How Yinka Ogunsunlade turned a law-student hobby into a $120,000-a-year business.
Key takeaways
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A full-time attorney built a six-figure eBay side hustle that now brings in about $120,000 a year.
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His business began with zero upfront cost and scaled through a sharp buying strategy, with a focus on athletic footwear and apparel.
- His demand-led sourcing turned a small experiment into a meaningful second income.
A recent Business Insider feature highlighted a standout example of what’s possible when an eBay side hustle is built with discipline and smart, data-driven sourcing.
By day, Yinka Ogunsunlade is a full-time Maryland lawyer; by night (and on weekends), he runs an eBay operation that earns roughly $120,000 annually — a “double salary” that complements his legal career and gives his family more financial flexibility.
His journey began in 2005 during law school, with a gift that no one wanted. That no-cost sale of unopened perfume, followed by selling items from his own closet and discount retailers like Saks OFF 5th, led to a simple rule that would define his business: “I only buy something if there’s proof it will sell.”
His playbook was straightforward but effective: photograph potential inventory, check sold-item comps on eBay, and only buy items with clear demand. As smartphones and the eBay app evolved, he could access real-time sales data and each sourcing trip became a search for proven sellers.
Over time found his niche in athletic footwear and sports apparel, both categories that consistently sold well with predictable seasonal spikes. Football cleats before back-to-school became one of his annual wins. Categories like business formal wear, on the other hand, didn’t hold up during slower economic times, renewing his focus on steady performers.
These days, the operation, known as Fashionably Legal, takes Yinka about 30 hours per week and has grown into a true second business. Beyond income, it has allowed him flexibility at key life moments: at one point, the revenue allowed him to take a year off from law when his son was born. "It just changes your mental makeup, knowing that you don't have to rely specifically on a 9-to-5 job that could end tomorrow."
Yinke’s story shows how consistency, smart buying decisions, and a willingness to follow what sells can turn an experimental side gig into a long term, six-figure eBay business.