Which platform suits what you sell, what the first kit covers, and a checklist for your first week of orders shipped from home.
Updated October 10, 2026
Before you start
Which platform suits what you sell, what the first kit covers, and a checklist for your first week of orders shipped from home.
You can start selling from home with what you already own: a phone, a table and some stock. Spend money once orders arrive, and keep the first kit small.
Your first ten orders need a platform that suits your stock, a few pieces of packing kit and a routine for getting each package out on time.
Kit for this
The products this guide uses, with typical US prices.
4 × 6 in thermal labels, 250 roll
Put a roll on a holder or inside a printer with a roll bay to save space on a crowded desk. Each label costs about 3 to 6 cents, a little more than fanfold.
Typical price$8 to $14
See on Amazon
Phomemo thermal label printer
Costs less than most thermal printers and fits on a shelf. It prints the same 4 × 6 in labels, so your label stock carries over if you upgrade later.
Typical price$70 to $110
See on Amazon66 lb digital shipping scale
Covers the packages most home sellers ship, up to 66 lb. Choose it when the 110 lb scale is out of stock.
Typical price$20 to $35
See on AmazonKraft bubble mailers, #0, 100 pack
Enough padding for a lipstick, a small figure or a sealed booster pack, with no box to fold.
Typical price$16 to $28
See on Amazon
The guide
Each step in the order you'll need it.
Match the platform to what you sell
Secondhand clothes suit Poshmark, Depop and Mercari, where buyers browse fashion. Collectibles, electronics and almost anything else suit eBay. Handmade and vintage gifts suit Etsy. Trading cards and collectibles also sell well live on Whatnot or TikTok Shop.
Start on one platform. Learn its listings, shipping options and buyer habits before adding a second.
Check the fees on the platform itself
Each platform charges differently, and the fees change. Some take a cut from the seller, some charge the buyer, and some do both. Read the current seller fees page on the platform you choose before you price anything.
Work out what you keep on a typical sale after fees and shipping. If the number is too small, the item is not worth listing yet.
The first kit
Ship your first orders in padded mailers, or poly or paper mailers for clothes. A shipping scale stops you guessing the weight, and USPS prices Ground Advantage by weight and zone.
Labels can go on your home printer at first. Once you ship a few orders a week, a 4 × 6 inch thermal label printer and a roll of labels save ink and time. Many platforms sell you a prepaid label with the order, and Pirate Ship is free to use for USPS labels elsewhere.
Photograph with what you have
Your phone camera does the job. Shoot by a window in daylight against a plain wall or sheet. Take a front, back, label and any flaws.
Show flaws in your photos. It may lose the odd sale, but it cuts returns from buyers who say the item was not as described.
Give your stock one corner
One shelf or one bin for stock, one for packaging, and a clear space to pack. Give every item a number and write it on the listing so you can find it when it sells.
Move to a bigger space once the corner overflows, and keep the same three zones for stock, packaging and packing.
Know when it becomes a business
The IRS treats buying to resell differently from clearing out your own things. Personal items sold for less than you paid are not taxable, but profit on resold stock is income. Read the IRS guidance on hobby or business on irs.gov.
Platforms send Form 1099-K once you pass $20,000 and 200 transactions in a year, and some states use lower limits. Keep a simple record of what you paid and what you sold for from day one.
Checklist
Run through it before each one goes out.
- 1Choose one platform that suits what you sell
- 2Read that platform’s current seller fees page
- 3List your first ten items with daylight photos
- 4Buy one pack of mailers and a shipping scale
- 5Set up a Pirate Ship account or use the platform’s labels
- 6Number each item and note it on the listing
- 7Start a simple record of costs and sales
Setups
Complete kits for one kind of seller, costed and laid out.
Questions
Straight answers to what sellers ask about this.
How much does it cost to start selling from home?
You can start with a pack of mailers and a shipping scale. A thermal printer is worth adding once orders are regular.
Which is the best platform for beginners?
The one that matches what you sell. Clothes suit Poshmark, Depop or Mercari, most other items suit eBay, and handmade suits Etsy.
Do I need a label printer to start?
No. Print on paper and tape it on at first. Switch to a thermal printer once labeling eats into your evenings.
Do I have to pay taxes on things I sell online?
Profit is taxable, and a 1099-K is not the test. Selling your own things at a loss is usually not. Read the IRS guidance and ask a tax professional about your case.
How should I price my first items?
Search sold listings for the same item on your platform and price near the middle. Adjust after a week if nothing moves.
Can I sell on several platforms at once?
Yes. Start with one, though: cross-listing risks selling the same item twice.