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Book reselling
Book reselling means finding books you no longer need or can source, then selling them directly, trading them in, or offering valuable titles to a specialist dealer. You can start by checking what your books are worth before spending money on stock.
Open the interactive guide (checklist, video, read-aloud) →In plain words
- Choose books you no longer need or can buy.
- Check the exact book and its condition.
- Compare prices, then choose where to sell.
- Pack sold books and post them safely.
- Keep records of your sales and costs.
Who it suits
Suits people who enjoy sorting and researching books, and who have somewhere to store them and pack orders. Beginners can start with books they already own; younger sellers should involve a parent or guardian and check a platform’s own terms before using it.
Readers look for books they need, including textbooks and out-of-print titles. A clear description, accurate condition and fair price help buyers decide whether your copy suits them.
Step by step
- Gather books you own and sort them. Choose books you are happy to sell. Make separate piles for current textbooks, popular titles, unusual editions and books in poor condition; this helps you decide how to assess each group. About 30-60 minutes.
- Check each ISBN and edition. Find the ISBN, usually above the barcode, and write it beside the title. Check that the edition, publisher and other identifying details match before comparing offers. UniBookTrade About 2-5 minutes per book.
- Compare completed sale prices. Search for the same title and edition, then look at completed sales rather than only current asking prices. UniBookTrade recommends using eBay’s Sold filter when researching textbook prices. UniBookTrade About 5-15 minutes per book.
- Choose how to sell each book. A buyback service gives you a quote; a direct-sale marketplace lets you set a price; a specialist dealer may be suitable for important or unusual books. You can choose different routes for different books. About 10-30 minutes for a batch.
- Check and review buyback offers. Scan the barcode using the service, then read the offer and its postage instructions before accepting. Offers vary by title and stock levels, and some books may not be accepted. Darling Magazine About 10-20 minutes for a small batch.
- Create a clear direct-sale listing. Describe the edition and condition honestly, photograph the cover and any marks, and set a price using comparable completed sales. Include enough detail for a buyer to understand exactly what they will receive. About 15-30 minutes per listing.
- Describe textbook condition in detail. Check the exact edition and mention highlighting, notes, wear, and any missing or damaged pages. Used copies on UniBookTrade are described as typically selling below RRP, but that is not a guaranteed sale price. UniBookTrade About 10-20 minutes per book.
- Prepare details for an Irish rare-book dealer. If contacting a rare-book dealer in Ireland, note the author, title, publisher, publication date and condition. Include dust-jacket details and say whether the book is signed or inscribed. Ulysses Rare Books About 15-30 minutes per title or collection.
- Pack orders and record the money. Pack sold books securely and follow the chosen service’s postage instructions. Record what you paid, what you received and any selling or postage costs so you can see what you kept. About 10-20 minutes per parcel, plus posting time.
Your first 15 minutes
Sort a small batch of books you already own, note each ISBN and condition, then compare buyback quotes with completed sale prices before choosing where to list or sell them.
The money
Compare completed sales for the exact edition and condition, not just asking prices. For direct listings, allow for postage, packaging and platform charges when deciding what price makes sense; buyback quotes may be lower in exchange for a simpler sale.
Example only: UK: 5 books sold for £5 each = £25 income; £7 postage, packaging and fees = £18 left before tax. Ireland: 3 books sold for €8 each = €24 income; €6 costs = €18 left before tax. These figures are made-up examples, not typical prices or guaranteed earnings.
The rules
You can generally sell books you own in the UK and Ireland. If you sell to consumers as a business, tax, online-selling and consumer rules may apply. Check your situation with HMRC or Revenue, and follow your platform’s terms.
UK and Northern Ireland
- Trading income and Self Assessment. The first £1,000 a year of trading income is tax free. This is your gross income before expenses. You must tell HMRC if you earn more than this allowance. If you need to register for Self Assessment, do so by 5 October after the end of the tax year. GOV.UK Tax Help for Hustles GOV.UK
- Platform reporting. Online platforms report sellers to HMRC if they meet either of these criteria: 30 or more items, or about £1,700 a year. This reporting rule does not by itself mean that you owe tax when you sell your own unwanted items. GOV.UK
- Selling online to consumers. If you sell to consumers online as a trader, give them the required information before they buy. Where cancellation rights apply, make the cancellation form available before the contract. For goods, the usual cancellation period ends 14 days after the day the consumer receives them. Exceptions may apply. Before the contract, tell consumers if they must pay return costs. Make costs clear, and make sure consumers actively choose any extra payments. Unless you agree otherwise, deliver without undue delay and within 30 days. Consumers should send returns within 14 days of cancelling. Refund them within 14 days of receiving the goods or proof of return. Include standard outbound delivery, but not the extra cost of a more expensive delivery option. Check which rules and exemptions apply to your sale. UK legislation UK government guidance
- VAT. You may need to register for VAT if your taxable turnover goes over £90,000. Check the current rules with HMRC or a qualified adviser. Business.gov.uk
- Personal data. If you keep customer details, use the ICO self-assessment tool to check whether your business needs to pay a data protection fee. There is no general rule here for every sole trader. ICO
- Age and platform terms. There is no single age rule for every way of selling. Check your platform’s terms. If you’re younger, involve a parent or guardian.
- Insurance. There is no specific insurance requirement stated here. Consider whether insurance would be useful for you, especially if you store stock or regularly send orders. Check with an insurer.
Ireland
- Income tax reporting. If you work under PAYE, register for self-assessment using Form 11 if your taxable non-PAYE income is over €5,000 or your gross non-PAYE income is over €30,000. Below these limits, declare it on Form 12 through myAccount. Check your situation with Revenue. Revenue
- Platform reporting. Under DAC7, platforms report sellers of goods unless the seller has fewer than 30 transactions and less than €2,000. This is a platform reporting rule. It does not by itself decide whether you owe tax. Revenue
- Selling online to consumers. The 14-day cancellation right applies when a business sells goods online to a consumer. It does not apply to purchases from private individuals. The 14-day period starts when the consumer receives the item. Before the purchase, give the consumer your name, physical address and contact details, product details, total price and extra charges, and cancellation information. Explain the cancellation right and timescales. Provide a cancellation form and explain how to use it. Give the consumer a copy of the contract or order confirmation in a lasting format, such as email. The consumer must tell you within 14 days, then has another 14 days to return the goods. Refund the consumer within 14 days of being told about the cancellation, subject to receiving returned items. Use the same payment method unless the consumer agrees otherwise. Consumers pay applicable return costs. If you do not tell consumers about the cancellation right, it is extended to 12 months from when it would first have expired. CCPC CCPC
- Trading under a business name. If you trade under a name other than your own, register it with the CRO. The CRO’s online registration fee is €20. CRO
- VAT on goods. The VAT registration threshold for goods is €85,000. Check with Revenue or a qualified adviser about how the threshold applies to your sales. Revenue
- Age and platform terms. There is no single age rule for every way of selling. Check your platform’s terms. If you’re younger, involve a parent or guardian.
- Insurance. There is no specific insurance requirement stated here. Consider whether insurance would be useful for you, especially if you store stock or regularly send orders. Check with an insurer.
Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified tax or legal adviser. General guidance, not legal advice. Check the official link beside each point before you start.
Common mistakes
- Assuming an asking price means a book has sold for that amount.
- Listing the wrong edition or leaving out damage, notes or highlighting.
- Accepting a buyback offer without checking what you will keep after costs.
- Buying stock before learning what buyers want.
- Forgetting to record sales, postage and other costs.
AI-made demonstration: this module has a 20-second street-chat video in the interactive guide. The presenter and the people in it are computer-generated, not real people.