In 2019, Kentucky entrepreneur Caleb Ashton started flipping games with $500; 7 years later, his business hit $4 million

Caleb Ashton started flipping items in 2019 with a $500 budget. Seven years later, his business, QuickFlips, had generated about $4 million in revenue in 2026, according to Business Insider.

Caleb Ashton started flipping items with $500

Ashton began reselling items while living with his wife in a one-bedroom apartment. He was looking for an extra source of income while his wife attended law school.

He told Business Insider that his $500 startup budget came from birthday and Christmas money. He initially focused on inexpensive items, including books, action figures, golf clubs and sneakers, which he could find at yard sales. He also learned about buying and reselling through YouTube videos.

His side hustle became a full-time business

Ashton continued the side hustle for about six months. It became a full-time job after he was fired from a friend's collectible coin business.

By then, he had discovered that physical video games could provide quick, reliable money, according to Business Insider.

Ashton launched QuickFlips in 2024

In 2024, Ashton created QuickFlips, an online resale platform for video game collections, consoles and Pokémon trading cards.

Customers can enter an item into the platform's search bar to receive an instant offer. After the QuickFlips team inspects the items, customers ship them to the company and receive a payout within 24 hours. QuickFlips then resells refurbished items on platforms including Amazon, eBay and TCGPlayer.

The company also expanded into physical retail. Ashton opened a QuickFlips storefront in Lexington, Kentucky, in September 2025.

QuickFlips made about $4 million in 2026

Business Insider reported that the overall business generated about $4 million in revenue in 2026. It had also paid more than $5 million to customers since its inception.

The company initially operated from Ashton's spare bedroom before moving into his basement. QuickFlips eventually began purchasing dozens of video game collections each week, requiring space to store, assess, list and ship the inventory.

The company now has 33 employees across its online platform and retail space.

Why Caleb Ashton focuses on physical video games

Ashton said nostalgia is one reason people collect physical video games. He also said some consumers are becoming frustrated with digital media.

Business Insider noted that Sony's announcement that production of PlayStation discs for new games would end in 2028 also sparked calls for more physical games.

QuickFlips has also built a large social media presence. According to Business Insider, the company has more than 661,000 subscribers across its accounts and earns advertising revenue from them. Ashton also documents the company's growth and his experience as an entrepreneur on his YouTube page, Phoenix Resale.