Reselling can feel overwhelming at first. This guide breaks the process into clear steps you can actually follow.

Starting a reselling business doesn’t necessarily require a large capital investment. With creativity and

effort, you can source free or very cheap inventory and resell for profit. This approach is often called

flipping, and it’s a time-honored strategy for boosting margins. For example, one reseller shared that by

simply scooping up free items left on curbs or at dumpsters, they routinely turned trash into cash. In one

case, a free pair of bar stools was flipped for about $150 . Such easy profits add up and provide seed

money to reinvest.

Here are practical strategies for finding free or cheap items:

1. Curb Alerts and Dumpster Diving

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Walk or Drive Around: Keep an eye out for items left on the curb with “FREE” signs. People often put

out furniture, electronics, or home goods when moving. Jogging or driving through neighborhoods,

especially on trash days, can yield valuable finds . For instance, beautiful wooden chairs or

discarded home décor items can be cleaned up and resold. -

Apartment Complexes and College Move-Outs: At the end of the month or school year, many

apartment dwellers and college students leave furniture behind. Check dumpsters around

apartment buildings, college campuses, or dorm move-out areas . It’s common to find decent

tables, chairs, and bed frames needing minor repairs. For resellers, such move-out season can be a

gold mine for furniture flips.

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Safety First: If you’re dumpster diving, stay safe. Wear gloves, watch for sharp objects, and ensure

it’s allowed in the area. Always respect property boundaries and local laws.

2. Free Sections on Marketplace Apps

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Facebook Marketplace: Search for “free” on Facebook Marketplace. Many sellers in urban areas use

it for giveaways. You can find gently used furniture, appliances, or decorative items people just want

to offload quickly . Often, items are up for grabs within minutes of listing, so check frequently or

set alerts.

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Craigslist and OfferUp: Similarly, filter Craigslist by “free” or “curb alert” sections. OfferUp has free

category options too. Some people list items they couldn’t sell at yard sales as free just to avoid

disposal fees .

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Tips: Be ready to haul items. Reply to listings promptly and be polite – often, offering to pick up

quickly will secure the free item for you. A helpful attitude can also lead to more opportunities; for

example, offering to help someone clear out leftover garage sale items at day’s end can give you first

pick of the rest.

3. Yard Sales and Thrift Stores

While not free, yard sales and thrift shops are treasure troves for cheap flips:

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Yard Sales/Garage Sales: Regularly check local yard sale listings or drive through neighborhoods on

weekends. Look for sales advertising categories you’re interested in. Bring a friend or use scanning

apps (like eBay Seller App) to quickly check item values. Often you can negotiate: if a shirt is priced

$10 but your app shows it sells for $30 online, a $5 offer might be accepted.

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Estate Sales and Flea Markets: Estate sales, especially at a deceased estate, can have high-quality

items like antiques, furniture, or brand-name goods. Flea markets often allow haggling. Vendors

may sell off low-demand inventory at a fraction of retail value to clear space.

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Thrift Stores: Chains like Goodwill, Salvation Army, and local second-hand stores often have

clearance sections or unsorted bins. Many resellers scout these stores for brand-name clothes,

vintage items, books, and unique home goods. For example, at a thrift store, a novel sold for $1

might fetch $8 on Amazon if it’s a sought-after title . Walk through every aisle, check tags for

discounts, and be especially vigilant in backrooms (some stores rotate clearance in hidden sections). 4. Liquidation and Clearance Deals

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Retail Clearance: Major retailers regularly mark down excess or seasonal stock. Visit stores in

person to hunt clearance racks after holidays. Even electronic stores discount gadgets seasonally. Some shoppers use apps like BrickSeek to find clearance deals or stock levels (though use carefully

and ethically).

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Outlet and Overstock Websites: Online outlets like Overstock or End-of-season sales on websites

can yield bulk savings. You can also check manufacturer’s clearance or factory outlets for deeply

discounted items. Purchase these at clearance and resell at higher margins elsewhere.

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Wholesale Liquidation Pallets: For larger scale, liquidation companies sell pallets of excess

merchandise from retailers. Websites like DirectLiquidation offer wholesale lots via auction. For

beginners, small lots (few items) are more manageable. While this requires some upfront money, the

per-item cost is low. Always research the seller’s reputation and descriptions.

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Dropshipping Clearance: Even dropshippers can take advantage of clearance events by ordering

bulk inventory on sale (e.g., AliExpress flash deals), then reselling at near-full price. Just be mindful of

quality.

5. Networking and Wanted Ads

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Word of Mouth: Tell everyone you’re in the reselling business – friends, family, coworkers. People

often come across useful stuff when cleaning out homes. One couple noted they started telling

acquaintances about their shop, and soon people were dropping off free furniture and household

items for them . -

Craigslist/Market Wanted Ads: Post ads that say you’ll haul away furniture or electronics, and

mention that you are willing to pay or even just haul for free. People clearing garages or moving may

respond with items they want gone. Offering to help with leftovers at yard sales is another tactic

mentioned ; sellers are often glad to have someone take unsold items.

6. Reusing Your Own Clutter

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Inventory from Home: Don’t forget to check your own space. Many resellers start by listing

personal items they no longer need. Go through your attic, garage, or closets. What may be junk to

you could be treasure to someone else. The free flipping guide even suggests this: look under beds

or in storage for items to sell . It’s a zero-cost starting point.

7. Online Arbitrage

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Cross-Marketplace Deals: Sometimes you can buy low and sell high between online platforms. For

example, if an item is deeply discounted on Walmart.com, Amazon, or eBay, you can buy it there and

list on another marketplace for more. Tools like price tracking websites or browser extensions can

alert you to mismatches. This requires careful calculation (consider shipping, fees) but is a form of

sourcing cheap inventory.

8. Caution and Best Practices

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Quality Check: Even free items must be sellable. Always inspect for damage or defects. Items with

minor issues (like a missing knob or stain) could be repaired or cleaned up to add value, but make sure you can fix them easily.

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Local Laws and Safety: When picking up free stuff, obey local regulations. Don’t trespass on private

property. If taking things from the curb, ensure they are genuinely free (not someone’s trash that’s

not meant for reuse). Sanitize items like mattresses or cushions before reselling.

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Transparency: When selling, be honest about where the item came from. Buyers often appreciate

knowing an item was thrifted or freeflip, as long as they’re priced fairly.

By combining these tactics – vigilant local scavenging, smart online searching, and good negotiation – you

can source inventory with minimal cost. Many successful resellers fund their businesses this way,

reinvesting every penny earned. As the free-flipping experts advise, “find free things and flip them” to

slowly build up a profitable inventory . In time, this frugal sourcing can give you a big boost in profit

margins and fund your business growth.

If you want to keep leveling up, browse more guides on ResellerStartKit and use the calculators in our Tools section to sanity-check every deal.