eBay sellers who bill clients are usually running a consignment or drop-off selling service, clearing out estates and storage units, or selling bulk lots and wholesale inventory to other businesses. They invoice for listing work, commissions on sold items, pickup and shipping costs, and sometimes for inventory sold outright to resellers.
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Most eBay selling services price in one of three ways. Consignment is a commission, usually a percentage of the final sale price, with a higher percentage for low-value items and a lower one for items over a few hundred dollars. Some sellers add a flat per-item listing or photography fee, charged whether or not the item sells. Estate and cleanout work is often hourly or a flat project fee plus a lower commission. Sellers who sell lots to other resellers invoice by the lot or by the pound, with shipping and any freight charged separately. Make clear whether eBay final value fees, payment processing fees, and shipping labels are deducted from the sale price before your commission is calculated or billed on top. Add a line for passed-through costs such as supplies, storage, and postage at cost or with a small handling markup.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Consignment commission (items under $100) | percent of sale price | 35-50% |
| Consignment commission (items $100 and over) | percent of sale price | 20-35% |
| Item intake, photography, and listing | per item | $5-15 |
| High-value or complex listing (research, authentication, multiple photos) | per item | $20-50 |
| Estate or storage unit sorting and inventory | per hour | $25-50 |
| Pickup and transport of items | per trip | $40-100 |
| Storage of client items | per month per shelf or bin | $10-30 |
| Relisting unsold items | per item | $2-5 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intake, photography, and eBay listing creation (vintage cameras and accessories) | 40 items | $8.00 | $320.00 |
| Pickup of items from client home (22 miles each way) | 1 trip | $60.00 | $60.00 |
| Storage of client inventory, 2 shelves, 30 days | 2 shelves | $15.00 | $30.00 |
| Relist 6 unsold items for second 30-day period | 6 items | $3.00 | $18.00 |
| Consignment commission at 30% on $1,450 in sales (12 items sold, before eBay fees) | 1 flat | $435.00 | $435.00 |
| Total | $863.00 | ||
Notes: Amounts above are deducted from sale proceeds held for client. Net payout of $XXX follows within 7 days via check or bank transfer. Unsold items may be picked up or donated after 60 days with written notice. eBay fees and shipping label costs are itemized on the attached sales statement.
Clients want to match each charge to a specific item and check your commission math.
These reduce the proceeds, and clients dispute payouts when they cannot see where the money went.
The same percentage produces a very different number depending on the base, so state it each time.
Separating these from commission shows what the client paid for whether or not items sold.
Returned items and refunded sales change the commission owed and should be reflected in the same billing period.
In many states eBay collects tax on marketplace sales, but direct lot sales to businesses may need a resale certificate on file. Check your state rules.
Clients expect to know when they get paid and why a portion might be withheld.
For consignment, the client usually does not pay you directly. You deduct your commission and fees from eBay proceeds and send the remainder, typically after the return window closes, often 7 to 30 days after the buyer receives the item. For flat-fee work such as estate sorting, collect a deposit of 25 to 50 percent up front and the balance on completion. For bulk lots sold to other businesses, require payment before shipping or net 15 for repeat buyers. Accepted methods are generally bank transfer, check, or card, and card fees can be passed on if disclosed. If you charge late fees or storage fees on unclaimed items, put the rate and time frame in your written agreement.
Decide whether commission applies to the gross sale price, the price including shipping, or the amount after eBay fees. Write it down and repeat it on every statement.
Keep a short reserve or wait until the return window ends before paying out. Say so in your terms so a held amount does not look like a delay.
A per-item listing fee covers photography and research on low performers. Without it, you do the same work for nothing on items nobody buys.
Clients who see a list of sold items, fees, and net payout rarely ask follow-up questions, and you keep a record for tax time.
Pickup trips, boxes, tape, and labels add up. Log them per client so they can be billed accurately and deducted correctly on your own taxes.
Send a statement showing sales, deductions, and net payout. If you also charge flat fees the client pays directly, such as pickup or storage, issue a separate invoice for those amounts so both sides have a clear record.
It depends on your agreement. Many sellers deduct the final value fee and shipping from the sale price first and then take commission on the remainder. Others take commission on the gross and pass fees to the client. Choose one and state it in writing.
In most US states eBay collects and remits sales tax on marketplace orders, so you typically do not add it yourself on those. Direct sales outside the platform, such as selling a lot to another business, may be taxable or exempt with a resale certificate. Check your state rules.
Yes, if your agreement includes a per-item listing or handling fee, or an hourly rate for sorting and photography. Without that agreement, you generally only earn commission on sales.
Many sellers pay after the buyer's return window closes, often 14 to 30 days after delivery. Whatever you choose, state the timeline up front and stick to it.
Send a eBay Seller estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
eBay Seller estimate template