It all started with a simple desire: to travel the world.
Before I dive into how we made $14,000 profit in just two weeks as young, broke entrepreneurs, let me take a step back and share how this journey began.
I was inspired by Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, where he wrote that travel isn’t about how much money you have—it’s about your desire to explore. I had the desire but no money. Searching online for ways to make money, I stumbled upon selling books on Amazon.
I already had some experience from selling my college textbooks, so when I saw YouTubers like Reezy Resells and Caleb Roth flipping $1 thrift store books for $20+ on Amazon, I was hooked.
A Simple Plan Turned Into a Grand Adventure
After immersing myself in bookselling blogs and videos, everything clicked when I read Caleb Roth’s blog. He shared how he and his wife made $5,915 profit in one weekend traveling to thrift stores and libraries in a small Oklahoma town.
I realized I could combine my love for travel with a profitable side hustle. Armed with a 2006 Toyota Corolla, I embarked on a three-month road trip, living out of my car, sourcing books from cities big and small, and stopping to enjoy the sights along the way.
The Turning Point: A Bookselling Conference
1,000 miles into my journey, I heard about a bookselling conference in Los Angeles. The $200 ticket felt like a fortune, but I took the leap.
To save money, I slept in my car at Walmart parking lots and ate free breakfasts at Holiday Inns. When I arrived 30 minutes late to the conference, the only seat left was next to Caleb Roth himself—the very blogger who inspired my trip.
That conference was a game-changer. Seeing dozens of people making a living selling books on Amazon opened my eyes. I realized this wasn’t just a side gig—it was a legitimate business model with massive potential.
How We Made $14,000 Profit in 2 Weeks
My bookselling partner, Andrew Gong, and I knew we needed to treat this like a job to achieve our goal. Here’s how we did it:
Our Game Plan:
- Clock In and Hustle: We worked 9-to-5, six days a week, dedicating ourselves entirely to sourcing and listing books.
- Set a Target: We aimed to source 2,000 books, with an average net profit of $7 per book.
- Batch Listing: To save time, we listed books in bulk only when we ran out of space in my car.
- Scan Efficiently: Using the ScoutIQ app, we scanned over 24,000 books to find 2,000 profitable ones.
Turning $1 Into $10
ScoutIQ was our secret weapon. This app factors in book prices, Amazon fees, and sales velocity, and it displays a green or red indicator to show profitability. With ScoutIQ, we knew we could expect to sell 80% of the books we purchased.
Our most profitable find? A Jewish book set we bought for $200 at a New Jersey library sale and sold for $2,000 on Amazon.
Execution of the Plan
Our journey started in Portland, Maine, and we made our way to the wealthiest parts of New England, sourcing books along the way.
- Library Sales: Using BookSaleFinder.com, we mapped out sales and arrived early to beat the competition.
- Thrift Stores: We asked for backroom access at every thrift store, giving us first dibs on unscanned inventory.
- Boomerang’s Coffee Shops: These hidden gems in Boston doubled as used bookstores loaded with profitable finds.
We hit challenges, too. At Saver’s thrift stores, employees placed stickers over barcodes, slowing us down. But this extra effort often rewarded us with books other sellers overlooked.
Results: $14,000 Profit in 14 Days
It took about six months to sell all the books, but we realized $14,000 net profit after costs.
Key Takeaways:
- Expect to sell 20% of your inventory each month. For 1,000 books, that’s 200 sales per month.
- Treat your business like a full-time job if you want results.
This experience wasn’t just profitable—it was transformative. For two broke 20-somethings, making $7,000 profit each in two weeks while traveling felt unreal.
Looking Back: Faith and Hard Work
Selling books on Amazon was just the beginning. Today, my Amazon FBA business generates $25,000 profit per month selling wholesale products.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Faith in yourself is essential.
- Success is possible if you work hard, stay disciplined, and trust the process.
I hope this story inspires you to take action. You can achieve anything you set your mind to. If you have questions, drop a comment below—I respond to everyone.
Much love,
Avery
