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Facebook Marketplace selling
Facebook Marketplace can help you sell unwanted belongings or find local buyers for items you are reselling. Local handovers are the simplest place to start, but check the platform rules, arrange payment carefully and keep records if you are trading.
Open the interactive guide (checklist, video, read-aloud) →In plain words
- You can sell things you no longer need.
- Take clear photos and say what is wrong.
- Agree the price, payment, and collection before meeting.
- Meet safely and keep a note of each sale.
- Reselling for profit may affect your tax.
Who it suits
Suits people who can photograph, describe and hand over items safely. Adults are the simplest fit; a UK or Irish Marketplace minimum age is not stated <a href="https://www.godaddy.com/resources/uk/smallbusiness/how-to-sell-on-facebook-marketplace" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GoDaddy</a> <a href="https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/facebook-selling/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MoneySavingExpert</a>.
People may pay for useful items they cannot easily find nearby. Clear photos, an honest description and an agreed collection plan help buyers decide whether an item suits them.
Step by step
- Check that your item is allowed. Read Facebook’s current Commerce Policies before listing. Marketplace is for physical products, not services or access to content; guides list examples of prohibited items such as animals, alcohol and adult products GoDaddy Simply Business. About 10-20 minutes.
- Choose one item you own and want to sell. Start with an item you are comfortable letting go of. Check that it is yours to sell, clean and working as described; note any faults or missing parts. About 10-20 minutes.
- Take clear photos of the item. Use good light and a plain background. Photograph the whole item, any damage or wear, and parts included with it. About 10-30 minutes.
- Create and publish a Marketplace listing. Choose to create a listing, then add the item name, category, description, price, photos and location before publishing Simply Business. Check the location and price before you post. About 15-30 minutes.
- Describe the item and set clear expectations. Say what the item is, its condition and what is included. Explain whether it is for collection or delivery, and keep the asking price and any agreed changes clear in Messenger. About 10-20 minutes.
- Choose local collection if it suits you. Local listings and locally arranged sales are described as free, but check for charges shown in your account before agreeing to a sale MoneySavingExpert Sellinn. Choose a handover plan that works for the item and for your access needs. About 10 minutes.
- Agree payment and collection before meeting. Confirm the collection place, time and payment method in Messenger. An Ireland-focused guide recommends cash on collection and advises against shipping to a buyer who refuses to meet Sellinn. Keep the arrangement in writing and do not rely on a payment screenshot alone. About 5-15 minutes.
- Check the terms before shipping anything. Before accepting payment, check which checkout and delivery options are available to you. Fee information differs and does not establish one shipping-checkout rate for UK and Irish sellers GoDaddy Shopify. About 15-30 minutes.
- Record the sale and any costs. Note what you sold, the amount received and related costs. This is especially useful if you buy items to resell; check the tax notes for your country. About 5-10 minutes per sale.
Your first 15 minutes
Choose one unwanted item, photograph it clearly, publish a local listing and agree a safe collection and payment plan with any buyer.
The money
Look at similar local listings, then consider your item’s condition, included parts and how quickly you want to sell. Allow for any costs such as packing or delivery, and state clearly whether the price is firm or open to offers.
Example only: in one week, a £20 sale minus £2 of costs leaves £18 before tax. In one week, a €25 sale minus €3 of costs leaves €22 before tax.
The rules
Selling your own unwanted belongings is generally different from trading. Buying items to resell may count as trading. Follow Facebook’s current rules. Extra tax or consumer rules may apply if you trade or sell to consumers online.
UK and Northern Ireland
- Tax and records. The first £1,000 a year of trading income is covered by the trading allowance. This is gross income before expenses. Tell HMRC if your trading income is above the allowance. Check whether you need to complete a Self Assessment tax return. The registration deadline is 5 October after the tax year concerned GOV.UK Tax Help for Hustles GOV.UK. You do not pay tax on selling your own unwanted belongings. Buying goods to resell may count as trading GOV.UK. Since 1 January 2024, platforms report sellers with 30 or more items or about £1,700 a year to HMRC. This reporting does not by itself mean you owe tax GOV.UK. You must register for VAT if your taxable turnover is over £90,000 Business.gov.uk.
- Platform rules. Check Facebook’s current Commerce Policies. Do not list products or services that are prohibited. Marketplace is described as being for physical products GoDaddy Simply Business.
- Online consumer sales. If you trade with consumers through an organised distance-selling arrangement, UK consumer cancellation and information rules may apply. For goods, the normal cancellation period ends 14 days after the consumer receives them. Exceptions apply. Before the contract, give the required information. If cancellation rights apply, give the consumer a cancellation form. Tell consumers before the contract if they must pay return costs. Refunds are generally due within 14 days of receiving the goods or proof of return. This includes standard outbound delivery. Unless you agree otherwise, deliver without undue delay and within 30 days. Check the rules that apply before you sell as a business legislation.gov.uk Department for Business guidance.
- Advertising. If you publish an advert or affiliate post to promote goods or services, label it clearly. For example, use “Ad” ASA.
- Marketplace access. A new Facebook account may not be able to use Marketplace straight away. There’s no stated waiting period GoDaddy.
Ireland
- Tax and returns. If you are a PAYE worker, 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 amounts, declare it on Form 12 through myAccount Revenue. If you are self-employed, pay income tax, PRSI (Class S) and USC through self-assessment. Preliminary tax is due by 31 October Citizens Information. You must register for VAT if your turnover from goods is over €85,000 Revenue.
- Platform reporting. Under DAC7, platforms report sellers of goods unless they have fewer than 30 transactions and under €2,000 Revenue.
- Private or business sale. The 14-day online cancellation right applies when a consumer buys goods or services from a business. It does not apply when they buy from a private individual. If you sell as a business, check which information, cancellation and refund duties apply CCPC CCPC.
- Online consumer-sale duties. If you sell goods or services online as a business, give consumers this information before purchase: your name, physical address, phone number and email address; details of the product or service; the total price and extra charges, or how the total is calculated; cancellation information; and relevant contract-length and deposit details. Make clear when payment is due. Do not add extra products or services through pre-ticked boxes. Send an order confirmation in a durable format, such as paper or email. For goods, the 14-day cancellation period starts when the consumer receives the item. For services, it starts when the consumer agrees to the contract. The consumer must notify you within the period. They then have another 14 days to return the goods. Refund the consumer within 14 days of being informed of the cancellation, subject to receiving returned items. Use the same payment method unless the consumer agrees otherwise. If you do not explain the cancellation right, it is extended to 12 months from when it was first due to expire. Exceptions apply, including personalised or made-to-order goods and certain specified-date bookings. Consumers pay applicable return costs CCPC CCPC.
- Business name and rules. If you trade under a name other than your own, register the business name with the CRO CRO. Check Facebook’s current Commerce Policies before listing. Do not offer products or services that are prohibited GoDaddy Simply Business.
- Advertising. Where applicable, label commercial influencer content with “#Ad”. If in doubt, label it CCPC.
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
- Listing an item before checking Facebook’s current Commerce Policies.
- Leaving out damage, missing parts or important condition details.
- Agreeing to payment or collection plans that are unclear.
- Shipping before checking the available payment and delivery terms.
- Not recording sales and costs, especially when buying items to resell.
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.