When starting a small part-time business it's ok to start slow, but don't fade fast!

QUESTION.
I want to start a part-time business selling small antiques. I'd like to have it be a home-based business and possibly sell exclusively online. How do you suggest I get started doing this?

ANSWER.
I think the first thing you should do is try to sell a few things on eBay. Sell some things out of your garage that you no longer want, but that you think you can move. Sign up at eBay and study the eBay system of selling. After you sell 5 or 10 items you will get a feel for how to use the site to your advantage. You may also figure out how to find some inventory at eBay that are not being marketed well? In any event, after you are comfortable selling, then get started selling the stuff you want to sell.

If you see it going somewhere profitably, then consider stepping back and writing a business plan for your venture. Have SCORE help you with the business plan if you like. That's how we help our clients the most.

Consider taking a look at the following links. See
USING EBAY IN YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
WRITE A BUSINESS PLAN
BOOKS ON RETAILING

I hope my comments are helpful. Good luck! Regards, -Jeff

Jeff Lippincott
SCORE.org Counselor
Princeton, NJ
scoreprinceton @ aol.com
www.scoreprinceton.org
www.jlippin.com