Is Selling on Etsy Really Worth the Fees?
The decision to start crafting for extra income is super exciting, but it can also bring a lot of confusion, and doubt along with it. There are so many options for places to sell your goods, that it can be incredibly overwhelming! I want to touch on this topic towards the beginning of this series, because I believe there are a couple things you can and should be doing right away….I love to share my opinion on the topic (well pretty much every topic, haha!) and I hope you enjoy my point of view….and if you don’t, then please feel free to hit the x in the corner. You won’t hurt my feelings at all!
Selling on Etsy comes along with some fees….is it really worth paying them?
I’ve been asked countless times if I think that selling on Etsy is worth the 3% fee that they charge….My answer is, and always will be, YES! YES in huge capital letters. YES shouted from a rooftop! That’s how strongly I feel that Etsy is worth the fees.
If you were to sell in any brick and mortar boutique, you would be looking at paying a fee of around 30% when your item sells. Etsy’s 3% commission is pennies in comparison and totally worth it. Etsy not only provides a very easy way to set up an online shop (websites can be super tricky to get up and running, and can require a lot of time) but it helps do some marketing for you as well. Reaching customers that you may not have been able to reach otherwise is priceless! It also sets you up with some resources that wouldn’t otherwise have been available to you, like teams, forums, etc.
Selling anywhere, including Etsy, is going to be a lot of work. Marketing takes time and energy, and it isn’t going to happen overnight. Getting your first sale can take a while, and you have to be patient….however, starting in a place that gives you the tools to be successful is imperative! That’s why I encourage people to sell on Etsy.
If you do decide to sell on Etsy, then make sure you check out all of the great resources that they’ve included to help you learn about selling successfully. They have all sorts of awesome features from The Seller Handbook to the Etsy Success Newsletter.
Also, there are so many articles online about successfully selling on Etsy. I could go into it in-depth, but I’ve found that most of what I would say has already been said many, many times. So instead, I’ve found you a seriously awesome article that has loads of tips about selling on Etsy. This article includes links to the best online resources, and it covers all of the most common questions. Check it out!
Next week I plan to talk about why I believe it is still super important to have a website as well as an Etsy shop (if you choose to have one) and the following week I’ll be covering product photography and how to make your products look the most appealing!
Do you have an Etsy shop or have you considered starting one? What has your experience been like so far? Tell me about your successes and frustrations in a comment below.
Also, don’t forget to check out The Simple Concept That Can Take Your Crafting Business to the Next Level!
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8 Comments On “Is Selling on Etsy Really Worth the Fees?”
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Hello!
I do have an Etsy shop. I’ve questioned the fee many times but have felt just like you! 3% compared to 30%..yeah..kinda answers it there. =) I’m trying to load my shop with items now because I think that might be my downfall!! And just striving to take super professional photos with my own twist. 🙂
Thanks for your articles!
I love reading your stuff!! <3
Savanna from Scarlett Grace Props
Thanks Savanna! Yes – compared to other shop possibilities, I feel that Etsy is definitely worth the fee. That doesn’t mean, however, that Etsy is easier to sell on….still takes a lot of work! It sounds like you’re on the right track 🙂
The past two years I’ve had a mildly successful Etsy shop. When I say mildly successful, I mean 2-3 sales per week which was a perfect workload for me to handle. I closed my shop for the Christmas holidays (because that season always wipes me out, getting triple the orders per week)and when I re-opened, I have yet to make a sale. It has been months! This is the first time I ever placed my shop on vacation and many of my listings are deactivated, but I would think I could make at least one sale. I have heard many other shop owner go through this as well. As far as fees, yes they can add up but I totally agree with you. What other way could you put your stuff out there so easily?
That is frustrating Aleana! I wonder if it has something to do with your listing being older now and not showing up towards the tops of searches. Have you tried slowly (like every couple of days) re-listing some of your most popular items? That sometimes helps for me!
Hi Melody – I wholeheartedly agree with the 3% compared to 30% in fees however, I feel like I’ve spent a small fortune in ETSY fees and I have never sold a single item. I have done my homework and my prices are in line with others (sometimes even less) but I do wonder if Australia Post fees are what is hitting Australian sellers hard – the fact is that I am unable to absorb postage costs to make my items seem more attractive. I have let my shop lapse for now but will most likely try again in the future. Thanks for another great article 🙂
I know it can definitely feel like you’re spending a ton, but if you aren’t selling, then you’ve really only paid the listing fees. So if you had 100 items in your shop, you would have only paid $20….which is some seriously cheap marketing compared to other possibilities. Just don’t let it get you down! The hardest sales to make are always your first few. Totally a waiting game.
I opened my Etsy shop since I think last August. I too believe the shop is worth the cost of their fee’s however I still have never made a sale. I get minimal views perhaps due to not paying for advertising.
This is great information. I am opening my shop at the end of the month. I teamed up with a local photographer and we did a modeling call to show off my baby props. I can’t wait to get it up and running! I currently sell locally at a few baby shows here and there, but just need those extra sales to keep me going during slow times.
Wish me luck! 🙂