Breaking cards looks like it’s just hopping on a livestream, opening some packs, yelling “BOOM!” when you hit a big card, and cashing checks, right? Yeah… not exactly. There’s way more behind-the-scenes work than people realize, and you need to be ready for it if you want to do this seriously.
First off, you’re not just running the break. You have to buy product, manage inventory, track sales, collect payments, and promote your breaks…before you even go live. Then after the break is over, you’ve got to sort all the cards, package them up safely, and ship everything out. Sorting alone can take hours depending on how many teams or players were in the break.
Shipping? That’s another beast. You’ll be printing labels, packing envelopes or boxes, double-checking addresses, and dealing with tracking numbers. And heaven forbid something gets lost or damaged. You’re the one answering emails and trying to make it right.
Also, don’t forget about customer service. People will have questions, they’ll want tracking updates, sometimes they’ll just want to chat. Building a good rep means being available and handling all that with patience, even when you’re tired.
And here’s the kicker: all of that extra work cuts into your profits if you’re not factoring in your time. If you spend 3–4 hours total on one break between sorting, packing, and shipping, you need to make sure the money you made was actually worth your time. Otherwise, you’re basically working for minimum wage (or less).
Thanks for reading this lesson. I’ll be back soon with Lesson 8: Establish Pricing Strategy.
Missed the previous lessons? Start at Lesson 1: Build Your Audience.
