Etsy is known for being a vibrant marketplace that connects buyers to real people selling unique, handmade, and vintage goods. As of 2021, Etsy has over 96 billion active users, making it a no-brainer to get your unique product in front of them. If you’ve been holding off on creating an Etsy shop, we’re here to tell you that the process is quick and easy. With an easy-to-use platform and low maintenance costs, it’s a great way to get started selling your product asap. Ready to get started? Here’s our ultimate step-by-step guide to opening an Etsy shop in minutes.
steps to help you set up an Etsy shop
First things first! You need to create an Etsy account. Here are the steps you need to take so you can start selling asap!
1. create your Etsy account
Scroll to the bottom of the Etsy home page, and click the Sell on Etsy link. This takes you to a new page. On that page, click Open your Etsy Shop. Enter your email address, and now click Continue. You can also use your Google or Facebook account to sign up. Fill in your first name and password and click the Register button. Click Open your Etsy Shop on the resulting page, where you'll then be redirected to Etsy's Shop Manager.
2. enter your shop preferences
Once you're in your account's Shop Manager: you'll need to set up your Shop's preferences. This is where you can set your preferred language, country, and currency. Note that if your shop's currency differs from your bank's, then you’ll have to pay foreign exchange costs (2.5% of the total sale) whenever a customer makes a purchase.
Next, choose how you want to sell on Etsy. You might want to sell full-time or part-time, and there's a place to outline your shop’s goals. Click Save and Continue at the bottom right of the page when done.
3. choose a name for your shop
Now here’s the FUN part! Your store's name should be distinctive and no more than 20 characters long. You can only use regular non-accented Roman letters and numerals with no spaces in your name. Type in the desired name and hit the Check Availability button to see whether your shop name is available.
Etsy offers advice on naming your shop if you’re having trouble deciding. Keep in mind that once you choose your store's name, it’s permanent, so think carefully! Once you've landed on a name (congrats!!), hit Save and Continue.
4. add your product listings
Now that your shop has a name, you can begin stocking it. To get started on Etsy, you should create at least 10 listings. Select Add a Listing to create a new page where you can fill out information on your product’s details.
Choose some compelling images that put your product on its best foot and fill out the information about your products. Here you can include things like your product’s category, product description, price, number of units available, and delivery fees. click Preview to see what your listing looks like for your prospective customers. Once you’re happy with your listing, click Save and Continue to proceed.
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5. input your payment settings
Next, specify how you'd like customers to pay you after making a purchase. Etsy Payments is the primary method of payment for sellers on the site. However, you can also use PayPal, a physical check, money order, or a direct bank transfer.
With Etsy Payments, you can accept various payment methods including Etsy gift cards, debit cards, credit cards, and store credit. When you’re done, click Save and Continue to wrap up your payment settings.
6. set up billing
All Etsy fees, including advertising and shipping label fees, must be paid through billing, which you must first set up. Fill in your credit card details. To make the process easier, we recommend setting up automatic billing so Etsy can charge your card on the first of each month or whenever your fees exceed a certain level.
7. open your shop
After setting up your billing information, you’re now ready to open your Etsy shop! Click the Open your Shop button at the bottom of the page and ta-da! Well done! Your Etsy shop is now open and ready to be shown to the world.
8. update your bio
Your public profile is essential to how prospective customers learn more about you. Say a little about your background, interests, and qualifications. Also tell the story behind your products, your mission, and why you love what you do.
9. set up your shop policies
Here you'll address any concerns your clients may have regarding how you run your business from start to finish. Customers want to understand your manufacturing process, shipping times, and what types of payments you accept.
Make sure to give your customers an idea of when they can expect to receive their product with an estimated processing and shipping time. Don't forget to also list your refund and exchange policy as well.
tips for selling on Etsy
Now that we've covered the basics of starting an Etsy store, we'll share our favorite tips for getting your new biz off the ground.
1. organize your business finances
You should keep your business and personal finances separate even when opening an Etsy shop as a side gig. To make filing your business taxes easier, create a new business bank account for all Etsy-related expenses and transactions.
2. use high-quality product photos to make your product shine
Your customer relies on beautiful, high-quality product imagery to understand exactly what they’ll be purchasing. In fact, 93% of consumers rely on photos before making a purchase decision. We recommend using product photos that have excellent lighting, show off your product’s function or texture, and most importantly, should be a reflection of your brand.
3. curate your store
In addition to high-quality product images in your product listings, you also need to think about how those photos are displayed. The time and effort you put into your business, and the quality of your products will shine through to customers in how you decide to curate those gorgeous photos. Arrange your photos in easily navigable sections and don’t forget to write informative descriptions for each product.
4. help more customers find you with SEO
You can implement search engine optimization strategies on your Etsy store and product listing pages to increase the amount of prospective customers that will find your store. Increasing the discoverability of your store ultimately increases your sales. You can start by making small copy tweaks, like making sure your title is descriptive of your product and includes relevant keywords that you think your customer would use. Make sure to carry that over and update tags, store titles, categories, product titles, and descriptions to contain relevant keywords.
5. competitively price your products
Setting a competitive price is essential to attracting customers and generating revenue. Think carefully through this process, as your rates should reflect the value you place on your products, while also covering your fixed expenses.
6. think through the fulfillment process
Once a customer orders your product online, be prepared with the packing materials needed to fulfill the fast shipping expectations that Etsy outlines. In general, Etsy recommends that you ship items promptly as they are sold or within 30 days of purchase. This is a great time to think through what type of experience you want your customer to have once the product is in their hands. Consider investing in branded packaging and a thermal label printer to create a consistent look for your brand.
understanding Etsy’s fees
Like every online marketplace, Etsy charges sellers a fee for listing and selling items. Although signing up for Etsy and opening a shop is free—unless you choose a premium subscription plan—there are fees associated with running a successful business on the platform.
- listing fees—each item you list on Etsy incurs a 20-cent listing fee, which you must pay regardless of whether or not the item sells. After four months your listing will automatically expire unless you renew it and pay an additional 20 cents.
- transaction fees—Etsy charges a transaction fee of 5% whenever you sell an item on the platform. The charge is deducted from the final sale price, including shipping and gift wrapping costs, and is in the currency your item is listed in.
- payment processing fees—when customers make purchases from your Etsy store, you'll be charged a small percentage of the total price as a fee for using the Etsy Payments service. Etsy charges different payment processing fees depending on the location of your bank account. Etsy charges U.S. merchants 3%, plus $0.25 for every transaction.
- additional fees—seller fees on Etsy typically fall into three categories: listing, transaction, and payment processing. However, there are situations in which you may be subject to additional fees, such as postal rates, value-added tax, pattern fees, and advertising costs.
If you use Etsy Payments, Etsy automatically deducts these costs from your sales proceeds. As with any other monthly bill, you’re responsible for any additional expenses incurred before the end of the month. If you are a U.S. seller set up for automatic billing, then Etsy processes a charge to your credit card automatically.
quality product photography with soona
Etsy's intuitive design and wealth of built-in tools makes it easy to open an Etsy shop in minutes. Curating your store with high-quality products is essential to attract new customers that turn into lifelong customers. There's no better way to show off all the hard work you’ve poured into your product with exceptional, high-quality product photography.
At soona, we’re here to help you grow your business with beautiful professional photos and videos. Our Etsy starter pack makes it easy for you to get quality content at affordable prices. Does your Etsy shop need a glow up?? Book a shoot with us today!
Etsy is known for being a vibrant marketplace that connects buyers to real people selling unique, handmade, and vintage goods. As of 2021, Etsy has over 96 billion active users, making it a no-brainer to get your unique product in front of them. If you’ve been holding off on creating an Etsy shop, we’re here to tell you that the process is quick and easy. With an easy-to-use platform and low maintenance costs, it’s a great way to get started selling your product asap. Ready to get started? Here’s our ultimate step-by-step guide to opening an Etsy shop in minutes.
steps to help you set up an Etsy shop
First things first! You need to create an Etsy account. Here are the steps you need to take so you can start selling asap!
1. create your Etsy account
Scroll to the bottom of the Etsy home page, and click the Sell on Etsy link. This takes you to a new page. On that page, click Open your Etsy Shop. Enter your email address, and now click Continue. You can also use your Google or Facebook account to sign up. Fill in your first name and password and click the Register button. Click Open your Etsy Shop on the resulting page, where you'll then be redirected to Etsy's Shop Manager.
2. enter your shop preferences
Once you're in your account's Shop Manager: you'll need to set up your Shop's preferences. This is where you can set your preferred language, country, and currency. Note that if your shop's currency differs from your bank's, then you’ll have to pay foreign exchange costs (2.5% of the total sale) whenever a customer makes a purchase.
Next, choose how you want to sell on Etsy. You might want to sell full-time or part-time, and there's a place to outline your shop’s goals. Click Save and Continue at the bottom right of the page when done.
3. choose a name for your shop
Now here’s the FUN part! Your store's name should be distinctive and no more than 20 characters long. You can only use regular non-accented Roman letters and numerals with no spaces in your name. Type in the desired name and hit the Check Availability button to see whether your shop name is available.
Etsy offers advice on naming your shop if you’re having trouble deciding. Keep in mind that once you choose your store's name, it’s permanent, so think carefully! Once you've landed on a name (congrats!!), hit Save and Continue.
4. add your product listings
Now that your shop has a name, you can begin stocking it. To get started on Etsy, you should create at least 10 listings. Select Add a Listing to create a new page where you can fill out information on your product’s details.
Choose some compelling images that put your product on its best foot and fill out the information about your products. Here you can include things like your product’s category, product description, price, number of units available, and delivery fees. click Preview to see what your listing looks like for your prospective customers. Once you’re happy with your listing, click Save and Continue to proceed.
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5. input your payment settings
Next, specify how you'd like customers to pay you after making a purchase. Etsy Payments is the primary method of payment for sellers on the site. However, you can also use PayPal, a physical check, money order, or a direct bank transfer.
With Etsy Payments, you can accept various payment methods including Etsy gift cards, debit cards, credit cards, and store credit. When you’re done, click Save and Continue to wrap up your payment settings.
6. set up billing
All Etsy fees, including advertising and shipping label fees, must be paid through billing, which you must first set up. Fill in your credit card details. To make the process easier, we recommend setting up automatic billing so Etsy can charge your card on the first of each month or whenever your fees exceed a certain level.
7. open your shop
After setting up your billing information, you’re now ready to open your Etsy shop! Click the Open your Shop button at the bottom of the page and ta-da! Well done! Your Etsy shop is now open and ready to be shown to the world.
8. update your bio
Your public profile is essential to how prospective customers learn more about you. Say a little about your background, interests, and qualifications. Also tell the story behind your products, your mission, and why you love what you do.
9. set up your shop policies
Here you'll address any concerns your clients may have regarding how you run your business from start to finish. Customers want to understand your manufacturing process, shipping times, and what types of payments you accept.
Make sure to give your customers an idea of when they can expect to receive their product with an estimated processing and shipping time. Don't forget to also list your refund and exchange policy as well.
tips for selling on Etsy
Now that we've covered the basics of starting an Etsy store, we'll share our favorite tips for getting your new biz off the ground.
1. organize your business finances
You should keep your business and personal finances separate even when opening an Etsy shop as a side gig. To make filing your business taxes easier, create a new business bank account for all Etsy-related expenses and transactions.
2. use high-quality product photos to make your product shine
Your customer relies on beautiful, high-quality product imagery to understand exactly what they’ll be purchasing. In fact, 93% of consumers rely on photos before making a purchase decision. We recommend using product photos that have excellent lighting, show off your product’s function or texture, and most importantly, should be a reflection of your brand.
3. curate your store
In addition to high-quality product images in your product listings, you also need to think about how those photos are displayed. The time and effort you put into your business, and the quality of your products will shine through to customers in how you decide to curate those gorgeous photos. Arrange your photos in easily navigable sections and don’t forget to write informative descriptions for each product.
4. help more customers find you with SEO
You can implement search engine optimization strategies on your Etsy store and product listing pages to increase the amount of prospective customers that will find your store. Increasing the discoverability of your store ultimately increases your sales. You can start by making small copy tweaks, like making sure your title is descriptive of your product and includes relevant keywords that you think your customer would use. Make sure to carry that over and update tags, store titles, categories, product titles, and descriptions to contain relevant keywords.
5. competitively price your products
Setting a competitive price is essential to attracting customers and generating revenue. Think carefully through this process, as your rates should reflect the value you place on your products, while also covering your fixed expenses.
6. think through the fulfillment process
Once a customer orders your product online, be prepared with the packing materials needed to fulfill the fast shipping expectations that Etsy outlines. In general, Etsy recommends that you ship items promptly as they are sold or within 30 days of purchase. This is a great time to think through what type of experience you want your customer to have once the product is in their hands. Consider investing in branded packaging and a thermal label printer to create a consistent look for your brand.
understanding Etsy’s fees
Like every online marketplace, Etsy charges sellers a fee for listing and selling items. Although signing up for Etsy and opening a shop is free—unless you choose a premium subscription plan—there are fees associated with running a successful business on the platform.
- listing fees—each item you list on Etsy incurs a 20-cent listing fee, which you must pay regardless of whether or not the item sells. After four months your listing will automatically expire unless you renew it and pay an additional 20 cents.
- transaction fees—Etsy charges a transaction fee of 5% whenever you sell an item on the platform. The charge is deducted from the final sale price, including shipping and gift wrapping costs, and is in the currency your item is listed in.
- payment processing fees—when customers make purchases from your Etsy store, you'll be charged a small percentage of the total price as a fee for using the Etsy Payments service. Etsy charges different payment processing fees depending on the location of your bank account. Etsy charges U.S. merchants 3%, plus $0.25 for every transaction.
- additional fees—seller fees on Etsy typically fall into three categories: listing, transaction, and payment processing. However, there are situations in which you may be subject to additional fees, such as postal rates, value-added tax, pattern fees, and advertising costs.
If you use Etsy Payments, Etsy automatically deducts these costs from your sales proceeds. As with any other monthly bill, you’re responsible for any additional expenses incurred before the end of the month. If you are a U.S. seller set up for automatic billing, then Etsy processes a charge to your credit card automatically.
quality product photography with soona
Etsy's intuitive design and wealth of built-in tools makes it easy to open an Etsy shop in minutes. Curating your store with high-quality products is essential to attract new customers that turn into lifelong customers. There's no better way to show off all the hard work you’ve poured into your product with exceptional, high-quality product photography.
At soona, we’re here to help you grow your business with beautiful professional photos and videos. Our Etsy starter pack makes it easy for you to get quality content at affordable prices. Does your Etsy shop need a glow up?? Book a shoot with us today!
