How to Open an Etsy Shop

Etsy has expanded into one of the world’s biggest online marketplaces. There are 54 million members on Etsy, with 35.8 million buyers with 1.98 million Etsy sellers. Additionally, there are more than 50 million unique items listed for sale on Etsy.com.

If you want to start an Etsy business and begin selling items to this vast collection of potential buyers, please read on.

What is Etsy ?

Etsy is the e-commerce platform that specializes in the buying and selling of artistic goods, craft supplies, and vintage items difficult to find in a traditional online store. Buyers on Etsy browse their marketplace to find handcrafted products rather than mass-produced goods.

It is also an outlet for small business owners such as art shops and people with artistic skills to showcase their goods and sell to a broader audience without needing their own website like with Shopify.

People who look for products on Etsy will find vintage and handmade items, made-to-order works of art, hand-printed clothing, custom-made children’s toys, and more.

There is a major category of vintage items for sale on Etsy. For items to qualify as vintage, they must be a minimum of 20 years old. There is a wide variety of collector items that you can get for a reasonable price. The platform uses a particular storefront where sellers list their products for a fee.

How Much Does it Cost to Sell on Etsy?

It costs $0.20 to set up an Etsy account and list an item to the marketplace. According to the seller handbook, a listing will remain active for four months or until the item is sold.

Once an item sells, a 5% transaction fee occurs on the sale price. Many people pack up shop after a mere month because of little or no sales. And the worst part is that you keep running expenses based on your listings. Therefore, it is crucial to consider the long-term revenue to cost ratio.

Before you create your shop, sign in or create an Etsy account.

To start opening your Etsy shop:

Click Sell on Etsy on Etsy.com.
Click Open your Etsy shop.
Select your shop language, country, and currency, then click Save and continue.
Choose your shop name, then click Save and continue.

1.Set your shop preferences

Select your shop’s language, country, currency, and time commitment:

Shop language: The shop language you choose is the default language you use to describe your items. You won't be able to change it later, but if you’d like to add translations in other languages, you will be able to enroll in other languages after opening your shop.
Shop country: Be sure to select the correct country for your shop.
Shop currency: Choose the currency you will use to price your listings. Currency conversion fees may apply if your bank's currency is different from your shop currency.
Time commitment: Select whether selling your products is your full-time job or part-time job. This question is for informational purposes only and will not affect the setup of your shop.

2.Choose your shop name

Choose a memorable name that reflects your style. Shop names must meet the following requirements:

4-20 characters in length
No spaces or special characters
No profanity
Not already in use by an existing Etsy member
Does not infringe on another's trademark

If the shop name you entered is in use, you will see suggestions for other shop names that are still available. Your shop name will be held for you while you open your shop.

Get some tips for choosing a shop name.

3.Stock your shop

Add product listings to your shop—you’re almost ready for your big shop debut.

4.Choose how you'll get paid

Choose the payment methods you want to offer in your shop. If you’re in an eligible country, you’ll use Etsy Payments. Etsy Payments gives buyers many options to pay for their order, and consolidates all payments in your Etsy Payment account.

If you’re in a country that is not eligible for Etsy Payments, you’re welcome to use your own PayPal account to accept payments.

5.Set up billing

Depending on which country you're in, you may need to enter a credit card to open your shop. The card should be a:

Visa
Mastercard
American Express
Discover
Carte Bleue (France)

We ask sellers in certain countries to keep a credit card on file as a means of identity verification. You may see an authorization charge to verify the card you entered on file. As soon as the card has been verified, the charge will be dropped from your statement.

Your card information is secure with Etsy.

Sellers located in Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands aren’t required to have a credit card on file.

Learn about Etsy's selling fees.

6.Open your shop

When you finish all the sections, click Open Your Shop. You'll always be able to make changes to your shop after it's open.

The web address to get to your shop will be:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/yourshopname

https://yourshopname.etsy.com