Do you need a business license to sell on Etsy?
Once your Etsy store starts making a consistent profit in sales, you can be legally obligated to apply for a license through your local government.
Printify + your favorite platform = more sales!
Etsy is an eCommerce goldmine with 96 million active buyers hunting for unique, handmade, and custom products.
Ready to cash in? Earning on Etsy starts with standing out – and Printify makes it easy. Skip the DIY hustle and sell personalized products without ever touching inventory. From setup to sales, our guide shows you exactly how to launch and grow your Etsy business.
Disclaimer
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through those links. This comes at no additional cost to you.
Key takeaways
- Print-on-demand platforms like Printify let Etsy sellers create and sell custom products without managing production or inventory.
- Selecting a niche and conducting market research helps Etsy store owners develop products that appeal to their target audience.
- Effective SEO practices, including relevant keywords and well-crafted product descriptions, improve product visibility on Etsy, leading to more traffic and potential sales.
- Marketing strategies like email campaigns, social media posts, and Etsy ads can help increase store traffic and attract more customers.
- Monitoring store performance through tools like Etsy Stats helps successful Etsy shop owners remain competitive by making informed adjustments to product listings, pricing, and marketing efforts.
Pick a profitable product category
Most Etsy shop ideas start with choosing a niche and product category. A niche is a group of specific people with shared traits or interests your store targets. It can be broad or highly specific, from pet owners to Komodo dragon enthusiasts. Ultimately, your niche will affect what you sell and how you sell it.
Dig deep into your interests
Finding something you’re skilled at or passionate about is key to staying motivated long-term. If you’re not genuinely invested in your niche, you’ll find it difficult to stay engaged and thrive among other Etsy stores.
Consider your personal experiences, goals, and interests. If you want to make money as an artist, your niche will naturally be tied to your work.
Pinpoint customer needs
Determine your target market potential by analyzing consumer search behavior, traffic trends, interests, and opinions within your customer niche.
Use online keyword research tools like Etsy’s search bar, Semrush, and Google Trends. Explore social media platforms like Quora to spot emerging trends and product gaps in the market.
Research the market and competition
Analyze your competitors and other successful shops by reviewing their product offerings, pricing strategies, and customer feedback.
Look at what sells well and what their Etsy customers like and dislike. Determine how to distinguish your products from others and consider how you could offer something unique.
Prepare your Etsy shop and products
Once you’ve decided on your business niche and strategy, it’s time to set up your Etsy shop.
As you build your storefront, focus on creating a catalog of custom products tailored to your customers and pricing strategy.
So, let’s create some click-worthy listings.
Step 1: Pick products and designs
Choose best-selling items that align with your niche. Design your own tote bag collection, personalize candles, or try custom mug printing. Focus on customizing or uniquely designing products to make them stand out in the marketplace.
Partner with Printify and access our Product Catalog with over 1,300 white-label products (from custom-printed pint glasses to apparel and accessories), as well as our beginner-friendly Product Creator tool.
Use it to customize clothing and accessories, or try decor, games, and kitchen supplies. You can even sell printables featuring your artwork on Etsy.
Step 2: Calculate the numbers
To start making money on Etsy, add up all your overhead expenses and Etsy fees. The right product price should guarantee that each Etsy sale maintains sustainable profit margins.
What are the most common expenses for Etsy sellers?
- Production costs: Expenses associated with sourcing and manufacturing your products, including packaging materials, shipping, and taxes.
- Listing fees: You pay a small amount for each product listing you create. The fee is currently set at $0.20.
- Transaction fees: Etsy charges a 6.5% transaction fee for each sale you make, calculated based on the total cost of your product and shipping.
- Payment processing fees: Issued by your credit card processor, most stores automatically enroll in Etsy Payments for this during store setup.
Etsy charges a 3% plus $0.25 payment processing fee per transaction for US-based customers.
On average, Etsy takes between 10% and 20% per sale. As part of a print-on-demand business model, your chosen Print Provider will already prepare your production and shipping costs, simplifying the calculation process.
Try out our handy Etsy calculator – just enter the selling price, product costs, and shipping fees to get a clear breakdown of Etsy’s fees and your potential profit.
Quick tip
Is selling on Etsy worth it? Absolutely. But to find success and make more money online, you’ll need the right approach and a well-planned strategy.
Step 3: Open your own Etsy store
How to sell on Etsy? Start by creating an Etsy account with a business email, then follow the onboarding process to open your own Etsy shop.
Open a free Printify account to create a custom product and use our Etsy integration to publish your first listing.
- Submit basic information about your store: Provide your store name, shop language, and currency.
- Add your first product listing: Upload your Printify mockup photos, edit a description, and set the price and shipping details of your listing.
- Register your bank account: Link your bank account to your Etsy store and manage Etsy Payments to receive funds from your sales.
How to enhance your Etsy store
- Add essential store details
Write an engaging shop description, upload an eye-catching banner, and include necessary business information in the About section. - Organize and showcase
Upload more listings, create clear product categories, and use high-quality images that accurately display your offerings. - Create compelling listings
Write detailed and engaging descriptions for each product listing, using relevant keywords and tags to improve your Etsy search visibility.
Create a marketing strategy
After setting up your store, optimize your listings and develop an Etsy marketing strategy to increase customer retention and drive sales effectively.
Define your target customers
Craft a buyer persona to tailor your listings for a specific customer base. Who will be interested in your offers and why? Where do they spend most of their time online? How much will they be willing to spend on your offers?
Define your buyer persona by age, location, income, interests, and hobbies to understand their needs, preferences, and purchasing behavior.
Select effective marketing channels
While Etsy’s search engine provides merchants with traffic, marketing your listings and brand is essential for successfully increasing your store’s visibility.
Consider using these marketing channels:
- Email marketing: Set up an email list and share promotions, sales, purchasing information, and updates to attract potential customers.
- Search engine optimization: Use Etsy SEO to improve product listings with high-ranking keywords. Use keyword tools like eRank and Ahrefs.
- Social media: Promote your shop on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Use trends, hashtags, and posts to raise customer loyalty.
- Online ads: Use search engines or social media display ads, banners, and pop-ups to drive traffic directly to your best-selling listings.
- Content marketing: Build trust through blog posts, articles, videos, and other content marketing strategies.
- Influencer marketing: Partner with social media influencers to promote your Etsy shop through sponsored posts, giveaways, and reviews.
Promote with paid Etsy Ads
Pay for in-platform advertising to expand your store’s visibility and keep your existing audience through Etsy search results using Etsy ads.
How does Etsy advertising work?
- Go to your Etsy Shop Manager.
- Click on marketing: In the left-hand sidebar, select Marketing, then click Etsy Ads.
- Set your daily budget: Choose how much you’ll spend daily on ads. Etsy will promote your listings based on your set budget.
- Select listings to promote: Pick the product listings you want to advertise. Etsy will automatically suggest top-performing products, but you can customize this selection.
- Launch your ads: Once your budget and listings are set, click to activate your Etsy Ads.
Etsy will begin promoting your products on the platform, charging a cost per click (CPC), meaning you only pay if a user clicks on the promoted listing.
Analyze and adjust your strategy
Monitor your Etsy store’s performance regularly, collect data and insights, and adjust your product listings to maximize profit.
Collect data
Use tools like Etsy Stats to track store visits, clicks, orders, and performance metrics. Analyze this data to understand Etsy’s algorithm and improve your listings, titles, and tags for better visibility and organic traffic.
Optimize your store
Focus on SEO and learn how to take pictures for Etsy to create eye-catching listings.
Optimize product descriptions and your store layout for discoverability. If you partner with Printify, use our high-quality product mockups and create your own detailed descriptions to enhance your store’s performance.
Monitor all processes
Review your store’s analytics regularly and monitor trends. Stay updated on the Etsy search algorithm to improve listings. Ongoing analysis and attention help you surpass other sellers and maintain long-term growth for your store.
Top-selling products on Etsy
While you can sell anything that complies with the Seller Policy, focusing on best-selling product categories and researching successful Etsy Shops will help you offer products that resonate with Etsy’s audience and drive sales.
So, what sells on Etsy?
1. Jewelry
One of Etsy’s top categories, offering everything from minimalist designs to bold statement pieces. Buyers love unique jewelry, making it a highly profitable niche.
- Necklaces
- Earrings
- Bracelets
- Handmade jewelry
- Jewelry boxes
2. Crafts and supplies
Crafters flock to Etsy for unique materials to complete their DIY projects. Selling directly to artists with your own craft supplies lets you tap into a large market of creative enthusiasts.
- Beads and gems
- Fabric
- Wrapping paper
- Knitting and crochet supplies
- Stickers
3. Wedding and party supplies
Personalized decor and party favors are in demand for special events. This category thrives as people seek one-of-a-kind items to make their celebrations unforgettable.
- Balloons
- Napkins
- Greeting cards and invitations
- Yard signs
5. Stationery supplies
Shoppers love personalized stationery for both work and home. It’s an ideal category for creative sellers offering custom items for personal use or business branding.
6. Home decor
This category sells well, especially personalized items that add a creative touch to living spaces. Buyers love custom, artisanal pieces to enhance their homes.
7. Art and collectibles
Yes, you can make money on Etsy by selling art. Offer original works, digital downloads, or handmade pieces to attract buyers looking for personal, unique items.
- Digital art and other digital downloads
- Canvas prints and posters
- Handmade crafts
- Artisanal pottery
- Sculptures and figurines
8. Baby items
A popular category that attracts parents and gift-givers seeking unique, personalized baby products with special meaning.
9. Kitchen supplies
Offer stylish and functional kitchen supplies to cater to home cooks and bakers. This is a large category among home chefs and hobbyists.
11. Shoes
Selling custom shoes allows you to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Buyers seek custom, personalized footwear with designs that differ from large brands.
12. Toys and games
Custom games and toys offer entertainment for all ages. Perfect for sellers wanting to provide fun, creative, and profitable products for families.
13. Electronics and accessories
Tech-savvy shoppers love custom, stylish accessories that enhance their gadgets. This category can encourage sales from those looking for creative alternatives to mass-produced items.
14. Vintage items
Profit by focusing on the retro or vintage-inspired item trend, appealing to buyers who love nostalgic designs with a modern twist.
Note
Selling vintage products on Etsy requires they are at least 20 years old.
How to make money on Etsy without making anything yourself – The Printify way
![How to make money on Etsy: Complete guide ([bp_year]) 1](https://printify.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/How-to-make-money-on-Etsy-without-making-anything-yourself-1024x768.png "How to make money on Etsy without making anything yourself")
Partner with Printify for our automated Etsy integration and the largest POD Catalog with top-selling items. Join creative entrepreneurs and sell custom-design products while our Print Providers handle the rest – printing, packaging, and shipping to your global customers.
Why should you sell Etsy products with Printify?
100% Free
Our services are free, making it easy for anyone to get started. Monitor your online store, products, and orders – all in one place.
Global printing network
We’ve partnered with Print Providers in the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, and China to fulfill and ship your orders worldwide, fast.
Quality Product Creator
Our free and beginner-friendly Product Creator is the perfect tool for creating designs to sell on the Etsy marketplace.
Outstanding customer support
Our Merchant Support Team will help you every step of the way. Message them via chat or email and receive guidance 24/7. For more resources, browse our blog, Help Center, and YouTube channel with valuable articles, tips, suggestions, and updates on all things eCommerce.
How to make money on Etsy: FAQ
Absolutely! Many Etsy sellers build profitable businesses by offering unique products in this popular online marketplace. Success comes down to choosing the right niche, setting up a memorable shop, and using smart strategies to encourage sales – like great product photography, detailed descriptions, and a strong social media presence. Whether you’re selling handmade goods, vintage items, or digital downloads, there’s plenty of opportunity to turn your passion into profit.
Etsy has several fees, including a 6.5% transaction fee on the sale price (including shipping) and a payment processing fee (which varies by country but is typically around 3% + $0.25). For a $100 sale, expect Etsy to take roughly $9-$10 in fees, leaving you with around $90 before material and shipping costs. Offering free shipping or bundling items can help offset these fees and encourage sales.
Yes, but it takes time, strategy, and consistency. Successful Etsy sellers often reach this milestone by selling high-demand items like digital products, craft supplies, or popular handmade goods like jewelry and wall art. Scaling your Etsy business might involve working with production partners, offering free shipping, and building a standalone website or social media presence to drive more traffic to your shop.
Digital downloads – like printable wall art or planners – often have the highest profit margins since you only create the product once and can sell it infinitely. Vintage items, craft supplies, and personalized handmade goods also perform well. The key is to find products that align with your skills and what other successful Etsy sellers are offering, while adding your own twist to stand out in the online marketplace.
Turn your passion into profit and start your own Etsy shop
Turning your creativity into cash on Etsy? Totally doable. Find your niche, set up shop, and start selling – Printify takes care of the rest. No inventory, no stress, just endless possibilities. How to make money on Etsy? Follow our guide, grab the right tools, and watch your side hustle take off. Let’s turn your ideas into bestsellers – start today with Printify!
