Book reselling is low margin but low risk. Here's an honest assessment of whether it's worth your time.
Most books are not worth reselling — the margin is too thin after platform fees and postage. A $1 op shop book that sells for $8 on eBay generates roughly $2-3 profit after fees and postage. However, specialist categories can be highly profitable: academic textbooks ($50-200+), rare first editions, out-of-print reference books, and vintage children's books can all yield strong margins.
Learn to quickly identify valuable books while browsing op shop shelves. Look for: academic and professional textbooks (especially medical, legal, engineering), first editions with dust jackets, signed copies, books by collectible Australian authors, and vintage cookbooks or craft books. Scanning apps can help — scan the barcode to check online prices instantly.
eBay is the primary platform for book reselling in Australia. Amazon Marketplace and AbeBooks are alternatives for specialist titles. Postage is the biggest challenge — books are heavy. Australia Post's letter rates (for books under 500g) help, but heavier books require parcel rates that can eat most of your margin.
As a standalone niche, book reselling is difficult to make profitable at scale. As part of a broader mixed reselling business — picking up valuable books alongside clothing and homewares at op shops — it works well. See our profitable items guide and eBay fees breakdown.
Franked is built specifically for Australian resellers. Join the waitlist to be first when we launch.