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Essential Gear for Flippers
- Photo Light Box - Professional product photography for listings
- Thermal Label Printer - Fast shipping label printing
- Poly Mailer Bags (100 pack) - Protect items during shipping
- Digital Kitchen Scale - Accurate weight for shipping costs
Why Flipping Is the Perfect Side Hustle for 2026
Flipping - buying items low and selling them for profit - is one of the oldest and most reliable side hustles. In 2026, with powerful selling apps, instant price lookups, and a massive online marketplace, it's easier than ever to turn your eye for deals into real income.
Unlike most side hustles that require specific skills or expensive equipment, flipping lets you start with whatever capital you have and scale at your own pace. Found a $5 item at Goodwill that sells for $50 on eBay? You've just made a 900% return on your investment.
Why 2026 Is the Golden Age of Flipping
- ✔ AI price tools instantly tell you what items are worth
- ✔ Shipping discounts through eBay/Pirate Ship make nationwide selling easy
- ✔ Facebook Marketplace reaches millions of local buyers for free
- ✔ Sustainability trends mean more people buying secondhand
- ✔ Economic uncertainty drives bargain hunting and thrift culture
The Flipping Advantage
$50
Minimum to Start
50-500%
Typical ROI
5-20 hrs
Weekly Time
Realistic Income Potential
Your flipping income scales with time invested, capital available, and the niche you choose. Here's what to expect at each level:
Casual Flipper
$200 - $1,000/mo
5-10 hours/week
- • Weekend thrifting trips
- • 10-20 items sold monthly
- • Average profit $20-50/item
- • Extra spending money
Part-Time Flipper
$1,000 - $3,000/mo
15-25 hours/week
- • Multiple sourcing days weekly
- • 30-60 items sold monthly
- • Established niches & systems
- • Solid supplemental income
Serious Flipper
$3,000 - $8,000/mo
25-40 hours/week
- • Multiple sourcing channels
- • 80-150 items sold monthly
- • Higher-value items ($100+)
- • Could replace day job income
Full-Time Business
$8,000 - $20,000+/mo
40+ hours/week
- • Wholesale & bulk sourcing
- • 200+ items sold monthly
- • Team/VA assistance
- • Dedicated workspace/storage
Real Flipper Success Story
"I started with $200 and spent Saturdays at garage sales. Year one I made about $400/month. Now, three years later, I've quit my corporate job and net $12,000+/month flipping furniture and vintage items. The key was finding my niche and building systems." - Sarah T., Full-time Flipper
8 Types of Flipping Side Hustles
1. Thrift Store Flipping
Beginner FriendlyBuy underpriced items at Goodwill, Salvation Army, and consignment shops, then resell online for 5-20x profit.
Clothing, electronics, books, vintage decor
$50-$200
100-500%+
2. Retail Arbitrage
High VolumeBuy clearance and sale items from retail stores, resell on Amazon FBA or eBay for profit. Scale quickly with capital.
Walmart, Target, Home Depot, CVS
$500-$2,000
30-100%
3. Furniture Flipping
High ProfitFind free or cheap furniture, refinish/paint/restore it, and sell for hundreds. Great profit per item.
Dressers, tables, chairs, mid-century pieces
$200-$500
$100-$500+
4. Clothing Resale
Hot MarketFocus on brand-name clothing, vintage pieces, and designer items. Thrift for $3-10, sell for $30-200+.
Lululemon, Patagonia, vintage band tees
Poshmark, Depop, eBay, Mercari
200-1000%+
5. Car Flipping
High TicketBuy undervalued cars, do basic repairs/detailing, resell for $500-$5,000+ profit per vehicle. Some states limit unlicensed sales.
Honda, Toyota, trucks, SUVs
$2,000-$10,000
$500-$5,000+
6. Electronics Flipping
High DemandBuy used/broken electronics, repair or test and resell. iPhones, gaming consoles, and laptops have strong resale markets.
iPhones, PS5, AirPods, MacBooks
FB Marketplace, auctions, trade-ins
30-150%
7. Collectibles & Vintage
Knowledge BasedSpecialize in collectibles like vintage toys, sports cards, coins, antiques, or mid-century modern items.
Pokémon, vintage toys, MCM furniture
High - requires expertise
500-10,000%+ on rare items
8. Appliance Flipping
ConsistentFind free or cheap appliances (washers, dryers, fridges), clean and test, resell locally for $200-500+ profit.
Washers, dryers, refrigerators
Truck, basic repair skills
$100-$400
Where to Find Profitable Items
Sourcing is the foundation of profitable flipping. Here's where top flippers find their inventory:
Free & Low-Cost Sources
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Facebook Marketplace (Free Section)
People give away furniture, electronics, and more daily
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Craigslist Free
Check daily - good items go fast
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Curbside/Bulk Trash Days
Know your neighborhood pickup schedules
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Moving Sales
People desperate to unload before moving
Best Paid Sources
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Thrift Stores
Goodwill, Salvation Army, local consignment
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Garage/Estate Sales
Arrive early, negotiate at end of day
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Auctions (Local & Online)
Estate auctions, storage units, liquidation
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Retail Clearance
Walmart, Target, Home Depot markdowns
Pro Sourcing Tips
- ✔ Hit thrift stores on restock days (ask staff when)
- ✔ Set FB Marketplace alerts for keywords
- ✔ Build relationships with thrift store managers
- ✔ Check estate sales on estatesales.net
- ✔ Arrive at garage sales in the first 30 minutes
- ✔ Offer to buy unsold items at day's end
- ✔ Look in overlooked sections (housewares, linens)
- ✔ Always check inside boxes and containers
Best Platforms to Sell On
Local Selling (No Shipping)
Facebook Marketplace
Huge audience, free to list, great for furniture & large items
No feesCraigslist
Still active for cars, furniture, tools, and appliances
No feesOfferUp
Popular in certain regions, user ratings help build trust
No fees (local)Nationwide Selling (Shipping)
eBay
Best for collectibles, electronics, unique items. Huge reach.
~13% feesPoshmark
Best for clothing and fashion. Easy shipping with prepaid labels.
20% feeMercari
Easy to use, good for variety of items, quick sales.
10% feeSpecialty Platforms
Amazon FBA
For new retail arbitrage items. Ship to Amazon, they handle rest.
15-20% + FBA feesDepop
Vintage and trendy clothing. Popular with Gen Z buyers.
10% feeEtsy
Vintage items (20+ years old), handmade, craft supplies.
~12% feesPricing for Maximum Profit
The Pricing Formula
Sell Price = (Cost + Fees + Shipping) x 3-5
Aim for 3x minimum, 5x+ on great finds
Research Before Buying
- • Check eBay "Sold" listings (not just asking prices)
- • Search Facebook Marketplace for local pricing
- • Use the eBay app to scan barcodes in-store
- • Check multiple platforms for comparison
Pricing Strategies
- • Price 10-15% higher initially, then reduce
- • Use psychological pricing ($47 vs $50)
- • Offer bundle discounts for multiple items
- • Factor in shipping costs before buying
Common Pricing Mistakes
- ✖ Looking at asking prices instead of sold prices
- ✖ Forgetting to factor in platform fees (10-20%)
- ✖ Underestimating shipping costs on heavy items
- ✖ Pricing too low just to make quick sales
- ✖ Not accounting for your time and gas
Scaling Your Flipping Business
Phase 1: Build Your Foundation ($500-$2K/month)
- • Master one sourcing channel (e.g., thrift stores)
- • Focus on 2-3 item categories you know well
- • Develop listing templates for faster posting
- • Reinvest 100% of profits into inventory
- • Track every purchase and sale in a spreadsheet
Phase 2: Expand Sourcing ($2K-$5K/month)
- • Add new sourcing channels (estate sales, auctions)
- • Build relationships with regular sellers
- • Consider wholesale or liquidation lots
- • Cross-list items on multiple platforms
- • Dedicate storage space for inventory
Phase 3: Build Systems ($5K-$15K/month)
- • Hire help for photography, listing, or shipping
- • Use inventory management software
- • Rent dedicated workspace/storage
- • Develop wholesale sourcing relationships
- • Create SOPs for every part of the business
Phase 4: Full-Time Business ($15K+/month)
- • Team of employees or contractors
- • Commercial space for operations
- • Multiple revenue streams (consignment, teaching)
- • Automated listing and shipping systems
- • Consider opening a physical store
Essential Tools & Apps
Research Apps
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eBay App - Scan barcodes, check sold prices
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Amazon Seller App - Scan for FBA opportunities
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Worthpoint - Antique & collectible pricing
Selling Tools
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List Perfectly - Cross-list to multiple platforms
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Pirate Ship - Discounted shipping labels
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Photo Studio - Lightbox for product photos
Taxes & Legal Considerations
Important: The 1099-K Threshold
Starting in 2024, platforms like eBay, Poshmark, and Mercari report sellers to the IRS who receive $600+ in a calendar year. Keep detailed records of your cost basis (what you paid) to avoid overpaying taxes.
Tax Deductions to Track
- • Cost of goods sold (purchase prices)
- • Platform fees and selling fees
- • Shipping supplies and postage
- • Mileage to source items (65.5¢/mile in 2024)
- • Storage space costs
- • Photography equipment
- • Software and subscription fees
Legal Requirements
- • Report all income over $400 on Schedule C
- • Collect sales tax if required in your state
- • Consider LLC for liability protection
- • Get reseller's license for wholesale buying
- • Check local rules on car flipping limits
- • Keep records for at least 7 years
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Start Your Flipping Side Hustle?
Hit your local thrift store this weekend with $50 and the eBay app. Your first profitable flip is waiting to be found.