How to Start an Online Thrift Store

Starting an online thrift store can be a great way to make some extra cash. Building a website doesn’t usually cost as much as renting out a store location, so the business probably won’t cost a whole lot to start. You’ll still have to have some business skills to make a good profit with your online thrift store.

• Go to your bank and create an account for your online thrift store. Opening a separate account for the business will allow you to keep track of the money you make for tax filing purposes. People will also be able to make payments out to the store rather than your name.


• Determine where to start your store online. You can use an existing auction site, like eBay, or you can build your own website to sell merchandise. Many people like going with an existing auction site because they have built in traffic and won’t require as much advertising. Using several outlets would be beneficial though. Build a website for the online store, sell items on an auction site and possibly on a merchant site too.


• Figure out what items you are going to specialize in. Many thrift stores sell clothing, but if you can narrow your selection down to popular clothing, you may become widely recognized. You will also have to figure out how you are going to acquire the items for the online store. Go around to flea markets, other thrift shops and yard sales to purchase your inventory for a low price and sell it for a large profit on your website.