Used Computer Sales

Investment: $5,000 to $15,000

Salary: $5,000 to $100,000

Rates: 50% of the sales price

Advertising: Telemarketing, word of mouth, website with estore of used and refurbished computers, online and local classified ads.

To Qualify: Sales skills and computer experience

Equipment: Computer, internet, website, fax, printer, office furniture, business card and stationary.

Staff: None needed

Unexpected Expenses: Buying and refurbishing computers

Description: Because of the rapid advances in technology, business often will need full system upgrades, which means selling their used computers for new ones. Your job will be to broker the used items and act as a liaison between seller and buyer. Your first challenge in starting this business is identifying computers for sale, the next is selling them. This is a business that you can operate entirely online. You will need to know how to fix computers and understand glitches and hardware issues, since the used computers may be in various states of repair. Since most of the computers are still in working condition and will be sold at a greatly reduced rate, they are good for students, individuals who are not looking to spend a lot of money and small businesses. This can actually be a very profitable business for you if you are able for find a steady stream of sellers and buyers.

Essentials: You will need to consider the expense in advertising, storage space for all of the inventory and buying the used computers. Your start up investment will be at least $10,000 to start this venture. This, however, would be a great business if you are connected to companies that are constantly upgrading their systems and have good computers for sale often, then you can build a reputation of being the go to person for great refurbished products. If you have tremendous sales and marketing skills you can build a name for yourself and your business. Since you are receiving a percentage of the sale, what you negotiate as a selling price will greatly impact your income.

To Succeed: Most people don’t just want to throw away their computers just because they need to upgrade them. So in running this business you are actually providing a valuable service, especially for individuals who can’t spend thousands of dollars on a computer. Since computers and the internet are vital lifeline for most people today, they are a necessity but with new computers sell at over $1,500 a piece they can be cost prohibitive. Your company then, offers large companies an option of making money on their old computers and new buyers an opportunity to purchase a computer at a reasonable price. If you are able to find and work with both customer streams, you will find a lot of success in the used computer business.