Want to turn your crafting hobby or artistic talents into a business? Opening an Etsy shop is the perfect way to start!
Etsy’s global marketplace gives you instant access to millions of buyers looking for unique handmade goods. This step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know to open up your own Etsy shop from scratch.
Table of Contents
Choose Your Etsy Shop Name
Your shop name is the first thing potential buyers will see, so make it count!
- Pick a name related to your products or brand.
- Keep it short, memorable, and easy to spell.
- Check Etsy to see if your desired name is taken.
- Use a .etsy.com domain or link your own.
Set Up Your Shop With Etsy
Ready to make it official? Here’s how to open a new Etsy shop:
- Go to Etsy.com and click “Sell on Etsy” to start your application.
- Enter your shop name, email, and password to register.
- Add a shop banner and profile picture that represent your brand.
- Select your shop language and currency preferences.
- Review and agree to Etsy’s policies to complete setup.
It takes less than 10 minutes – then your clean slate Etsy shop is ready to build!
Craft Your Brand Story
In your Etsy shop’s “About” section, introduce your brand to connect with customers.
Share your inspiration, products you offer, materials you use, your creative process, where you’re based, etc.
Let your brand story do the selling for you! Add your own flair.
Optimize Your Etsy Shop Settings
Take time to customize your Etsy shop’s important settings for success:
- Set detailed shop policies for shipping, returns, custom orders.
- Enable coupons and sales if you plan to run promotions.
- Connect your payment account to get paid.
- Set your timezone so listings show accurately.
- Enable seller vacation mode for planned breaks.
Tune settings as needed once you start selling. Flexibility is a perk of your own Etsy shop.
Create Eye-Catching Listings
Now for the fun part – adding products!
Make listings that attract buyers:
- Use keywords in the title and description.
- Write benefit-focused copy that sells.
- Take crisp, well-lit photos on white backgrounds.
- Set competitive prices based on customer value.
- Select clear shipping and processing times.
Promote and Grow Your Etsy Shop
To drive traffic and sales once your shop is set up:
- Run an Etsy sale or coupon for early momentum.
- Share your shop on social media and link it to your website.
- Make an email list and business cards to pass out.
- Ask friends and family to purchase and leave reviews.
- Partner with local retailers to carry your products.
Success takes consistent effort – but an Etsy shop puts you on the path to achieving your entrepreneurial dreams!
FAQs About Opening an Etsy Shop
How much does it cost to open an Etsy shop?
Etsy doesn’t charge any subscription fees or upfront costs. You pay a $0.20 listing fee per item, plus 5% of the final selling price.
Can I sell digital products on Etsy?
Yes, Etsy allows digital products like printables, sewing patterns, and more. These incur fewer fees than physical products.
What can you not sell on Etsy?
Etsy prohibits certain items like weapons, illegal drugs, adult content, and stolen or copyright-infringing products. Review the full list of prohibited items.
What should I sell to be successful on Etsy?
Bestsellers include crafts, jewelry, art, paper goods, clothing, candles, beauty products, vintage goods, and geekery. Focus on your unique niche.
How much money can you actually make selling on Etsy?
seller income varies widely. Many earn a part-time income of a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per month. Top sellers make over $100,000 annually.
Building an Etsy shop takes creativity and grit – but potentially pays off big. Follow this guide to turn your artistic passion into a thriving Etsy business.
