Is Selling on Etsy Worth It: Key Points to Consider
It’s widely known that Etsy is the first place anyone goes to find something unique and custom-made.
With $92 million active buyers, Etsy is also one of the top choices for both new and established eCommerce sellers due to all the opportunities it brings to the table.
An active marketplace and low start-up costs are important factors, but that’s not all to consider when setting up shop on this platform.
We’ll give you a quick overview of the pros, cons, and everything else in between, before you decide to glue yourself to Etsy.
Pros and Cons to Consider
Choosing the perfect sales channel for your business is an important decision, which can dictate your future chances of success.
Each eCommerce platform has its advantages and disadvantages to review before you sign up and start selling items to other people through your new online store.
Check out this comparison table:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Etsy Marketplace Provides businesses with the necessary exposure to attract customers. |
High Competition Other sellers may offer the same products for a cheaper price. |
| Loyal Sellers and Customers The Etsy platform often feels like a close-knit community because it really is one. |
High Fees There is a good number of small fees that will all add up in the long run to eat your profit. |
| Easy to Use The Etsy Shop Manager is easy to understand and navigate. |
Frequent Account Suspensions Etsy is notoriously well-known for frequent account suspensions. |
| Built-In Marketing Tools Keep your store stats in check and run ad campaigns directy from your Shop Manager. |
Lack of Ownership Your store is still run by a third party – it's not the same as running an independent store. (In certain cases, this can be seen as a benefit) |
| Pros |
|---|
| Etsy Marketplace Provides businesses with the necessary exposure to attract customers. |
| Loyal Sellers and Customers The Etsy platform often feels like a close-knit community because it really is one. |
| Easy to Use The Etsy Shop Manager is easy to understand and navigate. |
| Built-In Marketing Tools Keep your store stats in check and run ad campaigns directy from your Shop Manager. |
| Cons |
| High Competition Other sellers may offer the same products for a cheaper price. |
| High Fees There is a good number of small fees that will all add up in the long run to eat your profit. |
| Frequent Account Suspensions Etsy is notoriously well-known for frequent account suspensions. |
| Lack of Ownership Your store is still run by a third party – it's not the same as running an independent store. (In certain cases, this can be seen as a benefit) |
Learn how to sell on Etsy with Printify!
Best-Selling Items and Categories on Etsy
Has the time come to finally start selling stickers on Etsy? Absolutely. There’s also a number of other hot selling product categories to add to your store.
To get a good read on what Etsy buyers are looking for – find what they are buying.
Homeware and furnishing is the top sales category on Etsy, bringing $3.2 billion in sales, closely followed by personal jewelry and accessories with $1.6 billion, and craft supplies at a stable $1.2 billion.
A good number of these best-sellers are also custom print-on-demand products – that’s right. You can pack your store full of shirts, shoes, pants, necklaces, and even custom jewelry boxes.
With Printify, you can go from idea to product listing within just a few minutes.
Although all of this sounds great, there already seems to be an existing Etsy store for everything you want to sell, so why bother?
This is where we come in. From the right products and the exact Etsy shop policies template you’ve been looking for, to a stable fulfillment service and guides on how to make money on Etsy – Printify is your assured way to success.
Find a niche, set up your store, and learn how to get more sales on Etsy.
Etsy Store Setup and Maintenance
In short – the setup is easy, the maintenance is more involved, but a lot of it can be simplified by using the platform and its various tools to grow online sales
We’ll go over some key factors to keep in mind when selling on Etsy.
Quick Tip:
Offer great customer service to ensure a steady ★★★★★ rating.
Etsy Fees
Listing fees on any listed and renewed items, payment and transaction fees on money your customers send you, and the list goes on.
Let’s take a critical look at these fees to understand the best options for you as an Etsy business owner.
Listing Fees
All public and private Etsy listings come with a flat fee of $0.20 for each item you put up for sale on your online store.
If your product listings are set to auto-renew, Etsy listing fees will be charged even when your shop is on Vacation Mode and you’re not making any sales.
Transaction Fees
As of April 2022, Etsy charges a transaction fee of 6.5% on every order that’s placed through yours and other Etsy shops.
The fee applies to the total cost of the purchase, including shipping and gift wrapping.
Payment Processing Fees
These fees are charged on every transaction made through Etsy Payments.
They come at a set rate in combination with a percent of the total sales price of the item, including shipping fees and applicable taxes. A key point to remember is that these fees vary by country.
Etsy Subscriptions
Etsy offers two subscription plans – Etsy Standard and Etsy Plus. If this is the first you hear about Etsy subscriptions, you might be surprised to find out that you’re automatically enrolled in one upon opening a shop.
Etsy Standard
The default free plan includes basic tools and marketing features.
Etsy Ads, Pattern, and Etsy Shipping Labels can be used for a set price without the needing to sign up for a monthly subscription.
Etsy Plus
The pay plan costs $10/month and provides a monthly budget of credits for listings and Etsy Ads, restock requests and advanced shop customisation options.
You will receive 15 credits for Etsy listings and $5 credits in Etsy Ads every month.
Etsy Advertising
Go beyond ensuring that your product listings rank on the Etsy search page by using Etsy advertising to your advantage.
This feature will enable you to advertise products to target Etsy customers through the platform.
Etsy Offsite Ads fees are charged for advertising your products through other sites, such as Google or Facebook.
Etsy Ads Fees
Through your Etsy Shop Manager, purchase paid advertising on Etsy and set a daily budget to limit the amount you’re spending on promoting your product listings. The default minimum daily budget is $1, and you can change it at any time.
Using Ads will give you an advantage over other Etsy sellers, and it is considered as yet another necessary fee to successfully start selling on Etsy.
Offsite Ads Fees
Go beyond the Etsy platform through risk-free offsite advertising.
The main idea behind it is simple – if a buyer clicks on an offsite ad and orders from your shop within 30 days since that initial click, you will get charged an advertising fee.
The fee is a percentage of the total order amount plus shipping, gift wrapping, and any applicable taxes. If you make more than $10,000 in sales in a 12-month period, you pay a fee equal to 12%. If it’s less, you pay 15%.
Although the majority of them are small, the complete list of Etsy fees can definitely add up to a substantial-enough amount for some to consider moving to a platform with less microtransactions.
Etsy Shop Branding
You have full creative freedom over your store’s branding. Take note that you can change some features, but won’t be able to completely transform your online store page, unless you’re using Pattern.
Slight adjustments can be enough to set your online store apart from other Etsy sellers.
Edit your store name and logo, highlight product listings, share announcements with your customers. Add more information in your “About” section, and edit your public profile, shop policies, and item descriptions.
All sellers have the option to feature 4 listings or shop sections. With Etsy Plus, you get a mixed grid with 5 listings or shop sections and advanced shop customization possibilities.
Etsy Customization
Etsy is the place to sell craft supplies, digital products, vintage items, and handmade products online.
It’s also also an excellent platform for a print-on-demand eCommerce store and a great alternative to running your own website.
One thing that makes Etsy so popular is that it offers customization options for many items you can find in Etsy stores. This means Etsy shoppers can order an item in the exact color, style, and material they want.
In addition to that, there is product personalization, which enables Etsy shoppers to add special messages, names, or initials to the ordered item.
Quick Tip:
If you add product personalization to your Printify-made products, make sure to edit each personalized order in your Printify Dashboard, adding and adjusting designs in accordance with your customer's preferences.
Make It Happen Today!
Should You Stay or Should You Go Away from Etsy Now?
Whether you’re a long-time Etsy seller or you’ve only recently opened up your Etsy shop, you might be wondering if it’s time to leave the platform. Is selling on Etsy worth it?
With changes made to Etsy’s policies and transaction fees, many sellers find that Etsy isn’t as profitable as it once was. This even lead to a seller strike last year, which resulted in the formation of the Indie Sellers Guild to protect the rights of independent creators.
If you’re considering leaving Etsy, start by taking a look at your sales – are you still selling as much as you were a year ago? Are you even making sales?
- If no one is buying your products, or you’re seeing a dip in sales, first, consider if there are ways to improve your performance on the platform.
This includes investing more time to promote your shop on social media platforms, come up with new product ideas, offer free shipping, run advertising campaigns through Etsy Ads, or, yes, even look at Etsy alternatives. - If your sales are steady, or increasing, your gut feeling might be to stay on Etsy.
After all, it’s a well-established platform with a large customer base and you may even have your own loyal customers.
If you’re happy with Etsy, and making a profit, there’s really no need to leave it, but you can definitely consider opening more stores on other marketplaces or platforms.
We’ve set up automated integrations with some of the most popular sales channels available, covering a vastly different eCommerce market share.
These connections will enable you to run your own website with WooCommerce or Shopify, or try out another marketplace like eBay or Walmart completely stress-free.
When It’s Better to Continue Using Etsy
For many Etsy users, this will always and forever remain the perfect sales platform to be on.
It is easier to navigate and understand than other eCommerce sites. It’s the place for any big or small business owner to sell handmade items. On top of that, you can participate in the community as both a seller and a buyer.
Here are a few other reasons why you might want to keep your online business with Etsy:
Etsy Marketplace
This global online marketplace will give your online store access to a very large mass of people.
The growing number of 7.5 million active sellers and more than 92 million active buyers really explains why you can find most handmade businesses and unique products on Etsy.
Loyal Sellers and Customers
Etsy has an active buyer and seller community, which many other platforms could even hope for.
This means you have better chances at receiving customer feedback on the products you sell and answers to your Community questions.
Easy to Use
Etsy provides you with all the tools and guides necessary to start and maintain a successful selling experience on this channel.
They handle payment processing, prepare shipping labels, and give you useful store reminders.
When It’s Worth Moving Away From Etsy
The fees are adding up, you only get a few sales because the competition is heavy, and you’re just tired of random account suspensions.
Etsy is a great platform for selling handmade items and vintage goods, but it’s not the only game in town.
If you feel like your Etsy shop is stagnant, it might be time for you to star seeing other eCommerce platforms.
Here are a few signs that it’s time to make a change:
High Competition
With over 7.5 million active sellers, the competition for your target market might just be too high. It’s possible you might need to switch to a new sales channel or reevaluate your customer niche.
High Fees
The fees add up to eat a chunk out of your profits.
If you’re not happy with the percentage of sales that go to fees, it might be time to increase your retail prices or look for a new platform with lower or clearer-to-understand fees.
Lack of Ownership
You will always be just “one of” the sellers offered on the marketplace.
Etsy isn’t your own website, where you are in full control of branding. It might just be time to sell online through your own site.
How to Make the Move From Etsy
If you’re ready to say goodbye to selling on Etsy and grow your brand through your own website – choose an eCommerce platform that will give you more control over your business and your own online store.
That said, you should consider keeping your Etsy shop before you’ve established a presence elsewhere. Yes – even if you’re not actively listing or selling anything. This way, your customers can still find your shop and contact you if they’re interested in purchasing something.
Turn on Vacation Mode through the “Settings” tab in your Shop Manager. When on Vacation Mode, a message will appear at the top of your shop, stating that you are taking a short break.
The “add to cart” button will be greyed out, but you’ll still have access to your orders, cases, and messages.
Pro Tip:
Set product listing renewal to “manual” or deactivate them, so you don’t continue paying for inactive listings.
The decision to move might be the hardest part of the process, as actually moving your business to a different platform is pretty easy.
The first thing you’ll need to do is find a service to move your business to. You can check out some of our platform comparisons to find the best choice for your business – Shopify vs Etsy, Etsy vs eBay.
Moving Products
If your Etsy store is already connected to Printify and you choose an eCommerce platform or marketplace that has an automated integration with us, this will further simplify the whole process of moving your store.
Connect your new store to your Printify account and copy products from one store to another through My Stores without needing to recreate them from scratch.
If your stores are not connected with Printify, you’ll need to download your Etsy CSV file, which lists product titles, descriptions, variants and prices. You can download it through your Shop Manager.
Importing already-existing products to a Shopify store from your Etsy is simplified with the Easy Import Etsy Migration app from the Shopify App Store.
Choose What Works Best for You
So, is selling on Etsy worth it? Maybe. As with most things in life, it depends on what you’re looking for.
It is still one of the most popular platforms to sell and shop online, especially if you’re a small and artsy business. Selling on Etsy could become your solid first steps in eCommerce.
It’s also possible that Etsy isn’t the best fit for your business and actually stifles your growth – it might be time to move your store elsewhere.
What do you think – is selling on Etsy worth it?
What do you think – is selling on Etsy worth it?
Make It Happen Today!
Written by
Vita Stevens
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2 comments
Very informative read. I’ve been looking into Etsy for several days now and I’ve gotten more information from this article than anywhere else combined so thank you.
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for your feedback, we are glad you enjoyed this article!