If you want to become a sports card distributor, there are a few things you need to know. The first thing is that it’s not easy.
The second thing is that it’s worth it.
Becoming a sports card distributor is a lot of work and takes some time to get started, but once you’re in the game, you can make real money and build an incredible business.
Here’s how to do it:
- Know your market – You need to know what kind of cards people are looking for and where they’re looking for them. If someone buys their cards online, they might not be interested in buying from a local business like yours. But if they’re looking for something specific that might have been discontinued years ago, there’s a good chance they’ll come by your store!
- Get the right equipment – You can’t just set up shop with nothing more than some cardboard boxes and some old magazines – you need some good equipment if you want people to take you seriously as a distributor. Luckily, we’ve got just what you need: ! This amazing product will help turn any empty space into a fully-functioning sports card distribution center in no time flat!
How To Become A Sports Card Distributor
The cost of getting a card graded depends on many different variables, making it a difficult question to definitively answer. Above all else, the company with which you’re grading the card will make the biggest determination, as each has it’s own fee schedule and unique selling points.
While this post has a ton of info, and you might just want a few comparison points, here are some rough bits:
From there, the type of card, desired turnaround time, and other factors will all also determine cost.
- Beckett.com: Premium w/ no sub-grades $150/card, Premium $250/card. More.
- PSA: Econ $50/card, Reg $100/card, Express $150/card, Super Express $300/card. More.
- SGC: 45-50 business days $30/card, 1-3 business days $250/card. More on SGC turnaround times.
But again, keep reading to learn more about the different costs and things to look out for.
So, with that said, the best way to figure out how much it will cost to get your card graded is to start with the grading company. Meaning, figure out which company you want grading your card and then dive into how much it might cost to get it done.
Now, you might be asking, “Well, won’t cost play a big factor in me deciding which company I ultimately want to grade with?”
In my opinion, the answer is no. There are many reasons to get a card graded, but let’s look at this question under a few different scenarios.
If you’re getting a card graded because you prefer a slab for ultimate safe-keeping in your personal collection, then the actual look and feel of the case might play more importance. Meaning, you might prefer the timple and straightforward look of a PSA slab, or, you might want a slab that has subgrades like that of BGS.
On the other hand, if you’re grading a card knowing that you’re ultimately going to re-sell that card, then you might want to opt for the company that offers the best resale value for that card, and thus, the cost of grading isn’t of utmost importance.
See what I mean? We can go on and on in this fashion. Really, the only time cost might be the biggest determing factor is when you don’t care of what the slab looks like, don’t care which company offers the most value, don’t care which company is the most strict or lenient, etc. And in that case, then I might ask why even get the card graded in the first place!
Anyway, you can go about it whichever way you choose, but answering the question of how much it costs to grade a card is most easily answered by looking at how costs differ within each company’s different grading options.
(Please also note that the listed turnaround times with different companies are probably all greatly impacted at the moment. Nevertheless, you’ll still pay the same price, but just know it might take months beyond the stated times to receive your cards and grades.)
PSA Grading Cost
To grade cards with PSA:
- Value: $20/card (not currently available)
- Economy: $50/card
- Regular: $100/card
- Express: $200
- Super Express: $300/card
- Walk-Through: $600/card
Keep in mind there are a number of other PSA services depending on your needs. For instance, to get a card reslabbed or as PSA refers to it a “reholder” (put in a new case), the cost of standard cards and tallboys is $10/card (turnaround times vary).
You can also choose to get a card authenticated and slabbed, but not graded, as you can see from the options below:
BGS Gading Cost
To grade cards with Beckett:
- Economy: $35/card, 30 days (90-120 business days as of 5/18/22)
- Standard: $50/card, 10 days (20-30 business days as of 5/18/22)
- Express: $150/card, 5 days (10-15 business days)
- Premium: $250/card, 2 days (5-7 business days)
Note that prices are less if wanting a grade without subgrades.
You might also see BCCG cards floating around, which is also a Beckett grading operation, but separate from BGS. Learn more about what a BCCG 10 is when compared to PSA, BGS, and others.
SGC Grading Cost
To grade cards with SGC:
- Less than $1,500 in declared value: $30/card, 20-25 business days
- Less than $3,500 in declared value: $85/card, 20-25 business days
- Less than $7,500 in declared value: $250/card, 1-2 business days
- Check website for more
Read more: What is “A” With SGC Grading?
HGA Grading Cost
To grade cards with HGA:
- Best Value: $20/card, 60 business days
- Popular: $35/card, 30 business days
- Very Fast: $50/card, 10 business days (1-20 cards)
- Fastest: $75/card, 2 business days (1 to 20 cards)
Other Grading Options
All of that said, you might find different pricing if you’re able to submit with groups of others. For instance, if you’re a StarStock member, you can submit your StarStock cards for grading with PSA. It’s Economy 20-Day Service ($499 Maximum Declared Value per card) at $30 per card.