Grow by doing more of what your numbers prove works: more yards, a specialty, a crew, and an eBay record that earns fee discounts. Buying whole cars is the last step, because it brings licensing.

Become Top Rated on eBay. You need an account at least 90 days old, 100 transactions and $1,000 in US sales over 12 months, a defect rate of 0.5% or less, late shipments of 3% or less, and tracking on 95% of orders. Add 1-day handling and 30-day free returns for Top Rated Plus: a badge and 10% off final value fees (eBay).

Open an eBay Store once parts sales pass about $1,045 a month (Part 3).

Specialize. Pick one or two makes (Mercedes, VW, BMW, trucks) and learn their part numbers, interchange and buyers. You'll pull faster, price better and build repeat customers in make-specific groups.

Add yards. Track profit per hour by yard. Expand to the yards where fresh, high-value cars land most.

Build a crew. Put any partnership in writing: an LLC operating agreement covering who owns the inventory, how profits split and what happens if someone leaves (SBA). Classify helpers correctly as employees or contractors; contractors paid $2,000 or more in 2026 get a 1099-NEC (IRS, NATP).

Get storage. A storage unit is deductible; check that your insurance covers inventory there.

Brand it. Use one name everywhere: your eBay Store, Facebook page, packing slips and boxes.

Whole cars: proceed carefully. In Virginia, buying a vehicle to resell its parts requires a DMV salvage dealer license (about $100 a year per location), with record-keeping and reporting duties (Va. Code § 46.2-1601). Virginia salvage pools may only sell to licensed buyers, and using an auction broker doesn't make dismantling legal without a license (Va. Code § 46.2-1602). One YouTuber who parted out a salvage Subaru netted $23 after eBay blocked its safety parts (Supercar Blondie). Talk to an attorney and Virginia DMV Dealer Services first.