If you are looking at a smaller monetary commitment, less volume (=less work for you) then consider

1. Try to become a dealer for the top general household luxury products. Off my head the IQAIR in air purifiers, the dyson vaccuum cleaners models 24/25 are very hot. This will be difficult as you will likely be limited to companies with products who are new as established companies like dyson/iqair won’t give you the time of day unless you have a high traffic site/ brick n mortar retail outlet + all tax/business licensing. There are smaller companies with weirder products that actively seek distributors and you will find them to be much more accomadating – more risk but it won’t hurt to buy half a dozen of something to get a feel for. Do note it can be exceptionally rare to find a company like this that isn’t utilizing ebay/amazon themselves as they can and should cut you out for higher profits themselves but if you do find one never ever talk about it

2. Manufacture a product yourself. Whether you are an awesome cook who can make preserves and not so perishable baked goods and such there is a large online organic/gourmet food market for you to make use of. Food products are vast!

There are also health/beauty items if you know how to make soaps,lotions,creams, toothpowders,etc.. there is a large market for organic/ fluoride free/phosphate free/ allergic to commonly used x/etc..

Then there is “skilled” goods. Are you a mastered of the needle and machine? Make shirts,gloves,etc.. out of materials that are niche and in demand. off my head qiviut (8x warmth retention much softer wool/arctic grade material) and holofiber (health oxygen level/bloodflow) are very pricey fabrics who have a demand and very little market saturation.

Then there are renewable resources. From frozen crickets, to acorns and seedlings if you can harvest it odds are you can profit from it given the right volume/price.

Lastly there is the stock market approach. Find something listed elsewhere with the simplest variables (flat/free shipping,no tax anywhere USA) for example on Amazon there are some products listed much lower than you find them on Ebay. Simply list them (w/o buying/putting buyers name on amazon label-but he will find out then he gets lower price elsewhere so your choice) on ebay at a price you will profit from after the math of fee’s and hope to catch the Ebay shoppers who totally overlook the rest of the net. Your only investment is time and the risks are having an unhappy customer if they run out of stock or something before you place it (they usually tell you x remaining). Throw in bigcrumbs + a cash back credit card for more boosting.

Thats my thoughts. Alternatively get a job that pays $100 an hour and be an online consumer only.

Thomas: I guess it depends on what people want from this. But yeah, I can’t imagine how pleasurable that will be. I’m always all for starting things off what things you care about. But I guess some people need to do things when they have to. And I think that’s all right too.

Jonathan: Perfect add to this list! Would like to highlight what you said at some stage. Thanks!

6) Look for a void.

Search for items that are not available online or are not readily available online. The scarcity of the item can work toward your competitive advantage and you can make a successful business. Just make certain to do your homework – what is the market for your product, who are you going to sell it to, how are you going to reach them, and why will they buy from you.

Regards,
Jonathan Frye
Blog: Entrepreneurship