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The eBay Business Plan

Selling products on eBay is a great way to make extra money or, for those able and willing to dedicate their efforts full time, a solid income. But before you quit your day job or invest serious money

into an eBay business, it is a good idea to draft a business plan, just as you would with any other entrepreneurial endeavor.

Prior to putting pen to paper, there are a few important questions to ask yourself. How much money do you want to make? How much time can you invest in your eBay business? And what will you sell?

If you have an existing business, either online or offline, you will already have a good idea of what you want to sell. But if you don't, you will have to decide what you will sell and how you will make your eBay business specialized so that you are not just selling "stuff."

What you sell will determine much of your business plan. For instance, you may have an extensive collection of coins and wish to sell them to other collectors. Your business plan will detail how you will conduct your collectible coin business. Once you have narrowed down your product offering, you can begin conducting market research.


How to Understand Your Customers
Host Hattie Bryant of Small Business School interviews Gil Harper of Maine-based Weatherend Estate Furniture.