Do you want to learn how to make money on Whatnot?
Have you wondered if you can sell products online without showing your face, building a website, or having a large audience first?
Whatnot is a live-selling app where people buy and sell products through livestreams. While livestream selling may sound intimidating, it’s actually an approachable way for beginners to start an online business and generate real revenue.
Below is an interview with Josh Garrod, who generated roughly $400,000 in sales on Whatnot in under nine months. Josh is part of Marketplace SuperHeroes, a team that teaches people how to build online income streams. He specializes in sealed trading card products sold during live shows—buyers see the items and hear his voice, but they never see his face.
In this interview, Josh explains:
- What Whatnot is
- How live selling works
- How much he has earned and typical profit margins
- What beginners might realistically earn
- What kinds of products sell well
- Whether this format suits shy or introverted people
He also covers startup costs, how to source products, common challenges, and practical steps to get started. Many people who succeed had no prior experience with trading cards, so this is accessible even if you’re new to the niche.
How I’ve Made $400,000 In Sales on Whatnot In Less Than 9 Months
If you’re exploring a side hustle selling on Whatnot, this interview offers a clear, practical introduction.
1. Tell us your story: who are you and how did you start selling on Whatnot?
My name is Josh Garrod. I live in England with my wife and three boys and I’ve always been curious about ways to earn money online. I discovered Whatnot by accident while watching livestream sellers and became fascinated by the format.
Rather than building a website or relying on paid ads, sellers interact with viewers in real time, creating a blend of marketplace, entertainment, and community. That combination appealed to me, so I experimented with streaming. I began with no audience and little experience, and found that with consistency and learning, the platform offered a real opportunity for ordinary people to generate income.
2. What is Whatnot and why is it popular?
Whatnot is a live-selling app that combines elements of marketplaces, live TV shopping, and social livestreaming. Sellers go live, showcase items on camera, interact with viewers via chat, and run quick auctions or fixed-price sales. Whatnot handles payments and order processing, making it simpler for beginners than setting up a full ecommerce store.
What makes it popular is the interactive experience: buyers can ask questions, watch products in real time, and enjoy the excitement of a live show. There’s still room for new sellers—many categories remain underserved and new buyers join the platform daily. You don’t need a big following to start; a phone, products, and a reliable streaming space are enough to begin.
3. Where does this model work?
The model works in multiple countries including the UK, US, Canada, and Australia. The approach and principles are broadly the same across markets, though the US market is notably large.
4. How do you make money on Whatnot?
My business focuses on sealed trading card products—packs and boxes with a random assortment of cards. I buy inventory from retailers or suppliers, then resell it live. During a stream I run short auctions; viewers bid using the app and the highest bidder wins when the timer ends. Whatnot manages payments and orders, and after the stream I package and ship the sold items.
The core skill is choosing the right products, keeping the stream engaging, and providing a smooth buying experience. Profit margins typically range from 25% to 35%, depending on product and stream performance.
5. Can introverts succeed on Whatnot?
Yes. I consider myself introverted and I started nervous, but livestream selling is more like a conversation with people who share an interest than public speaking. You don’t need to show your face—many sellers stream with the camera focused on the products and their hands—and confidence grows with practice.
6. How can sellers stream without showing their face?
Many sellers position a phone or camera above their workspace so viewers only see the products and the seller’s hands. Viewers see the item, the countdown timer, current bids, and live chat. This setup lowers the barrier for people uncomfortable with being on camera and lets sellers focus on presenting products well.
7. How much has Josh made and what are typical margins?
Since launching his first stream in October 2025, Josh has generated just over £300,000 in sales—about $400,000 USD. Profit margins generally range from 25% to 35%. For example, a stream that made roughly £2,300 in revenue produced about £700 in profit, around a 30% margin. Results vary by stream, product selection, timing, and audience.
8. What items sell and how do you source them?
Whatnot supports diverse categories: trading cards, collectibles, toys, fashion, beauty, home goods, sports memorabilia, comics, and more. Josh focuses on trading cards because of consistent demand. Beginners often start by buying from online retailers as regular customers—no wholesale accounts are required at first. Study what successful sellers offer, research where to buy those items, and test the numbers before scaling.
9. What can a beginner realistically earn in the first months?
Results vary, but meaningful sales can happen quickly. In Josh’s first month on Whatnot he generated £17,145 in sales (about $23,000 USD). Many beginners have achieved thousands of dollars in sales during their first month by choosing strong categories and streaming consistently. The early goal should be learning the platform and validating the concept rather than replacing a full-time income immediately.
10. What challenges should sellers expect?
Common challenges include initial nerves, learning which products sell, and handling inventory. Items that don’t sell immediately can be set aside and relisted later or offered in a different stream—often the same item will sell to a later audience. For many sellers, inventory is stored at home and fits in a small space. You don’t need a warehouse to begin.
11. Steps to get started on Whatnot
Step 1: Choose a product category that performs well and interests you.
Step 2: Source initial inventory from retailers—start small and validate demand.
Step 3: Set up a basic workspace: a phone on a stand, decent lighting, a label printer, and a clean desk area.
Step 4: Apply to become a seller on Whatnot and complete your account setup.
Step 5: Go live and treat early streams as practice—learn, adapt, and improve.
Step 6: Reinvest profits into more inventory and scale gradually.
Don’t overthink the setup; the fastest way to learn is to start streaming, make mistakes, and iterate.
12. About the course Josh teaches
Josh and Marketplace SuperHeroes created a program called Go Live, Get Paid to shorten the learning curve for new sellers. The course shares the exact model Josh used: product examples, sourcing methods, inventory recommendations, pricing strategies, stream setup, templates, and ongoing support including live Q&A sessions. It’s designed to give beginners a clear, actionable blueprint rather than expecting them to learn everything by trial and error.
Are you interested in selling on Whatnot?
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