How to start an Etsy business: A step-by-step guide

Has it ever crossed your mind that you can turn your hobbies or passion projects into a business? If it has, and you’re thinking of a platform where you can sell your products online, you may want to check out Etsy.

Collectors and supporters of small local creators are more likely familiar with the platform, but for first-timers who have only encountered the term on the web or not at all, this may be something new. For the latter, here’s a quick 101 before you set up shop.

Founded in 2005, Etsy⁠(opens in a new tab or window) is an e-commerce platform featuring vintage items, handmade goods, and craft supplies. Think of Etsy as a Sunday market or a hidden side street in the city where the stalls and shops are filled with custom, handmade products made with love. However, unlike these physical places, Etsy gathers creators from all over the world online.

1. Create your brand and marketing materials. Consistency is important when designing your shop materials and will help you establish brand loyalty. Ensure your logo, icons, avatar, cover photos, stickers and product packaging are in harmony and reflect your brands goals and illustrate how you can solve your clients problems. Utilize our Brand Kit to ensure every design you create in Canva matches your visual identity, including logos, fonts and brand colors.
2. Repost your Etsy listings often to increase sales. Etsy's Auto-Renewal tool is a great way to maximize the visibility of your listings. For just $0.20 per product, Etsy will bump up your listing and make sure it appears at the top of search results. This is because Etsy takes into account when a listing was posted when determining an items ranking.
   

Are you dreaming of becoming an Etsy seller? You need to come up with a solid plan to hit the ground running. Check out this list of things to consider before opening an Etsy shop.

Although the sky’s the limit with the types of products you can offer, it’s best to consider what sells best on Etsy. Your safest bets are products that fall under the following categories: handmade, vintage, or crafty.

These go beyond crocheted tops or pottery. Any item you create with your hands can fall under this category. You can even produce handmade products on Canva like printed t-shirts⁠(opens in a new tab or window), hoodies⁠(opens in a new tab or window), canvas⁠(opens in a new tab or window), pint glasses⁠(opens in a new tab or window), and mugs⁠(opens in a new tab or window).

Tip: To have designs created on Canva printed without the extra hassle, avail of Canva Print⁠(opens in a new tab or window). We’ll have your work produced in bulk and delivered right to your doorstep.

Got something that’s two or more decades old? That’s considered vintage. So, if you have boxes of antiques at home or a collection of trinkets you found at a closing shop that you think deserve a home, consider selling them on Etsy.

If you don’t have artistic skills but have good taste, you can opt to sell supplies that’ll aid in others’ crafts. Examples are DIY sewing kits, party supplies, and even beads and buttons.

Picking the right name is crucial. It can make or break your business because it’ll determine how searchable and relevant you will be to potential customers. Keep in mind what you’re going to sell, how unique you are from your competitors, and how easy your name will be to remember. In this case, name generators⁠(opens in a new tab or window) can be an excellent help for inspiration. Ensure that you’re top of mind when customers look for a gift for themselves or others.

Once you have your name, the next step is to create branding essentials such as icons, cover photos, stickers, and labels. If you need ideas on how to make assets, head on to Canva⁠(opens in a new tab or window) to explore thousands of templates you can freely customize.

Icons are Etsy’s version of brand profile pictures. For your Etsy shop icon⁠(opens in a new tab or window), remember to include your logo and, if possible, brand name.

Your Etsy cover photo⁠(opens in a new tab or window) is the elaborated version of your icon where you can write down your complete brand name, tagline, and photos of your products.

Make adding your logo and brand name to your products more efficient and effortless by creating and utilizing stickers⁠(opens in a new tab or window). These can be part of your Etsy packaging or given as handouts or freebies that come with your item.

Labels⁠(opens in a new tab or window) are a bigger version of stickers where you can include details like social media pages and a shipping address. If you’re in the US, Canada, Australia, or the UK, you may opt to print shipping labels on the Etsy platform for a certain fee. If you’re outside these areas, it’s best to create shipping labels beyond Etsy.

Tip: Create your online and offline assets on Canva to achieve brand consistency⁠(opens in a new tab or window).

Once you’re ready, it’s time to open your shop, starting by creating an account. Here’s a rundown of the steps on how to set up an Etsy shop:

Create an account by entering your email, name, and password. You may also opt to sign up using your existing Google, Facebook, or Apple account.

In the “Shop preferences” section, set your default language, country of origin, and currency. You also need to indicate whether you’re planning to sell on Etsy full-time or part-time.

Type the name you want for your shop. If it’s already in use, Etsy will offer suggestions of similar shop names you may want to consider.

You’re one step closer to selling on Etsy! Once you’ve named your shop, you can start listing your items. You can create listings for all your products in one go, or you may also opt to add just one product and then continue with the rest once you’ve done setting up your shop.

Tip: Want to touch up your photos or edit your videos? Canva has a built-in photo⁠(opens in a new tab or window) and video editor⁠(opens in a new tab or window) where you can brighten, clean up, sharpen your images, and add music⁠(opens in a new tab or window) or animations to your videos.

Fill in details such as the product name, categories, the material, theme, type, description, tags, pricing, and more.

Tip: Create variations of your products if you want them to pop up on both general and specific searches.

Add your preferred shipping settings, including the shipping methods you want to use, costs, country of origin, processing time, and more.

The last step involves selecting your payment preferences. Indicate your type of business entity and choose how you want to receive payments for your sales. Payment options on Etsy include checks, money orders, or PayPal. You can also pick Etsy Payments⁠(opens in a new tab or window), a simplified payment process that accepts credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and more.

Finished preparing your products and setting up your account? Great! Now that you know how to open an Etsy shop, all that's left is ensuring your listings reach more customers by promoting them on platforms outside Etsy. Read on for tips and reminders that'll aid you in marketing your products.

Don't forget to include terms relevant to your merchandise that are helpful to customers when it comes to the nitty-gritty of choosing which to buy. Being specific will help make your product more search-friendly and more likely to appear on someone’s search results.

Post videos showcasing your products, photos of people using your merchandise, or announcements of your current and upcoming sales. Feel free to create social media marketing materials such as Facebook posts⁠(opens in a new tab or window) and Instagram reels⁠(opens in a new tab or window) using templates from Canva.

Your online presence could grow fast, and the amount of data that social media platforms save about you and your customers make it possible for hackers to access your account and steal your personal data. Fortunately, using a dependable VPN provides a higher level of security. The best ones have advanced encryption, thus hackers won't be able to steal your client's critical information. So, check out and choose your preferred tool from this list of the best VPNs⁠(opens in a new tab or window).

Etsy considers the date of posting in its search results. This means that new products get more visibility, and it’s why you must repost your listings on a regular basis. Maximize the benefits of Etsy’s Auto-Renewal tool. For only $0.20 per product or item, it bumps up your listing and gets it to rank on the top of a search page.

From coming up with goods and knowing how to sell on Etsy to promoting your brand, you've got all the tools and information you need to start an Etsy business. From us at Canva, we wish you all the luck on your venture and are cheering you on as you build your e-commerce empire!