Operating efficiently & netting 5K+ monthly

solefoodbk · #1 02-21-2015

Hey everyone.

I haven't seen a real good thread on this topic so I decided to make one myself.

I'm approaching slowly but surely the 5k mark monthly. Now I realize to some thats chump change, but to me its a lot. The way its going the more I make the more I put back into my business.

Do you guys have any tips/tricks on working efficiently while still maintaining and building your ebay empire?

I know the basics like getting a thermal printer, having pre thought out responses per account (to avoid linkage) but I know theres plenty of things I'm not thinking of or its just going over my head.

No I am not looking to hire employees, might work for some but not with what I'm doing.

aking · #2 02-21-2015

Great question as I am looking for ideas as well. That's awesome that your making that much monthly. Definitely not chump change to me. I'm still building my business and maybe making about $2k/month. I've only been back in the eBay game for about 6 months now.

The biggest thing I'm doing now is diversify my products. Right now I have 2 items and about to order a new item next week that should bring me an extra $2,500/month.

I'm also working on my home workstation and organizing a bit better. I need to get a bigger desk to hold all my product to keep things from being spewed all over my floor lol.

pokerpro · #3 02-21-2015

I'm so outta the tech loop.......A. What is a thermal printer? B. Why does one need one?

Dmshark25 · #4 02-21-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by pokerpro

I'm so outta the tech loop.......A. What is a thermal printer? B. Why does one need one?

You do not need a thermal Printer, but it prints using thermal paper, so no ink is needed.

I was initially going to switch to a thermal, but the epson workforce printer I started with , was and still works great so I purchased a newer version of the workforce Epson printer, and newer printers are a lot more compatible to mobile devices which helps

Also I purchase labels in Bulk, you can purchase 5000 Labels for pennies a label, and what I do is sell the labels in increments of 20-30 for $3-$4

So I end up getting nice selling feedback from the labels, and make enough profit to cover the labels and Ink

If you Purchase Epson ink it's like $16 a cartridge bit the OEM ink I can get 16 cartridges for $16 , and for printing black and white labels the ink is great

Klemantina · #5 02-21-2015

If i were you i would spend more time looking for the profitable products and specially spend more time looking for more ways to make money. (affiliate marketing, craiglist, forex etc.)

SilentHill · #6 02-21-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Klemantina

If i were you i would spend more time looking for the profitable products and specially spend more time looking for more ways to make money. (affiliate marketing, craiglist, forex etc.)

I am looking for some more ways. typically looking for auto pilot incomes.

Klemantina · #7 02-21-2015

If you want auto pilot incomes, first you need to master the method then you need to outsource it to someone you trust. You can pay them by the hour or a percentage of the income they are in charge of, that way they will be more motivated to earn more and avoid mistakes. I'm using both and currently the paying a percentage is working better.

H4ck · #8 02-22-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by solefoodbk

Hey everyone.

I haven't seen a real good thread on this topic so I decided to make one myself.

I'm approaching slowly but surely the 5k mark monthly. Now I realize to some thats chump change, but to me its a lot. The way its going the more I make the more I put back into my business.

Do you guys have any tips/tricks on working efficiently while still maintaining and building your ebay empire?

I know the basics like getting a thermal printer, having pre thought out responses per account (to avoid linkage) but I know theres plenty of things I'm not thinking of or its just going over my head.

No I am not looking to hire employees, might work for some but not with what I'm doing.

use software to cut down on time. software for ebay generally was designed so you can work more efficiently. At some point if your business continues to grow your going to need employees unless you want to start working 14 hour days everyday. There is only so much 1 human can take in. from customer service complaints, quality control, to negotiating with distributors, to packing stuff up....

Even i know my limits and I net in 5k easily......I know for myself at some point that I need employees....

you see how big steve jobs, mark zuckerberg, and bill gates companies are? its not a 1 man team once sales start to reach millions.....

applebaum · #9 02-22-2015

Ebay is part-time for me so I have to be efficient otherwise it would occupy all my free-time. I order boxes and mailers in bulk, I use four standard sizes. I order the labels in bulk as well. I take everything to the post-office first thing in the morning and use the Self-service drop box to drop off the packages.

I have a collection of items that I sell and print the labels off in groups, for example all the labels for product A and then all the labels for product B.

yankee · #10 02-22-2015

Thermal printer is a great start. No more tape and ink or even paper and the labels are very cheap.
Streamline your packing, label printing. Maybe do them in batches twice a day and focus on more sales the remainder of the day.

Honestly, it is impossible to do everything well. I would find the one or two particular things you do best and focus on that. You already know were I am going with this...

rsot · #11 02-22-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by pokerpro

I'm so outta the tech loop.......

I hear you pokerpro...loud and clear

solefoodbk · #12 02-23-2015

I currently use INKFROG which has made listing 10x better. They have their own set of glitches and bugs but its overall better than logging out of accounts constantly when listing and editing.

When I said thermal I really meant shipping with the sticker on the back, but thermal obviously helps cut costs with ink.

I got myself my own office which helps with inventory and seperates work/personal life. Also really makes me feel like a "real" business.

I might look into adding someone else its the stealth factor that holds me back. None of my accounts have LLC's at the moment but that will change soon. I can handle everything now but as you guys might know..the more business although is a good thing also can double/triple your work or make you reevaluate how you do things.

Its the whole thing from going out buying more product, listing, shipping, dealing with customers, making sure everything is tracked correctly for taxes .... and then dealing with customers so on and so on..... AHH!

And I want around 7500K monthly..thats on average double what I average monthly now (double the work, unless I find better product)

yankee · #13 02-23-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by solefoodbk

And I want around 7500K monthly..

I am guessing you mean $7500.00 and not $7,500,000.00 a month? LOL Now that is a number that is exciting!

Just joshin with ya

hcomics · #14 02-23-2015

Just get HP instant Ink. It's only $2.99 a month for 50 pages or they have $4.99 for $100 pages a month.

Yiftach · #15 02-23-2015

If there are routines you're doing on your computer I can make you an app that will do that for you.
Except to replying to customers, I made an app that does everything I used to do myself.

SilentHill · #16 02-23-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankee

Thermal printer is a great start. No more tape and ink or even paper and the labels are very cheap.
Streamline your packing, label printing. Maybe do them in batches twice a day and focus on more sales the remainder of the day.

Honestly, it is impossible to do everything well. I would find the one or two particular things you do best and focus on that. You already know were I am going with this...

how do you use this thermal printer with ebay.???

I loose alot of time and money with INKS, Printing , Taping Packages

rsot · #17 02-23-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by hcomics

Just get HP instant Ink. It's only $2.99 a month for 50 pages or they have $4.99 for $100 pages a month.

Not to rag on HP but that seems pricey for the amount of pages, no? Compared to all out on the market now...

aking · #18 02-24-2015

I just figure out how to have Endicia automatically upload tracking in eBay which makes things a lot faster. My only thing now is packaging items.

Sunday sales were crazy and I spent hours just doing packaging!!

aking · #19 02-24-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilentHill

how do you use this thermal printer with ebay.???

I loose alot of time and money with INKS, Printing , Taping Packages

Silent,

If you get Endicia account, there is an option in Preferences where you can link your ebay account to your Endicia account. Whenever you print a label with your thermal printer, the tracking number automatically gets uploaded to your ebay account.

rsot · #20 02-24-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yiftach

If there are routines you're doing on your computer I can make you an app that will do that for you.
Except to replying to customers, I made an app that does everything I used to do myself.

Very decent deal - which programming language you work with?

yankee · #21 02-24-2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilentHill

how do you use this thermal printer with ebay.???

I loose alot of time and money with INKS, Printing , Taping Packages

Printing settings. You select thermal printer. Only works for USPS and not fedex.

big tymer · #22 02-25-2015

for me the biggest amount of time I spent was in packaging the items. so now I have streamlined the order processing part. I keep everything sequentially organized in racks and bins so it is easy to pull. once in a while when I got nothing to do or just watching tv I will tape boxes together so that I have a ready supply that is ready for me to use.