How to Write a Business Plan for Your Reselling Business

Why Most Resellers Skip This — and Shouldn't

Business plans sound formal and corporate, which doesn't match the scrappy, entrepreneurial feel of reselling. But a plan doesn't have to be a 50-page document. Even a one-page plan that articulates your niche, target customer, financial goals, and strategy creates clarity that drives better decisions. Resellers who plan outperform those who wing it.

Simple One-Page Business Plan

Cover these elements in one page:

• Niche: What do you sell? What categories are you focused on?
• Target customer: Who buys your items? What platforms do they use?
• Platforms: Which platforms will you sell on and why?
• Sourcing strategy: Where do you find stock? How often?
• Pricing model: What's your target margin? What's your minimum acceptable margin?
• Financial projections: Projected monthly revenue, COGS, expenses, and profit

Projecting Revenue and Expenses

Start with your average sale price, multiply by your target number of sales per month, then subtract estimated COGS (typically 15-40% of revenue for resellers), platform fees (12-15%), postage and packaging, and overhead. The resulting number is your projected monthly profit. Be conservative in revenue estimates and generous in expense estimates.

See our sole trader guide and P&L guide for the financial fundamentals.