Do you love reading and want to learn how to sell books online for a profit? This is the perfect side hustle for book lovers everywhere!
If you’re looking to start an online business selling books, there are a few things you need to know in order to be successful. First, you need to choose the right platform for your business.
There are a number of different options and a lot depends on the kind of books you are looking to sell.
If you’re looking to make some extra cash by selling books online, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we’ll show you how to sell books online for profit, so you can make the most money possible.
We’ll cover everything from finding the right platform to list your books on, to setting the right price. By the end of this article, you’ll be an expert on how to sell books online for profit!
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The Best Place To Sell Used Books
There are many different ways to sell used books online these days. Depending on what type of book you have, there are a few different ways to get the most out of selling it.
The first step is to identify what type of book you have. If it is a popular title that is in demand, then you might want to consider listing it on Amazon or eBay.
These are both great places to reach a wide audience of potential buyers.
If your book is more obscure or niche, then you can try using a site like Alibris. This site specializes in hard-to-find and out-of-print books.
Once you have decided where to list your book, the next step is to price it appropriately.
Make sure to do your research and find out what similar books are selling for before setting your own price.
What used books sell best?
There are a few different ways to make money from selling books online, and the method you choose will largely depend on the type of book you’re selling.
If you’ve got old textbooks gathering dust on your shelves, for example, you’ll likely want to sell them using a buyback service specially for textbooks.
On the other hand, if you have popular fiction or non-fiction books in good condition, listing them for sale on Amazon or eBay may be your best bet.
When it comes to selling used books for profit, your goal should be to find the buyers who are willing to pay the most for your particular book.
To do this, it’s important to understand the different types of buyers that are out there, and what motivates them to make a purchase.
By the way, if you love reading and writing, why not check out these other book-themed side hustles:
Get Paid To Write Song Lyrics (8 Ways To Make Money)
Get Paid To Read Books Aloud {33 Top Sites}
How To Sell Short Stories For Money
Where To Find Used Books To Sell Online
If you’re looking for places to find used books to sell online, there are a few options. You can check out online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay for books that you can flip for a profit.
You can also check out places like yard sales and flea markets.
Here are some of the best places I have found used books recently:
- eBay
- Thrift Stores
- Yard Sales
- Flea Markets
- Facebook Marketplace
- Craigslist
- Used Book Fairs
- Library Sales
The Best Used Books To Sell For A Profit
If you are interested in starting your own business flipping books online, then you will need to choose the right kind of book.
Here are the top 4 most profitable used books to sell online:
Text Books
Selling textbooks online is a great way to make some extra money. After all, they are really expensive and most people only use them for a year or so then they are ready to get rid of them.
College bookstores add a huge mark-up to their prices so most students head online to find bargain second-hand copies.
When you are looking for textbooks to sell online, make sure they are up-t0-date and ones that are actually recommended by universities and colleges now.
Where is the best place to sell text books online?
Although you can look at Amazon and eBay to sell text books online, the best places are text book online markets. These sites specialize in the buying and selling of used text books online and make it so easy to do!
Here are some of the most popular marketplaces:
If you decide to sell Textbooks, you can also use a Chrome extension called TexTrader that will help you find the right books to sell at a profit.
TexTrader scans thousands of used textbooks on Amazon and shows you only the ones that you can buy and immediately sell for a profit on a different site.
Although this Chrome extension is not free (it costs $59) but you can try it for 30 days with a money back guarantee if you don’t like it.
Out Of Print Books
Out-of-print books are books that is no longer published. In most cases, these books are not really in demand and published was stopped because the book didn’t sell well or is out-dated.
Likewise, many very old books are out of print and will not be republished.
You are probably thinking – well, then why are out of print books on this list? Sounds like they can’t make you much money at all!
What you need to realize with out of print books is that there are some that are in high demand.
If you can find these books in thrift stores or flea markets, you can score a pretty profit.
Here are some examples of books that are in demand but out of print:
Madonna’s Sex book
Rage by Richard Bachman (Stephen King)
My Pretty Pony by Stephen King
Where is the best place to sell out of print books online?
Here are some of the most popular marketplaces if you manage to find some great out of print books:
- eBay
- Amazon
- Bookdeal.com
- Abe Books
First Edition Books
A first edition book is a book that was published during the author’s lifetime and bears their original signature.
These books are usually more valuable than later editions, which is why collectors seek them out.
If you’re looking to sell books online for profit, listing a first edition book can fetch you a higher price.
To identify a first edition book, start by looking for a number line on the copyright page.
This will tell you how many printings of the book have been made.
If there’s only one number listed, or if the lowest number is present, then you have a first edition copy.
You can also check the date on the title page against the date on the copyright page to see if they match.
If you think you have a first edition book, be sure to do some research before listing it for sale. You can read this guide to see if you really have a First Edition on your hands.
You might be able to find modern first editions in thrift stores and yard sales if you are lucky.
Popular first editions to look for include:
- Harry Potter
- Bridget Jones Diary
- Trainspotting
- The Great Gatsby
- The Catcher in The Rye
Some of these first editions can fetch thousands of dollars.
Where is the best place to sell first edition online?
Here are some of the most popular marketplaces if you manage to find some great out of print books:
- eBay
- Amazon
- Bookdeal.com
- Abe Books
- Alibris
- Etsy
Self-Help Books
Even if you aren’t a fan of psychobable and self-help books, that doesn’t mean that you can’t turn a nice profit selling used books online!
In fact, according to Abebooks, self-help books feature high up in their list of the top 100 bestselling used books.
Here are some of the highlights:
At #1, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey.
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman is at number 6. and How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie comes in at #27.
Where is the best place to sell self-help books online?
- eBay
- Amazon
- Bookdeal.com
- Abe Books
- Flipsy
How To Sell Used Books Online For Profit
Now you know the best types of book to sell online, let’s have a look at the top marketplaces for all kinds of books:
Selling Used Books On Amazon
If you’re looking to make some extra cash, selling used books on Amazon is a great way to do it. With a few simple steps, you can list your books and start making money.
To get started, sign up for an Amazon seller account. You’ll need to provide some basic information about yourself and your business. Once you’re registered, you can start listing your books.
When listing your books, be sure to include all relevant information, such as the condition of the book, the ISBN number, and a description.
You’ll also need to set a price for each book. Be sure to research prices for similar items before setting your own price.
Once your books are listed, buyers will start placing orders. When an order comes in, pack the book up carefully and ship it out as soon as possible.
Selling Used Books On Abebooks
If you are interested in selling rare books such as pout of print and first editions, Abebooks is the place to go.
Many collectors scour the site looking for special copies of certain books which makes it a great place for you to flip your books for a profit!
It costs $25 a month to get started on Abebooks.
As a seller on AbeBooks you will describe, store, and ship your items yourself. You also set your own shipping rates and speeds.
Selling Books on Alibris
Alibris is a great platform if you have a bit of everything to sell but you don’t specialize in any one type of book.
You can list any (non-digital) books, music, and movies you have. Virtually all conditions and formats are OK.
You can sell new, used, hard-to-find, or collectible items on the platform for a $19.99 a month (up to 1000 items).
How To Sell Used Books Online For Profit: Top Tips
Here are a few tips to help you get started:
1. Research the prices of similar books before listing your book for sale. This will help you determine a fair price and avoid undercutting yourself.
2. Choose a reputable online marketplace like Amazon or Abebooks. Be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully before creating your account.
3. Take clear, well-lit photos of your book to post with your listing. This will help potential buyers know exactly what they’re getting.
4. Be honest in your description of the book’s condition and be sure to include any relevant details that might affect its value.
5. When shipping the book, pack it securely to avoid any damage in transit. Also, be prepared to ship your books promptly once they sell.
