Setting up an eBay seller account query

nobile

Hi

Any idea what the criteria is & what (if any) documentation do I need to supply?

I am thinking of selling a few odds & ends but on a bit of a regular basis.

I imagine sales will be about £20-£25 a week maybe a little more in time.

What is my starting point? Thanks

theonlywayisup

There used to be a sticky regarding selling on eBay. Will you be a private seller or a business?

jeffuk

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/selling-on-ebay

nobile

I will be a private individual seller. Not a company.

densol_2

I wasn't required to send in any documents. Just to register. I was limited to selling 5 items per month - after merely a day - I sent a request to increase limits. They sent me a letter to my home address with a PIN code. I entered this in and limits increased to 100 per month. That is on my private account.

I bought a few little bits to get some feedback at 100% then started selling my own personal stuff.

soolin

nobile wrote: »

I will be a private individual seller. Not a company.

The question is are you a business or private seller- being a company is immaterial.

If you are selling off your own unwanted items you are a private seller, if you are selling off things you make or things you buy with the intention of reselling then you are a business.

I am a sole trader- trading under my own name and not a company.

One tip though for whatever type you are, don't open an account and expect to list and sell things immediately- buy a few bits and bobs first, get the feel of the place and get some feedback- only then sell. By buying from other sellers you will get to know what works for you as a buyer, and can use that information when you sell.

nobile

Thanks Soolin

Yes. The idea is to buy stuff cheap (hopefully) & sell on ebay for a bit of a profit (hopefully!!)

I read on here all the time how posters start attacking other posters who mention that they picked up stuff from a car boot sale etc to sell on ebay so I'm wary of doing this properly, and to appease the mob on here

So what account should I go for?

mrcol1000

nobile wrote: »

Thanks Soolin

Yes. The idea is to buy stuff cheap (hopefully) & sell on ebay for a bit of a profit (hopefully!!)

I read on here all the time how posters start attacking other posters who mention that they picked up stuff from a car boot sale etc to sell on ebay so I'm wary of doing this properly, and to appease the mob on here

So what account should I go for?

You should go for a business. Buying things and selling it for a profit means you are a business regardless of how many items or your own personal status. If you do you will have to inform HMRC and may have to pay tax on any profit, depending on what other income you have.

Realistically, you could get away with having a personal account and not informing HMRC. It will be difficult for anyone to prove what you are doing unless you plan on selling 100's of items a week. When I was at uni I brought and sold things on a personal account with no problems. Just make sure you have one account for buying and one for selling.

Having a personal and business account now, I find that things sell better through a business account. You also as a business can get top rated status and get better visibility in listings.

nobile

OK. What's the next step in creating this account?

When you say have 1 account for buying & 1 for selling, you mean 2 business accounts?

Thanks to all that have replied

densol_2

Ive got a business account for selling in the course of my business and a private account for buying and selling personal stuff

soolin

densol wrote: »

Ive got a business account for selling in the course of my business and a private account for buying and selling personal stuff

Always a good idea, I have the same. Several accounts for both buying and selling.

OP you don't need a business account to buy.