In recent years, internet auction sites have revolutionised the way that we think about buying and selling on the internet. Instead of throwing out what we don't use anymore, we have the option of selling it on, and instead of paying full retail price we have the option of searching for a great bargain online.

The auction giant eBay makes it very easy for anyone, even someone with no technical knowhow, to start to sell. That's great news for you if you want to sell items online, because it won't take a long time or a lot of effort to set yourself up to start drawing in the profits.

One of the main points that will determine your success on eBay is where you will source your stock from. No matter what product or products you are planning to sell, the age old adage of 'buy low, sell high' stands. You need to discover a cheap place to purchase items so that you can sell them on for a maximum profit. There are a huge range of options open to you when it comes to finding a source for the items that you want to see, there's a few detailed below to help you get the cogs turning in deciding what would work best for you.

Sell your own stuff

If you want to sell items online a great place to start is by selling some of your own possessions. We're not talking about ransacking rooms and creating auctions of your most prized things, but just about having a search through the attic and garage for anything that you're not using anymore. Someone else might have been searching for that exact product, so why not give it a go and see if you can make any cash from it?

Buy stuff cheaply from charity shops or car boot sales

Charity shops can be a gold mine when it comes to finding items to sell online for an affordable price. The next time you're on the high street pop in and see what you can see. Likewise heading down to your local car boot sale or flea market could provide some excellent opportunities.

Find a dropshipper

eBay dropshippers will hold products for you, removing any worry about storage space. If you want to sell items online as a serious business it is well worth looking into this option. You will be paid by your customers and forward a percentage of this payment to the dropshipper, who will then actually send the item straight to the consumer. That means you never have to deal with postage, or even with products, but only with the financial side of things.

Find a wholesaler

If you would prefer to keep a close eye on your wares then you might prefer the idea of a wholesaler. Wholesalers will sell you items on the cheap, provided you buy in bulk. This is fine if you're selling small items, but for larger products may require additional storage space.

If you really want to sell items online then you won't struggle to find the best option for you when it comes to sourcing products to sell. Do some research and before long your listings will start to generate an income stream for you.