Q: I am eager to start selling on eBay. I have always
dreamed of running my own business, but I'm new at this. How do
I set up my new business on eBay so that I'm in full compliance
with the overwhelming number of rules and laws that apply to
businesses?
A: Here, in rough but not exact order, are some steps to
help you set up your business on eBay the right way the first time.
You should keep in mind that these steps do not go into great
detail; they are intended as a guide only.
- Decide your business's purpose. Ask yourself, "What
will I sell? Why do I want to start a business? How much does my
business need to gross to make it worthwhile?"
- Using the answers from the above questions, write a business
plan. Consult with a business or tax attorney or some other
authorized expert to help you with your plan and to make sure you
are following all the proper procedures for starting a business in
your location, including any local or state requirements.
- Research eBay to find other sellers who are offering products
similar to yours. Figure out what the more successful sellers are
doing right and what the less successful sellers are doing wrong.
Later, you can emulate the best practices and avoid the bad ones
like the plague!
- Start hunting for reliable, affordable sources of your
particular product(s). It's never too early to start
shopping.
Q: What steps do I need to take to start selling my
products on eBay?
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A: There are several steps involved:
- Find a location for your business. For most new eBay sellers,
this means a homebased business, at least initially.
- Create a mailing address for your business using either your
business's actual physical location or a P.O. Box. It's
important to use this address for your online registrations both at
eBay and PayPal (an eBay service that enables businesses to receive
and send online payments through a credit card or bank
account).
- Open a business checking account, preferably one that offers a
debit card. Limit the use of this account to only your business on
eBay, both buying and selling.
- Apply for a business credit card.
- Create a new e-mail address that you will use only for your
business on eBay.
- Create an eBay
registration using this e-mail address. (To avoid unintentional
trademark infringements, don't use eBay in your User ID.)
- Open a Seller's Account for this registration. Click the
"Sell" link at the top of any eBay page, and follow the
instructions from there.
- Open a PayPal
Account using your new business e-mail address.
- Upgrade your PayPal Account to either Premier level (doing
business in your own name) or Business level (doing business as . .
.).
- Add your business checking account to your PayPal Account and
follow the instructions to confirm the account.
- Go to "My eBay," "My Account," "eBay
Preferences" and "Seller Preferences," and make sure
your Payment Preferences are all set to display and offer PayPal on
all listings. Check that shipping preferences are set to
"yes" for "Offer combined payment
discounts."
Q: How do the Personal, Premier and Business Accounts
from PayPal differ?
A: With a Personal Account, you can:
- Send money for free.
- Receive money for free (non-credit-card payments only).
- Upgrade to a Premier Account at any time.
With a Premier Account, you can:
- Send money for free.
- Receive any type of payment, including credit cards, for low
fees.
- Access an exclusive customer service hotline seven days a
week.
- Use special tools for sellers.
- Apply for an ATM debit card, which you can use to either
purchase items or services or to access money in your PayPal
Account at any ATM.
With a Business Account, you can:
- Use all the features of a Premier Account.
- Do business under a corporate or group name.
- Have multiple logins.
Q: I have a Personal Account from PayPal. I want to use
PayPal for my new business on eBay, but the Personal Account level
limits the types of payments I can receive (no credit cards), and
there is a limit to the amount I can receive per month. How do I
upgrade my PayPal Account to Premier or Business level?
A: To upgrade your account, follow these steps:
- Log in to your PayPal Personal Account.
- Click the link for "Upgrade Account," which can be
found under the "Enhance Account" section in the
left-hand column.
- Follow the instructions from there.
Q: What is a Seller's Account? Do I need one to sell
on eBay? How do I create one?
A: A Seller's Account is a necessary component every
eBay member must add to his or her existing eBay registration in
order to use that registration to sell on eBay. Creating one is
easy. You need to register first (or have registered previously)
and have on hand your eBay User ID and password, a credit or debit
card, and a check from your checking account. Next:
- Click the "Sell" link at the top of any eBay
page.
- Sign in, if necessary.
- Follow the instructions from there.
Q: Can I register on eBay using my business's
name?
A: At this time, a registration can only be made using a
person's first and last name. Make sure that the address you
supply during the registration process is the same as the billing
address for one of your currently held credit or debit cards. This
will make it easier when you add a Seller's Account to your
eBay registration.
Q: Should I determine a fixed shipping rate for my items
or use the shipping calculator?
A: Most buyers want to know in advance what they will
have to pay for domestic shipping, so it's always a good idea
to include that information in your listings. Here are some
guidelines on whether you should use a fixed shipping rate or the
eBay Shipping Calculator, which you can add to your listing during
the Sell Your Item listing process.
For items weighing approximately 4 pounds or less (set shipping
costs):
- Purchase a postal scale.
- Pack the item.
- Weigh the package.
- Select a carrier, and visit its Web site to determine the
"worst case" costs for domestic and international
shipping.
- Mark these costs as flat shipping rates within your
description.
For items weighing more than 4 pounds (calculated shipping
costs):
- Purchase a postal scale.
- Pack the item.
- Weigh the package.
- Include the weight in your item description.
- Opt for the eBay Shipping Calculator during the Sell Your Item
process.
Now U.S. buyers can calculate their shipping before they bid or
purchase. (You will still need to include a "worst case"
flat shipping rate for international buyers, since the eBay
Shipping Calculator is only for domestic shipping.)
Q: How can I ship my items more efficiently?
A: Postage and shipping labels can now be printed online.
You can eliminate trips to carrier locations by buying U.S. Postal
Service labels with postage and/or UPS shipping labels on eBay.
Simply pay for them with your PayPal Account and print them on
your printer-all in just a matter of seconds. Once the label is on
the package, you can arrange to have it picked up at your location.
To learn more about this topic, click on "Services" at
the top of any eBay page, and under "Selling Reference,"
click on "Shipping Center."
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