Please note that this site contains affiliate links, and The Smarter Collector may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support the site so we can continue to provide valuable content. Thank you for your support!
Have you ever bought a sports card without a clear plan for how to fund it? I don't mean buying a card you can't afford - I mean figuring out which cards to sell, where to sell them, and how much cash you'll need to contribute.
If you're anything like me, this process typically goes something like:
Commit to buying a card that tests the limits of my comfort zone
Browse my Card Ladder Collection to identify cards I might sell
Create a new spreadsheet
Guess what I might sell those cards for (Check out our valuation guide if you need help)
Spend way too much time pulling consignment rates
Manually calculate how many cards I'd need to sell
Repeat this process several times after second-guessing my plan
Lucky for you, I put together the 'Sports Card Deal Funding & Consignment Template' to make this process much easier.
What is the Sports Card Deal Funding & Consignment Template?
The 'Sports Card Deal Funding & Consignment Template' is a custom-built Google Sheets template you can use to figure out how to fund your sports card deal.
Features include:
✅ Updated consignment rates and payout comparisons across platforms
✅ Automated sales total updates to simplify calculations
✅ Easy toggles to include or exclude cards as you finalize your plan
✅ Reflects consignment fees or private sales methods for accurate payouts
If you need some help deciding where to sell, check out our "Where to Sell Your Sports Cards" collecting guide.
Who's it for?
Any collector planning how to fund their next big deal.
Experienced collectors weighing different consignment options and needing a no-hassle way to analyze payout rates
Collectors who change their mind every minute on which cards to sell to pay for their latest purchase.
Collectors weighing how much cash to contribute vs. cards to sell.
How do I use it?
For the visual learners out there, I put together a video guide walking you through exactly how to use the workbook.
Written instructions are also available within the workbook and at the bottom of this Collecting Guide if you prefer a written guide over a visual one.
Consider Sales Premiums
The "Expected Sales Price" you enter into this workbook is consistent for all consigners. In reality, there may be a difference in your expected sales price according to the consigner or auction platform you choose.
For example:
Goldin Auctions spends a lot of time and energy to market ultra-high end cards. Those cards get the attention of buyers that might miss a card listed on eBay through Probstein. Conversely, Goldin won't advertise a $10 card, but a consigner like DCSports87 has a large following of collectors who buy cards under $50. In either case, your expected sales price will likely be different. It's up to YOU to account for those differences.
Instructions on How to Use the Template
Go to the Google Sheets link and access the "View Only" workbook
Make a copy by clicking File > Make a Copy
Enter your purchase price in the "Deal Amount" field
[Optional] Add any cash you plan to contribute
List the cards you're considering selling and their expected sales prices
Choose whether you're selling privately or through a consigner - fees will update automatically
Use the checkboxes to include or exclude cards from your funding plan
Review the "Deal Funding Progress Summary" and "Expected Sales Summary" as totals update in real time
Ready to simplify your next big deal? Access the Sports Card Deal Funding & Consignment Template now and take the stress out of funding your collection!