Selling used books is a great small business or a profitable home-based side business. The types of used books you sell determines the success of your used books business. It may seem like you should delve into a little bit of everything when selling used books, but specializing in a certain type of used book is just as profitable.

The location of your used books business is important, if you're going to have a storefront along with online sales. A used college books business is great, if you're located in a college town, while a used and out of print books business is good for a more affluent area. When starting up a used books business consider the following:

1. An online only used books business has less start-up costs and lets you reach a wider audience.

2. The percentage of homeschooling families increases each year. A used homeschooling books business is a great niche, if you want returning customers and customer loyalty.

3. Used law books and medical books are in great demand for cash strapped students. Offering textbooks on top of regular books increases profits.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Open an account with an online bookseller to sell used books

If you've gone through the steps of gathering inventory and setting up your business, but you haven't had the time to get a website up and running, open an account with an online bookseller that specializes in bulk used books and helping businesses sell used books.

I recommend: For a small fee, you can get your used books noticed by over a million customers at AbeBooks. Sign up for a merchant's account through Amazon.com, pay a monthly fee and list your used books on one of the most popular online booksellers.

Look for online sites that sell used homeschool books

While major used book selling companies are all over the Internet, homeschoolers use online auction and listing sites when shopping for used homeschool books. Using these services lets you sell to your target audience by not including your homeschool inventory with your regular inventory.

I recommend: List by subject on the selling boards at Used Homeschool Curriculum. List for free at HomeschoolBid.com and take advantage of the online auction format.

Specialize in rare used books and offer a book search service

Rare books are books that are either out of print or have very few copies in circulation. These usually sell for higher than average prices. Customers looking to buy used books online may also need a book search performed. By offering both book search services and used book sales, you increase your customer base and profits.

I recommend: Apply to sell books through Biblio and gain access to a large number of buyers looking for rare books. Get help with your own rare used books website by signing up with Bibliopolis.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When gathering your initial inventory, shop around at estate auctions and yard sales. Many times people get rid of used books for cheap because they don't know the value of the book. Pay special attention when attending an estate auction of someone wealthy, because they most likely have a valuable book collection.

Used books tend to pile up in your home or office. Often you decide you probably won't read the books again but don't want to take the time to set up a yard sale or place an ad in the classifieds to sell them. Consider selling used books online to make a little money and give someone else a chance to benefit from your sale.

If you go through books quickly, buy used books online to save money. Purchase used textbooks, homeschool materials, rare and out of print books and business suggestions through your local bookstore or online.

Chose to buy, sell or donate like-new, out-of-print and rare used books to:

1. Allow another reader to enjoy the used paperback books as you did.

2. Find a less expensive way to get the textbooks or homeschool education materials you need.

3. Cut down on the number of books you have lying around your home or office by exchanging your books with other used books for sale.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy used books through local or online bookstores

Order used books from your favorite bookseller or browse online stores to find titles and prices. Used books, unless rare or out-of-print, are usually a lot cheaper than new books so shop around for bargains.

I recommend: Visit Borders and Barnes & Noble online to order used and out-of-print books. The stores will ship the books to you. Use CheapestBookPrice.com, BookFinder.com and AddALL.com to compare prices from show multiple retailers with one search.

Purchase and sell used college books and text books online

College is expensive, but many students find buying and selling used textbooks saves them a lot of money. Visit your local campus bookstore to compare prices to that which you can get online and start trading used books for cash.

I recommend: Browse Half.com, textbooks.com, campusbooks.com, ecampus.com and textbookx.com to find the books you need for your classes or sell the books you no longer need.

Find used homeschool books and education materials

Save money on homeschool curriculum by purchasing your books online and re-selling ones you've finished. Many homeschool communities allow book exchanges and sales to teach your children while on a budget.

I recommend: Look at homeschool websites and forums to speak with other parents and teachers. Sites like Used Homeschool Curriculum, HomeschoolClassifieds.com and The Back Pack allow you to search by grade and subject to find used books and homeschool materials.

Trade rare used and out-of-print books

Once a book goes out of print you may not be able to find it at your local bookstore. You may still be able to order it from the retailer or find it online at a decent price and in good condition.

I recommend: Buy used books from companies like alibris, Powell's Books and Biblio.com. These carriers allow you to search from a large list of used and out-of-print books in all categories.

Sell used books to online retailers for some quick cash

Clear your bookshelves and receive extra money at the same time by selling your used books online. You may not get much for your books, as retailers need to buy low to make a profit, but you stand to make some serious money by selling in bulk.

I recommend: Set up accounts with retailers to sell used books online. Both AbeBooks.com and Cash4Books.net offer free online shipping so selling doesn't cost you a thing. Amazon uses its expansive website to market your used books for you, paying you once the item sells.

Donate bulk used books to libraries and online charity centers

Give away your used books to receive a tax credit while giving others a way to read the books they love. Check with your local library, school system or community center to see if they can use your books.

I recommend: Send your used books to charitable organizations. Got Books, Books Beyond Borders, BooksFirst and the Friends of Libraries U.S.A. accept used book donations for libraries, childrens organizations and families across the country.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Find signed, first edition rare used books to add to your permanent collection. Collect your favorite books using the money you earned from selling your old copies.