When do I need an ABN for reselling in Australia?
You need an ABN when your reselling activity is a business — regular, profit-oriented, and organised in a businesslike way. You do not need an ABN if you're occasionally selling personal items. The ATO doesn't have a specific dollar threshold for when hobby becomes business. Consistent sourcing to resell, maintaining stock, tracking margins, and regular sales all point to a business. An ABN is free and takes minutes to apply for online — get one early and avoid any ambiguity.
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Key things to know for Australian sellers
Australian online selling has its own quirks: GST registration thresholds, Australia Post rate structures, and platform-specific buyer behaviour differ from the US and UK advice you'll find most readily online. Checking ATO guidance directly and using the Australia Post postage calculator for accurate quotes are good starting points.
Using multiple platforms together
Most successful Australian resellers end up selling across at least two platforms. The marginal effort to list on a second platform is much lower if you already have photos and a description, and reaching two different buyer pools meaningfully increases your chances of a sale.
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List once, sell everywhere
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