How to Flip Phones in 2025 – The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide
Want to start flipping phones for profit? This ultimate guide walks you through sourcing, selling, and scaling your phone flipping business in 2025.
How to Flip Phones in 2025 (Step-by-Step)
Andrew Rojas, Author
Flipping phones is one of the fastest and most reliable ways to make money online—without needing a warehouse, expensive ads, or a huge budget.
If you've ever bought a phone before, you already have 90% of the skills needed to turn this into a profitable business. Whether you're looking for extra income or want to replace your 9-to-5, this guide will break down everything you need to know:
Where to find cheap phones
The best platforms to sell for max profit
How to avoid common scams
How to scale from side hustle to full-time
Let’s get started.
Can You Build A Career From Phone Flipping?
The short answer is yes, and now is the perfect time to learn this skill.
Just look at how many phone stores exist in your city or town.
Why is Apple so valuable? Because of the iPhone—it accounts for over 48% of Apple's total profits. That means every other product and service Apple sells (including the App Store) makes up just 52% combined, while one single product brings in nearly half of their revenue.
This industry offers many different career paths, including:
Phone Reseller
Wholesaler
Phone Shop Owner
Online Buyer
Independent Repair Technician
and more if you think outside the box!
The purpose of this website is simple: to educate people who are interested in this industry.
To share the truth—the Pros and Cons and to teach you enough so you can decide if this is the right path for you. It’s not about if you should start—it’s about when/if because this is one of the lowest-cost businesses in the world to get into.
Who Am I?
My name is Andrew Rojas. I’m 27 years old and have been flipping phones full-time since I was 18. With nine years of experience in phone and electronics reselling, I’ve learned that this business isn’t about luck—it’s about having the right system.
The opportunity in phone flipping is massive, but most people either don’t know where to start or waste time on outdated methods. That’s why I built this platform—to help people skip the trial-and-error and start making real profits fast.
I’m not just a phone flipper—I’m also a professional online marketer and software owner, helping people automate and scale their businesses so they can stop chasing
deals and start running a profitable system.
What We Will Go Over
Where to find cheap phones
You will learn where resellers source cheap phones
The best platforms to sell for max profit
You will learn where to sell phones fast and for the maximum profit
How to avoid common scams
You will learn common scams to avoid in this industry
How to scale from side hustle to full-time
You will learn how to take this from a side hustle to a full-time income
How I Made My First Profits Flipping Phones (And How You Can Too!)
One of the fastest and easiest ways to make money reselling phones is one of the same methods I used when I was an 18-year-old with zero experience: flipping used smartphones for profit.
In 2016, I discovered a simple phone flipping strategy—buying used iPhones and Samsung devices at below-market prices and reselling them for a profit.
The method was straightforward: I posted free "We Buy Phones" ads on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, attracting sellers who wanted quick cash in exchange for their old devices. I also joined Facebook groups for buying and selling phones, which were goldmines for great deals.
At the time, Facebook Marketplace had just launched in October 2016, creating a huge opportunity for phone resellers like me to buy and flip used iPhones, Samsung devices, and other smartphones at bargain prices. This method which was amazing is no longer viable, you may be able to snag a deal here and there but it's no longer a consistent method you can rely on.
Where To Find Cheap Phone Deals in 2025
The Shift in Phone-Flipping Methods: What Works in 2025?
The old phone flipping strategy of posting "We Buy Phones" ads on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist began to decline around 2019.
Facebook’s algorithm updates started flagging these posts, as they weren’t actual product listings but rather purchase requests. Plus, increased competition made it harder to find underpriced phones.
While flipping phones for profit isn’t as simple as when I first started, it remains a highly profitable business—if you know the right methods. Posting free ads may no longer be viable, but a powerful, free strategy has helped us generate six figures in revenue:
How to Flip Phones using Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp
Thousands of people list used iPhones, Samsung phones, and other smartphones for sale every day.
The key to making money flipping phones is either acting fast or being the most persuasive buyer so you can lock in profitable deals before competitors.
📈Did you know? In a large metro area, there are so many underpriced phones listed daily that, hypothetically, if you bought every profitable deal for a year, you could surpass $1,000,000 in revenue. Of course, that’s unrealistic due to competition—but the earning potential remains huge.
Best Platforms to Resell Phones for Maximum Profit
If you’re looking to sell used phones for the highest profit, the top platforms are:
1️⃣ eBay
2️⃣ Swappa
3️⃣ Direct Buyers (Wholesale Electronic Buyers)
Each platform has pros and cons, but if you want to maximize profit, it’s important to understand fees, buyer expectations, and selling strategies.
Selling on eBay & Swappa: What You Need to Know
eBay Fees: 12.55% of the total sale price + potential PayPal fees.
Swappa Fees: Around 8% total, making it a slightly better alternative for fees.
Why People Pay More on These Platforms:
Buyers on eBay and Swappa are willing to pay premium prices because both platforms offer buyer protection and warranties. Your job as a phone flipper is to inspect each device before listing it, ensuring its condition is accurately described. Even damaged phones can be sold at a profit, as long as you provide clear descriptions of issues like cracked screens, bad ESN, or battery health degradation.
Why Direct Buyers Are My Favorite Option
The fastest and most reliable way to sell phones in bulk is by working with Direct Buyers.
What is a Direct Buyer?
Direct Electronic Buyers are wholesale technology companies that purchase smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other electronics in large quantities. These companies often
distribute phones internationally, where they can sell them for higher prices in foreign retail markets.
Why Sell to a Direct Buyer?
✔️No Platform Fees– Unlike eBay or Swappa, there are no selling fees, so you keep more profit per device.
✔️Instant Bulk Sales– Instead of listing one phone at a time, you can sell multiple devices at once, saving time.
✔️No Dealing with Returns– eBay buyers can return items for any reason, but Direct Buyers buy "as is" with no return policy. Since Direct Buyers work with wholesale clients who purchase in bulk, they can offer competitive prices and buy large quantities consistently—making them the best option for scaling a phone flipping business.
Which Resale Platform is Right for You?
Best for Maximum Profit? → eBay & Swappa (Higher prices, but fees & buyer expectations) Best for Fast,
Bulk Sales? → Direct Buyers (No hassles & quick turnaround)
Best for Beginners? → Start with eBay or Swappa, then transition to Direct Buyers as you scale
💡 Pro Tip:
Build relationships with trusted Direct Buyers so you can sell your phones instantly, avoid fees, and
maximize your flipping profits!
How to Avoid Scams When Flipping Phones
In the world of buying and selling used phones, there are countless scammers looking to take advantage of new phone flippers. That’s why it’s crucial to learn how to correctly grade phones before purchasing them.
We cover this in full depth in our 162-page eBook, "The Big Book of Electronics," where you’ll learn how to inspect devices, spot scams, and build a phone flipping empire.
How I Started with Just $250 & A Consistent Direct Buyer
I personally started flipping phones with just $250 and a trusted Direct Buyer I could cash out with multiple times per day. Even though I made great money, I also lost money along the way before learning how to flip phones like a 'Pro'.
Most people selling phones will be honest about the device’s condition and issues. However, there are still plenty of sellers who will try to deceive you—especially when it comes to: Failing batteries (Battery health below 80% or rapid draining) Small chips or cracks on the screen (That they claim are "barely noticeable") Internal issues (That can’t be detected without a full phone inspection) Many of these sellers desperately need cash, so they may omit important details about the phone’s actual condition.
This is why it’s critical to always perform a full device inspection before buying.
Types of Scammers in the Phone Flipping Industry
There are two types of scammers you’ll encounter in this business:
1️⃣ In-Person Scammers
These are pathological liars who will pretend they didn’t know about a phone’s issue when confronted. If you catch a seller hiding a defect, 99% of the time, they will act surprised—but don’t be fooled. Always inspect the device thoroughly before handing over cash.
2️⃣ Online Scammers
Online scammers are even worse because they hide behind a screen. They often push buyers to send payments outside of platforms like eBay, Swappa, or OfferUp—which is a major red flag.
Never send money outside of an official platform. Only inexperienced buyers fall for this trap. Expert resellers can spot scams instantly, and with the right knowledge, so can you.
How to Protect Yourself from Scams
✔️Learn how to properly inspect phones
before buying.
✔️Never buy from sellers who refuse to meet in a safe location.
✔️Use payment protection when purchasing online.
✔️Avoid deals that seem “too good to be true.”
✔️Always test the IMEI, battery, and screen before buying.
The good news?
You don’t have to learn this business from scratch. Over the years, I’ve guided many new resellers through these challenges and helped them avoid costly mistakes.
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve learned the fundamentals of phone flipping.
At its core, this is a hybrid online/in-person business.
While I’ve personally automated my process—hiring drivers to pick up devices so I don’t have to—I didn’t start that way.
For years, my wife and I were the only employees. I handled everything: marketing, negotiations, pickups—you name it.
If you expect to jump in and instantly make this an online-only business, this isn’t for you. The only true "online" method is buybacks, which requires a lot of capital. Otherwise, you're dealing with real inventory, and you need to master the core skills first: Examining phones properly Pricing them accurately Conducting safe and profitable deals.
Once you’ve got those down, then you can scale—hiring employees, expanding your network, and eventually making this business more hands-off.
My goal with this page isn’t just to teach you—it’s to inspire the next wave of electronic resellers, repair shop owners, and wholesalers. Yes, anyone can become a direct buyer. The only things you need are connections and capital.
In the next section, I’ll break down how I automate this business, but unless you're already an established reseller, you might want to skim through it. Before you can run, you have to learn to walk. Or maybe you're realizing this business isn’t for you—and that’s okay. Instead of pushing this on everyone, I created a free mini-course that gives you just enough knowledge to start this journey on your own if you choose to. Even with the mini-course, you might still have questions or need deeper insights. But I don’t want to teach people who aren’t serious—people who won’t actually use this knowledge and just waste their money.
That’s why I put together the 7-Day Phone Flipping Blueprint—a step-by-step course designed to get you flipping phones profitably in just one week. It’s only $27 because I want anyone serious to have access, while still ensuring there’s a small barrier to entry. And to make this an even easier decision, I’m giving you The Big Book of Electronics (162 pages) absolutely FREE as a bonus. By the time you finish this course, you’ll have everything you need to start sourcing deals, negotiating like a pro, and making money. And to make this risk-free, we’re even including a 100% money-back guarantee—if you're not fully satisfied, we’ll refund you, no questions asked.
How to Scale Phone Flipping from a Side Hustle to Full-Time with AI & Automation
For many, flipping phones starts as a side hustle—a way to make extra cash in their free time. But what if you could take it full-time without working twice as hard?
The biggest challenge in scaling a business isn’t just finding deals—it’s managing everything: negotiations, marketing, customer service, pricing, and logistics. That’s where AI and automation come in, allowing you to automate 90% of the process so you can scale without burnout.
Why Most Side Hustlers Get Stuck Phone Flipping
Many people start flipping phones but never scale beyond a part-time income because they:
❌Spend too much time searching for deals
manually.
❌Juggle too many tasks—negotiating, meeting buyers, and handling listings.
❌Struggle with consistency, leading to inconsistent income.
❌Lack a scalable system, so growth depends on their personal time & effort.
Sound familiar? The truth is, manually handling every part of your business is a dead end.
The Key to Scaling: Systematizing Your Business
If you want to go full-time, you need a scalable system—something that works even when you’re not actively managing it. This is where we’ve introduced AI and automation to handle:
✅ Automated Lead Generation
✅ AI chatbots respond instantly to leads, ensuring you never miss a deal.
✅ Auto-Pricing Tools– AI-driven tools analyze the market value of phones in seconds.
✅ Automated Outreach & Follow-Ups– Our system keeps
leads engaged, following up so you don’t have to.
✅ AI-Powered Offer Analysis– Instantly calculates profitable buying prices, helping you make smarter deals.
With 90% of the business automated, you can focus on closing deals and scaling instead of getting stuck in daily tasks.
Why Automation is the Game-Changer
Before automation, flipping phones required constant manual effort—hours spent messaging sellers, negotiating deals, and managing listings. After automation, you wake up to:
💡New deals already sourced for you.
💡Buyers ready to purchase your inventory.
💡Automated messages keeping your business running 24/7.
Instead of working inside your business, automation lets you work on growing it.
From Side Hustle to Full-Time Income: The Scalable Formula
📌Step 1: Implement AI for Deal Sourcing
– Stop searching manually. Use AI to scan marketplaces for underpriced phones.
📌Step 2: Automate Buyer Outreach
– Build a list of direct buyers and automate the pricing & selling process.
📌Step 3: Systematize Follow-Ups
– AI chatbots handle negotiations & responses, increasing conversion rates.
📌Step 4: Scale Up with Paid Ads– Once your backend is automated, use targeted ads to generate consistent leads.
📌Step 5: Focus on Growth, Not Daily Tasks– With 90% of operations running on autopilot, you can focus on higher-value deals and expansion.
Ready to Scale? Here’s What’s Next
Scaling doesn’t have to be complicated—you just need the right tools and strategy. If you want to see exactly how we built a full-time flipping business with AI & automation, check out our 162-page eBook, "The Big Book of Electronics", where we
break down the full system step-by-step.
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