Business idea · E-commerce
Online Auction Reselling
Online Auction Reselling: Starting a business that focuses on buying items from liquidation auctions, refurbishing them if necessary, and reselling them on platforms like eBay. It was pitched on The Side Hustle Show, hosted by Nick Loper, in the episode "735: Meet the Master Reseller Who Gets Literally Tons of Inventory for Free" (aired April 23, 2026).
At a glance
| Podcast | The Side Hustle Show |
|---|---|
| Hosted by | Nick Loper |
| Episode | 735: Meet the Master Reseller Who Gets Literally Tons of Inventory for Free |
| Aired | April 23, 2026 |
| Category | E-commerce |
| Real companies on the episode | Green Go Surplus, e-Waste Direct, One Tree Planted, Shopify, Wipe OS, E-Waste Direct |
The problem it solves
Many people are unaware of how to buy items at auctions and resell them for profit. This business simplifies the process of finding and flipping auction items for a profit.
How it makes money
Revenue from one-time sales of items on eBay or other online marketplaces.
Skills you need
Auction strategy knowledge, product evaluation, sales, and e-commerce platform management.
The market, and why this works now
Shopify's recent updates to its auction feature enable sellers to list items from liquidation auctions directly on their platform. A viable first-revenue move is to sell refurbished items on eBay, targeting buyers interested in second-hand goods. Founders may face a constraint with cash flow, as initial investment in auction purchases and refurbishment can take time to recoup, particularly if items do not sell quickly.
Our analysis, written after the episode. Not a quote from the show.
Real companies discussed on this episode
- Green Go Surplus
An eBay store that sells refurbished electronics and other products.
- e-Waste Direct
e-Waste Direct is an electronic recycling company that picks up and resells or recycles electronic waste.
- One Tree Planted
An organization focused on global reforestation efforts by planting trees.
- Shopify
A commerce platform that enables businesses to set up online stores with integrated payment and shipping solutions.
- Wipe OS
A certified data destruction software used to ensure data is securely wiped from devices before resale.
- E-Waste Direct
A business focused on the collection and reselling of electronic waste, particularly refurbished laptops and electronics.
Where this idea came from
Podcast: The Side Hustle Show, hosted by Nick Loper
Episode: 735: Meet the Master Reseller Who Gets Literally Tons of Inventory for Free
Aired:
Summarized from the episode transcript. The show does not say which speaker raised each idea, so we credit the show, not a person.