Short answer
Apply for seller access, prepare your listings and shipping setup, then schedule and run a show. Track the actual items sold and their costs so you can pack accurately and check profit after fees.
1. Apply for seller access
Create a Whatnot account and use + Sell in the app to apply. Check your country’s eligibility and whether your category needs extra approval. Complete Whatnot’s verification and first-show checklist before going live; approval timing varies.
2. Prepare a small, organized inventory
Start with a batch you can describe and pack confidently. Give each physical item a clear identifier, record its condition and purchase cost, and keep it within reach. If a purchase includes several items, allocate its cost before the show rather than guessing afterward.
Prepare accurate listings, a camera view that shows product details, lighting and a way to print shipping labels. Schedule a show with a clear category, title and thumbnail, then share it with your audience.
3. Price after fees, not just purchase cost
A winning bid is revenue, not profit. Account for Whatnot commission, processing, cost of goods, packaging and any seller payment. Your commission rate can vary by category and sales tier; use the rate shown in Seller Hub. Try the free fee calculator before choosing your starting prices.
4. Run the show and record what leaves
Describe condition clearly, show the item on camera and explain what the buyer receives. As items sell, keep the buyer’s sale number matched to the actual item. Separate sold stock from the unsold batch and keep bundles together for packing.
If your stock lives in Shopify, ScanStation can record the real item sold from a generic listing: scan its barcode and it comes off Shopify’s available count. Keep Whatnot’s own integration for individually synced listings. Don’t scan an item whose stock that integration already deducted.
5. Pack, ship and reconcile
Use Whatnot’s shipping tools for labels and follow its current shipping requirements. Match each packed item to the order; a packing list helps, but it does not replace a shipping label. Set up your payout method and check Whatnot’s payout eligibility.
After the show, compare the sales export and order fees with your item costs and any seller commission. Keep refunds and adjustments visible. Compare profit as well as revenue before deciding what to put on the next show.
Useful next steps
- Free Whatnot fee and profit calculator
- Shopify inventory for Whatnot shows
- Track and compare profit per show
- Whatnot: apply to sell
- Whatnot: getting started
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