How to Sell Your Comic Book Collection (and Profit) [2023]
This is a comprehensive guide to help you sell your comic book collection and profit in 2023.
We’re going to be covering everything you need to know to sell correctly and maximize your profit. This includes topics like:
- The (many) ways that you can sell your comic book collection
- How to determine the true condition of your comic books
- Comic book sale grouping strategies to maximize your revenue
- …and much, much more.
If you’re looking for a high-paying side-hustle opportunity selling your comic books, this guide is for you.
Let’s get into everything you need to know for a successful comic book sale.
Content
Chapter 1: Preparing for the Comic Book Sale Process
Chapter 2: How to Profit from Selling Your Comic Books: Navigating the Sale Process
Chapter 3: 55 (More) Tips for Selling Your Comic Books for Profit
Chapter 4: Can’t Sell Your Comic Books?
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Are you looking to sell your comic books for profit? You’re in the right place.
Whether you’re looking to sell a single comic book or want to start a side hustle selling your comic book collection, the experts at Dylan Universe compiled this guide to help you maximize your profits and navigate the comic book sale process confidently.
Selling your comics can be very profitable, and especially rewarding when you get a fair price for your collection and sale efforts.
It isn’t all about profits, though. Selling a comic book collection means that you’re helping fans like you find their next great home in the hands of a fellow comic book enthusiast, continuing the memories and story for someone else in the fandom. For a lot of collectors, it’s rewarding to know that their comic books are being loved and enjoyed by other enthusiasts in the field.
No matter what prompted you to start the sale process, the team at Dylan Universe Comics is here to help. Below, we drew up a guide to walk you through your sale process from start to finish and will give you an overview of the best industry tips to help make your comic collection sale a success.
Really, this article is meant to be a guide to everything you need to know to sell your comic book collection. That’s why we’re pulling back the curtain on some of the best practices to get the most out of your comic book sales. To best do this, we’ve divided this guide into two main parts:
- Selling your comic books to a dealer
- Selling your comic books by yourself
All of these parts will be separated into steps and “chapters” to help you walk through a successful sale process from start to finish — and will have you well on your way to making significant money with your comic book collection.
Yes, Make Me an Offer Now!
Chapter 1: Preparing for the Comic Book Sale Process
CHAPTER SUMMARY: In this chapter, we’ll dive into how you can best arrange your collection to determine the most competitive options to sell.
If you’re new to the selling process, this will help you get a grasp on what the market is looking for, and how you can make the most out of each book sold.
Later on, we’ll be getting into the more detailed elements of the sale process, such as how to track your sales, assign costs, and find reputable selling opportunities for your comics.
Arranging Your Comic Books for Sale
The first step in selling your comic books is to arrange all of the options that you have for a potential sale. You may have comics around the house or that are kept in storage. These are good places to start and can help you to determine how many you may have in a complete series or for total sale.
Before arranging any books that you might have around the house, we recommend taking the time to find all the comic books in your collection that you want to sell, and start sorting them by age.
We acknowledge that there are many different ways to sort your comic books. However, we recommend doing it by their ages so that you can assign costs easily later on. Don’t know their ages? No problem! Simply stack your comics in a single, centralized place. You can determine how to sort them later.
The Goal of this step is to:
- Determine how many comics you have, and to give you visibility and insight about which ones you want to sell
- Allow you to more easily organize them by age, series, type, etc. for future sale, reference, and use.
While it may seem tempting to skip this hands-on arrangement step for something “easier” like a list, we don’t recommend it.
Time is money, and creating a large-scale list isn’t often the best use of your time. In fact, sellers often spend the most time typing up a list of comics that may (or may not) have value.
How to Grade Your Comic Books
Most comic collectors take good care of their collections. However, even the slightest damage or creases can have an impact on the sale price. To protect your reputation and the integrity of the sale, it’s important to be clear with buyers about the condition of your comics.
Usually, sellers claim their comic books are in “mint” condition. This isn’t usually the case and is an easy mistake to make if you choose not to conduct a thorough inspection of each book.
Comic books are generally graded using the 10-point scale. This is a number system that indicates how good of the condition the book is in. Books in near-mint condition are assigned a grade of 9.4 or higher. A book in at a 9.4 or above will have no obvious flaws, and little to no creases, tears, rips, or stains. There may be a bit of wear on the spine, but that would be the extent of the damage.
It’s important to note that only a comic book expert can recognize a comic book in mint or near-mint condition. To the general audience, they will appear as good as new.
Usually, if your comic is from the 80s or later, it has a higher chance of earning a near-mint grade compared to earlier ones.
As a seller, remember that it is very unlikely that you’ll sell your comic book at the same price that you purchased it. There are a lot of factors that determine the price of a comic book.
Because of this, we recommend not using the price you found online as your main reference. If your comic is from the early 1940s or earlier, it is likely that your comic book is a lower grade on the quality grading scale. While there may be comic books that defy this assumption, they are growing fewer as time goes on.
On average, a comic book from the 1950s or the 1960s usually has a Very Good (VG) or Fine (FN) grade, which is considered a 5.0 on a 10-point scale.
If you have your comic book graded and it receives the grade of FN, this may be due to a major defect — such as Marvel chipping, subscription creasing, or the loss of a piece from a tear.
Below, we summarize what Marvel chipping and subscription crease is to help you pre-grade your comic at home.
<YOUTUBE VIDEO LINK: SUBSCRIPTION CREASE TUTORIAL>
Curious about the self-reported condition of your comic? Read on for a quick explanation of two of the most common defects: Marvel chipping and subscription creasing.
What is Marvel chipping?
Marvel chipping is a trimming or cutting defect that results in a series of chips and tears at the upper, lower or right edges of the cover. Chipping is caused when the cutting blade of an industrial paper trimmer becomes dull. Some comic grading experts blame poor paper quality for this, too.
What is subscription creasing?
Subscription creasing occurs when your comic book is mailed bent in half so that the sender can save money on postage. This is becoming less common, as there are now specially-padded and designed mailers for items that are meant to not be bent.
Below are some additional indications that can give you insight into your comic’s health:
- Your comic will likely be in better condition if they were stored in a plastic protective case or cardboard. Wondering how to store your comics? We recommend keeping them in a moderately dry environment, circulated with cool, crisp air — housed in temperatures little to no fluctuation.
- Your comic may be in lower-quality condition if you do not use a protective cover, if they are held in moderately wet environments, or if they are kept in environments with hot air and fluctuating temperatures. Using a cover can protect your book from potential damage from household pests, including moths, silverfish, and rats. While they are an initial upfront investment, protective covers are worth it to protect your favorite comics.
When you’re preparing to sell your comic books, you should consider learning how to self-grade your comic books. It’s important to accurately pre-grade your books to have the best chance of a comic sale.
If you over-grade your comic books, they may not sell well. If you under-grade them, you could be losing money.
This is why, for many, selling to an experienced comic dealer can prevent the additional cost and time spent through the grading and sale process.
Yes, Make Me an Offer Now!
How to Group Your Comic Books for Sale
Many comic book collections contain a variety of high and low-value comics. This is good to know, as different comic groupings can attract different groups. There is no right or wrong way to sell your comics: Flea market vendors, for example, prefer to buy large groups of comics for mass resale. Other times, sellers prefer to work through a vendor like us — selling their top-quality comics and unloading the rest at mass-market sales or flea markets.
No matter how you decide to sell your comics, there is one thing we all can agree on: not all comics are made equal. There are a lot of factors that play an important role in determining your comic book’s true worth.
Age, condition, first appearance, and relevance are the main factors when it comes to pricing and demand.
Once you identify what the quality of your book is, it’s time to determine who may be interested in purchasing it. Generally, comic book buyers are divided into two categories: Collectors and readers.
Dividing your comic book collection into two parts allows you to tackle both collectors and readers at the same time while helping you to earn and profit.
Is Hiring A Professional Appraiser to grade your comic worth it?
Hiring a professional grader can help you to determine the true worth of your collection. It can also add additional value to your collection. However, professional comic book appraisal is a process of its own, however, so it’s up to you to determine if it will be a profitable use of your time and money.
We recommend professional appraisal when you have a comic book collection that has a 5-figure or greater value. If you choose to go this route, we recommend building in time to your comic book sale timeline to allow for the appraisal process and completion.
While it can take more time than the average sale process, it can be a strategic move if you want to get the most possible profit for your comic book collection.
Plus, there are additional benefits to a professional appraisal. Like all markets, the comic book market is notorious for scams. To protect buyers and sellers, insurance companies recommend that you get your comic book(s) appraised even if you aren’t sure you will be going through with the sale of your collection.
Insurance companies can even incentivize appraisals to protect the buyers, with many offering a significant discount if you get your comic book(s) appraised by a professional.
However, If you plan to sell your collection, there are also potential cons to paying an appraiser. Usually, the appraiser needs a vested interest in the collection to get you the most accurate determination on pricing.
The danger with self-appraisal is that there are “guides” on the market that are inaccurate and have not been updated with the most modern-day trends and prices. You’re probably surprised at all of the possible pitfalls around the price determination alone. Don’t worry, this is common to find throughout the sale process!
A good rule of thumb to keep in mind is: “A comic book is only worth what someone is willing to pay.”
It’s important to remember that the comic book market is a fluctuating market. Trends can emerge and depend on elements such as show releases and pop-culture influence. As these factors change, so does the potential sale price of the comic.
What we’ve determined is that you need a solution that offers you the fairest price, with an appraiser that has a vested interest in your success, and in the comic collection. That way, you have the best chance at a profitable comic book sale.
Finding this “perfect balance” during your appraisal process isn’t impossible, though. What if I tell you that you can get your comic book(s) appraised for absolutely FREE by Dylan Universe?
Click on the link below for a FREE comic book appraisal from the experts at Dylan Universe Comics!
The best part? You can also sell your comic books directly to us at a market-competitive price, and save yourself the additional hassle.
How to Separate Your Comic Book Issues by Volume vs. Issue
What’s the difference between a volume number and an issue? In comics, a volume number is an anthology of the publication that has been circulated. Alternatively, an issue number is a subset of that specific comic’s volume.
For context, most newspapers make one volume each year. The issue would be the paper that came out that day. Volume is not necessarily an indicator of quality for your comics, though. In fact, many collectors don’t even ask for the volume prior to the sale, which can lead to a higher potential of miscommunications between the seller and the customer. This is why you should consider grouping your comics by era. Doing this can save you time spent working through problems from frustrated customers who wanted Volume 2, not Volume 1.
In Marvel and DC comics, it’s common to find that most issues continued trending upward — even though they were part of the next volume. For example, Amazing Spider-Man #700 is actually part of volume #2, not #1. However, the volume is not of note in such cases because the issue is easy to publicly reference. Because of this, specifying the volume doesn’t really serve a beneficial purpose to either the buyer or the seller.
Remember this: “The more information you provide the more you can maximize the price you will receive.”
What is Issue #1 of Comics (And Why Does it Matter?)
In the world of comics, the designated first issue (or “Issue #1”) is the first issue of an original run of a comic book or comic series. They can be worth more if they are older, such as comics from the 1930s-1960s, because they often feature the first appearances of a lot key characters between both universes; such as Superman, Spiderman, and Batman.
So, if you’re considering selling a first-issue comic, know its worth and potential profitability.
Many comic sellers are left asking: Are first-issue comics from 1970-on as profitable as those created before 1970? Unfortunately, the answer is no. This is because in the mid-1970s and later years, many publishers rolled out multiple #1 issues featuring key universe characters in order to meet the comic collector craze phase. These print runs are expansive, making them insanely common to find on the market — and therefore less valuable.
Is Creating a Comic Sale List Worth it?
Once you have finished sorting your comic books for sale, the next step is to make a list of all the books you own. Sometimes, if you own a huge collection, it becomes nearly impossible to look at each comic book, as it may feel inefficient. However, you can consider the time spent on this as an investment in your business — allowing you to create a comic sale list and use it as a tool to sell with.
If you feel like you cannot compile your entire collection, you can also consider hiring a professional typist or a freelance virtual assistant to help you finish the process quickly.
YOUTUBE VIDEO INSERTION: MAKING A LIST
Using Online Spreadsheets for Comic Book Sale Lists
If you’re considering compiling your comic list, we recommend using online spreadsheets. Spreadsheets are much easier to send to dealers or buyers compared to manual lists. Manual lists come with additional risks, as they can be subject to wear and tear misplacement, or water damage.
Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets are the two most common online spreadsheets for comic collectors and sellers. With digital channels and tools, you can enjoy a variety of benefits, including:
- More flexibility during the editing process: You can easily remove the sold books from the listing, or continue to add newer ones.
- More protection from potential damage: You can rest easy knowing that your list is protected from outside damage.
- Easier to read and reference: You can enjoy an up-to-date list that is easy to read across devices
- Easier for the online market to use: You can enjoy the potential for more sales thanks to the easy-to-read format for both you and your customers.
Tip: Remember to always list your books by column to give your list a clean, easy-to-read look. Always list your books like the listing shown above, grouped by identifying factors like the publisher, genre, issue number, and others.
How to Price Your Comic Book for Sale
When you’re going through the comic book estimate and evaluation process, there’s one rule of thumb to keep in mind: Never under or overvalue your comic books. Overvalued comic books can repel potential buyers because no one wants to pay higher amounts than they have to — and there are a lot of other options currently available on the market. However, you can’t undervalue your comic books, either. You don’t want to leave money on the table that you could be putting in your pocket.
So with these things in mind, how do you accurately price your comic books after the appraisal process? There’s a single simple answer: research. Many different websites such as Amazon, eBay, and other marketplaces offer comic book price guides. You can easily compare the pricing of your comic book(s) from these channels if the guide was recently published — or at least get an estimate.
Beyond referencing guides, you can do your own research on these types of sites. You can also easily check the prices or get offers from other comic book companies that trade in comic books like we do at Dylan Universe.
The choice is yours — but these channels should arm you with enough information to make an educated guess at a fair price point for your comic books. If you’re looking for a more professional industry reference, you can consider using the Overstreet Price Guide.
What Is the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide (And is it Worth it?)
Before we determine if the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide is worth it, we first have to understand what it is!
This comic book price guide is considered the prime authority in the American comic book grading and pricing industry. Many comic industrialists that tie the growth of the direct market distributing system to comic book specialty shops use the Overstreet Guide as their standardized pricing system of choice.
The Overstreet guide first appeared in 1970 from Robert M. Overstreet, and is designed to serve comic book fans from both the Golden and Silver Ages. Ever since 1970, the number of Overstreet Guide enthusiasts has grown.
The Guide is one of the most reputable forms of measurement and value determination in the comic book world. It helps enthusiasts to determine the average grade, age, and other key elements for the sale process, offering all that you should know about a particular item on the market.
This guide now hosts the prices of most comic books on the market. For a modern-day seller, owning an Overstreet Price Guide is a must as it acts as a pricing tool. Also, this guide is published annually, so don’t forget to check the publish date of your guide.
Using Online Price Guides for Your Comic Book Sale
Looking for other ways to cross-reference with your Overstreet Comic Guide? There are a lot of online professional guides and resources that you can use for your pre-sale process. Reputable online references offer the same services and information as Overstreet does.
For example, www.comicpriceguide.com is an online price guide that allows you to search and get details about your top comics.
Sites such as Comic Price Guide are normally free, and their search segment can help you to properly identify and price your books. These search segments can save you a lot of time in the pricing and research process.
Preparing for the Sale: How to Store Your Comic Books
If you plan to sell your comic books now or in the future, it’s important to store them under optimal conditions. You wouldn’t want to risk losing grade points off of the value estimation of your comic book.
Many collectors and enthusiasts look for the best possible way you can store and preserve your comics. We recommend storing them in plastic bags and protective cardboard boxes, which can act as buffers against temperature and environmental changes.
Plus, these protective methods are cheap and can protect your comic books from getting damaged during transportation or movement. Protective products for your comics are great investments to make in order to keep your books in quality condition over longer periods of time.
Even if you don’t have protective boxes, it’s important not to leave your comics in used or old bags. The humidity and conditions in the bag can quickly degrade the quality of your comic books.
The reason for this is that chemicals from plastic inevitably start to wear off over time. These chemicals can then penetrate the paper, causing the appearance of faded colors and eventual holes or weakness in the paper. Plus, from the buyers’ perspective, they don’t look great either.
If you’re looking for the best way to store your comic books, special comic book boxes with lids are the best containers to store books. These boxes can hold your comic book collection upright (not flat), preventing rolling their spines and staple wear.
These boxes also prevent your books from potentially harmful rays of sunlight that can fade and age the paper in the books. Fading and aging affect the grade of your comics by several points.
The protective boxes are relatively easy to store because they form a single unit that houses multiple books. Plus, you can easily stack these boxes in rows (ideally 3) and alternate their direction when going up a level. Those weekend Jenga skills might (finally) have more than one use!
Now that you’ve purchased professional comic storage options, the question remains: Where should you store the boxes?
As with many things in the comic use, storage, and sale process, there isn’t a true “right” way to store your comics (besides the best practices list that we made above to preserve the life of your comic.) Once they are in the boxes, it’s really up to you to determine where to store them.
Many people choose to rent a storage unit. This is a great option if you have other items to store, and are able to afford one-to-a-few hundred dollars per month in fees. However, many also sell outright to avoid the added weight of a monthly fee, especially if the storage is for your comic books alone.
Remember: Any cost that you potentially “lose” on renting your unit will ultimately come out of the potential profits that you could make through the sale process.
Chapter 2: How to Profit from Selling Your Comic Books: Navigating the Sale Process
CHAPTER SUMMARY: Now that you know how to successfully plan for your comic book sale processes, we’ll be diving into how you can profit and successfully complete your first sale.
There’s more to the sale process than pricing and listing. This chapter will cover the additional details and tips that will help you to differentiate yourself from oher comic book sellers.
We’ll also be covering different ways that you can successfully sell to different groups, allowing you to maximize your earning potential.
Buyer Types for Comic Book Sales
There are many different types of buyers on the comic market. Understanding the type of customer you’ll be selling to can help you to make more efficient sales plans and marketing efforts.
For example, some comic book buyers are investors, who tend to buy comic books for the sole purpose of reselling them and earning profits.
However, other buyers are highly rated comic book collectors curating and creating their collections. It’s also entirely possible that your potential customer won’t fall into either category. They may collect books as a hobby.
No matter what type of customer profiles you find as you go through the sale process, It’s important to find out what kind of buyer you’re dealing with. This will help you to tailor your pricing and approach, and can make you more profitable in the long run.
Set Realistic Prices for Your Ideal Customer
As you go through the sales process, it’s important to always set realistic prices that reflect the condition of your comic books. A good rule of thumb is to never place a higher value than realistic on a book’s worth in a certain condition.
Placing a higher value on your book can create huge barriers for you and the potential buyer.
Calculate Your Shipping Fees (If Applicable)
Selling your comic book may result in additional fees such as postage and storage. This becomes more true the further radius that you use to sell your books. Calculating postage and storage fees into your price can help you to preserve more of your end-sale profits.
While postal and storage charges are nominal, they are something you should consider when pricing your comic books.
Postal fees vary by location. If you find yourself going through the comic book sale process, It is best practice to have a list of all the possible charges for your targeted sale locations.
Storage fees for comics may also come into play, since you’ll need to store and package the books well before delivering them to the buyer. This helps to protect the buyer’s investment, and can impact how you’re viewed as a seller.
How to Take Sale Photos of Your Comic Books for Sale
Looking to sell like a pro? We recommend always posting the original photos of your comic books. Avoid looking for stock pictures on the internet for your sales listings. While this step can seem small, it can greatly affect your ability to sell your books.
Many comic book sellers will search online for the comic book they’re trying to sell, and use a stock photo alongside their listing. You can see this firsthand through collection logging apps, such as the Comic Book Database.
This isn’t as good of a solution as you might think. The images can be hard to access, and give no indication of the condition for the buyer to review prior to completing the sale.
If you have a large collection, it can be time-consuming to go through and photograph each. However, by taking individual pictures of each comic book, you can build trust with your buyer from the start.
This can go a long way, especially if you have opted to sell your comic book collection online.
You can determine for yourself if taking photos of the entire collection is time-efficient for your sales efforts, or if you’d rather take one at a time. There isn’t a wrong way to take your comic book photos.
When taking the shots, always make sure that they are high quality and sale worthy. Be sure to capture the front and back cover clearly.
If you don’t feel that your shot is as high-quality as it should be, consider using a comic book scan instead. Normally, these comic book scans can come out better than photos will. Plus, there’s the added benefit of convenience, since the scanner will be hooked up to your computer. This means that you won’t have to deal with expensive image hosting sites.
Taking high-quality photos benefits you just as much as it benefits the seller. Most sale platforms do not allow images with a poor resolution to be used next to your listing or will devalue your listing so that fewer people can see it. It’s best to do a test listing before you start to take photographs of everything.
Pro Tip: Looking for tutorials about how to take high-resolution photos? Consider taking your high-res photos against a white background, which allows the comic to be the main focus of the image.
You’ll also get a better appearance thanks to the lighting and reflection naturally occurring with your item against a white backdrop.
Should I Sell My Comic Collection As A Group?
If you’re looking to sell your comics as a lot, you may want to consider selling them en masse to the right buyer. Selling your comics as a group is ideal if you’re looking to move a group of them quickly, and are willing to accept a potentially lower overall cost.
The entire goal of selling your comic book collection all at once is to save your time and to earn as much money as you possibly can in the process.
If you’re evaluating which way of selling comics is best, it’s best to consider methods that require minimum time and maximum output.
When choosing your sale option, you may want to consider potential buyer preferences as well. For example, If you sell complete sets and runs, you’ll likely be paid more than if you were selling single issues.
Is Bulk Selling Your Comic Books Worth It?
It is always a good idea to sell your comic books in bulk. Selling them as a mass collection can save you time, and offers additional seller benefits. You can profit more quickly, and protect your ability to earn by taking the path that takes the least amount of time.
If you choose to sell your comics in bulk, there’s just one thing to keep in mind: More books mean more weight, which would require you to pay additional costs associated with more storage, shipping, and postage.
However, if you can sell or deliver to a local buyer, you can earn additional profits and lose less on delivery and postage fees.
Marketing Comic Books For Sale & Selling Comics Online
Online selling is inherently risky. There are many different scams or illegitimate sellers that you can run into, even if you take the time to research properly. Luckily, there are various other ways to sell comic books that are not online.
Generally, it is considerably safer to sell books offline. Selling offline also allows you to negotiate on elements of the sale, such as your price point.
Promotion and marketing play an important role in selling items. This means that the more people who know about your books, the more likely you will have customers and potential buyers.
There are many different ways that you can market the sale of your comic books. Generally speaking, it’s always a great idea to promote your sale by using in-paper or local ads.
You can even promote your sale through websites and social media channels, and boost the potential of your sale to turn a profit.
Pro Tip: You can promote your sale on craigslist.com, gsalr.com, & your local newspaper. You can also use social sites, such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to easily access comic book fans and potential buyers for your collection.
Selling Comics to a Store
Physical stores might be a little picky at times as they are in search of books that are high in demand. However, it is worth searching for a physical shop that accepts second-hand copies based on the convenience factor and ability to profit. This is especially true if you have older comics that you’re looking to sell for higher levels of profit.
Before you sell your comic books to a local seller, know the process that will occur after you complete the sale. Their ultimate goal is to purchase your book for less so that they will be able to turn a higher profit. Come prepared with the value approximation of your comic, and with a price point in mind to haggle or start the conversation with.
Selling Your Comics to Comic Book Dealers
If you want to play it safe, try looking for dealers online or in your area and schedule a meeting with them. This can help you to have an easier overall sales process, as you’ll be working with someone that’s experienced in the comic industry.
There is one caveat here, though — Comic book dealers often purchase books for as low a price as possible and resell them for a profit.
However, while you may walk away with slightly less revenue, selling your comic books to dealers will save you from a lot of additional time and costs of the sale process that you’d incur if you chose to list it yourself.
Selling Comics at a Comic Convention
Looking for more ways to sell? Check-in locally for comic book shows and displays in your local convention centers and meeting halls. You can also choose to set up a “shop” at comic-related movie releases based on cinema rules in your area.
After all, there’s no denying that people who watch comic movies love comic books as well. There is a high chance that you would find buyers among those who have watched the show.
Showing up locally to these types of events boosts the number of opportunities you’d have to sell your comic book collection.
Chapter 3: 55 (More) Tips for Selling Your Comic Books for Profit
CHAPTER SUMMARY: By now, you know how to sell your comic books for profit. We hope that you feel ready to get through your first sale successfully, no matter how you choose to sell!
Below, we’re offering 55 more tips for making your sales process a great one. These insights from the team at Dylan Universe come from years of experience and several hundred successful sales, allowing us to be the best possible reference for you to succeed with.
As you read through these expert tips, be sure to bookmark this page for later reference. It is possible to have an extremely successful “side hustle” and income stream from selling comic books.
General Tips for Comic Book Sales Success
1. Which Comic Should You Sell First?
Wondering which comic to sell first? There’s likely a book in your collection that’s rare and in demand. Start your sale process by identifying a unique book that’s in demand, and sell quickly – establishing your reputation as a seller.
2. Outsourcing Your Sales Process
There is no being the Lone Ranger in your comic book sales process. After all, even Batman has Alfred and Robin!
Search for experts who can support you through your sales process. Walk through the purchase process and identify opportunities for outsourcing. Think of supportive tasks that virtual assistants, site developers, photographers, and freelancers can help with.
By outsourcing easy, trainable, and necessary tasks, you’re able to protect your time and make your sales process more profitable.
3. Stay Flexible in Your Sales Process
As you go through the sales process, you’ll likely identify new areas to grow and adapt your processes. Try to be adaptive to changes in technology and in process. Remain receptive to learning from others.
Being open to learning throughout your process can help your business to grow quickly and further establish you as an industry and comic sales expert. You’re never done learning!
Plus, you’ll be able to more easily refine your customer-facing processes with an adaptable and trainable mindset, giving your customers a better overall experience. That’s a great recipe to get repeat business and word-of-mouth recommendations.
4. Have Realistic Expectations for Comic Book Sales
Be realistic about your timeline for comic book sales. It’s not likely that you’ll sell your entire collection overnight.
However, there is a greater chance that you’ll sell more books if you continue to refine your processes and identify new ways to reach your ideal customer.
While the sale is your end goal, your real job throughout the sale process is to remove as many barriers to the sale as possible.
5. Separate Your Comics By Publisher for Sale
While the sale is your end goal, your real job throughout the sale process is to remove as many barriers to the sale as possible.
Sorting and Selling Your Comics for Profit
6. Benefits of Separating Your Comics for Sale by Country
Sometimes buyers may not know the publishers by name due to the high volume of publishers on the market.
Since most of these publishers are from the US, it is best to separate any foreign-published books from the US-published books so that your prospective buyers can browse more easily.
Generally speaking, USA-based comics may be worth more than other published books.
However, certain Canadian comic books (known as Canadian Whites from the 1940s) also have significant value on the market.
Foreign edition comics are worth a fraction of the originals, even if they came out only a year or a month later. The foreign publishers would make changes to the content, such as language and lingo swaps, taking different stories from different publications and merging them all together.
They did this to avoid paying for the creation of a new comic book to sell.
The vast majority of comic collectors and buyers are in the US, so expect your foreign comics to generally be lower value items compared to your US counterparts.
It is very rare that foreign comic books are worth more. The exception to this is when the character’s origin is not from the US, which makes it an original — not a reprint.
7. Separate Your Comics For Sale by Date and Publication
The date of publication helps you and your buyer to age the book properly, which is why you’ll want to consider sorting by publication date. Comic books are usually divided into 6 different age groups:
Platinum Age:
Platinum Age books were published between 1897 and 1933. All the comic books from this age have significant worth on the market today.
Despite the general value of books in this category, there are some outliers. Certain Platinum Age comics such as Big Little Books, Tijuana Bibles, and Mickey Mouse Americana don’t hold much value nowadays. This loss of worth is mainly because the collector demographic has changed a lot since the 1980s.
Golden Age:
These books were published between 1938 and 1956, and they also hold value in the current market. Books around popular cartoons, such as Looney Tunes, or TV/Radio shows have added value based on the collectors’ demographic that you’re targeting.
Silver Age:
These books were published between 1957 and 1969. These are valuable, especially if you have superhero comics from this era or comics that feature the first appearance of a major character.
Bronze Age:
These books were published between 1970 and 1983. The vast majority have a bit of value, and we expect to see the value go up for these books in the next few decades.
Copper Age:
These books were published between 1984 and 1991. There is minimal value currently associated with these groups at this point in time, but value will likely continue to rise further in the future.
Modern Age:
These books were published after 1991. These currently have little to no value compared to other ages and eras, but are a great starting point for collectors to start with and will accrue value over time.
8. Determine If Your Comics are Original or Restored Prior to Sale
Restored comic books are generally cheaper than original books. By definition, a comic book is considered to be restored when it is glued, photocopied, trimmed, has marker/paint added, pieces added, has been chemically cleaned, sealed with glue, or re-glossed.
Before selling it to the buyer, be sure to let them know the accurate condition of the book.
Selling restored comic books as unrestored when in fact you know it is restored is highly frowned upon in the comic community; it’s deceptive and unethical.
Tape used to be considered as restoration work, but not anymore. Glue is, though. If in doubt, be sure to ask a comic book professional for their opinion to help you remain as integrous as possible.
9. Sort Comic Books by Value For Easy Reference
Many dealers find it useful to separate the different comic books in their collection into groups according to value. After all — It makes no sense to file a group of comic books worth around a dollar with those worth $100!
This allows you to have an easy way to reference your collection for sale to a variety of different groups.
There are a lot of sales strategies around this that you can take advantage of.
If you’re inundated with lower-value comics, you might also try to sell some of the $1 comic books for a single grab bag price. This makes it easier to sell comic books that wouldn’t catch the attention of collectors, and allows you to still profit.
Pro Tip: Grab bags shouldn’t contain more than 50 comic books. While you’ll be selling these at a significantly lower price, you’ll be able to quickly establish yourself as an authority in the seller’s market.
If setting up at a convention, it is good to have your expensive comics set apart, ideally behind the table. Theft is a real problem at these types of events. Usually, comic book dealers typically have a “wall display,” which holds them up in the air sort of like a display case.
That way, you can show off comics grouped by value while protecting them from theft or damage.
Grouping by value also affects how you price your comics. Personally, I also recommend making your boxes of “stuff” on tables at a flat price point vs. individually pricing each comic. There are a few benefits to doing this.
First, it saves a lot of time! Second, customers enjoy buying comics that are all $1, 2, $3, or $5. It is just so much easier and appears to be a “great deal” for your prospective customers.
We’ll cover discounts a little further in this chapter to help you to get the most possible profits out of each sale experience and event.
10. Sort Your Comics By Genre
Comic books have genres just like any other book type. Some of the common genres of comic books are Action, Adventure, Horror, Sci-Fi, War, Cartoons, Sports, Superheroes, and Romance.
Everybody has their preference when it comes to comic book genres, which is why separating by genre or storyline can help the buyer find what they need quickly.
Certain genres also sell well together. Sci-Fi & Horror, for example, overlap well. Experiment to determine which method works best for your core demographic.
Looking to process your books quickly? The cover art is a great indicator of what genre each comic book is. Take a look and do additional research to make sure that your comics are accurately classed.
11. Separate Your Comics With Flat Pricing Structures
Keep your books organized. Separating your comics by flat rate price groups will give them an easy shopping experience.
You can choose to separate by any price that you want. Most commonly, sellers choose to separate in groups of $1, $2, $3, $5, & $10 each, under $100, and expensive.
Doing this can save you time, too, as you won’t have to put price stickers on them.
12. Are Third Party Grading Services Worth It For Selling Comics? (Yes, Here’s Why)
If you are new to selling and not sure about the grades of the books, consider seeking help from a comic book grading company like CGC and CBCS.
They are professional grading companies that verify grades and check for problems that may need to be addressed with restoration. If you opt for professional grading services, they can boost your product’s credibility — but just know that they do not advise on pricing or sale process optimization.
Grading your comics can cost approximately $50 each, when you factor in shipping and fees. You can lose money quickly if you choose to grade every book that you plan to sell.
Don’t rush to grade your entire collection, especially not the lower value books. We recommend attempting to sell your collection without grading associated with your listings. If this doesn’t work after effort and sales, you should then consider additional grading for your high-value books to try to drive sales and boost value.
13. Do Your Research Prior To Selling
Once you are done sorting and listing, it’s time to research. This step can help you to maximize your profits and streamline your sales process. Market, prospect, and process research is absolutely essential.
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While there is no “one right way” to do comic book sales, comparing and contrasting information from other comic book sellers and authorities can help you to make the best sales experience possible.
14. Know Your Target Market To Sell Your Comics
Knowing your target market and its demographics will help you to sell more comics.
Location is key, and can help you to dial in your ads and sales structure. It also dictates a variety of your other strategic elements! For instance, if you are based in the UK and comic books are in high demand in the US, you should consider shipping services.
15. Track Trends in the Comic Universe
As you go through the comic sales process, be sure to stay up to date on the latest trends. Most times, comic books are in high demand when either the creator of the comic book dies or when the book becomes a major motion picture. Fandoms (a.k.a. “Fan groups”) on Tumblr and other social media sites can fuel new trends.
Create accounts on social media and watch the blogging authorities in the comic universe. This is called social listening, and can help you to get strategic about your sales process.
Wanting to dive deeper? Here’s a guide to help:
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16. Find a Way To Track Sales
It’s important to find a way to track your sales for tax purposes. You can use your “sale list” or spreadsheet from earlier points in this article, or you can use a free tool such as Airtable or Monday.com to help.
This will be a valuable tool for your accountant and income reporting purposes. It can also show you your average profit and loss metrics, allowing you to get more strategic about your sales process.
17. Research Customer Payment Methods
As a seller, it’s important to have a payment method that is convenient for both you and the buyer. Cash is great for in-person sales, but having an online payment method offers convenience, discretion, and opportunity for overseas or interstate transactions.
The most reliable options out there include direct bank deposit, or online payment services like Venmo or PayPal. They offer consumer protection and customer service to make your transaction a great one.
18. Offer Discounts and Sales
Buyers love a good deal! Having offers such as “Buy 5, get 1 free” or similar sales can help you to find new buyers and prospects. You can also do seasonal or personalized sales for more traction once you have a steady stream of customers.
19. Pick a Primary Selling Spot: Offline or Online?
While both are viable options, it’s easier to perfect the process on one platform before moving to another! That’s why one of the first decisions any comic-book seller has to make is whether to sell comics in the offline or online market first.
The advantages of offline sales are that buyers can experience the comics themselves before they purchase. They can check conditions and have a visual hands-on experience of the comic book.
Another benefit with in-person sales is that you also don’t have to worry about the excess postal service cost or error, or tasks around returns, packing and shipping.
If you’re interested in this option, you could try selling your comics at a local comic store or to a local back issue buyer. Most stores like to keep strong stocks of older issues.
However, always remember that brick-and-mortar stores are dealers. You’ll be less likely to maximize your profits using this option, as they’ll want to re-sell at a profit.
If you have a larger and rarer collection of comic books, you may consider purchasing a booth at a convention. This can be expensive, but it will put you right in front of people who are ready to purchase and who are aware of the value of your collection. While it’s a gamble, you can easily recuperate your investment with a few good sales.
There’s a variety of online sites that you can use to sell your comics. However, a great place for online sales beginners is an auction site, like eBay.
The benefits of these sites are that you can profit well and reach a larger number of buyers. However, there’s extra work managing the customers, processing, and shipping the items. Any returns or chargebacks will also fall on your shoulders to resolve.
If you just started selling online but aren’t seeing the traction that you expected yet, don’t be discouraged. A strong following takes years to build.
Dylan Universe Comics can be a resource to you as you navigate the sales process, whether it’s online or in-person.
20. Writing a Product Description That Sells
Your product description works 24 hours per day to sell your books on your behalf. That’s why it’s important to invest time into this process, and to learn the art of description copy.
Before you write, it’s important that you accurately and extensively research and note the condition and contents of each comic book. No matter what you see, always be honest. Your reputation will be key to future sales success.
Next, it’s time to make your outline. Many buyers already know what they want to see, so write it in a way that will appeal to your ideal customer. For example, by providing detailed information about the comic book, you make it easier for buyers to find you and determine if the sale can be viable.
Some online sites require a minimum number of words or characters. If this is the case, you need to make use of the space by only including essential information.
“Key information” usually includes the title, the issue number, the volume number, and the publisher, as well as the general story.
Staying concise is important as you write your description and title. Avoid overpromising, as this can set your customer up for unrealistic expectations. Avoid overuse of terms such as GREAT, AWESOME, or NICE CONDITION. They only make your results go DOWN in the search results, as they appear spammy.
Most online sites, (including Craigslist), are search engines. Doing keyword research around phrases your customers are Googling and searching for can help you to appear organically. A professional copywriter can help you to do this.
To maintain your credibility, be sure to avoid typos. Be sure to spell check or use a tool like Grammarly to proof your work. Buyers want to buy from sellers that they feel like they can trust.
21. Selling at an Auction House
If you’re looking to sell, consider an auction house. Auction houses have regular auction events that attract customers from around the globe, showcasing your items to prospects who could turn into loyal customers.
Research is key, as some auction houses may not accept comic books for their events. This can be a great place to sell your books, especially if the comics you have to sell are in-demand and high quality items.
22. Selling at Local Neighborhood Events
Where there is a gathering of people, there’s probably a comic book enthusiast! Certain events such as flea markets, school shows, and farmer’s markets are good opportunities to sell comic books, since you’ll be exposed to a more diverse demographic in your local community. It’s also a great way to get your name out there if you plan to make comic book sales a second income stream for long-term use.
Be sure to connect with your local community government and chamber of commerce to determine new opportunities for you to sell your comics locally year-round!
23. Selling at a Garage Sale
Garage sales are great “training grounds” to hone your sales skills and to interface with the local community members. Although the amount of potential customers is lower than you’d find at a convention or event, you’ll likely find a few people who are interested in your collection.
24. Sourcing New Prospects For Your Sales Process
A local classified site or app (such as Craigslist) can help you to connect with new prospective customers in your surrounding communities. You can sell or purchase on-app, and build your brand presence.
The only disadvantage of selling on local classifieds is the fact that you have a higher risk of being scammed. Stay prepared and smart with any meet-ups that you have, and be sure to verify that you were paid the correct amount before leaving the location.
25. Staying Safe for Comic Book Meet-Ups
No matter how trustworthy your prospect may seem, approach meet-ups cautiously to avoid scams or potentially dangerous situations. To keep yourself safe before meeting a new buyer, we recommend that you:
Set your meet-up at a public location: Any public spot works, preferably coffee shops, cafes, malls, restaurants, and busy streets.
If it is a large transaction, consider doing a background check on your buyer. People are not always who they say they are, and it’s important to stay safe when conducting larger transactions.
Online Sales Tips for Selling Your Comics
26. Selling on Comic Book Forums and Sites
Many online sites specialize in buying and selling comic books. My Comic Book Shop is a great example of this. These sites allow you to connect with other enthusiasts easily and safely, as well as build your authority in the comic book space.
If you have the opportunity to buy and sell on these kinds of sites, we still recommend safety precautions to minimize your risk of a scam. Check for reviews, and use a reputable online payment method to ensure that the sale process is as fair as possible for everyone.
27. Selling On Amazon
You can technically sell comic books on Amazon, allowing you to reach new global audiences. However, this isn’t the best option for a beginner as you can run up fees.
It’s also extremely competitive, which means that you will likely need to hire an Amazon specialist to get any sort of return. You can choose to take your chances with Amazon, or you can save this platform for a later opportunity when you’ve gotten more social proof and experience.
28. Selling On Auction Sites
Online auction sites are similar to physical auctions. These auctions charge premium fees, which are often about 20%+ of your earnings. These sites can be worth it if you’re selling high-value collections, but may not be worth the lost cost for lower-value books.
Auction sites also charge the buyer a buyer’s premium and aggressive shipping fees, keeping costs low for the buyer.
29. Using Escrow or Brokerage Services
No matter how you choose to sell your books, make sure that you have payment methods in place that are favorable for both you and the buyer.
Services such as escrows and brokers can protect both buyer and seller. Plus, they can actually be a tool to grow your business.
In any business, there should be mutual trust in the relationship between you and the buyer. Problems that come with unprofessional shipping can affect the seller’s trust in your ability to deliver.
Brokers and escrow services hold the money until the transaction is done to the satisfaction of both the buyer and the seller, ensuring that all parties walk away satisfied.
30. Image Hosting Sites For Your Product Descriptions
Looking to finish your product descriptions in a flash? Consider using an image hosting site to house your hi-res photos instead of email. They have close to unlimited space for the storage of images, and are available in both free and paid membership options.
Once you are done uploading the image on the site, you can retrieve it whenever you want. The sites also allow for direct uploads. All you have to do to use this tool is to snap your photo and upload it directly to the app, saving it in whatever file structure you’ve arranged.
31. Avoiding Scams in Your Sale Process
Online businesses and sales are always vulnerable to scams and fake people. To minimize your risk, always remember that you can halt a sale at any time if you feel like it’s a scam.
Report your scam to the platform admins or customer service, and to any relevant escrow or brokerage services to halt the process. Listen to your instincts and avoid anything that seems too good to be true. It likely is!
A few common scams include:
- Customer stating that it did not arrive when you have tracking and a submitted final delivery date
- Senders often require delivery people to take a photo of the item at the location to avoid this scam. If you get this complaint, reach out to your sender for whatever information they have to help you manage the complaint.
- Customer complains and asks for refund
- This often happens regarding the condition or quality of the book. Having certifications of quality or other proof types can help you to avoid this.
- Customer requests that the item be sent first and that they will send payment at a later time
- Avoid these situations. This is a well known scam and you will have limited recourse if they choose not to pay.
32. Exploring Comic Book Delivery Options
Once you have made the deal and sold the comic, the next step is to organize the delivery. Presentation and preserving the condition of your comic are important in this process.
Some sites may have their own means of transport, but others may not.
Consider making a pro/con list before making the final choice about your delivery service.
Consider convenience, pricing, customer service inclusions, and other elements that you think are vital to your sales process. USPS, FedEx, UPS, & DHL are some of the most well known and reputable.
33. Packing Your Comic Package
You never know what environments your package will be coming into contact with during the transport process.
Be sure to pack your items for your buyers neatly. Ideally, the comic book will be in a protective box, or in a protective bag and board setup. This can help keep it safe from bends or breakages in the transport process.
Be sure to reference any delivery-specific instructions and requirements that are mandated by your transportation vendor to minimize any delays in your shipment.
34. Come Prepared To Your Negotiation Process(es)
Selling and buying comics is a business. You should be able to show buyers the value of your product. To do this, come prepared to your negotiations with a list of your comic’s unique selling points. What special provenance or story does it have? Is it signed? Is it in nice condition? Is the price reasonable?
Always remember that negotiating correctly involves honesty. Don’t lie and compromise integrity and brand perception to make your sale.
35. Social Media Marketing – Is It Worth It?
Social media usage is a great tool for selling comic books and building your brand. More people are looking to social media sites and engines such as Craigslist, LetGo, and Facebook to sell and buy stuff, which you can take advantage of for your comic book sale process.
Feel free to sign up for and apply to Facebook Groups and Instagram chats to familiarize yourself with that area of the market. You can also connect with other enthusiasts and boost your brand perception for free.
If you opt to sell on these platforms, watch out for scams and lowball offers. Remain “e-smart” and avoid any signs of dishonesty or scams wherever possible.
If you’re not ready to dive into sales just yet, you can use these platforms to build up your brand and follower base with authentic, helpful, and relevant niche-based content.
36. Build Your Brand by Word of Mouth
Everybody knows somebody who loves comics! You can share your comic book business with your circle of friends, colleagues, and family. Doing this can help you to jumpstart your community building process, and may also connect you to your next buyer.
37. Maintain Communication Throughout The Purchase Process
Buyers always have questions! Having good communication skills is essential to set yourself apart from your competitors. Be sure to do your research so that you can answer in a knowledgeable way. You can also summarize the process and any answers to questions in an FAQ sheet on your website or on your social channels.
38. Protect Your Reputation
In the sale process, your reputation is known as your overall brand perception. No matter what the business is, building a strong reputation is important. To build your reputation, pour resources into developing strong customer relationships and customer service resources.
Your investments will be well-spent, we promise! A strong reputation will help new buyers trust you. You can build your community more quickly with less effort, and continue to build your reputation over time.
39. Immerse Yourself in the Comic Community
You don’t always have to attend comic conventions and events with the intent to sell or get a booth! Sometimes, it may be good for your business to attend these events as just an attendee.
By attending these events and interacting with people, you can boost your brand awareness as a seller and fellow expert-enthusiast. You might even meet some buyers interested in your collection!
40. Use Ads to Make an Impression
Digital advertising is great, but making a print ad impression is important to reach your local community. No matter what types of ads you consider to spread the word about your business, consider the following tips:
- Make sure they are eye-catching and are informative without being too textually dense.
- Make it engaging and encourage the prospect to keep reading with compelling copy and high quality graphics.
- Make sure to include multiple forms of contact information to avoid barriers to sale.
41. Trading Your Comics (Pros and Cons)
If you aren’t moving as many comics as you’d like, look for opportunities to trade. You can find or post opportunities on social channels like Facebook, Craigslist, or Tumblr. There’s always someone in the community who might be interested in what you’re looking to trade with.
42. Master Your Mindset
If you want to take your comic book sales to the next level, it’s time to master your mindset. Experiences are important for your growth, and adopting a “lifelong learner” mentality can help you to be more receptive to those opportunities.
Learn to take the positive experiences with the negative. Being scammed and overcoming failure offers invaluable experience and wisdom for your next transaction.
Mastering your mindset can help you to avoid burnout and mental strain from the sales process.
43. Campaign For More Profits: Retargeting Your Current Customer Base
After you sell a book, your opportunity to earn income isn’t over.
Checking up on your customers with follow up emails and social campaigns can help you to maximize your possible revenue. Remain authentic and try to connect with them at every touch point. Are they enjoying the book? Do they know any other people who might want to buy one?
You’ll likely get replies. Tracking these in a CRM or database tool can further inform and reinforce your marketing strategy.
44. Scale Over Time
As a start-up business or brand, consider starting small and setting lower prices. This will help you boost your reputation in the market and add to your credibility and authority. As you grow, you can steadily increase your prices to maximize your profit.
Don’t be tempted to scale too quickly. Having the proper systems in place can positively impact your customer’s experience, and can turn them from customer to brand advocate. These types of customers will grow your comic book business for you.
45. How to Handle Difficult Comic Book Customers
If you work in a business-to-consumer (B2C) business like comic book sales, it’s likely that you’ll have a few customer issues come up over time.
Remember to remain respectful, and to put the needs of the customer first when possible. Listen to their concern when it’s brought up, and work to come to a compromise that benefits both parties in instances of conflict.
46. Be Patient During the Business Growth Process
Nothing worth having comes easy. It might take days, weeks, or even months to get all your comic books sold.
Expect the ebbs and flows, and have backup plans in place to keep your income flowing as you go through your launch process. If you treat your comic book business as a “side hustle” through the startup process, and continue to survive using other streams of income, you can minimize stress as you grow your business.
47. Define Yourself Early On
Before getting too deeply involved in a comic book sales business, take the time to define yourself and your legal business structure. Will you be a(n)…
- Sole Proprietor: Working on your own on an on-demand basis?
- LLC: Formalized business structure receiving tax benefits and making a minimum amount of income? (This is best if you opt for a physical store or formal arrangement.)
- Legal Partner(s): Working together with other enthusiasts or family members/partners? (This can be legally complicated, so we recommend consulting a lawyer if you’re considering this route.
Entrepreneurship is a fluid state. It’s important to remember that even if you confidently define yourself now, this may change down the line as your business continues to grow.
48. Give Yourself A Name
Now that you’ve legally defined yourself, it’s time to pick a brand name. If you plan to work mainly with online sales, consider building your brand name around key phrases that will come up in customer search engines.
It should be creative, authentic, and true to the vision of your brand. There are no wrong answers in this process!
49. Invest in Your Business
Investing in your business wisely impacts the amount of potential revenue that you can make back. For example, when you sell a comic book, you can also choose to buy it for a future resell.
If you choose to buy stock for your business, make market research your first step. Go for comic books that are rarer, and have historical permanence. These types of comics have the biggest chance of bringing you strong returns when you decide to sell.
50. Strategies to Expand Your Business
Research, plan, and prepare to expand your business strategically. A large part of the expansion process relies on digital ads and digital presence, as well as continuous efforts to network and “get the word out.”
Be smart about your public perception and branding. Be cautious and protective of your social media presence and presentation in the community.
Before you take any action on any outward-facing growth strategies, see if they help you to answer (or broadcast) the following:
- Why would someone pick you?
- What is your brand all about?
- Is your brand reputable and authoritative?
You’ll have to communicate and create these growth strategies in ways that will resonate with prospects with a lower attention span. The world of business growth strategy and marketing is getting increasingly more fierce, and people will only give you a few seconds to make an impression.
51. Make Your Business Plan
Before you launch, make your business plan to help you to prepare to scale and achieve. Your plan should cover a year at a minimum, and five years at a maximum.
Your business plan will be a roadmap for your goal setting process, and also to investors when you’re ready to seek capital and stakeholders for your scaling process.
If you’ve never done this before, you can research and use any of the templates available online. You can also connect with a local business professional for more targeted assistance making your comic book store business plan.
52. Do Your Competitor Research
In your business plan, you’ll want to cover a light summary of competitor research. Doing your research based on other comic book sellers and buyers’ websites can give you direction and inspiration for your site.
It can also help you to identify new areas of need, and show you how you can differentiate yourself from your competitors.
53. Develop Your Comic Book Price Strategy
As you launch, it’s important to develop your price strategy. If it isn’t working for you, you can always revise it and try something new — but having a place to start is key to your business’ success.
The formula is simple. No sales? No problem. You have two options in this case: Drop the price or keep it the same, and try new sales and marketing techniques. Troubleshooting your process isn’t lost time. In fact, it can help you to better refine the process for the future.
Set quarterly reminders to assess your current price strategy, and determine if it is working for you.
Can’t Sell Your Comics? Here’s What To Do
There may be times where you can’t sell your comics for profit. You have two options in this case, or you can choose to hold onto your stock for sales or for selling later.
54. Donating Your Comic Books
If you determine that some of your comic collection isn’t likely to sell, you may consider donating the books. You may be able to donate them to schools, children’s homes, or learning resource centers. Connect with your local community resources and determine where your stock would be best used and appreciated.
My friend Carl does this through a great charity where he donates comics directly to veterans, hospitals, and those who are underprivileged. I highly recommend him!
https://carlscomix.com/category/comic-book-donations/
55. Donating Your Comic Books
Feeling attached to your comics? You don’t have to sell them or give them away! Hold on to your favorite copies to be given as heirlooms to your next generation of family, or close friends.
Show them what you love. Start a new generation of enthusiasts. You might be surprised to know that love for comic books runs in families.
It Is Possible To Sell Your Comic Collection for Profit
Now, you’re ready to sell your comic books and launch your successful comic book business.
Looking to take your comic book education and hobby to the next level? Connect with the team at Dylan Universe today! We’re here to be a resource to you as you go through the sale process, and look forward to watching you succeed in the world of comic books.
