Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Write a business plan. Decide whether to carry only a specific type of sports memorabilia - baseball cards, for example - or whether you want to deal in all types of finds. A specialist site might be more easy to market, because you'll have a niche, but a general site may be easier to stock.
Choose a clever name for your site. Make sure the name of the site is available and buy the domain so no one snatches it up before you. Think of a name that is simple, easy to spell and memorable.
Visit your local county clerk and get a business license and a Doing Business As (DBA) license. You'll have to fill out applications and pay fees, but you can take care of both steps on the same visit. You need the business license to open a bank account, hire employees or pay wholesale prices for goods and shipping. The DBA allows you to do business under the name of your web site.
Go to the Internal Revenue Services' web site and sign up for a taxpayer identification number. You need this to open a business bank account and to pay taxes. You can acquire a number instantly online.
Hire a professional web designer to create your web site. You'll be doing your business online, so you need your site to look established and legitimate if you want customers to feel comfortable giving you their credit card information. A web designer will also be able to create a site that is easy for you to navigate and make changes to as you see fit.
Become an expert buying and selling things in online auctions such as eBay. You can create an eBay storefront to supplement your own web site, and eBay may be a good source of merchandise for your store.
Comb flea markets, antique stores, estate sales and garage sales for merchandise for your store. You'll need to find these items at good prices if you want to resell them to collectors for a profit.
Attend trade conventions and acquaint yourself with other people in your business. You might be able to rely on some of them as professional contacts. For example, if you get an inquiry for an item you don't carry, you can refer the customer to another vendor in the hopes that one day the other vendor will return your favor.