Hello,

Firstly, best wishes on your recovery.

My wife and I have traded with a small business on Ebay with a bit of success. I will give you an outline of how we did it.

1 - Find a product or products

Small so you can post it. Consumerable so the buyers need more. Not too expensive so you can absorb the cost of replacing those that are damaged or lost in the mail.

2 - Find a supplier or suppliers

In the same country as you if possible to avoid customs problems. Will let you pay by credit card.  Has no minimum order value. Will deliver quickly and accurately. Will give you product for free to see if it sells, then you pay for it.

3 - Sell on Ebay and accept payment by Paypal only.

Have products in your hand before you list on Ebay. Use this at first, fees are about 10% but market is huge.

4 - Maintain Good Customer and Financial Records

Your buyers will buy again so keep their details (name address email products etc) You will need these when you want to make repeat sales. Also, you must pay your fair share of tax.

5 - Grow Your Business

Keep costs down and sales up, get new customers, add more suppliers and products.

6 - Expand off Ebay

Keep Ebay going. Get a merchant bank account so you can accept credit cards. Find a FREE shopping cart. (This is most important). Register your .com.au name and get hosting. Prepare a simple but well structured web-site with good links around your web-site. Do not put advertiements on your web-site. One click and your customer has gone.

7. Consolidate

Give Exceptional Customer Service

Have products in stock to sell on Ebay. Do not drop-ship.

Sell from your web-site, get paid by credit card, buy your products using your own credit card, receive order from supplier and prepare orders to your customers, post out. Your customers money waits in the bank until you have to pay your credit card bill. If product cannot be obtained and if customer cannot wait give refund.

Offer a discount for large orders eg 5% if over $500. This will get your customers ordering for their friends as well as themselves.

8. Enjoy your business

Now, you just have to decide on a product - small, consumable, can be sent through the post, unique. Here are a few suggestions:

hobbies, fishing lures, condoms, paper products, seeds to grow

Best wishes

Robert