How to Sell Books Online (And Actually Make Money)

I’ve sold books online through Shopify, Amazon, Gumroad, and even local marketplaces—and let me tell you, it’s not just a side hustle. Done right, it can turn into a legit income stream.

But here’s the truth: most people overcomplicate it or get stuck in the wrong place. Either they hand over their profits to Amazon or they try to build a full-on publishing empire before they’ve sold their first copy.

If you’re trying to sell books online—whether it’s your own writing, used books, or a full-on curated bookstore—this guide covers what actually works.

Why Sell Books Online?

If you're wondering whether this is even worth your time, let me break it down.

Selling books online is one of the easiest ways to start an ecommerce business. Here’s why:

• Low barrier to entry: You can start with books you already own.
• Evergreen demand: People are always buying books—for school, business, hobbies, or gifts.
• Flexible inventory: Sell physical or digital. New or used. One title or a whole collection.
• Global reach: You’re not limited to local sales. Your audience is worldwide.
• It scales: Start solo. Grow into full-on storefronts, automation, and email marketing when you're ready.

Books are light, easy to ship, and don’t expire. That’s a winning combo for online selling.

Choose the Right Books to Sell

Not every book sells well online. The trick is finding demand first, then building around that.

Here’s what I’ve found works best:

• Niche non-fiction: Think self-help, business, finance, parenting, fitness. People actively search for answers and will pay for a book that promises results.
• Educational books: Textbooks, certifications, niche academic content. Used or new, these move consistently.
• Rare or collectable books: First editions, signed copies, out-of-print titles. They’re harder to source but deliver strong profit margins.
• Self-published books: If you’ve got your own story, audience, or expertise—publishing your own book (physical or digital) can be profitable long-term.

On the flip side, mass-market fiction or common paperbacks usually aren’t worth the effort unless you’re moving large volumes.

Quick tip: Use tools like Google Trends, BookScouter, or even eBay sold listings to see what’s moving right now.

Where to Sell Books Online

I’ve tried just about every platform out there. Each has pros and cons, depending on what you’re selling and how much control you want.

Here’s a breakdown:

Platform	Best For	Fees	Control Over Branding	Traffic Built In
Shopify	Selling your own products	Monthly plan	Full control	No
Amazon (KDP)	Self-publishing ebooks	Royalties	Low	Yes
Etsy	Vintage/handmade/niche books	Listing fees	Medium	Yes
Gumroad	Digital books	10%	High	No
eBay	Used/rare books	Listing + %	Low	Yes

I always recommend starting with Shopify if you’re serious about building a long-term brand. It gives you the most flexibility, lets you collect customer data (which Amazon doesn’t), and integrates easily with print-on-demand platforms.

If you're just testing things out, start small with Amazon or Gumroad—then grow into your own store.

How to Sell Books Online in 5 Practical Steps

If you want to turn books into income, don’t just list and hope. Here’s the five-step process I use to consistently source, sell, and ship books profitably—whether I’m flipping vintage finds or launching my own self-published titles.

Step 1: Source Books the Smart Way

Start with what you already own, then branch out.

Top places to find books that resell well:

• Thrift shops
• Estate sales
• Library clear-outs
• Used bookstores
• Online auctions
• Wholesalers or distributors

Focus on niche, high-demand titles—especially non-fiction, textbooks, and vintage editions. Always check condition before listing.

What you’re looking for is books people are actively searching for. Self-help, technical guides, language books, and rare or out-of-print titles tend to hold value well. If you're selling used books, look for editions that aren't saturated with competition.

Also, think about your niche or interests. If you know a subject well, you’ll spot undervalued books others miss. That edge adds up over time.

And don’t forget: if you're reselling, make sure you’re allowed to do so under the first sale doctrine. Stick to genuine copies, and avoid bootlegs or unlicensed PDFs.

Step 2: Choose the Right Sales Channels

Pick platforms that match your books and your goals.

Options include:

• Shopify – Best for control and branding
• Amazon – Huge reach, but high fees
• eBay/Etsy – Ideal for rare or vintage finds
• Gumroad – Great for digital products
• Social media – Quick, low-cost exposure

Start with one or two, then expand once you know what sells.

Your channel depends on the kind of books you're offering. If you're selling a unique, giftable book with strong visual appeal, Etsy may be your best bet.

If you’re launching a full book business with multiple titles, building your own Shopify store gives you long-term control.

When starting out, I used Amazon and eBay to test demand. Once I had data, I moved to Shopify where I could build a brand and keep the profits (and customer data).

No matter what channel you use, make sure you’re tracking inventory and fulfilling orders reliably—especially if you're selling across multiple platforms.

Step 3: Price for Profit

Set prices that leave room for profit after fees, shipping, and packaging.

How I price:

• Check similar listings
• Factor in all costs
• Use tools like Amazon’s Revenue Calculator
• Test bundles to raise order value

Digital books = higher margins. Physical books = stronger brand-building.

Start by researching prices for the same title in the same condition. On marketplaces, you’ll often see wide ranges—go for competitive but fair. Underpricing kills margins, while overpricing without value justification kills conversions.

If you’re selling on your own site, you’ve got more flexibility. You can position your book with better visuals, longer descriptions, bonuses (like free downloads), or bundle options to justify a higher price point.

I’ve had success offering bundle discounts like “Buy 2, get 1 free” or pricing ebook + paperback combos slightly below buying them separately.

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Step 4: Fulfill Orders Smoothly

Choose your fulfillment path:

• DIY – Pack and ship yourself. Cheap, but time-consuming.
• POD – Print-on-demand services like Lulu or BookVault handle everything.
• 3PL – Third-party logistics for bulk or growing stores.

For digital, platforms like Shopify or Gumroad auto-deliver files.

Keep shipping tight—no one leaves a good review for a bent book.

If you’re fulfilling physical books yourself, invest in decent packaging materials—rigid mailers, bubble wrap, and corner protectors go a long way. I always double-check the packaging when sending higher-priced or collectable items.

With POD, you don't touch the book at all. The customer orders, and the printer ships directly to them. It’s ideal for self-publishers who don’t want to manage inventory or shipping.

If you’re scaling and shipping more than 20–30 orders a week, it’s worth looking into 3PL partners who can handle storage and dispatch while you focus on sales.

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Step 5: Market Like It Matters

Don’t expect sales without visibility.

Marketing that works:

• Write SEO blog content
• Build an email list
• Share content on TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest
• Partner with book influencers
• Run ads (Amazon or Google Shopping)

And always push for reviews—social proof drives future sales.

If you're selling on your own site, content marketing is key. I write blog posts around related topics (e.g. “best books on copywriting” or “how to publish your first novel”) and link them directly to product pages.

Social media is also a free and effective way to showcase your book. Show the packaging process, customer testimonials, or even your writing workflow if it’s your own book.

Paid ads help if you’ve already validated your offer. I use Amazon Sponsored Products for quick wins, and retargeting ads for people who visit my Shopify store but don’t buy right away.

Whatever method you choose, stay consistent. Marketing compounds—and the more visibility you build, the easier it gets to sell books on autopilot.

How to Sell Books on Your Own Store (Using Shopify)

Selling books on your own site gives you full control over the brand, pricing, customer data, and long-term growth. It’s the difference between being a seller on someone else’s platform and running your own business.

I started mine with Shopify, and honestly, it was easier than I expected. I built my first bookstore in a weekend—no coding, no tech headaches, just a clear process.

Here’s how to get it done:

1. Start With a Free Trial

Go to Shopify and sign up for a free trial. You get access to all the tools you need to test your store before committing to a plan.

Choose a plan once you’re ready to go live. Most sellers are fine with the basic plan starting out.

2. Pick a Book-Friendly Theme

Choose a clean, professional-looking theme. Many themes are already designed for bookstores or digital products—look for ones that support:

• Category filters (genre, author, topic)
• Product variants (ebook, paperback, hardcover)
• Easy navigation and fast load times
• Mobile responsiveness

I’ve used themes like Dawn (free) and Context (paid) depending on the look I wanted.

3. Add Your Books as Products

Upload your books one at a time with full product details:

• Titles and subtitles
• Descriptions (include who it’s for, what it covers, and key takeaways)
• High-quality cover images and inside previews
• SEO-friendly product titles and meta descriptions
• Pricing (and compare-at pricing if you're running sales)

If you’re selling multiple formats of the same book (like paperback and ebook), set them up as variants within one product listing.

4. Set Up Print-on-Demand (POD) Fulfillment

If you don’t want to handle printing and shipping, connect to a POD provider like:

• Lulu Direct
• BookVault
• IngramSpark

These apps integrate directly with Shopify. When someone buys your book, the order goes straight to the printer, and they ship it to your customer automatically.

This lets you scale without touching inventory—and it’s ideal for indie authors, educators, or anyone launching digital-first.

5. Configure Payments, Shipping, and Policies

Turn on Shopify Payments or link your Stripe/PayPal account to start taking orders.

Set up your shipping rules based on:

• Book weight and delivery location
• Flat rate vs calculated shipping
• Domestic and international options

Add return/refund policies, terms of service, and FAQs to cover yourself legally and build trust with buyers.

6. Customise the Shopping Experience

Here’s where your store really stands out:

• Add filters like genre, author, topic, or format
• Include “You might also like” suggestions on product pages
• Create featured collections: “New Releases,” “Bestsellers,” “Under £10,” etc.
• Add search functionality for buyers who know what they’re looking for

Pro tip: The more you guide the shopper’s experience, the better your conversion rate.

7. Go Live and Start Selling

Once your products, policies, and branding are ready, hit publish and share your store.

Use email, social media, and SEO content to drive traffic. Every sale you make on your own site gives you more profit—and more data you can use to grow.

Selling books on your own store gives you freedom.

You control the branding, the customer experience, the marketing—and most importantly—the profit margins. No one takes a cut unless you allow them to (like with POD or payment processing fees).

If you’re serious about turning your book business into something long-term, this is the way to go.

Selling on Marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, Etsy)

I’ve sold books on pretty much every major platform—and each one has its own strengths, depending on what you’re selling, how much control you want, and how much time you’re willing to invest into customer service and branding.

Selling on Amazon

Still the biggest book platform in the world. If you're just getting started, it's often the fastest way to test if a book will sell.

Pros:

• Huge traffic—millions of buyers are already searching for books every day
• Built-in trust—people are comfortable buying from Amazon, even if they’ve never heard of you
• FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon) handles storage, shipping, and returns
• Ideal for used books, mass-market titles, and especially self-publishing via Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)

Cons:

• High fees—between referral fees, FBA fees, and storage costs, your margins can get tight
• Little control over branding—you’re essentially a product listing in their ecosystem
• No access to customer data—no email list, no retargeting
• Very competitive—especially for common books or trending genres

That said, Amazon is still where I go when I want to move volume fast or test the demand for a title. I use it as a lead generator and cash flow driver, not the core of my business.

Once a book gains traction, I shift focus to selling it on my own Shopify store where the margins are better and the customer relationships are mine.

Selling on eBay

eBay flies under the radar these days, but it’s still a powerful platform—especially if you're dealing in rarities, vintage books, or signed editions.

• Works well for one-off listings
• Buyers expect personal interaction, which can build trust
• You can sell at fixed prices or through auctions
• Fewer algorithmic headaches than Amazon

The audience on eBay tends to be collectors or bargain hunters, which is perfect if you’re curating a niche inventory. It’s not a place for selling the same book over and over at scale, but if you’ve got limited edition finds, academic books, or quirky coffee table titles, it’s a great match.

I usually use eBay for inventory that doesn't quite fit my Shopify store or Amazon catalogue. It’s also ideal for international buyers, especially in the UK, where Amazon’s book selection can be a bit patchy.

Selling on Etsy

Etsy’s audience is niche, passionate, and often willing to pay a bit more for something that feels handmade, rare, or thoughtfully presented.

Etsy works really well if you're selling:

• Zines and indie publications
• Handmade journals or sketchbooks
• Vintage books (20+ years old)
• Self-published books that have a strong aesthetic or niche theme (poetry, photography, art, folklore, etc.)

What I like about Etsy is the vibe: buyers are looking for personal, meaningful items—not just cheap paperbacks. If your book has great design, is giftable, or ties into a lifestyle or aesthetic niche, Etsy gives you a platform to stand out.

Plus, the SEO potential is underrated. Etsy listings can rank on Google, and the internal search engine rewards detailed descriptions, good photos, and customer reviews.

If I had to sum it up: Amazon is for reach, eBay is for niche finds, and Etsy is for unique presentation. I still use all three—but always push my best titles to my own store once they’ve proven themselves.

Should You Sell Digital Books?

Absolutely.

You don’t have to worry about printing, shipping, or returns. Profit margins are higher too.

Here’s how I sell mine:

• PDF or EPUB files delivered automatically via Shopify or Gumroad
• Offer it as a standalone or bundle with the physical copy
• Add license options: personal use vs reseller rights
• Run limited-time discounts or “pay what you want” promos

Digital books are also great for email list building. You can even offer a short version for free to upsell the full book.

Dealing With Shipping and Returns

Shipping books is fairly simple, but there are some things to watch out for:

• Use weight-based shipping rates in Shopify
• Offer tracking if the book is over £10 or if it's rare
• Ship in padded envelopes or book mailers to avoid damage
• Offer returns for damaged items only, unless you want to deal with abuse

I usually include a small note or thank-you card in the package. Makes the experience feel more personal.

If you’re doing POD, the printing company handles shipping. Just check the delivery times—some are slow outside the US or UK.

Common Mistakes (I’ve Made Them All)

• Trying to sell everything. Focus on one niche or category.
• Relying 100% on Amazon. You get zero customer data.
• Not building an email list from day one.
• Using poor book covers. People do judge a book by its cover.
• No SEO on your product pages. Google can’t find you if you don’t optimise.

I learned the hard way. You don’t have to.

Final Thoughts

Selling books online isn’t just a side hustle—it can be a full-time gig if you treat it like a real business.

Start with one book. One platform. One clear audience.

Then build from there.

If I could go back, I’d do three things differently from day one:

• Build my own site alongside marketplace listings
• Start collecting emails immediately
• Focus on one niche instead of trying to sell every genre

If you’re ready to start selling books online, don’t overthink it. Just start. Learn as you go. The rest gets easier with experience.