getting started selling items?

I am quite new and just started building and was wondering how people tend to get started with saleable items? I have a couple of items/scripts that I've built (pretty standard stuff so far) but certainly not enough to afford or justify a store front.

Are there places that people can use for very small sales displays free of charge until they outgrow them (or something similar?).

Most malls in SL will let you rent a stall space that allows you up to 20 prims for L$50 a week. If you're selling anything that is more valuable than a t-shirt, you'll likely make enough from just a few sales each week to cover that cheap a rent. Get ten or so items made, pack them in a vendor, and try a few inexpensive mall sites.

If you can't swing that, some malls have a free vending area for new merchants. Look around. You'll find those mostly in "communities" where groups like Victorian Roleplayers or Furries tend to hang out.

Another possibility is to hook up with an existing merchant and offer to split sales profits in exchange for space for your vendor. There are free systems like APEZ that can get you started and will allow you to configure profit splits.

Thanks I'll look into all those options!