E-commerce · Budget: £0 to £500 · Minimum age: 18+

Wholesale buying and reselling

Wholesale reselling means buying stock at trade prices and selling it on, with profit depending on what sells after purchase, delivery, fees and other costs. Start with a small, carefully checked order: an example in the UK guide uses a £500 wholesale order and estimates about £4.54 gross profit per unit before wider costs <a href="https://www.salync.com/blog/buying-wholesale-to-sell-online-uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Salync</a>.

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In plain words

Buy a small amount of stock at trade prices.
Check what similar items have actually sold for.
Add up every cost before setting your price.
Sell honestly and keep records of sales and costs.
Some stock may sell slowly, or not sell.
Start small and learn before ordering more.

Who it suits

Adults who enjoy researching products, checking suppliers and keeping track of stock and costs. It suits people prepared to tie up money in stock that may take time to sell.

People pay for products they want or need, and wholesale buying can give you stock to resell. Whether you make money depends on what sells and what remains after stock, delivery, fees, returns and other costs.

Step by step

Choose a product category you understand. Pick products you can inspect or research properly. Compare completed sales, not just current asking prices, to see what buyers have actually paid. About 1-2 hours.
Calculate the full cost per item. Include the purchase price, delivery to you, packaging, postage to the buyer, marketplace fees, likely returns and any cleaning or repair. Use a realistic selling price, not the highest price you can find. About 30-60 minutes.
Set a limit for money tied up in stock. Choose an amount you could manage if the stock takes time to sell. Test the plan assuming only half the items sell; the clothing guide recommends this as a planning check Resell Vault. About 30 minutes.
Find possible suppliers. Look at trade shows, wholesale marketplaces, trade directories and brand websites, or contact brands directly Salync. Compare several options rather than feeling rushed by a promotion. About 1-3 hours.
Check the supplier before paying. Before making a significant payment, check that the supplier is registered and trading, read the full trade terms, and ask what happens with faulty, delayed or unsuitable stock Salync. Keep the answers with your records. About 1-2 hours.
Confirm what the order includes. Ask for product details, condition or grading, delivery costs, minimum order quantities and any evidence of sourcing. Save invoices and supplier messages with your stock records. About 30-60 minutes.
Choose a selling place that accepts your stock. For new bulk stock, use eBay business selling; for eligible second-hand stock, Vinted Pro may be an option. Vinted Pro is for second-hand stock only, and new bulk supplier stock cannot be listed there Resell Vault. About 30-60 minutes.
List items clearly and keep records. Photograph and describe each item honestly, and set a price that covers your full costs. Record purchases, sales, fees, postage and returns as you go. About 15-30 minutes per item.
Review results before ordering again. Note what sold, what did not, your actual costs and the money left after expenses. Adjust the product, supplier or order size before committing more money. About 30-60 minutes after a test period.

Your first 15 minutes

Pick one product category, compare sold prices and full selling costs, then contact a few suppliers to request their trade terms before placing any order.

The money

Start with a realistic price based on completed sales for comparable items. Subtract the item cost, delivery to you, packaging, buyer postage, platform fees, likely returns and any cleaning or repair; only then decide whether the remaining amount is worth the work and risk.

Example only: In one week, you sell 5 items at £20 each: £100 income. If stock costs £40, delivery to you £5, packaging and postage £20, and fees and returns allowance £15, the example leaves £20 before tax and other costs. In euros: 5 items at €20 each = €100 income; with €40 stock, €5 delivery, €20 packaging and postage, and €15 fees and returns allowance, €20 remains before tax and other costs. These are simple illustrative figures, not an earnings forecast.

The rules

Wholesale reselling is generally possible in the UK and Ireland. You must follow relevant tax, consumer and product-safety rules. Rules can differ between Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Check the rules for where and what you sell.

UK and Northern Ireland

Tax and VAT. The first £1,000 a year of trading income is covered by the trading allowance. If you earn more, tell HMRC. This is gross income before expenses. If you need to register for Self Assessment, do so by 5 October after the tax year ends GOV.UK Tax Help for Hustles GOV.UK. You must register for VAT if your taxable turnover is over £90,000 Business.gov.uk.
Marketplace reporting. Platforms report sellers to HMRC if they sell 30 or more items or make around £1,700 a year, under the guidance here. This reporting threshold is not the same as a tax-free allowance. Selling your own unwanted items is not taxed under that guidance GOV.UK.
Online consumer sales. If you sell online to consumers as a trader, cancellation rights will usually apply. For goods, the normal 14-day period starts when the consumer gets the goods in person. Before the sale, give the required information and, where cancellation rights apply, the cancellation form. Tell consumers before they buy if they must pay return costs. Consumers generally have 14 days after cancelling to return goods. Refund them within 14 days of receiving the goods or proof of return. Refund standard delivery, but not the extra cost of a more expensive delivery option. Exceptions apply UK legislation UK Government guidance.
Product safety. In Northern Ireland, the General Product Safety Regulation applies to relevant consumer products, including new, used, repaired and reconditioned products, where sector-specific legislation does not have the same objective. Products must be safe. Importers and distributors have duties to check products, provide information and deal with safety issues. A responsible economic operator established in Northern Ireland or the EU must be in place. Show its details on the product, packaging, parcel or an accompanying document UK Government. Great Britain uses the UK General Product Safety Regulations, not the EU regulation UK Government. If you're unsure about a product, check with Trading Standards.
Advertising and data. Clearly label advertising or affiliate posts, for example with “Ad” ASA. Use the ICO self-assessment tool to check whether your business needs to pay a data protection fee. The wholesale and retail guidance says you're likely to be exempt if you hold customer details only for your own accounts and transaction records ICO.
Insurance and age. Consider insurance for stock, public or product liability and other business risks. There's no stated requirement for a general insurance policy for this activity. This information is for adults. Check the marketplace’s account and seller rules before opening an account.

Ireland

Income tax and VAT. If you're a PAYE worker, you must register for self-assessment using Form 11 if your taxable non-PAYE income is over €5,000 or your gross non-PAYE income is over €30,000. Below those limits, declare it on Form 12 through myAccount Revenue. If you're self-employed, you pay income tax, PRSI and USC under self-assessment Citizens Information. You must register for VAT for goods if your turnover is above €85,000 Revenue.
Marketplace reporting. Under DAC7, sellers of goods are excluded from platform reporting only if they have fewer than 30 transactions and under €2,000 in sales. Platform reporting is not the same as a tax-free allowance Revenue.
Online consumer sales. If you sell goods online to consumers as a business, buyers generally have a 14-day cooling-off period from when they receive the goods. Before purchase, give the required information. This includes your name, physical address and contact details, product details, total price and cancellation information. Explain the cancellation right and timescales. Provide a cancellation form and explain how to use it. After telling you they are cancelling, consumers have a further 14 days to return the goods. Refund them within 14 days of being told about the cancellation, subject to receiving the returned goods. Use the same payment method unless they agree otherwise. Consumers pay applicable return costs. Exceptions apply CCPC CCPC.
Product safety. Product safety rules apply to relevant new, used, repaired and reconditioned consumer products, including products sold online to consumers in Ireland. You must supply safe, compliant products and give consumers the information they need to use them safely. Your business must have systems to identify risks and monitor complaints or incidents. If a safety issue arises, take corrective action and notify the CCPC without delay. You must also tell consumers if they have been sold an unsafe product. Products placed on the EU market must have a responsible person in the EU. Clearly show that person’s details on the product, packaging, parcel or an accompanying document CCPC CCPC. If you're unsure about a product, check with the CCPC.
Business name and ads. If you trade under a name other than your own, register the business name with the CRO. Online registration costs €20 CRO. Label commercial or influencer content with “#Ad”. If in doubt, label it CCPC.
Data, insurance and age. The rules here don't set out Ireland-specific data-protection duties. There's no stated general insurance requirement for this activity. Consider insurance for stock and business risks. This information is for adults. Check the marketplace’s account and seller rules before opening an account.

Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified tax or legal adviser. General guidance, not legal advice. Check the official link beside each point before you start.

Common mistakes

Using asking prices instead of checking what similar items actually sold for.
Forgetting delivery, packaging, fees, returns or repair costs when setting prices.
Ordering more stock than you can afford to have tied up.
Paying a supplier before checking their terms, trading details and stock information.
Listing new bulk supplier stock on Vinted, where it is not allowed, including on Vinted Pro.

AI-made demonstration: this module has a 20-second street-chat video in the interactive guide. The presenter and the people in it are computer-generated, not real people.

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