Sell your first product on bol with a small budget

How much can you spend on your first stock when you have €600 available? In the example below €200 goes to the first order. The rest is needed to inspect the product, ship orders and possibly reorder. Enter your own amounts before accepting a quote.

Allocate your budget before choosing a supplier

This fictional budget is for a seller who already has their sales account and administration set up. Treat the amounts as money you actually set aside. If you still incur costs for registration, barcodes or extra product checks, deduct those from your budget first.

Request quotes for, for example, 15, 25 and 50 pieces. Let the supplier indicate what each quantity costs, how long a new delivery takes and what upfront payment is required. With that data you can see whether a volume discount outweighs the money tied up in your stock longer.

Check one unit first

Unbox the sample unit as a customer would. Are the dimensions, colour and parts correct? Can you open the packaging without damage and return it? Weigh the item including the shipping box. The difference between two shipping formats can determine whether your margin fits your budget. Then check the assortment requirements and sales rights of bol before you lock in money.

Calculate what remains per order

Assume you have €22 sales revenue excluding VAT. In this example subtract €8 purchase, €3.30 commission, €4.30 shipping and packaging, €1.25 advertising costs and €1.15 return reserve. €4 remains per sale BEFORE fixed costs. All amounts in this margin calculation are exclusive of VAT. For your cash budget use the amounts you actually pay.

Also calculate a lower price point and a more expensive shipping. Check the current commission of bol for your item and price. If that second calculation leaves little room, negotiate the purchase price or choose another product before you order.

Reserve money for the second order

With four sales per week and three weeks delivery time you need about twelve sellable units to bridge that delivery time. Use your own sales pace and add space for delivery delays. Adjust the reserve when your next quote or transport costs change. Wait with reordering until you know what remains after costs and customers keep the item.

Calculate your margin with the Zoloo Winstcalculator before you order the sample or the first batch. Want to compare other ways to earn alongside your job? Check the side hustle ideas.