contact manufacturers directly to see if they offer dropshipping. Once you’ve found a few potential suppliers, reach out and introduce yourself. Ask about their prices, minimum order quantities, shipping times, and any other relevant information.
Create a Listing for the Product
Once you’ve found a supplier and a product to sell, it’s time to create your listing. eBay offers a few different listing options, but we recommend starting with a fixed-price listing. This type of listing is the simplest to set up, and you don’t need an auction-style listing.
To create your listing, start by taking some high-quality photos of the product. Then, write a detailed description that includes all of the important information about the product, such as materials, dimensions, weight, and so on. Be sure to include any relevant keywords in your title and description, as this will help potential customers find your listing.
Ship the Product to the Customer
Once you’ve created your listing and someone has purchased the product, it’s time to ship it to the customer. When you receive an order, simply contact your supplier and let them know. They will then ship the product directly to your customer.
It’s important to note that you will be responsible for paying the shipping costs to your supplier. This is something you’ll need to take into consideration when setting your prices. We recommend adding a small shipping fee to your product price to cover these costs.
Collect Payment from the Customer
The last step in starting your dropshipping business on eBay is collecting payment from your customer. eBay offers a few different payment options, but we recommend using PayPal. This is the simplest and most efficient way to collect payments from your customers.
To set up PayPal, simply create an account and link it to your eBay account. Then, when you receive an order, the payment will be processed through PayPal and deposited into your account.
Pros and Cons of Dropshipping With eBay
Dropshipping is a great way to start an ecommerce business with little up-front investment, but it’s not without its challenges. Here are a few pros and cons of dropshipping with eBay:
Pros:
- Low startup costs: Since you don’t have to carry any inventory, you can start your eBay dropshipping business with very little money.
- Wide selection of products: There are millions of products that you can sell through dropshipping.
- Easy to get started: eBay is easy to use and there’s a lot of helpful information available to help you get started.
Cons:
- Fees and costs: There are some fees associated with dropshipping on eBay, such as listing fees and PayPal transaction fees.
- Shipping costs: You will be responsible for paying the shipping costs to your supplier.
- Competition: Dropshipping is a popular business model, so there is a lot of competition.
Fees and Costs for Dropshipping on eBay
There are a few different fees and costs that you need to be aware of when dropshipping on eBay.
- Listing fees: eBay charges listing fees for every listing that you create. These fees range from $0.10 to $4.00, depending on the type of listing and the price of the product.
- PayPal transaction fees: If you use PayPal to collect payments from your customers, you will be charged a transaction fee. This fee is 2.9% of the total order plus $0.30.
- Shipping costs: You will be responsible for paying the shipping costs to your supplier. These costs will vary depending on the product and the supplier.
Conclusion
Dropshipping is a great way to start an ecommerce business with little up-front investment. eBay is a popular platform for dropshippers, but it’s important to be aware of the fees and costs associated with this business model. With a little research and planning, you can be successful in dropshipping on eBay.