How to Start Selling on Every Major Reselling Platform

You've decided to start selling things online. Maybe you're cleaning out a closet, flipping vintage finds, or building an actual reselling business. Either way, the first step is the same: sign up on the right platforms.

The problem is that every online marketplace seller account works a little differently. Some charge fees upfront. Some need your Social Security number before you list a single item. Some let you start in five minutes.

Here's what it actually takes to open a seller account and get your first listing live on all seven major reselling platforms.

Before You Sign Up: Pick Your Username

Before you register anywhere, decide on your username. Most platforms won't let you change it easily — Poshmark only allows 2 to 3 changes in your account's lifetime, and Etsy usernames can't be changed at all. Need help picking one? Read our guide to choosing the right username for your reselling brand.

Pick a name, then check if that username is available on every platform you plan to use. It takes 30 seconds and saves you from discovering your name is taken halfway through registration on your third platform.

eBay

eBay is the largest online auction seller platform and the most common starting point for new resellers. Any eBay account can sell — there's no separate eBay seller registration process.

What you need to sign up:

• Email address and phone number (both verified)
• Full name, date of birth, and address
• SSN, EIN, or ITIN (required for tax reporting)
• Bank account or debit card for payouts

Fees:

• 250 free listings per month
• $0.35 per listing beyond that
• 12% to 15% final value fee on each sale (varies by category)
• Optional store subscriptions start at $4.95/month for more free listings

Steps to your first listing:

1. Create an account at ebay.com
2. Verify your email and phone number
3. Provide your tax information (SSN/EIN/ITIN)
4. Link a bank account for payouts
5. Click "Sell," add photos, title, description, price, and shipping details
6. Publish

What to know: New eBay seller accounts start with limits — roughly 10 items or $500 per month. eBay reviews your account after about 90 days and raises limits based on your performance. Payments may also be held temporarily while you build a track record.

Poshmark

Becoming a Poshmark seller is straightforward. Every Poshmark account is both a buyer and seller account, so there's no separate seller registration.

What you need to sign up:

• Email address (or sign up via Google/Facebook)
• A username — choose carefully, you can only change it 2 to 3 times ever
• Must be 18 or older
• SSN/TIN required once you reach $600 in sales (for tax reporting)

Fees:

• Free to list
• Sales under $15: flat $2.95 fee
• Sales $15 or more: 20% commission
• Shipping label provided (buyer pays at checkout)

Steps to your first listing:

1. Download the app or go to poshmark.com and sign up
2. Verify your email
3. Set up your profile with a photo and bio
4. Tap "Sell" and photograph your item (up to 16 photos)
5. Add title, description, brand, size, condition, and price
6. Publish — it goes live immediately

What to know: Poshmark is a social platform. Sharing your own listings and engaging with other sellers (sharing theirs) is how you get visibility. The algorithm rewards active accounts. Poshmark seller tools within the app help you manage listings, but consistent activity matters more than anything.

Depop

Depop is popular with younger sellers — the platform skews Gen Z and does well with vintage clothing, streetwear, and one-of-a-kind pieces. Every Depop account can buy and sell.

What you need to sign up:

• Email address (or Google/Apple/Facebook)
• A username — lowercase letters and numbers only, no special characters
• Full name and date of birth
• Bank account or debit card connected via Stripe (required before you can sell)
• SSN required once you pass $600 in sales

Fees:

• Free to list
• 0% seller commission in the US and UK
• Payment processing: 3.3% + $0.45 per transaction
• Optional boosted listings: extra 8% if the item sells through a boost

Steps to your first listing:

1. Download the app or go to depop.com and sign up
2. Verify your email
3. Set up Depop Payments (connect your bank via Stripe)
4. Tap "Sell," photograph your item (up to 4 photos in-app)
5. Add description, price, brand, condition, and shipping details
6. Publish

What to know: The "zero fee" headline is a bit misleading. While Depop removed its 10% seller commission for US and UK sellers, the 3.3% + $0.45 payment processing fee applies to the total transaction — including shipping and tax, not just the item price. Also, Depop usernames are the most restrictive of any platform: lowercase alphanumeric only, no underscores or hyphens. See our username rules breakdown for the full details on every platform.

Etsy

Etsy is different from the other platforms here. It's designed for handmade goods, vintage items (20+ years old), and craft supplies — not general reselling. Starting an Etsy shop also has the most involved setup process.

What you need to sign up:

• Email address
• Government-issued photo ID (verified through Persona)
• SSN, EIN, or ITIN
• Bank account for payouts
• Credit or debit card for paying Etsy's fees
• A shop name (4 to 20 characters, letters and numbers only)

Fees:

• One-time setup fee, typically $15-$29 depending on location (non-refundable)
• $0.20 per listing (renews every 4 months)
• 6.5% transaction fee per sale
• 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee per order
• Offsite Ads fee: 15% on sales from Etsy's external advertising (mandatory for sellers over $10,000/year in revenue)

Steps to your first listing:

1. Go to etsy.com/sell and click "Get Started"
2. Set your shop preferences (language, country, currency)
3. Choose your shop name
4. List at least one item — you can't complete setup without it
5. Set up payment methods (how you receive money and how you pay Etsy)
6. Complete identity verification
7. Provide tax information
8. Pay the setup fee ($15-$29, varies by location)
9. Open your shop

What to know: You must have a product ready before you begin the Etsy seller sign-up. The flow requires you to create at least one listing before your shop can open. Listing fees auto-renew every four months at $0.20 each, which adds up if you have a large inventory. If you want to become an Etsy seller, make sure your products fit the platform — Etsy enforces its handmade and vintage policies.

Grailed

Grailed is a niche platform focused on menswear, streetwear, and designer fashion. If that's what you're selling, it's one of the best places to reach serious buyers. Selling on Grailed starts with any regular account.

What you need to sign up:

• Email address (verified)
• PayPal account or bank account (via Stripe) for payouts
• Government-issued ID for identity verification (via Persona)

Fees:

• Free to list
• 9% commission on total sale price (including shipping)
• Payment processing: 3.49% + $0.49 per domestic transaction
• Total effective fee: roughly 12% to 13% per sale

Steps to your first listing:

1. Go to grailed.com and create an account
2. Verify your email
3. Connect PayPal or a bank account via Stripe
4. Complete identity verification
5. Click "Sell," upload photos, add details, set your price
6. Publish

What to know: Grailed is the least documented platform when it comes to seller policies. Their username rules aren't publicly published, and fee structures have changed several times. If you hit 200+ sales of new or like-new items totaling $5,000+ in a year, Grailed requires additional identity verification under the INFORM Act — you have 10 days to comply or your payouts get paused.

Vinted

Vinted is the only platform on this list with zero seller fees. Buyers pay all the fees, and sellers keep the full item price. It's been dominant in Europe for years and is still expanding in the US market.

What you need to sign up:

• Email address (or Google/Facebook/Apple)
• A username — lowercase letters, numbers, periods, hyphens, and underscores
• Bank account or PayPal linked to your Vinted Wallet for payouts

Fees:

• Free to list
• 0% seller commission — buyers pay a service fee of $0.70 + 5% instead
• Optional paid promotions (Item Bump: $0.75 to $3)

Steps to your first listing:

1. Go to vinted.com or download the app and sign up
2. Verify your email
3. Link your Vinted Wallet to a bank account or PayPal
4. Click "Sell Now" and photograph your item (up to 20 photos)
5. Add title, description, brand, size, condition, and price
6. Publish

What to know: Vinted is strictly consumer-to-consumer for personal items. It's primarily for clothing, shoes, and accessories — not a general marketplace. The zero-fee model is real, but the trade-off is that buyers see higher prices at checkout due to the service fee, which can affect conversions.

Mercari

Mercari is a general online marketplace where you can sell almost anything — electronics, clothing, home goods, toys, and more. Every Mercari account can buy and sell.

What you need to sign up:

• Valid US mobile phone number (no VoIP, prepaid, or international numbers)
• Email address
• Username and password
• W-9 tax information (SSN/EIN/ITIN) when prompted

Fees:

• Free to list
• 10% selling fee on each sale (item price + buyer-paid shipping)
• Free direct deposit payouts ($3 for instant pay to debit card)

Steps to your first listing:

1. Download the app or go to mercari.com and sign up
2. Verify your phone number via SMS
3. Complete your seller profile
4. Enter tax information when prompted
5. Tap "Sell," photograph your item, add details and price
6. Set shipping method and publish

What to know: Mercari requires a valid US mobile number — prepaid and VoIP numbers won't work, which trips up some new sellers. As of January 2025, Mercari simplified its fees to a flat 10% with no separate payment processing charge. You're limited to one Mercari seller account per person, so pick your username carefully.

Fee Comparison

Start With Your Username

No matter which platforms you choose, your username is the first decision that follows you everywhere. Before you go through a single registration form, find an available username that works across all your target platforms. It's free, takes seconds, and means you won't have to settle for "yourname_2026" on the third platform because your first choice was already taken.