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An eBay Store is not a separate account from the eBay ID that creates it. The two are one.
Think of it this way -- registering for a Store gives you access to a collection of tools not available to non-Store accounts. It moves your perceived account type up one notch -- buyer, seller, Store.
The fact that none of your 'included fee-free' Store listings have been used is a fluke of timing. Your listings were already active, so no Store listing was necessary. However, if those are GTC listings, they will count once they renew, possibly later this month, and you will see your available fee-free count go down even tho you posted nothing new. The count went down by the number of GTC listings that renewed.
Having/Being a Store has it's advantages. First are the tools - there are a lot of features that Store sellers can access that non-Store sellers cannot. Mailing lists, Store banner on your listings, Store Categories (think departments at your local B&M retailer), and fun things like Promotions (not Promoted Listings - the two are different).
A Store subscription will provide you with a given count of "free" (so long as you pay your Store fee each month) listings, recently enhanced with both more and select extra freebies. If you are cramped with just the 250 freebies given to non-Store accounts, then a Store may open up more listings at a lower per-listing cost (the store fee divided by the 'free' listing count), and with listings over those counts having reduced fees as well.
A Store subscription also gives you a set cost for listings each month. For example, non-Store accounts get 250 listings free each month. No Store fee, just listings with no posting fee. Store accounts pay a set fee and get more no-fee listings in exchange for that fee. The company I work for has a mid-level store, with 40K included listings each month, plus more free Auctions in select categories, and more free GTC/BIN listings in select categories. We're currently using about 25% of those listings each month, meaning we have a lot of growth room with no change in our monthly cost. And that monthly cost is significantly less than if we posted those 10K listings thru a non-Store account.
So you are on the right path, but you may find the Starter Store to be a bit too tight a fit. Upgrading to a higher level (higher fee with higher limits) should be as easy as just upgrading, but you'll need to talk to someone more recently experienced with Stores. My last Store closed in 2008 after about 10yrs of making a lot of sales. I haven't started with a new Store because I'm not listing/selling at a level that would need a Store. By choice -- I do eBay all day for my employer (going from self-employed to W2 solved a lot of income tax issues for me), so continuing to work at that level after I get home would soon find me sleeping in my truck! My wife is patient and understanding -- but there are limits. 🙂 Plus I have other interests that I'm indulging for a while... like learning more about these iMacs I've been restoring recently.
Look at your listings - if you have GTC listings that renew over the next few days, watch how those renewals affect your Store listings available.
A Store is a feature of the seller's account, not a separate account. But you can have a Store and a personal account -- just use two different email addresses. eBay allows individuals to have multiple accounts (I currently have 4 and am considering starting #5) - just don't use one account to bid/buy from another account, and don't list the same inventory on multiple accounts at the same time. There are a few more restrictions, but those are the Big Two that will get you in trouble the fastest. And they are the easiest to avoid.
Note: the IRS doesn't look at 'business' and 'personal' when dealing with income earned on eBay -- it's all the same and it's all taxable. Less legitimate deductions (cost of goods, shipping charges, eBay fees, etc). That comes straight from the IRS agent who audited my 2005 tax return - the first year I was fully self-employed. There are plenty of conversations on this board and others related to taxes - search them out and do a bit of reading. Reading now can avoid upset later... upset, additional taxes, penalties, and interest on the delayed taxes due.
Lots to learn. But you're off to a good start -- asking questions is always better than just guessing and hoping you're right. 🙂
-Bob.
