Etsy is the biggest marketplace for handmade items, vintage goods, and craft supplies, with over 2,500 active sellers and 33.4 million buyers!
What makes Etsy so attractive for DIY entrepreneurs is its community of makers, small-business owners, and shoppers who share a passion for rare goods.
If those points resonate with you, you’ll definitely reach new heights for your business by joining Etsy.
Do I need a business license to sell on Etsy?
As of 2021, Etsy doesn’t require its sellers to have a business license to sell on Etsy.
That said, you must still follow any regional laws that apply to you as an online business.
We suggest that you consult a professional business lawyer before joining Etsy to ensure that your business idea is legal.
How much does it cost to sell on Etsy?
Listing fees: You will be charged a listing fee of $0.20 USD for each item that you list for sale on Etsy.com or Etsy’s mobile apps.
Transaction fees: You will be charged a transaction fee of 5% of the price you display for each listing plus the amount you charge for shipping and gift wrapping.
Etsy will automatically deduct all fees owed from your payment account.
What do I need to get started on Etsy?
Getting started on Etsy is fairly straightforward. Here’s a basic list of everything you need.
- Create a new Etsy account
- Create a unique name for your Etsy shop
- Prepare the details for your product, which include
- Digital product photos (800 – 1000 pixels wide)
- A list of words that best describe your product – use these for tags and titles.
- Know the appropriate selling price
- Keep shipping costs into account
- Go live with your Etsy shop!
- Creating an account is free of cost
- You’ll need to link a debit/credit card
- Your checking account info (account and routing number)
Setting up your Etsy shop the right way
Banner and shop logo: Upload high-definition images that represent your brand’s style and make a strong first impression on potential customers.
Shop announcement: Share a brief welcome message with shoppers.
In the About section, Explain to your customers how your business came into existence, your vision for your brand, and the story behind your products.
Shop members: Introduce any other members of your team or people you collaborate with.
Shop policies: State policies for shipping, returns, exchanges, payments, custom orders, or any other guidelines that are important for shoppers to know before they place an order.
If your business is based in the US, we suggest purchasing USPS Shipping Labels on Etsy. You can save up to 30% more than the USPS retail rates you would pay at the post office or elsewhere online. Learn more about USPS here.
Listing your products to your Etsy shop
Once you fill in all the information required for your shop section, you can add products to your Etsy store.
Displaying your products for sale is called a listing.
Things to remember while listing your products
- Optimize your Etsy shop for Etsy search.
- Add your location to make your store visible to local buyers
- Link all of your social media accounts to benefit from Etsy’s exposure
- Explore paid advertising for keywords related to your products
- Promote offers to incentivize the value of your products
- Join the Etsy community and teams and network with your niche’s best-sellers
At this point, you might be wondering whether it’s better to sell on Shopify or Etsy.
Take a look at this article, where we discuss whether selling on Shopify or Etsy is better for your business!
Have more questions about Etsy? Feel free to contact our support!
Visit Digital Product Labs’ Etsy Blog Series for more tips, tricks, and tutorials on selling successfully on Etsy!
