What is etsy?
Etsy is one of the biggest online marketplaces in the world, boasting over five million sellers and nearly 90 million active buyers. Learning how to sell on Etsy can transform a side hustle into a full-time business, providing small business owners with the opportunity to connect with their ideal customers.
Millions of people browse Etsy with a credit card in hand, ready to purchase unique crafts, handmade jewelry, and art. Etsy is a global community of buyers and sellers, including 378,000 active sellers in Canada alone.
At its core, Etsy is about keeping commerce human, fostering connections, collaborations, and creativity across the globe. With Etsy, shopping locally online is a breeze, and sharing your creative talents with a broader audience has never been easier.
What Can I Sell on Etsy?
Before starting your Etsy shop, it’s crucial to understand what you can sell on the platform. Knowing how to sell on Etsy involves adhering to specific guidelines and policies:
- Review Etsy’s Creative Standards: Ensure your products meet Etsy’s guidelines for handmade, vintage, or craft supplies.
- Check the Prohibited Items Policy: Make sure your items comply with Etsy’s rules.
- Ensure your location is eligible for Etsy Payments: Ensure that you are in a location where Etsy Payments is available.
- Review Seller Policies: Familiarize yourself with Etsy’s seller policies to avoid any violations.
- Understand Etsy’s Fees: Learn about the costs associated with selling on Etsy to plan your business finances.
Important Information for Selling on Etsy
For your convenience, here’s a quick summary of all the essential information. All items listed for sale on Etsy must be maded, designed, handpicked, or sourced directly by you. Additionally, every item must adhere to Etsy’s Prohibited Items Policy.
It is your duty to ensure that your shop and its products comply with Etsy’s guidelines. The photos you use for your listings must meet Etsy’s Listing Image standards. Before engaging in any transactions on Etsy, please review Etsy’s Terms of Use.
Etsy does not permit the resale of mass-produced goods. However, there are limited exceptions for creative items that are curated or sourced by sellers. For more details on what is permissible, please refer to Etsy’s Help Center article.
Is it free to sell on Etsy?
Understanding the costs associated with selling on Etsy is crucial for managing your business effectively. While setting up an Etsy account is free, there are various fees associated with selling on the platform. It’s important to consider these costs when planning your business strategy.
Here are some Mandatory Etsy Fees for 2024:
- Listing Fees: $0.20 per item
- Transaction Fees: 6.5% of the sale price
- Payment Processing Fees: 3% + $0.25 per transaction
- Region-Specific Fees: Vary by location
- Currency Conversion Fee: 2.5%
- VAT and Sales Tax: Depends on the region
How to Sell on Etsy in 5 Steps
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you understand how to sell on Etsy and start your business.
1. Create an Etsy Shop
To learn how to sell on Etsy, you can create a free account. Here’s how to get started:
1. Visit Etsy.com/sell
Go to Etsy.com/sell and click on Get started to open an Etsy shop.
2. Answer Initial Questions
Learn about selling on Etsy by answering a few optional questions about your location, business experience, and whether you’d like to receive additional selling resources.
3. Set Your Shop Preferences
Choose your shop preferences including language, country, and currency, then select Save and continue.
4. Pick a Shop Name
Choose a memorable shop name for your Etsy shop and select Save and continue. Here are some tips:
- You can draft a name now and change it later.
- Sellers often draw inspiration from what they sell, their style, or any creative idea that resonates with them.
- Choose a name that fits the products you’re selling and isn’t already taken by another Etsy shop.
If you’re unsure what to name your shop, try using a business name generator for inspiration. By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to setting up a successful Etsy shop and learning how to sell on Etsy.
2. Upload Creative or Eye-Catching Products
Once your Etsy shop is set up, you can start listing items for sale. Create a new listing for each product you’re offering, whether it’s vintage items, handmade goods, or arts and crafts supplies. This step is crucial in learning how to start an Etsy business.
When optimizing your Etsy listings, remember to use search engine optimization (SEO) best practices. Etsy’s marketplace operates on a search engine that connects buyers and sellers, so use keywords in your listings to ensure potential customers can find your products. Increase your Etsy sales by using relevant keywords throughout your listings.
The images in your Etsy listings are crucial. You can add up to 10 high-quality images or one video per listing. Make sure each image is eye-catching to stand out from other sellers’ items.
To create a listing on Etsy.com:
- Sign in and go to Shop Manager.
- Select Listings.
- Click Add a listing.
- Fill in the relevant information in the listing creation form.
- When finished, select Publish. The listing will go live in your shop.
As a new seller, it’s recommended to upload at least 10 listings when you first open your Etsy store. Once published, it may take up to 48 hours for your listings to appear in Etsy search results and categories.
3. Choose How You’ll Get Paid
To receive payments on Etsy, you need to connect your bank account to your shop and add a debit or credit card for billing purposes. This is an essential step in learning how to sell on Etsy successfully.
How to connect your bank account:
- On the “How you’ll get paid” page, enter your personal information.
- At the bottom of the page, select the country where your bank is located under “Where is your bank located?“
After opening your shop, you will be charged a one-time setup fee of $15 USD. This fee supports new sellers and funds enhanced security measures to protect the marketplace.
If you use Payoneer, the fee will be in USD and is non-refundable. Taxes may apply. A confirmation of this transaction will be sent to the email you registered when opening your shop, and the payment will be reflected in your Payment account. Learn more about the Etsy shop setup fee.
To secure your account, turn on two-factor authentication. You can receive the verification code through:
- An authenticator app on your Android or iOS device (recommended)
- An SMS
- A phone call
Next, set up your billing information. While it’s free to create an account and buy items, selling on Etsy incurs costs. After entering your payment details, you’ll choose a payment method for publishing listings and maintaining your storefront.
4. Customize Your Etsy Storefront
The final step in opening an Etsy shop is to personalize your storefront. This is the information potential customers will see when they visit your store profile.
- Upload a profile and banner photo: Showcase yourself, your products, or your business’s logo to make your store visually appealing.
- Create a user profile: Introduce yourself as the shop manager to give a personal touch and build trust with potential customers.
- Describe your store: Explain what you sell, why you sell it, and how your store came to be. Provide some background to engage first-time visitors and encourage them to buy your products.
- Upload your shop policies: Clearly outline your delivery, payment, privacy, exchange, and return policies to avoid any confusion with customers.
5. Marketing, Branding, and Promotion
Once your Etsy shop is set up, it’s time to promote it and reach out to your audience. Effective marketing can help attract new customers, keep existing ones informed, and increase your overall sales.
Here are a few quick tips to get started:
- Optimize your shop for Etsy search: Ensure your location is included so your shop can appear in local searches.
- Link your shop to social media: Easily create posts about your business and engage with your audience.
- Invest in advertising: Learn how ads can help build your brand and get your listings in front of more buyers.
- Offer discounts: Use sales and coupons to incentivize shoppers.
- Participate in local craft fairs or markets: Sell your goods in person to reach new customers.
- Join the Etsy community and teams: Network with other sellers and shoppers to gain insights and support.
By following these steps, you can effectively set up, customize, and promote your Etsy shop, helping you to successfully sell your products and grow your business.
Find a POD Supplier and Start Selling!
Dreaming of turning your creative designs into a profitable Etsy shop? To transform your creative ideas into successful products, finding a reliable supply chain is essential. HyperSKU offers an innovative print-on-demand (POD) service that streamlines the production and delivery of custom-branded items. Our POD service allows you to personalize a wide array of white-label products, from apparel like custom hoodies, t-shirts, and polos to trendy home goods, with your unique designs.
Our With HyperSKU, you can simplify your operations by eliminating the need for inventory management. Once an order is placed, HyperSKU handles everything from printing to packaging and shipping directly to your customers. This makes it an ideal choice for those asking how to start an Etsy business or create an Etsy shop.
HyperSKU empowers you to sell on Etsy without the hassle of inventory management. By partnering with a reliable POD supplier like HyperSKU, you can focus on designing unique products and building your brand.