How to Make Money on Ebay and the Internet in 2009?

In today's tough economic situation and with people looking for jobs that can help them get by, the Internet has become the channel that many have turned to for beating the current recession and job losses. And of course, Ebay is one of the first places people turn to for making that extra buck!

But can Ebay really provide a consistent cash flow and profit to any sole entrepreneur who is just starting out?

Yes, Ebay can.

The first question that probably rings in your head is: "Where do I find PROFITABLE products to sell without having to spend a lot of money on inventory and startup costs"?

If you would search for this answer online, you would get a bunch of people promoting dropshippers that would ship to your customer with no need for you to buy in bulk or carry inventory. DO NOT MAKE THIS MISTAKE! Many dropshippers that advertise online are nothing but middlemen and not real wholesalers or distributors. The profit margin (if any) will be very slim. They usually make money by charging a subscription fee.

So what other solution is there to source products?

Well, do what I did. Contact distributors and manufacturers directly. In these economic times, the wholesale business is down, since many retailers will not buy large stock. Don't be surprised...many manufacturers and distributors would love to start a dropship relationship. Sales for them have gone down. Whatever they can do to get more sales is an attractive option for them.

Start by getting some feedback on Ebay by selling cheaper items and/or buying on Ebay. Then start selling. There are many great tools out there to help you make listing, including Auctiva and ChannelAdvisor. Make sure to keep your customers happy and ship on time.

As for the rest of the internet, you can make an ecommerce website and sell your goods through there as well. You can find people to create you affordable websites, and you will also need a marketing expert that can also be hired.

Bottom line:
Do not be ashamed to contact nig companies. You wil be surprised when many would say yes.