Online Book Store

Business Idea: Start An Online Book Store in 2024

Updated: October 2nd, 2024

Avg Monthly Revenue
$37.7K
Avg Startup Costs
$13.7K
Score
77
Market Size
Avg Revenue
Min Revenue
$200/month
Max Revenue
$120K/month
Avg Days To Build
60 days

Bookselling is the commercial trading of out-of-print books or collectibles. If you are an avid reader or just love selling online, opening an online book store in the age of Amazon and massive retail stores can be a rewarding and fun business. You can sell books on sites like eBay, Abebooks and other high-traffic bookstores.

You can write and self-publish your own books, and sell to fans directly, or resell books by different publishers. Alternatively, you can venture into the vintage, rare or out-of-print books.

To start a bookselling business follow these basic steps:

  • Find a niche and create an inventory
  • Develop a book brand
  • Source the books you plan to sell
  • Launch and market your online store

To compete effectively, differentiate your bookselling brand and be hyper-focused. Focus on delivering a curated experience so you build a community of book lovers.

Revenue & Profitability

How much do online book stores make?

Startup Costs

How much does it cost to start an online book store?

  • It can cost as low as $1,200 to start an online book store.
  • It can cost as high as $15,000 to start an online book store.

Learn more about the costs of an online book store.

Examples Of Successful Online Book Stores

Successful online book store businesses and case studies

Founder Dave Chesson shares how he created a successful book marketing software, generating $120k a month, and offers advice for non-techies on how to hire programmers, prioritize support, and innovate continuously.

$120K Monthly Revenue
$10K Startup Costs
Read by 7,860 founders

Foreword Reviews is a media company that started out as a magazine with a print run of 7,500 copies, serving as a brochure for publishing services including foreign rights exchange and digital content, and twenty years and some intense pivots later, it has become one of the most profitable in the book business.

$90K Monthly Revenue
$15K Startup Costs
Read by 8,152 founders

See full list of successful online book stores.