Quick answer
To open an Etsy shop, visit Etsy.com/sell
Welcome to Etsy, new seller in the making! You’re just moments away from sharing your unique handmade and vintage items with buyers from all over the world. This guide is your starting point to opening your shop, learning how to manage your business, and building your brand.
What do I need to know before opening a shop on Etsy?
Before you get started opening your shop, review the following information to better understand Etsy’s rules and policies.
What can I sell on Etsy?
Etsy is a place for items made by a seller, designed by a seller, handpicked by a seller, or sourced by a seller.
Before you start an Etsy shop:
- Read our guide on what you can sell on Etsy
- Review Etsy’s Creative Standards
- Review our Prohibited Items Policy
- Ensure that you're in a location where Etsy Payments is available
- Review our seller policies
- Learn about fees for selling on Etsy
Do I need a business licence to sell on Etsy?
Etsy doesn’t require sellers to have a business licence to sell on Etsy.
However, when selling on Etsy you're required to follow any laws that apply to you as a small business selling online. If you have any questions regarding which laws apply to you, please contact a qualified professional.
How to create your Etsy shop
You must have an existing Etsy account before creating a shop, so sign in or create an Etsy account. You’ll use this account to run your shop and to buy from other makers on Etsy. After creating your account, add your profile picture and bio to let other people know who you are, and to share your story with the Etsy community.
You need to set up your shop using a desktop web browser. Once your shop is set up, you can manage your shop on the Etsy Seller app.
To begin creating your Etsy shop, visit Etsy.com/sell and select Get started. Answer a few questions about your business experience and you’ll be ready to start.
Set your shop preferences
Select your shop’s language, country, and currency:
- Shop language: The shop language you choose is the default language you use to describe your items. Be sure that the language you choose is also one you feel comfortable communicating with buyers in. 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 enrol in other languages after opening your shop.
- Shop country: Select the country you’ll run your shop from.
- 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.
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.
After you open your shop, you can change your shop name from Info and Appearance under the Shop Name tab.
Set up your payment and billing details
To get paid on Etsy, you need to connect your bank account to your Etsy shop so that you can receive payments. You’ll also need to add a debit or credit card to your account to pay your bills from Etsy.
How to connect your bank account:
- From the Where is your bank located dropdown, select the country where your bank is located.
- In the For tax purposes, what type of seller are you? section, choose if you are an Individual or sole proprietorship or an Incorporated business.
The steps to set up payments can vary depending on your location.
US sellers add bank details by using a third party service provided by Plaid. Plaid allows you to verify your bank details with them to help ensure you get your deposits. Learn about Plaid’s security measures.
Under Your bank information choose Connect your bank with Plaid and follow the steps to add and verify your bank details. Learn more about updating your bank details. When you use Plaid to verify your bank account details, you agree to Plaid’s terms, including Plaid’s Privacy Policy.
Sellers in Australia must have a residential address on file with their Australian bank. This address must be used for Etsy Payments. We are unable to accept a PO box as a residential address.
You can update your address in Payment settings in your Shop Manager.
You can sign up for Etsy Payments with a Payoneer Payment Account in the following countries:
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Chile
- China
- Egypt
- Georgia
- India
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Pakistan
- Peru
- Serbia
- South Korea
- Thailand
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
If you select any of these countries from the Where is your bank located? section, you’ll be prompted to Connect your Payoneer account. From here, you can sign in to an existing Payoneer account, or create a new one.
Once you connect your Payoneer account to your shop and your information is verified, you’ll be enrolled in Etsy Payments. Learn more about how Payoneer works with Etsy.
What if Etsy Payments isn’t available in my country?
You can only open an Etsy shop in a country where Etsy Payments is available. Etsy can only offer payment services in certain countries at this time. We are working to support additional countries in the future.
Sellers who use Payoneer may be subject to Payoneer’s withdrawal minimums and additional fees. Learn about Payoneer’s fees and withdrawals to your bank. Log into your Payoneer account for more details on applicable Payoneer fees.
- Under Your bank information, enter your bank account details.
- Select Save and continue.
- Add a credit or debit card.
Note: New sellers in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands are required to have a credit or debit card added to their account.
You must verify your bank details to help ensure you’ll receive funds from your sales smoothly and securely. Learn how to verify your bank details.
You can add a prepaid card to your account from the billing setup page if you already added a credit or debit card to your account. A non- reloadable prepaid card can’t be your only or primary payment card, but you can always pay your bill manually with a non-reloadable prepaid card.
If you are trying to add a reloadable prepaid card to your account but it is not working, please try adding another card instead.
Once you’ve added your billing information, a one-time, non-refundable shop set-up fee must be paid. This fee helps us invest in support for new sellers, as well as enhanced security checks to protect our marketplace. Check the box in the Total due now section to authorise this one-time payment and finish setting up your shop.
If you're using Payoneer, the Etsy onboarding fee will be in USD. Taxes may apply.
A confirmation of this transaction will be sent to the email you registered when opening up your shop, and your payment will be reflected in your Payment account. Learn more about the Etsy shop set-up fee.
Verify your identity
You need to verify your identity before setting up your shopfront. Etsy partners with third-party company Persona to run identity and fraud-prevention checks.
In order to verify your identity, you’ll need to provide a photo of your government ID and a clear selfie. During the onboarding process, Persona will compare your ID photo to your selfie to make sure they match.
Once your identity is verified, you’ll be able to continue setting up your shop.
Learn more about how your information is used.
To verify your identity:
- Choose between Express review with biometric info, and Manual review without biometric info.
- Select Choose this option.
- Select Begin verifying.
- Choose the country that issued your ID from the dropdown and select Continue.
- Select an ID from the list that you want to share. The ID must not be expired and needs to match the name on the bank account you added to get paid.
- Choose how you want to upload your ID photo. If you need to switch to a device with a camera, select Use another device and select how you would like to receive a secure link to continue your verification – either through SMS or email.
- Select Continue with Persona to begin the verification process.
You can continue to set up your shop while the ID and selfies you submitted are reviewed. Once you open your shop, you can check your verification status in your Shop Manager from the Legal & tax information page.
If you’re having issues completing your verification, read our article on how to verify your identity on Etsy.
Turn on two-factor authentication
As a security measure, we require you to set up two-factor authentication. When you sign in from an unrecognised browser or device, we’ll send you a verification code to enter before accessing your account. You can receive this verification code through:
- An authenticator app on your Android or iOS device (Recommended)
- An SMS
- A phone call
Learn more about two-factor authentication.
If you are having issues inputting your phone number for two-factor authentication, please use an authenticator app instead.
Once this is finished, select Open your shop. Congratulations! You’re now ready to begin setting up your shop!
How to set up your shopfront
Once you’ve signed up to sell on Etsy, there are a few steps you need to take to complete your shop setup and prepare to start selling items. Customising your shop’s appearance is a crucial part of showcasing your brand’s personality and building trust with your customers.
In addition to your shop name, add the following to set up your shop and show your brand to potential customers:
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Shop Icon: Represent your shop with a logo that reflects what you sell. Learn how to add and edit your shop icon.
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Shop Banner: Highlight your products – in action or with a stylised shot – with a banner. Learn how to customise your shop banner.
- Shop Story: Tell buyers about who you are, what inspires you, and how you create. Learn more about adding a Shop Story.
- About section: Upload videos or photos and share the story behind your products, how your business came to be, and what your vision is for your brand. Learn how to craft a great About section.
- Shop members: Introduce any other members of your team or people you collaborate with.
- Shop policies: Outline all your policies for delivery, returns, exchanges, payments, custom items, or any other guidelines that are important for shoppers to know before they make a purchase.
- Delivery profiles: Decide how much you want to charge for postage, determine if you’ll offer free delivery, and set up delivery profiles that help shoppers know what they’ll pay for postage.
As you finish your shop setup, consider using Etsy Postage Labels to mail your buyers’ orders. You can purchase labels from a variety of US and international carriers directly from your Etsy shop. Using Etsy Postage Labels can save you time at the post office, give you access to purchase discounts, and automatically add tracking to your orders.
How to add your first listing to your shop
Once you’ve completed all your shop sections, you’ll need to add your first listing before you can open your Etsy shop. When you add a product to your Etsy shop, we call this a listing. Learn how to list an item.
When listing your items, take best practices into account:
- Use your titles and tags to optimise for Etsy search
- Take high quality listing photos
- Add attributes to help shoppers find your items
- Describe your items in a way that captures shoppers’ interest
- Set accurate processing times to give shoppers an idea of when they’ll receive the item
-
Consider how you'll set your postage prices or offering free delivery
How to start marketing, branding, and promoting your shop
A marketing strategy is key to the success of your Etsy shop. Effective marketing can help new customers discover your products, let your existing customers stay informed about shop updates, and can help increase your sales.
- Optimise your shop for Etsy search. Add your location so your shop can be found in local searches.
- Link your shop to your social media accounts so you can easily craft posts about your business.
- Learn how using Etsy ads can help build your brand and get your listings in front of buyers.
- Consider setting up discounts, sending targeted offers, and participating in sales events to incentivise shoppers.
- Find a local craft fair or market where you can sell your goods.
- Join the Etsy Community and Teams where you can network with sellers and shoppers.
Check out these topic deep dives to learn more:
Providing great customer service
You can help meet buyers’ expectations by offering stellar customer service. If you provide consistent, excellent customer service, you may earn a Star Seller badge.
- Make sure you follow customer service best practices so you’re qualified for Etsy Purchase Protection for sellers.
- Sign up for each of our seller email lists to access tips and important information.
- Learn what to do when you make your first sale.
- Read about Etsy’s review system and how to get 5-star reviews.
- Manage your shop on the go using the Etsy Seller app.
- Take a break from your shop when needed.
How to grow your business on Etsy
To take your shop to the next level, review our essential guides to get started with:
- Ultimate Guide to Starting an Etsy Shop
- How to Deliver Your Items on Etsy
- How to Promote Your Etsy Shop
- What are Etsy's Customer Service Standards?
- How to Use Etsy's Search Visibility Page
- Etsy Fee Basics
- How to Set Up Your Shopfront
- How to Set Up and Manage an Etsy Ads Campaign
- How to Save on Etsy Fees with the Share and Save Programme
- How to Set Up Sales and Discounts for Your Shop
We also have plenty of other resources to help you learn more about selling on Etsy:
- Explore the Seller Handbook for in-depth guides on everything you need to run a successful business on Etsy.
- Listen to the Etsy Success podcast.
- Watch our videos on YouTube.
- Connect with our community of talented and knowledgeable sellers in the Etsy Community.
Welcome to selling on Etsy!
Here are the answers to some common questions when getting started on Etsy.
To start opening your Etsy shop:
- Go to Sell on Etsy on Etsy.com.
- Select Open your Etsy shop.
- Choose your shop language, country, and currency, then select Save and continue.
- Choose your shop name, then select Save and continue.
You’ll now have a draft shop. Before you open your shop, you must choose your payment methods and set up billing.
After you add your billing info, you’ll see a button to publish your shop.
Once your shop is open, you can customise the look of your shop with a logo and shop banners.
Everything listed for sale on Etsy must be made or designed by a seller, handpicked by a seller, or a sourced by a seller. Items sold on Etsy must also follow our Prohibited Items Policy.
Items made by a seller
Items made by a seller are physical items fully handcrafted by you, or produced by you without the assistance of a production partner or third party. This includes handcrafted and hand-assembled products, and items produced using computerised tools. Examples include spun pottery, knitted scarves, or embroidered clothing.
Items designed by a seller
Items designed by a seller are original designs that are either offered as a digital download, or are produced or printed onto a physical item by a third party. This includes things like digital downloads, or where a production partner is used in the creation of the final product such as a book designed and illustrated by a seller but printed and bound by a production partner.
Read more about working with production partners on Etsy.
Items handpicked by a seller
Items handpicked by a seller are items that are personally selected and curated for sale by a seller. This could include vintage items that are at least 20 years old, items from nature or certain collections of items.
This could include items such as a dress from the 1950’s, rocks, geodes or a “new baby” themed gift box containing an assortment of items personally selected and arranged by you, the seller.
Items sourced by a seller
Items sourced by a seller are items that enable a buyer’s creativity like craft supplies, party decorations or personalised items with buyers’ unique text or image.
Craft and party supplies include items that are tools, ingredients, or materials whose primary purpose is to create an item or throw a special occasion. Personalised items include items such as initials engraved on a necklace, or a custom logo embossed on a journal.
One of the most common issues encountered when opening a shop on Etsy is using an outdated or incompatible browser.
Here are some browsers that work well with Etsy:
If you closed your Etsy shop, you can reopen it. All your information will be exactly as you left it.
If your shop was suspended, you may have received an email from Etsy letting you know. Respond directly to that email and request that your shop be reopened. If you can't find that email, let us know.
When someone searches for an item on Etsy.com, Etsy’s search algorithm looks for the most relevant matches. You control the most important factors in Etsy search placement when you create listings in your shop:
- Tag and title relevance
- Item attribute relevance
- Listing quality
- Customer & market experience
- For US shoppers: Free delivery