Etsy is an online marketplace that sells handmade items. Be it stickers, clothing, cell phone cases or self-made furniture. If you too would like to manufacture something and sell it on Etsy, we will show you below how to set up your own shop on the website.
How to open an Etsy shop
It's easy to set up your own shop on Etsy and earn money with it. Follow our step-by-step instructions or take a look at the quick start guide ..
Keep this in mind when opening an Etsy shop
First and foremost, be aware that there are fees associated with sales through Etsy. As a rule, this is $ 0.20 per item offered - mostly regardless of whether a product has been sold or not. For business customers, this fee always applies, for private sales only when the product is actually purchased.
You also have to deal with German law for sales tax and business registration. If you only sell self-made products from time to time - for example, self-knitted woolen socks every few weeks - you don't have to register a business right away. But if you always offer a two- or three-digit sum of pairs of socks of different designs in your online shop at Etsy and thus also earn larger profits, you have to register as a business and pay business tax in addition to sales tax. If necessary, membership in the Chamber of Industry and Commerce or the Chamber of Crafts is also required - unless you indicate a freelance activity.
Your webshop must provide truthful information and also meet certain formalities. For example, you have to provide an imprint, cancellation policy and a declaration on data protection. There should also be a link to the EU platform for online dispute resolution. It can make sense to also introduce general terms and conditions, but this is not an obligation. You should also provide information on delivery times, because in Germany you as a seller are obliged to give your customers the most precise delivery date possible.
Attention: Even if this may seem obvious at first glance, it is imperative that you ensure that you do not violate any copyright. Homemade fan products are still okay sometimes, but selling unlicensed merchandise in bulk, for example, could cause problems..
Quick Start Guide: How to Open an Etsy Shop
- The first thing you need to do is register with Etsy and then log in there.
- Then click on your profile picture in the upper right corner . Then select " Sale on Etsy " in the menu .
- You will now see the benefits of Etsy as a platform for business and sales. Scroll down to " Open Your Etsy Shop " and click on it.
- Now you have to set details like the language of the shop and your currency . This information is also important for your future customers. Click on " Save and Continue ". You will then need to provide further information, such as the shop name , the items on offer and which payment methods you accept. You'll also need to set up a billing yourself , as Etsy keeps part of your sales as commission. Your shop is then set up and you can sell directly online.