Many different businesses provide an opportunity to make money online, but the card grading business isn’t one that comes to mind right away. How do you go about starting such a business? What steps do you need to take in order to ensure your success as an entrepreneur? In this guide, we will answer all of these questions and more in order to help you get started with your own card grading business and earn extra money online! When I started my card grading business, I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to compete with other grading services out there. After all, who would want to deal with an upstart when they could deal with some of the biggest names in the business? While this did turn out to be the case, it’s important to understand that I didn’t go head-to-head against these companies—I went around them by taking advantage of an untapped market within the hobby.
What is card grading?
Card grading is the process of judging the condition of a trading card and assigning it a grade. The condition of the card is usually measured on a scale from 1-10, with 10 being the highest quality. Card graders can be hobbyists, sports memorabilia collectors, or seasoned professionals who have been doing this for years.
Card grading is not something that you can just jump into without any experience or knowledge. In order to be successful in this industry, you will need to know what to look for when evaluating cards. It takes time and effort to become proficient at this, but it’s worth it if you’re passionate about cards and want to invest in your own business. One way to do this is by attending card grading seminars. These seminars teach you how to grade different types of cards, such as sports cards, non-sports cards and more. Another option would be to sign up for a certification program, which could take anywhere from 2 weeks up to 6 months depending on how much time you are able to dedicate towards the project. You’ll learn everything there is to know about the different methods used by card graders, as well as their variations within different industries. For example: how they use specific colors; how they identify mint versus raw grades; how they evaluate corners and edges; etcetera.
Why should you start a card grading business?
If you are interested in starting a card grading business, there are many benefits that come with it. For one, you get to be your own boss and set your own hours. It also is possible for you to make money from home, which means that it is something that can be done on evenings and weekends. Card grading has the potential to help you make a living wage depending on how much time and effort you put into the endeavor. There are many things to consider before opening up a card grading business. First, you will need to take courses online or at an educational facility so that you know what grades cards should receive. Once that has been completed, then it will be time for research! You will want to research current market trends as well as what supplies you need in order to grade cards. Finally, if all goes according to plan and your market research goes well then before long your new card grading business could potentially become successful!
What do you need to get started?
In order to start this business, you need to know what it is that you are selling. You will be grading cards and selling them based on their condition. If you have any experience with this, then that would be helpful, but it isn’t necessary in order to get started. You will also need a stock of cards of various conditions so that customers can see the different grades of cards they are buying. The following items are needed Various supplies including marker pens and other tools
You may need an external hard drive if you do not have internet access for storing your images. Some people may choose to hire someone to scan and digitize the card images for them; this could cost anywhere from $1-$5 per scanned image depending on the quality desired by the person hiring the work done.
How much does it cost to grade a card?
The cost of grading varies depending on the level of service you want. The two most common types of services are PSA and Beckett Grading Service. PSA is the most affordable at around $8 per card, but Beckett Grading Service has better guarantees. If your cards are only worth $50-100 total then it might not be worth it to spend more than that on an individual card, but if they’re worth more than that it’s a good idea to have them graded by both companies just in case one disagrees with the other.
Some people sell their cards graded by one company and ungraded by the other because some collectors will buy graded cards while others prefer to grade their own collection.
Where can you find customers?
There are many ways you can find customers. Some of the most popular places are: conventions, online forums, and classified ads. The best way to find potential customers is simply through word of mouth. Ask around at your local game shop or comic book store. They might know someone who could use your services.
If you don’t have any luck finding customers locally, try looking on Craigslist or Kijiji (Canadian equivalent). You’ll want to advertise in their ‘businesses for sale’ sections since that’s where entrepreneurs sell their businesses all the time! Make sure to specify the type of business you’re selling so that it appears when people search for what they need. Be sure to include contact information like email address, phone number, website URL, etc., so they can get in touch with you.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing more satisfying than being able to add value to someone else’s hobby. If you are looking for a way of starting your own business, why not consider starting your own card grading company? It’s easier than you may think and there is plenty of information on the internet to help you get started. With just a couple of steps and the right tools, you will be ready in no time! 1. Register an LLC or form an unincorporated entity 2. Get an EIN 3. Find a location 4. Create a website 5. Find suppliers 6. Set up an eBay account 7. Learn how to grade cards from other collectors.
Join a few forums.
Attend trade shows.
Get in contact with professional graders who can help with recommendations.
