Rare Book Dealer

Some avid readers will go to extraordinary lengths to find a used or rare book that they’d relish having in their private collection. Whether you’re providing this service in addition to running a bookstore (as many rare book specialists do) or running it as a separate business, you’ll need to be highly detail-oriented and well organized to make this business profi table. The good news is, there are plenty of publications that you can subscribe to, and these provide monthly listings of what books are currently available through other dealers. Sometimes, you’ll be lucky enough to work out an even trade (and maximize your own profit on the book you’re selling to the customer). Most often, however, you’ll derive your income from a search fee ($10 to $15 in some areas) and a sales commission on the book itself, which you will have priced accordingly to suit your bank account’s needs. The older and more rare the book, the harder it is to locate. But if you can manage to drum up one yellow-paged copy, your earnings could be quite high on just one book.


It will take between $5,000 to $10,000 to get started with your computer and online searches. Expect to spend $1,000 or so on advertising in your first year. If you are good at what you do, you could earn between $20,000 and $40,000 per year.


The stress level is actually quite low in this field, and you can search for a book at your own pace for the most part. However, you don’t get paid as much for looking as you do for finding. Sign on with Web-based services such as www.abebooks.com to expedite your searches as well as to automate your sales.


Approx. cost of start-up:$5,000 to $10,000


Approx. potential earnings: $20,000 to $40,000


Typical fees: $10 to $15 plus a percentage of sale on book (based on your markup)


Where to promote: Yellow Pages, book industry publications, networking with bookstore owners and managers, Web site, and banner ads on book club Web sites


Qualifications: Good organizational skills and excellent follow-up ability


Things needed: Computer with Internet access, printer, fax, phone with toll-free number


Required staff:No


Hidden costs: Internet service provider package, phone bills