Pokémon cards are more than just a nostalgic hobby — they’re a massive industry.

Last year alone, the Pokémon Company sold nearly 12 billion cards — and that’s not even counting the huge volume traded across eBay, TikTok, Whatnot, and local shops. There’s serious money changing hands — and if you’ve got a pile of cards at home, or an eye for a good deal, you can get your slice of the action.

Here’s exactly how to get started — from casual flipping to building a real Pokémon card business.

Step 1: Choose Where You’re Going to Sell

Before anything else, you’ll need to pick a sales platform. Some are beginner-friendly. Others are complex but far more rewarding if you stick with them. Here’s how each one stacks up.

Vinted (My Favourite)

✅ Zero seller fees
✅ Very popular in the UK for low-value singles and bundles
✅ Simple listing process and no final value fees
❌ Low collector trust for higher-end items
❌ No support for auctions or more complex selling formats

Vinted is fast becoming a go-to option for UK sellers looking to shift binder cards, cheap singles, or small bundles. Because there are no selling fees, you keep more of your money — great if you’re offloading lower-end inventory.

That said, it’s not the place for high-value items, and buyer trust is still growing. Use Vinted as a low-hassle, high-margin platform for everyday sales — especially if you’re just starting out.

Local Card Shops (LCS)

✅ Fastest way to sell — walk in and walk out with cash
❌ Least profitable — you’ll typically get 30–50% below market value

Selling to a card shop can be useful if you need money quickly, but it’s not a scalable strategy. It’s not worth pursuing if you’re trying to make consistent profit.

eBay

✅ Best for beginners
✅ Great for selling graded cards, vintage, or Japanese product
❌ Slow to move inventory
❌ High fees (~13%)

eBay is one of the most popular marketplaces for Pokémon cards. It’s ideal for liquidating your collection, selling graded slabs, or shifting vintage items.

But keep in mind: fees eat into profits quickly, and sales can take time unless you price competitively.

Facebook Marketplace

✅ No fees if you sell locally
✅ Easy to set up and use
❌ Limited buyer reach
❌ Lower trust factor for high-value items

Great for shifting cards quickly in your area — but not ideal for building a proper business. Think of this as your “garage sale” option.

TikTok Shop

✅ Low fees (6–8%)
✅ Massive audience + viral content potential
✅ Great for building a brand
❌ Complex setup, backend issues, and no singles allowed
❌ Needs content creation to succeed

If you enjoy creating content and want to turn selling into a proper business, TikTok is one of the most lucrative platforms. Sellers can live stream pack openings, run promotions, and link products directly in videos.

But it’s not easy. TikTok’s backend is tricky, and you’ll need to consistently post and engage to build momentum.

Whatnot

✅ Built for live auctions
✅ High revenue potential with the right audience
✅ Competitive fees (~11%)
❌ Takes time to get approved and build an audience
❌ Risky — low viewership during a live sale can lead to losses

Whatnot is like a hybrid of Twitch and eBay. If you can bring people into your streams, you can do £1000s in sales per hour. But you’ll need marketing strategy, giveaways, and loyal customers to succeed.

Shopify (Or Your Own Website)

✅ Lowest fees, full control over your store
✅ You own your customer data (emails, phone numbers, etc.)
❌ Most difficult route — you’ll need either a massive audience or serious paid ad skills

Creating your own shop is the end goal for many — but it’s a tough place to start. Without a brand, traffic, or marketing budget, your store will sit idle.

However, if you can build an audience, this is where you can maximize your margins.

Step 2: Know Where to Get Cards to Sell

Once you’ve picked a platform, you need a product supply — and not just at retail prices. Here’s how sellers find inventory:

Vintage Cards

  • Find trusted dealers at conventions

  • Network on Instagram and Facebook groups

  • Avoid buying off eBay to resell — prices are already at market

  • Build long-term relationships to get better pricing

Singles

  • Buy locally from collectors or hobby groups

  • Negotiate with sellers at events

  • Use platforms like BinderPOS to create a buy list and collect cards from your audience

  • Look for wholesalers on Instagram

Japanese & Foreign Cards

  • Tough to source — Japanese shops can’t sell overseas

  • Best method: DM reputable sellers on Instagram or in Facebook groups

  • Use Wise.com to pay international sellers

  • Always vet sellers carefully — this space has higher scam risk

Modern English Sets

  • The hardest to get at decent prices

  • Distributors only work with brick-and-mortar stores (not online sellers)

  • Try building relationships with:

    • Card shops

    • Convention vendors

    • Wholesalers on social media

  • Always look for out-of-print stock to resell with margin

Step 3: Price Your Product for Profit

Pricing Pokémon cards can be tricky — especially when fees are involved.

Here’s a simple rule of thumb to keep your business profitable:

Aim to price your product within 10% of market value — either above or below.

How to price correctly:

  • Factor in your purchase cost

  • Research current market value

  • Set a price that gives you 5–15% profit after fees

Example:

  • Bought for: £100

  • Platform fee: 13%

  • You’d need to sell for around £127 to make £10 profit (10%)

If you’re just getting started, be aware that most sellers can’t beat market price unless:

  • They’re sitting on old inventory

  • They have distributor-level access

  • They’re taking very low margins to build brand loyalty

Step 4: Build Your Brand and Market Your Listings

If you want to turn this into more than a side hustle, you need visibility. Content + brand = consistent sales.

General Tips:

  • Start a TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube channel

  • Post short videos showcasing pulls, your store, behind-the-scenes, or giveaways

  • Give people a reason to follow and return

Platform-Specific:

  • eBay: Use strong titles, keywords, and clear photos for SEO

  • TikTok: Promote your store through regular content and live streams

  • Whatnot: Run auctions, do giveaways, and bring in off-platform traffic

  • Shopify: You’ll need content, ads, or an email list to drive sales

Step 5: Get Your Shipping Right

Shipping is the silent killer of profits — but also a huge customer satisfaction factor.

You’ll need:

  • Penny sleeves & top loaders

  • Bubble mailers & boxes

  • Thermal printer (saves time & money on labels)

  • Reliable supplies (avoid Amazon where possible — it’s expensive)

Where to buy:

  • Use Uline for packing materials

  • Buy card supplies direct from manufacturers where possible

  • Always package securely — bad shipping = lost customers

Can You Really Make a Living Selling Pokémon Cards?

The short answer? Yes — but only if you treat it like a real business.

Plenty of people make money flipping Pokémon cards on the side. Some even go full-time — building shops, running TikTok streams, or running their own websites. But the people doing it successfully aren’t just lucky. They’ve figured out how to:

  • Source cards at a good price

  • Choose the right platforms for their skills and inventory

  • Build trust and visibility through content or customer service

  • Stay consistent, even when trends shift or sets flop

If you’re just looking to clear out a few binders and make some quick cash, platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace are perfect. You don’t need an audience or any special tools — just decent listings and honest pricing.

But if you’re aiming to go further — to build a side income, or even a full business — you’ll need to think bigger:

  • Start creating content to bring in buyers

  • Build relationships with suppliers or collectors

  • Understand your numbers (fees, margins, shipping costs)

  • Reinvent yourself as trends evolve

Selling Pokémon cards can be fun, flexible, and profitable — but it’s not passive.

You’ll be sourcing, listing, packing, replying to customers, watching price charts, and reinvesting profits. If that excites you, you’re already halfway there.

And the best part? You get to do it in a hobby you already love. Whether you’re flipping sealed product, hunting graded grails, or running pack battles live — you can absolutely build something meaningful (and profitable) out of Pokémon cards.