| Now that is the question. Just how much money would | | | | slower, and winter is slower still. If your net sales are |
| you have to have available to be able to support your | | | | 4667 x 12=$56000 and you can only expect to make |
| lifestyle as a picker? I think we need to start at the | | | | good sales 8 months of the year, then each month |
| beginning and look at your current income. Suppose | | | | you must sell 1/8 of that amount to cover the fallow |
| you are earning 25,000 a year. Now that is pretty low | | | | months. That equal $7000 per month. |
| in this day and age to support a family, but let's start | | | | If you average $100 per sale (obviously some items |
| there. That means you are earning 2083 per month. | | | | are going to be a lot more, some items less) then you |
| From that is removed your income taxes and social | | | | would have to sell 70 items a month to maintain your |
| security, but we will consider that you need at least | | | | cash flow. In our good months when the economy |
| that much each month to support your lifestyle. | | | | was good, at a single mall space, we would usually sell |
| The cost of doing business as a picker includes | | | | about 25 to 35 items a month. You would then need |
| additional expenses: your truck, gas, truck upkeep, and | | | | to sell an additional 35 items (or to be safe, 45 items |
| other supplies. You may also need to rent a storage | | | | on eBay or to dealers, collectors or at auction. Listing |
| space, space in an antique mall, and if you do business | | | | just 10 items a week on eBay or some other site |
| online, you will have listing, PayPal, closing expenses | | | | would easily get you the amounts you need, or taking |
| and some shipping expenses. Looking at these | | | | 40 items to auction would be even easier. Remember |
| expenses, and roughly estimating, you will need an | | | | that at auction, some items will go for less and others |
| additional amount of, say, $700 to $1000 per month. | | | | will go for more than you expected. Remember, too, |
| (Fortunately, most of these are tax deductible and you | | | | that some months you will only sell $10 items, and |
| will get some of it back at tax time!) That adds up to | | | | some months you will sell a $2000 armoire. |
| $2800 minimum per month. | | | | These are basic numbers to help you start thinking |
| Your sales will need to include that amount plus the | | | | about your life as a picker. It's a huge amount of fun, |
| cost of your items so you can continue buying. Since | | | | certainly can provide you a decent income, but to |
| you expect to pay, on average, 40% what you sell | | | | maintain that cash flow is a tremendous amount of |
| your items for, your net sales must equal $4667 per | | | | work. Obviously, you will hit the jackpot sometimes and |
| month. Remember, too, that antiquing is a seasonal | | | | other times will hit a long, dry spell, but over all, you can |
| sport and the spring and summer are busy, fall is | | | | make a good living if you put your energy into it. |