How to start flipping with $0 to $100

Step 1: Pick one category

Trying to flip everything is a common beginner mistake. Pick one category you know a little about. Our beginner reselling guide lists some common ones: electronics, power tools, furniture, video games, sporting goods and collectibles.

With a small budget, choose items that are cheap to store and easy to test. Large furniture can make big profits, but moving and storing it costs money and space. Small items are easier when you are learning.

Step 2: Start with what you already own

Your first flip can cost $0. Look around your home for things you no longer use. Selling them teaches you the whole process: taking photos, writing a listing, setting a price, talking to buyers and shipping or handing off the item.

Do not worry about big profit on these. The goal is to learn and to build a little starting cash.

Step 3: Learn what things really sell for

An asking price is not a selling price. A listing at a high price does not prove an item is worth that much. Look for sold or completed sales, and compare items in the same condition and with the same accessories.

Botifex scores listings against eBay sold prices for this reason. You can also check eBay sold listings by hand. Our guide on researching resale value before you buy shows how.

Step 4: Do the profit math before you buy

Profit is not the sale price minus the buy price. Marketplace fees, payment fees, fuel, supplies and shipping all count. Add them up before you pay, not after. A sale that looks like a big win can shrink fast once every cost is in. Read more about marketplace selling fees because they differ by site.

Step 5: Set a buy limit

A simple guardrail from our beginner guide is to pay no more than about 70% of the expected resale value after expenses. It is a guideline, not a strict rule.

Another way is to work backward: expected sale price, minus expected expenses, minus the profit you want, equals the most you should pay.

With a $100 bankroll, one item can use all of it. For your first flips, look at smaller buys so one mistake does not wipe you out. Set a limit you can afford to lose.

Step 6: Use the 7 day trial

New Botifex accounts start with a 7 day trial, no card needed. Use it to learn how alerts and the Deal Score work across the eight marketplaces Botifex covers: Craigslist, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Poshmark, Mercari, Depop and Whatnot. See pricing for what each plan includes after the trial.

You do not have to pay anything to follow this guide. Use the trial to learn, then decide.

Step 7: Make your first alert and read the score

Good deals go fast. An alert tells you when a new listing matches your search. Set a keyword for something in your category, add a maximum price you are willing to pay, and choose how to get notified. Our guide on setting up your first marketplace alert walks through it.

When a match shows up, check the Deal Score. It is a 0 to 100 number that helps you decide what to research first. It is a quick filter, not a promise. Read how to read a Botifex Deal Score before you rely on it.

Then check the photos, the condition and what is included. Be careful with sellers who push you to pay off the platform or rush you.

Step 8: List it, sell it, reinvest

When you buy something, write down what you paid. Take clear photos, write an honest title and description, and price it using sold prices. Our guide on photos and listings that sell can help.

Track every flip: cost, fees, sale price and profit. A simple spreadsheet works, or use the Botifex reseller profit tracker. Put profit back into your next buy. That is how a small budget grows, slowly.

When to pay for a plan

Do not pay until a plan makes sense. A good rule is to upgrade only when one flip already covers the plan. Ask yourself:

• Do I need more marketplaces?
• Do I need faster alerts?
• Do I need inventory tracking and listing tools?

If the answer is no, wait.

Start your 7 day trial, no card needed