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How to Create an eBay Account (Buyer or Seller)

eBay's signup is identical for buyers and sellers — your account becomes a seller account the moment you list your first item. Knowing this changes how you should set up your profile.

Sign up

Go to ebay.com and click register at the top left. Enter your name, email, and a password. You can also sign up with Google, Facebook, or Apple — handy if you want to skip password creation.

Verify your details

eBay sends a confirmation email immediately. Click the link to activate the account. Adding a phone number unlocks features like two-factor authentication and seller-protection benefits later.

Personal vs Business

The same signup flow asks whether you want a personal or business account. If you plan to sell more than a few items a month — particularly new items you bought to resell — pick business. eBay requires it past certain thresholds and reclassifies accounts that hit them.

First settings to change

• Set a strong password and turn on 2-step verification under Account preferences.
• Add your full mailing and return address — listings will not save without one.
• Link a managed-payments-eligible bank account if you plan to sell.
• Set communication preferences so you only get the marketing emails you want.

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