Lots of people want to work from home, but in this current climate and lack of job opportunities, many are being forced to find ways in which they can make an income from setting up something themselves. One option is to sell on eBay.

Anyone who has ever sold anything on eBay will know how easy it is to go through the whole process from listing your item to posting it off. If you've already got a Paypal account set up through which you can receive and make payments, you're already on your way.

Start out by listing things you have around the house and don't want any more. It's surprising what other people will want. Something you've got no use for could be something that other people have been wanting for ages. Once you've got used to the process, you can delve more into the possibility of whether eBay could be the answer to your prayers.

Perhaps you'd like to become a powerseller, or sell in bulk but have no idea how to start. You may already have a talent whereby you make crafts or do paintings. Do you have a business already and want to open an eBay shop to further your sales online? Maybe you'd prefer to learn more about dropshipping where you wouldn't even need to stock or ship the products yourself.

You could always become an affiliate with the eBay Partner Network with potential for earnings related upon the amount of quality traffic you drive to the site each month. As of October 2009, eBay Partner Network programs are starting to move to Quality Click Pricing. This means that for each click that is directed by you to an eBay site, you will be paid. The amount you earn depends on the quality of the traffic you send and the more you send, the more you earn.

The thing to realise is that you will need to study more about these different methods and to read up on eBays rules and regulations before you go forward in any of them. You need to get to know something inside out before you can work something to its full potential, and to therefore become successful.

An eBay shop could be an essential part of your plan to make money out of your business. There are lots of benefits to having an eBay shop so this option is something you'll need to look into, as there is a monthly charge for this. However, 75% of eBay sellers who have a shop did admit in a survey that opening a shop did increase their sales.

You'll be able to create your own shop and personalise it with the Shop Builder. You can choose your logo, the colour scheme and how your goods are displayed. You'll have access to marketing tools which will help you to create more sales.

Shoppers love eBay shops because they are familiar environments where customers can keep returning to your site and learn more about you. You'll gain the confidence of your buyers. eBay promotes shops to buyers all over the site in the hope that viewers will buy.

It's a good idea to have a browse at some shops while you're on the eBay site. You'll get an idea of what other people have created and the sort of things that they're selling. To open a Basic Shop you will need to be a registered eBay user and have a seller's account. You will need to either be Paypal Verified or have a minimum feedback score of 10.There are also two other options of shops, the Featured Shop and the Anchor Shop. These have their own stipulations and are more expensive, but if you are starting out, just start with the Basic Shop. Your eBay shop will also show up in the search engines. To find out more information go to the bottom of the home page of the  eBay site and click on the "eBay For Business" link.

To become a PowerSeller, you have to meet certain criteria, although it is free to join membership.To qualify as a PowerSeller you firstly need to be registered as having a business on eBay and sell on average a mimimum of £750.00 or 100 items a month for three consecutive months. Those sales must be made up from more than four listings a month. Your overall feedback rating must be 100 of which at least 98% is positive. There are other stipulations including your having been an active member for 90 days, but if you are selling seriously on eBay it is worth considering becoming a PowerSeller.

You need to be professional in your dealings, and abide by all eBay's rules, and the eligability of being a PowerSeller is reviewed every month, so you need to keep your standards up. There are different levels that distinguish PowerSellers and the benefits that come with being one differ between the levels. A powerseller has certain benefits like being able to use a logo on business stationery, invitations to PowerSeller events and access to a PowerSeller discussion Board.PowerSellers at Silver -level and above have access to telephone customer support. Gold-level and above PowerSellers have access to a Personal Account Manager. For more information scroll down to the bottom of the home page of eBay and click on the "eBay For Business" link.

Dropshipping is a service which provides people with the opportunity to sell goods without holding any stock, having any storage facilities, buying in bulk or having to post out goods. You promote and sell products through your online presence and then you place the order with the dropshipper who then delivers the goods to the customer's address. Your profit will be the difference between the selling price and the price the dropshipper charges less any fees you've paid to eBay. Again, there is an awful lot to learn about this sort of business, so you'll need to do your homework. You can find out more about the eBay affiliate program again by scrolling down to the bottom of the home page and by clicking the "Affiliates" link.

Some very good books explaining all you'll need to know about eBay are available on www.play.com. Just key in "eBay" and select "books" from the drop - down menu and you'll see a selection.

So, whether you just want to start clearing out your clutter and making some money from it,  whether you want to earn from a hobby or whether you really want to go for it by finding suppliers and starting a full - blown business, you really can make a go of it.