16 Items to Flip for up to $5,000 per Month Profit Margin

If you have some free time and are looking for a new way to increase your income, flipping is an option you can consider. Flipping items only require a little skill, but time and an online account are needed to sell your items. 

Flipping is about purchasing an item low and then reselling it at a higher price to make a profit. There's no limit to how much you can make from flipping items, but you must know how to execute the business idea to maximize profits. 

Identifying the ideal items to flip is crucial and challenging, but the business will be gratifying once you do. To make a profit, you can flip items like cars, household appliances, or real estate on platforms like the Facebook marketplace or Amazon. Flipping items is a legal business in the United States, and anyone can do it. 

If flipping is new to you or you're thinking of starting a side hustle, Foundeck in this post will tell you everything you need to know about the flipping business. We'll discuss how you can begin this business venture and 16 items to flip for up to a $5,000 monthly profit margin. 

What is Flipping?

Flipping is cheaply purchasing different items or collectibles and reselling them quickly to make profits. Where do you source the items to flip? A flipper looks for undervalued items on various online marketplaces, buys from wholesalers, attends sales events, or buys from wholesalers. 

Once you acquire the items to flip, you can resell them on platforms like eBay or Amazon. Although flipping can bring in lucrative profits, it's also risky since there's no guarantee the item will sell at the desired price. The beauty of flipping is that there's a ready market, as many shoppers are open to buying secondhand items. 

Not all items are easy to resell, meaning you must be careful to concentrate on items in demand to ensure you sell them easily and quickly. Some factors that can affect your business significantly are location, personal preferences, logistics, storage, and shipping. You should also know the actual value of what you're selling and stick to categories that interest you.

Since flipping doesn't require a significant investment, anyone can resell products as a side hustle, and if the going is good, it's easy to make it your primary job. 

16 Items to Flip for Up to $5,000 per Month Profit Gain

Flipping is an increasingly popular business. 

These relevant questions should guide you:

1. What items are the most profitable to flip?
2. What can I flip with ease? 

To find the correct answers to these two questions, here are 16 items to flip and make up to $5,000 a month.

1. Become a Sharetown Rep 

Mattress companies offer customers a 100-night satisfaction guarantee. Thus, the mattress is returnable if they're unhappy with the product before the end of this period. So what happens when the customer is dissatisfied with the product and decides to return it?

Some platforms like Sharetown use "reverse logistics" to pick up these returned mattresses for an upcoming donation or resale. You can become a Sharetown rep, then you'll be dispatched to:

• Collect almost-new mattresses
• Clean and sanitize them
• List them for resale on places like Facebook Marketplace

So, how do you make profits in Sharetown? You profit from selling the product and giving Sharetown the amount you owe them for sourcing it. The most remarkable thing about Sharetown is that you only pay for the mattress when it sells, making it a very low-risk side hustle. All you need is a way to transport and store the mattresses while waiting for customers. What are the benefits and downsides of becoming a Sharetown rep?

Benefits:

• Low startup costs
• Lucrative
• No need for inventory

Downsides:

• A pickup truck or SUV to collect the items
• The items are bulky.
• It's not accessible to everyone.

2. Apparel

The demand for secondhand clothes is high. You can sell your clothes as a part-time gig if you plan to clean your closet. Any apparel is perfect for flipping, and you'll be full of customers. Flipping lightly used clothes can make you about $100 monthly if you commit to selling in-demand items. There's a possibility of making about $1,000 by selling thrift clothes on eBay.

3. Clearance Sale

Using these strategies makes it easier to find price differences that can make you money. Different marketplaces have varying prices, and investing time will help you spot good deals. Listing the products on Amazon and selling them will make you good profits. You can sell new and old products but must be in good shape. 

People can pay a FORTUNE for something they need, but only if it's in good condition. Ensure you have enough inventory to meet the demand and avoid overstocking to ensure it doesn't run out before you can resell. 

Acquiring deeply discounted items is the initial step to a profitable flipping business, like clearance sales in retail stores or websites. What's important is that you find highly desirable goods at a reasonable profit that will give you a good profit after expenses. What do you look out for? Look for seasonal items, famous brands, or limited editions to find items you can resell for good profit margins.

• Reselling on Amazon - Become an Amazon reseller by shopping for good deals and direct them into Amazon's warehouse. Amazon will take care of the fulfillment when someone buys, and you don't have to worry about product descriptions, returns, or shipping to customers.
• Online Arbitrage - Source inventory online with a huge pricing gap on Amazon, then resell them on other websites. To make your job easier, tools like Tactical Arbitrage can assist you in finding and sourcing profitable products on Amazon or wholesalers.

4. Cameras

Digital or film cameras are in high demand, especially in this era when most people live, and others are making primary revenue online. Flipping cameras is easy thanks to their size and high price. If you can flip a good number of cameras in a month, it will earn you several hundred dollars a month. 

5. Sports Collectibles (Memorabilia)

Sports fans worldwide adore professional players and are glad to get their hands on anything from their favorite player. Here are some memorabilia to look out for: 

• Cards
• Bobbleheads
• autographed items
• Vintage hats
• championship rings
• Jerseys
• ticket stubs
• Shirts
• bobbleheads

If you can get your hands on any of these items, you can flip them on eBay. People purchase them to add to their collection or gift to friends. 

6. Tech Accessories, Smartphones, Tablets

The US market for tech products is prime. Even with a large population using smartphone devices, the number is set to rise. Plus, smartphone companies upgrade devices every waking dawn, meaning users will also get new and better devices. 

So what happens to the devices people ditch for newer ones? You can purchase lightly used devices and flip them for a profit. You'll make good money by focusing on acquiring and flipping valuable devices from top companies like Apple. 

7. Sports and Exercise Equipment

Sports equipment is in CONSTANT demand because people want to keep fit. Going to the gym might be a challenge for many with busy schedules. These people prefer to work out at home, making the exercise equipment market blazing hot. 

Plus, equipment like home gyms, exercise bikes, and treadmills resell for pretty reasonable prices. In most cases, people will want to dispose of this equipment quickly because they're heavy and take up so much space. Therefore, finding well-maintained bikes, hockey equipment, skis, and golf clubs is worthwhile equipment to flip. 

8. Musical Appliances

People, young and old, outgrow or abandon their hobbies often. You can look for musical instruments in good working condition and flip them for a decent profit on eBay. 

9. Household Appliances

Some household appliances are heavy and take up a lot of space, which makes owners eager to get rid of them quickly. As a seller, you can swoop in to purchase undervalued appliances and then resell them to make a profit. If you find broken appliances, you can take them to a salvage yard or recycling plant and sell them as scrap metal. 

10. Limited Edition Sneakers

If shoe trends and sneakers interest you, flipping them will make you happier since you'll make good profits. How do you go about flipping sneakers? You purchase the shoes at a low retail price, then flip them at a higher price.  

Manufacturers intentionally produce fewer sneakers, meaning they can’t meet the demand, which makes them scarce. The short supply of premium brands like Air Jordans fuels the resale demand, which means you can make good money. You can piggyback successful brands by tapping on a pre-existing customer base. Hence, you don't have to go through the trouble of building a new brand.

11. Old Books

There are many thrift stores or marketplaces where people buy used or old books at low prices and then resell them to make a profit. If you need help figuring out where to begin, you can start your new business by buying and selling used textbooks. Get the books from a thrift store, college student, or marketplaces and sell them locally or online. You can begin by reading a guide by Amazon on how to sell books online. 

12. Vehicles

Not everyone can afford a brand-new car, making used cars popular and a good business. You can collect second-hand vehicles as a hobby, fixer, or mode of transport. The reason for collecting used cars is different here, but the primary aim is to purchase them at a low price and then sell them high to make good profits. 

Flipping cars needs a more significant buy-in than most items in this list, but it's the best side hustle for anyone who:

• Can negotiate 
• Has the ability to identify and find undervalued cars
• Is mechanically-inclined

Check with your state to see sales limitations before registering as a secondhand car dealer.  

13. Designer Bags

Every lady loves a high-end bag, but not all can afford one. However, if you're one of the lucky ladies with a collection of designer bags, you'd love to dispose of, you're in business. You can make a good deal by selling them to fashion-inclined buyers. 

Buying used designer bags will make you good money on platforms like Rebag. It's dedicated to assisting pre-owned designer bags find deserving new owners who buy them for thousands of dollars. You make good profits if you can resell several high-end bags every month. 

14. Websites

Website flipping is a practical job for anyone who knows how to build, drive traffic, and grow a website. Once the website is monetized and cash flows into it, it can be sold on marketplaces like Flippa and Empire Flippers. 

A single purchase can sell for up to 20 - 40 times its monthly earnings, meaning you can get a website, fix and flip it like they do with real estate. All you need is to find ways to drive traffic to a website, monetize it, and find a market where you can make great returns.

15. Vintage Jewelry

Vintage jewelry is a pack of value even in tiny packages, making it convenient to flip and make money quickly. You can find such jewelry at various places:

• Scour estate sales
• Thrift shops
• Online platforms 
• Flea markets 

These marketplaces are ideal for collectors, but if you have a jewelry stash you'd love to sell as secondhand pieces, you can resell them for a profit. Digital markets like eBay and Etsy offer a specialized platform for these services. Although the quality and quantity of the jewelry you have or source will determine the money you make, jewels are worthwhile items to flip for good profits.

16. Baby Gear

The baby product market is a thriving industry in the United States. People spent billions of dollars buying new baby accessories like diapers, travel supplies, gifts, feeding, and care accessories. 

Even after spending so much on these items, babies outgrow them fast. Thus, it's no surprise these items don't stay in the same family for long. Most owners donate them to thrift stores or hold a garage sale to dispose of them. 

So, if you can buy baby gear cheaply and resell it online, you make good money while providing families with affordable yet high-quality baby products. You can begin by checking what's popular on selling platforms, looking for the same products in nearby yards or second-hand stores, and returning to business.

Steps to Start a Flipping Business

Reselling is a lucrative business that anyone can launch and make good. That's all anyone needs from a business. One way to count your blessings in business is by starting a flipping business. Suppose you have an eye for quality, unmatched negotiation skills, and the desire to generate or increase your revenue. In that case, you need income, and a flipping business suits you. Follow these steps to launch your flipping business: 

1. Create a Business Plan

Writing a detailed business plan for your flipping business will outline the following:

• Objectives
• Competitive landscape 
• Target audience 
• Financial forecasts
• Promotional strategies 

A business plan is a guide that helps you keep track of your goals and also acts as a guide. While creating your business plan, consider your Budget, strengths, weaknesses, and growth timeline. A well-structured business plan helps you identify potential hindrances and prospects, ensuring success in your flipping business.

2. Decide Where to Do Business

Now that you know the kind of venture you're getting into and your goals, you need to decide where the business will happen: a location or a platform to flip your business. 

Where your business will happen will depend on the items you intend to flip. If you plan to flip products online, you need an eCommerce platform like Amazon, eBay, or Etsy. You can build a professional website or social media presence to display the products on sale to potential buyers, 

Alternatively, you can focus on a physical business like real estate, flea markets, or car investments. When choosing a business location, consider competition, accessibility, and overhead costs. 

3. Choose a Business Structure

Choose a favorable business structure once you know where to do business. There are different business structures, each with a good and not-so-good side. The most popular business structures include:

• Sole proprietorship - The simplest business structure to form and is owned by a single person.
• Partnership - More than two people co-own a business, sharing responsibilities, profits, and liabilities.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) - The owners are only liable to the business depending on their shares. 
• Corporation - A large company or many companies under one and is recognized as such by the law.

When choosing a business structure, the factors to consider are taxes, personal liability, and business expenses. If you need help in this stage, consult a lawyer or accountant to help you understand the structure that fits your needs and goals.

4. Register Your Business

Now that you know the structure you prefer for your business, it's time to register it. Depending on the state you'll be operating your flipping business from, the registration process might vary from state to state. 

You may have to register with the state or local government to get the proper documents to operate in a specific location. After registration, you're issued a Tax Identification Number (TIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Besides the TIN, you must also apply for necessary licenses or permits for the business. 

5. Get Relevant Licensing or Permits

Once your flipping business is registered, you must obtain relevant licenses and permits. They include:

• A resale permit is required by businesses that sell used goods.
• A business license is mandatory for all businesses that operate within a specific jurisdiction.
• All businesses that sell taxable items need a sales tax permit. The permit allows them to collect and remit sales taxes. 
• Special permits are exclusive permits for businesses that sell particular items like firearms or alcohol.

Research the exact authorization of your business needs before rushing to obtain any permits or licenses. Getting the correct information helps you save time, money, and inconveniences for your business in the future.

6. Open a Business Bank Account

After obtaining your business's relevant licenses and permits, it's time to open a bank account for your flipping business. Separate business and personal bank accounts help keep both matters apart.

As a result, you can monitor business cash flow and expenses while simplifying tax reporting. A separate business account also helps build a positive banking history, allowing the business to get loans or credit quickly. 

Above all, running a business account gives our business a professional image that builds trust between potential customers and partners. When opening a business bank account, select a reputable bank and check its charges, accuracy of records, and the services it offers.

7. Promote Your Flipping Business

Your flipping business is ready to go live. However, you must promote it to attract customers and boost sales. Here are the various marketing strategies you can use to advertise your flipping business to the world:

• Create a professional website where you blog about your products and display your product catalog.
• Use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to increase visibility and drive traffic to your website or eCommerce store.
• Establish an online presence by creating social media accounts and fostering relationships with your audience and prospective buyers. 
• Network with other businesses or individuals in related industries to build relationships, learn about flipping, and uncover new opportunities.
• Offer discounts, promotions, or referral incentives to encourage repeat customers and attract new customers.
• Craft engaging product descriptions that catch the customer's eye and leave a long memory.
• Use high-resolution pictures to project the perfect image of your inventory and establish customer trust.

Although marketing is the final step when creating a business, it's also a vital pillar for the success of your flipping business. Regularly assess how customers respond to your marketing campaigns, keep what's working, and drop any strategy that doesn't favor your flipping business. The tactics you employ should resonate with your target audience and generate sales. 

Pro-tips for Flipping Products

A flipping business is lucrative if you source products that are available at a lower price but can be resold at a higher price. Flipping the right product can earn you high profit margins of up to thousands of dollars. But how do you make the right call on products to flip? Here are some pro tips as you start the journey of flipping products:

1. Source Cheap Products that are Likely to Sell

As a new entity in the flipping business, you'll experiment with different items, ensuring low overhead costs to increase profit margins. Sourcing affordable products you can resell for a profit limits the chance of losing. 

Spending over $5 per item is only worthwhile if you're double sure it will sell. Additionally, a low-cost inventory means you can quickly get the item off your hands and move to other items. Besides, if an item sits around your inventory for a long, you can list it for a bargain and still make a profit while the buyer gets a good deal. 

If you want zero-dollar inventory, you don't spend any money on the products you sell. Consider selling some of your collectibles that you don't mind letting go.

2. Target Products with High-Profit Margins

Depending on where you'll be selling, the item price must include any charges you might encounter in the sale process. For instance, if you use Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), you have more fees to pay. It only means you need to profit enough from selling the item to cover any related expenses and still make a profit. Choose items selling at a third of the price on Amazon to make a profit.

3. Sell Products You Know

Consider flipping products you know well. Getting into business with products you understand from your hobby or daily use ensures you offer the buyer value at an affordable price while making a profit. Outsourcing products you know well help you recognize a good deal easily and sustain a profitable business. 

4. Steer Clear of Competitive Niches

We've talked a lot about demand, but competition is also essential. If fewer other sellers offer your products, it will take longer to sell them, leaving you with many unsold items. There will also be more pressure to lower your prices, reducing your profits. You can use a tool to measure the competition landscape before deciding to sell a product. 

5. Use Keywords and Shipping to Increase Exposure

Whenever you list products for sale, always think about exposure. 

The more exposure your business has, the higher the chances your item will move or sell quickly. But how do I increase exposure to my products? You may ask. Use keywords anywhere you write about your product, like in titles, item descriptions, and tags. Plus, you can offer free shipping to customers who shop for a specific amount on relevant Facebook groups. 

You can create a marketplace for your local community, share the same in groups nearby, and join other groups selling the same stuff. Although you may not be able to ship every item, create a target to increase the morale of your potential buyers. 

You can purchase or use available boxes and print a label for your product and mailers to ship from home to make it affordable. Alternatively, if the sale is worth it, you can take the item to the post office and let them do it for you. 

6. Connect with Other Sellers

Connect and follow other resellers in the same line of work as you. It may feel strange initially when you're new to flipping, but following other flippers will help you learn and grow confident. 

Not only will you grow confident in your new venture, but you'll also be encouraged to note what other items are selling quickly on different platforms. For instance, you can search and follow #resellercommunity on Instagram to find various resellers and follow those you can relate to.

7. Apply the Eight-Part Listing Rule

The correct item in your shop or online store only brings you closer to the finish point: a sale and listing take you to the finish line. Here are the eight rules of thumb to increase the chances of people finding your item and closing the sale: 

1. Take a clear image of the product; some people are driven by sight and will not even get to the description.
2. Use a keyword in your title, product description, brand name, and any other word your customer might think of using when searching for your product.
3. Price the item as you wish to leave room for counter offers and price drops.
4. Provide the details so that some people will read them; even if not, it will increase visibility.
5. Offer free shipping 
6. Write a description of your item, paste the title you wrote earlier and its condition, and then tell the buyer how they can purchase it.
7. Create tags for your item using its name and related words to help the right buyer find it. 
8. List your items on a marketplace to expand your reach and avoid further expenses like selling shipped orders. 

As a flipping novice, starting with an item that costs you $0 from your home is recommended, then following the above listing rules to list the item. Price your item reasonably, considering all factors to benefit the seller and buyer. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

What items are the easiest to flip?

You can flip any item in good condition, and the best place to source them is your home, especially if you have collectibles. You can also source lightly used stuff from your neighbors and list them for sale. Once you resell the few items, you can source more inventory, but research what other items are on demand and purchase more inventory. 

What thrift items can I resell with ease?

Some thrift items you can resell easily include smartphones, tablets, vintage clothing, electronics, designer pieces, collectibles, vintage jewelry, mugs, or toys. Textbooks and baby gear are also hot sellers that can help you achieve good profit margins.

Is flipping a good business venture?

Flipping is a good business venture, and applying the right strategy makes it a great idea. You can build a profitable business selling collectibles, antiques, or furniture. However, ensure you conduct market research to know what items are easy and profitable to resell profitably.

In Summary

If you have free time and want to make money, consider starting a flipping business. 

You might have seen or heard of people who buy, fix, and sell cars or houses for a profit. The business is known as flipping; the good news is that it can also happen online. 

As long as you can source items in good condition and at a low price, you can resell them to make a profit. There's no limitation on what you can sell or the amount of money you can make, and even better, you don't need any skills to flip items. You must learn how to use platforms like Facebook:

• Open a Facebook marketplace page.
• List your products.
• Market them to your audience.
• Start selling.

You can also open a store on platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy to list your slightly used items and generate a profit. Flipping items is a legitimate business that can make you thousands of dollars a month by buying low and selling high.