So…you want to start an Etsy shop but are currently in financial straits, right? Well, listen…Who said impossible is the name of the game here?
With Etsy, it’s not—and nothing is impossible! Remember that. Not saying that setting up an Etsy shop—especially with no money—is going to be easy peasy, but with the tips and tricks you learn in this article, you’re sure one step closer to starting a lucrative Etsy shop that makes money quarter after quarter—and year after year.
How to Start an Etsy Shop with No Money:
- Understand How Etsy Works.
- Create Your Etsy Account.
- Create Your Listings.
- Input Your Payment Settings.
- Open Your Shop.
- Set Up Your Store Policies.
- Offer First-Class Customer Service.
- Grow Your Shop.
Ready to dive in? Let’s do this!
1. Understand How Etsy Works
To start an Etsy shop with no money and make massive profits, understand how the platform works. Etsy is a consumer-consumer marketplace where you sell your vintage and handmade products to Etsy’s 85 million active buyers. You list your products under Etsy’s appropriate categories—jewelry & accessories, home & living, clothing & shoes, art & collectibles, wedding & party, seasonal offerings, toys & entertainment, and craft supplies.
It’s simple to sell on Etsy. Buyers visit your store to order unique and customized products while you make a decent profit for each sale.
2. Create Your Etsy Account
To launch an Etsy shop with no money and generate huge income, create your Etsy account. Visit www.etsy.com and click on “Register.” Enter your email, name, and password correctly to continue. Confirm your email address. Log in to your new account and click on “Sell on Etsy” button to open your shop.
Alternatively, sign up with your Apple, Facebook, or Google account. If you already have an Etsy account, log in and click on “Open Your Etsy Shop” to set up your store.
Next, enter your shop preferences such as shop country, language, and currency. Indicate if your business is a full-time income or not. Click “Save and Continue.”
Name Your Shop
Now, name your shop—the shop’s name cannot exceed 20 characters. Choose a unique name that describes what you sell. Then, ascertain the name you choose is unique—and not in use by another seller or business. Search the name on Google and Etsy to be sure the name stands out.
Create Your Shop’s Logo
Craft a captivating store logo once you’re sure the store’s name is exclusive.
Design your shop’s logo with Canva for free. Alternatively, visit Fiverr or Upwork to hire a professional designer at a reasonable price.
3. Create Your Listings
To kick off a potentially profitable Etsy shop, spend time creating SEO-friendly, captivating and shopper-oriented listings.
Take Etsy’s advice and create minimum 10 different listings so shoppers can quickly find your shop and buy from you, big time!
- Listing details. Use your product’s keyword in your listing title—think of the keyword buyers search for when they want the type of craft you sell. Write an easy-to-read and short listing title.
Provide relevant information about your product—such as when the product was made, who made it, materials used, and include relevant product tags. - Photos. Avoid bad photography. Add up to 10 photos that show different angles of the product.
- Product variations. Indicate if your product has multiple variations in colors and sizes. Then, if you sell customized product, click the “On” button under personalization session.
- Inventory and pricing. To set the price, add up the production cost and desired profit per sale—the production cost includes: cost of labor, materials, shipping materials, etc. Add the shipping fee to the production cost if you offer free shipping.
- Shipping. Input the item’s size and weight along with the available shipping options and let Etsy estimate your shipping fees.
Click “Save and Continue” after you create your listings.
4. Input Your Payment Settings
To start and scale a money-making Etsy shop, key in your preferred payment method and indicate your store’s legal structure—sole proprietorship, partnership (LLC, LLP, etc.) or corporation (C corporation or S corporation).
Indicate your name, the last four digits of your Social, address, date of birth and phone number. State which country your bank is and enter your account number—where your Etsy sales go into.
Provide your credit card details to pay Etsy’s charges. Etsy charges mainly for three things:
- Listing fees. You pay $0.20 per each product you list on Etsy.
- Transaction fees. You pay 6.5% of the amount you sell your product—plus posting and packaging fees—for selling on Etsy.
- Processing fees. As a seller, you must use Etsy’s in-house payment processor except you sell in countries where Etsy’s payment processor is not eligible. Hence, opt for PayPal or Square to receive your online payments. You pay PayPal or Square 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction. You pay 3% plus $0.25 for Etsy Payment charges. With Etsy Payment processor, you receive online payment with credit card, Etsy Gift Card, PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Etsy’s approved bank transfer services.
5. Open Your Shop
Now it’s time to open your Etsy shop! Big day, isn’t it? Are you excited? You sure must be! To start an Etsy shop with no money…well, you have to open the shop!
Once you input your credit card details, click on “open your store” button. Good news—your shop is live on Etsy and it’s time to make some money. Share your shop’s link on your social media platforms and with family and friends.
6. Set Up Your Store Policies
To maintain massive income from your Etsy shop, set up your store policies. Think of what questions your customers may ask and provide answers to them in your store policies. In your store terms and conditions, ask and answer questions about exchange and return policy, shipping policies, payment options, and processing time.
7. Offer First-Class Customer Service
To start an Etsy shop with no money and make huge income, offer first-class customer service. Upload clear product photos and ensure you clearly state important information about your product.
Reply to customers’ messages quickly and address their questions with concise answers. Provide your customers the information they need and save your replies to “Frequently Asked Questions” for future use.
Solve customers’ complaints quickly, never blame your patrons, and always think about improving things in the way you run your Etsy shop. Think about it: It’s all about long-term profitability, right? So…do everything possible today to ensure cash flow sustainability in the long run.
Build a rapport with your clients, make sure they’re satisfied with their purchases and your service, notify them about important special offers and keep in touch so you can build solid loyalty over time—and that’s what you definitely want, right!
8. Grow Your Shop
To reach new buyers, make more sales and increase your earnings from your Etsy shop, promote your store and optimize your listings. Set competitive prices, keep your title short and inviting, and describe your products well.
Set a budget and run Etsy Ads to advertise your products in Etsy search results. Run Google ads to attract more buyers from Google search results pages. Post your shop’s link to your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc. followers.
Recap
Yes, Etsy offers you the opportunity to sell your crafts and make money—either full-time or part-time. However, to sell lucratively on the platform, make sure your experience and effort are second to none. Roll your sleeves and get to work. Understand fully how Etsy works and create your Etsy account.
Input your listings and update your payment settings. Launch your shop, set up your store policies, offer first-class customer service, grow your shop, and keep generating massive income.
