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Etsy Shop Planning: What to Expect Before You Open

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What to Expect From This Guide to Starting an Etsy Shop

This guide walks you through the key decisions and practical steps for starting an Etsy shop, from judging fit to checking your shop before it opens. The highlights below cover only part of what is inside.

Inside the guide, you will find:

  • Startup steps: Follow numbered steps from choosing what to sell through pricing, funding, setup, and a final check before opening.
  • Seller interviews: Hear how Etsy sellers handle pricing, loans, seasonal help, and balancing a shop with a job.
  • Common questions: Find answers on business licenses, sales tax, tax records, and running a shop alongside a job.
  • Daily reality: See what a typical day involves, including the parts owners often enjoy and the parts they find hard.
  • Business fit: Check whether your motivation, interests, and tolerance for routine tasks suit running an Etsy shop before you spend money.
  • Financial planning: Work through Etsy fees, pricing, break-even numbers, funding choices, and operating cash before you buy inventory.
  • Local requirements: Learn which registrations, local license rules, and product checks may apply where you live.

Start with a quick look at what an Etsy shop is and what the marketplace expects from you.

Etsy Shop Overview for a Stronger Opening Plan

Overview of an Etsy Shop

An Etsy shop is an online retail business built around products people expect to feel personal, useful, or hard to find elsewhere.

Etsy shop products usually include handmade goods, vintage items, craft supplies, or digital products that you created and prepared for sale.

You can open an Etsy shop from home, keep overhead lower than a storefront, and use a marketplace people already know.

The tradeoff is just as real. You must follow Etsy’s product rules and work within its fee structure.

You also have to earn customer trust without ever meeting people in person.

A marketplace setup changes how you plan the business. You are not just choosing what to sell.

You are choosing the experience a gift shopper, hobby customer, collector, or digital-download customer gets, from the first thumbnail to final delivery.

Before you go too far, read Points to Consider Before Starting Your Business.

This guide to pre-startup considerations helps you look at the full picture before you put money into an Etsy shop.

Is an Etsy Shop a Good Fit for You?

An Etsy shop fits you best when you can enjoy both the product side and the repeated admin work behind it.

An Etsy shop can look simple from the outside. Open an account, add listings, and wait for sales.

Ownership feels different. You will spend time choosing products, checking rules, and writing listings.

You will also set prices, handle packaging, answer messages, and fix details customers never see until something goes wrong.

Ask yourself two questions: does owning a business fit you, and does this specific business fit you?

The two questions have different answers.

Some people like creating products but hate repeated admin work.

Other people enjoy online selling but do not want to manage returns, delays, or fee math.

Passion matters, but only if it lines up with the daily tasks of running a shop.

A love for art, crafts, design, collecting, or digital creation can help, but it is not enough by itself.

Read How Passion Affects Your Business and think about whether your interest can carry you through listing tasks, customer questions, and pressure at opening.

Here is the harder question: are you moving toward something or running away from something?

Starting an Etsy shop only to escape a job, financial pressure, or status worries can lead to rushed decisions that fail once daily tasks begin.

A good reality check is to talk with owners who already run this kind of online business.

Only speak with owners you will not compete against. Look for owners who sell in a different product category or niche.

With no competition between you, they have less reason to hold back, and you can ask direct questions.

Bring prepared questions, such as these:

  • What surprised you most during the first three months of opening your Etsy shop?
  • What daily task took more time than you expected?
  • What startup cost did you miss at the beginning?
  • What kind of customer caused the most support requests when you opened?
  • What would you set up differently before opening the shop?

You can also learn from Inside Advice From Real Business Owners.

Pay close attention to what owners say about routine tasks, not just sales wins.

A Day in the Life of Running an Etsy Shop

A typical day mixes listing updates, customer messages, order prep, and record keeping. The mix shifts with your product type and the season.

Many owners handle listing edits and buyer messages from a phone during spare moments.

If you sell physical goods, order days include packing items, printing labels, and getting parcels to a carrier.

Replying to buyers and handling return or refund requests is a regular part of the day.

Creating new listings and product photos is a steady, ongoing task rather than a one-time setup job.

Record keeping also fills time, from reviewing fees and sales in your payment account to keeping books for taxes.

Holiday seasons are the busiest stretch for many gift-focused shops.

Sales can also go quiet for stretches and then pick up again.

What owners often enjoy:

  • Flexibility to work from home or almost anywhere
  • The satisfaction of creating products from scratch
  • Seeing customers use and enjoy what you made
  • Room to test an idea on a small scale before committing more

What owners often find hard:

  • Uneven sales, including quiet stretches that can feel sudden
  • Doing most tasks yourself, from making products to bookkeeping
  • Fitting shop tasks around a job, family, or other work
  • Keeping listings active to stand out from similar shops

Does a mix of creative tasks, small repeated jobs, and uneven sales sound like a day you could enjoy?

If it already sounds draining, pay attention to that reaction.

Step 1: Decide What Your Etsy Shop Will Actually Sell

Your product lane is the one choice that shapes almost everything else in your Etsy shop.

Etsy is not a general resale platform. Your offer must fit Etsy’s allowed categories.

Allowed categories usually include handmade items, vintage goods, craft supplies, and digital products you created.

Some products, such as children’s items and homemade cosmetics, add extra rules. Check Step 18 before you buy materials.

Customer expectations start with your product lane. A gift shopper wants something distinctive.

A craft customer wants the correct supply in stock. A vintage customer wants condition details and honest photos.

A digital-download customer wants a clean file, clear instructions, and fast access.

Do not skip this filter. If your product idea only works by listing generic resale goods, your Etsy shop is off track before you open.

Step 2: Choose a Product Mix Customers Can Understand

Choose a connected product line so customers quickly understand what your shop is known for.

A connected line does not mean you need only one item.

Think about your first ten listings. Do they look like they belong together?

A clear product mix helps customers browse, compare, and trust your shop faster.

A clear mix also helps you control materials, packaging, photography style, and pricing.

A weak assortment causes trouble in the first months. Too many unrelated items can make your Etsy shop look unfocused.

Too many versions of the same slow seller can tie up cash and space before you know what people want.

Step 3: Learn Who Your Etsy Shop Is Really For

Your customer is not “everyone online.” Your shop usually does better when you picture specific customer types.

Customer types might include gift shoppers, wedding buyers, and home decor shoppers.

More customer types include craft hobbyists, collectors, teachers, parents, and small businesses buying branded digital templates.

Customer type changes your setup. A gift customer notices presentation and shipping timing.

A collector notices authenticity and condition details.

A digital product customer notices file clarity, download ease, and whether the listing explains exactly what is included.

If you cannot say who will buy first and what matters to them, the offer is still too loose.

You should also be able to explain why they would choose your shop over a similar listing.

Step 4: Validate Demand Before You Build Too Much Inventory

Start by testing a smaller opening range of products before you build much inventory.

Buying too much too soon can sink an Etsy shop in its first months.

This mistake is common in retail, and it still happens online.

The risk grows when you are excited about a product and assume customers will feel the same way.

Watch which styles, colors, themes, or formats get the most attention from the kind of customer you want.

For digital items, test whether people understand the file and the use case.

For physical goods, test whether your photos and descriptions answer the first questions before a message is needed.

Customer-first thinking helps here. People do not reward you for having more inventory than they need.

Customers reward you for making the buying choice easy.

Step 5: Pick the Best Etsy Shop Model for Your Setup

Choose the model that fits your skills, storage space, customer promise, and margin.

That decision affects costs, workflow, and how many customer support tasks follow once you open.

An online shop can take different forms, including:

  • A handmade shop fulfilled from home
  • A vintage shop with stored inventory
  • A digital-download shop
  • A seller-designed shop that uses a disclosed production partner

Each model changes risk. Handmade means more hands-on production time.

Vintage means sourcing, condition checks, and one-of-one inventory.

Digital means less shipping work but more pressure on file quality and listing clarity.

Production partner setups need original designs and proper disclosure.

Step 6: Check Whether the Daily Tasks Fit You

An Etsy shop is not just design time or product time.

Daily tasks include listing edits, photo prep, and keyword updates.

Daily tasks also include packing orders, watching fees, checking messages, and keeping product details accurate.

If you like organizing files, improving product presentation, and polishing small details, that helps.

If you want fast change, low routine, and little customer follow-up, an Etsy shop may frustrate you.

Frustration can set in once the novelty wears off.

Here is where fit becomes real.

Can you stay calm when a listing needs fixing or a package is delayed?

What if a customer asks for something your product does not include?

Step 7: Choose a Business Structure and Business Name

Your Etsy shop needs a legal setup that matches how you want to operate.

Many owners begin as sole proprietors, while others form a limited liability company for separation and paperwork reasons.

The best choice depends on your risk tolerance and tax situation.

Your choice also depends on how formally you want the business set up from the start.

Confirm your final choice with an attorney and a tax professional.

Choose your name thoughtfully, because customers notice it before they know anything about your process.

A good name fits your product line and is easy to remember.

The name should also work across your Etsy shop, domain, and social handles.

If you use a trade name, check whether an assumed name filing applies where you live.

Clear the name before you build brand assets. Changing a draft is much easier than redoing shop graphics, packaging, and listing images later.

Step 8: Handle Tax ID, Registration, and Local Setup Checks

Even a home-based Etsy shop can trigger business setup steps.

You may need an Employer Identification Number for banking, hiring, or registration.

You may also need state or local registrations, depending on your structure, location, and whether you sell beyond Etsy.

Local rules matter more than you might expect. Some cities or counties require a local business license even for an online shop.

Zoning or home-occupation rules can also matter if you store inventory, receive deliveries, or work from home.

If you use a separate studio or storage space, ask the local building or permitting office whether a certificate of occupancy applies.

Get that answer before you sign anything.

Step 9: Build Your Etsy Shop Around Trust Signals

Build trust through details, because buyers cannot inspect your product in person.

Your icon, banner, shop title, product photos, policies, profile, and announcement all matter more than you might expect.

Customers ask themselves quiet questions as they browse. Does this shop look real?

Does it look kept up? Can I tell what I will get?

Will someone answer if there is a problem?

Digital credibility needs planning, not guesswork.

Your Etsy shop homepage should feel complete before you send anyone to it.

The goal is not decoration. The goal is confidence.

Step 10: Set Up Banking and Payments

Connect a bank account for deposits and add a card for Etsy charges before your first order comes in.

In the United States, bank verification is part of the setup process.

Keep your finances simple from the start. A separate business account makes fee tracking, tax prep, and order review easier.

A separate account also shows whether the shop is working, instead of blending business activity into personal spending.

Customers never see your bank setup, but they feel the effect if it is sloppy.

Late refunds, canceled orders, or payment confusion do not feel small to the person who trusted your shop.

Step 11: Price Your Etsy Shop for Margin, Not Hope

Set prices that cover your costs and still leave margin, because many owners get too optimistic at this step.

A price that looks good on screen can still fail once you count every cost.

Costs to count in every price include:

  • Materials
  • Packaging
  • Shipping
  • Listing fees
  • Transaction fees
  • Processing fees
  • Possible ad costs

Etsy’s published core fees need to be built into your opening math.

Listing fees, transaction fees, payment processing, and possible offsite advertising charges all affect the final result.

If your pricing only works when nothing goes wrong, it is too thin.

Think about what the customer expects at that price point.

A gift customer who pays more expects a polished package and a reliable timeline.

A digital customer expects the file to work immediately.

Price is not only about profit. It also sets the service promise.

Step 12: Check Your Break-Even Point Before You Spend

Your break-even point is the amount you must sell each month to cover your costs, with no profit and no loss.

Calculate it before you buy inventory, supplies, or equipment, using your own prices and costs.

Fixed costs stay the same however much you sell. Variable costs rise with each sale.

Listing fees apply whether or not an item sells, so count them with your fixed costs.

Multi-quantity listings can add a fee for each additional unit sold, so count that fee with your variable costs.

Transaction fees and payment processing fees come out of each sale, so count them with your variable costs.

Materials, packaging, and shipping are also variable costs.

The basic formula is fixed costs ÷ (price minus variable cost per item), which gives the number of items you must sell.

Do the math for each product type if prices and costs differ.

Add a small cushion for costs you cannot predict.

Test your numbers against slow months too, because sales can go quiet for stretches.

If the number of sales you need looks unrealistic, change your price, costs, or product mix, or reconsider the idea.

For more help, read Estimating the Profitability and Revenue for a New Business.

Step 13: Plan Funding and Operating Capital

Add up your one-time and monthly costs to see how much capital you need, and when you need it.

Startup costs to list and price out locally include:

  • Business filings and registrations
  • Etsy fees
  • Materials or opening inventory
  • Packaging
  • Product photos
  • Software
  • Insurance
  • A cash buffer

Your real total depends on your product type, listing count, and shipping setup.

The most accurate estimate comes from listing everything you need and pricing it based on your own choices and local costs.

Small Business Administration guidance suggests counting at least a full year of monthly costs when you estimate the capital you need.

Operating capital is the cash that keeps your shop running while sales are uneven.

New sellers generally wait longer for deposits than established shops.

A payment account reserve can also set aside part of your sales funds before they become available.

Fees come out of your sales automatically. If fees and refunds exceed earnings, you will have an amount due the following month.

Plan enough cash to cover costs through quiet stretches and slow months.

Common funding options include savings, family or friends, loans, and crowdfunding.

Self-funding keeps you in control, but you carry all the risk yourself.

Check with a plan administrator and a financial advisor before using retirement savings, because early withdrawals can bring fees or penalties.

If you apply for a business loan, compare offers from banks and credit unions.

Small Business Administration guidance lists a business plan, expense sheet, and financial projections as helpful loan materials.

Ask each lender or investor which documents they require before you apply.

Requirements differ from lender to lender, so do not assume the same paperwork applies everywhere.

The Business Plan section below pulls your costs, funding, pricing, and break-even numbers into one place.

Step 14: Line Up Suppliers, Packaging, and Inventory Control

An Etsy shop needs more than a product idea.

You need a repeatable way to get materials, store finished goods, track what is ready, and restock without chaos.

Your supply needs depend on your shop model:

  • If you make physical products, line up raw materials, packaging supplies, and a simple storage system.
  • If you use a production partner, confirm artwork specs, turnaround, quality, and how the relationship must be disclosed.
  • If you sell vintage, plan for cleaning supplies, condition notes, and storage for one-of-a-kind stock.
  • If you sell digital items, build a file organization system before you open.

Retail problems often start with weak inventory discipline. Overstock ties up cash.

Stockouts frustrate customers. Late restocking makes the shop feel unreliable.

Step 15: Gather the Startup Essentials and Equipment

Your Etsy shop does not need a storefront, but it still needs a working setup.

Most owners need a computer, phone, internet connection, business email, and a secure password system.

Owners also need a workspace that supports listing tasks and order prep.

Equipment depends on what you sell:

  • For physical products, you will likely need packaging supplies, boxes or mailers, tape, labels, shelving or bins, a shipping scale, and a printer or label printer.
  • For product photos, you need a camera or phone, lighting, and a simple photo area.
  • For digital products, your essential tools are software, backup storage, and a clean export process.

Customers notice the result of your equipment immediately.

Sharp photos, neat packaging, and consistent files tell customers your Etsy shop is organized before they place a second order.

What Customers Will Notice First

Customers judge your Etsy shop in seconds. Before reading your full description, they react to what feels clear, attractive, and dependable.

  • Whether your photos look clean and consistent
  • Whether the product line feels focused or scattered
  • Whether prices make sense for the kind of item offered
  • Whether shipping and return details feel easy to understand
  • Whether the shop branding feels finished and real
  • Whether the listing answers the first practical questions

Step 16: Create Listings That Answer Customer Questions Up Front

A listing should show the product clearly, explain what is included, set expectations, and reduce avoidable messages.

An Etsy shop listing is part product page, part sales floor, and part support desk.

Each listing type needs different details:

  • For physical items, include size, material, color, what the customer will receive, processing time, and any limits or variations.
  • For digital products, explain the file type, what can be edited if anything, and what the customer will download.
  • For vintage items, condition details matter because buyers expect honesty before purchase.

A strong listing saves time later. A weak listing creates confusion, returns, and support tasks that drain your energy in the first months.

Step 17: Set Shop Policies Before the First Sale

Set your shop policies before the first sale, especially for physical items.

Returns, exchanges, processing times, shipping setup, and cancellation rules all shape buyer confidence.

Etsy requires a return policy on every physical listing, even if that policy says you accept no returns.

Policy setup is a pre-opening task, not something to “clean up later.”

Clear policies also protect your time because they reduce repeated questions and explain the ground rules before customers order.

Customers do not read every word, but they notice when a shop feels incomplete.

Missing policies can make the whole Etsy shop feel less dependable.

Step 18: Screen for Legal and Product Risks

A standard Etsy shop is usually simpler to open than a regulated business.

Some products can still push you into a more serious compliance lane.

Examples include children’s items, homemade cosmetics, products with batteries, and goods that create mailing restrictions.

If your product touches a higher-risk category, stop and verify the rules before you open.

Children’s products can trigger testing and certification issues. Cosmetics can trigger labeling rules.

Certain items can affect which shipping methods you can use.

Do not assume “small online shop” means “no compliance risk.” Product type matters more than business size.

Step 19: Get Insurance and Risk Planning in Place

Your Etsy shop may not need special coverage just because it exists, but that does not mean you should ignore insurance.

Many owners at least look at general liability, product liability for physical goods, and a home-business endorsement.

A home-business endorsement matters if you work from home and store business property there.

If you hire employees, worker-related coverage can come into play depending on your state.

Worker coverage is a separate issue from ordinary business protection, so verify it before anyone starts work.

Think of insurance as part of your stability at opening.

One claim, damaged shipment pattern, or product problem can hit harder while the shop is still small.

Step 20: Build Your Name, Domain, and Digital Footprint

You can open an Etsy shop without a full website, but your digital footprint should still feel intentional.

A digital footprint includes a strong shop name and available social handles.

A matching domain also helps if you plan to grow beyond Etsy later.

Consistent branding helps customers remember you and makes repeat browsing easier.

For an online retail business, presentation is part of merchandising.

The product may be great, but if the shop looks unfinished, customers may move on before giving it a fair look.

Step 21: Plan Your First Marketing Around How People Discover an Etsy Shop

First marketing for an Etsy shop starts with the listing itself.

Customers usually find shops through Etsy search, category browsing, links from social platforms, or direct referrals.

Your first marketing plan should focus on clean listings, clear photos, finished shop pages, and products people understand immediately.

Think about where your customer already spends time.

Gift customers may respond to seasonal sharing and visual posts.

Craft customers may value close-up details and stock reliability.

Digital-product customers often want a fast explanation of what the file solves and how to use it.

When you open, keep your marketing practical. Drive traffic only after the shop looks complete.

Sending people to a shop with weak photos, missing policies, or confusing product pages gains you nothing.

Step 22: Decide Whether You Will Need Help at the Start

Many Etsy shop owners start alone, which is often the simplest approach.

Still, ask whether your shop model creates a need for help in the first months.

A handmade shop with long production time may need part-time help sooner than a digital shop.

A vintage shop with lots of sourcing may need more storage and processing help than expected.

If you bring someone in, even casually, check which employer registrations and insurance steps apply in your state before their first day.

Do not add people just because the shop feels busy during setup.

Add help when a task is repeatable and you can explain it clearly.

Step 23: Picture a Pre-Opening Day in an Etsy Shop

A pre-opening day in an Etsy shop is mostly detail work and testing.

A realistic day might start with checking product photos and redoing a few because the color is off.

Then you edit listing titles, confirm what each customer will receive, and upload files or print labels.

After that, you test packaging, check your bank connection, and review your return settings.

Finally, you publish a few listings instead of all of them at once.

This day mixes detail work with customer expectation work, and small fixes cost less at this stage than later.

Step 24: Watch for Red Flags Before You Open Your Etsy Shop

Some warning signs show up before the first sale. If you spot any of them, pause and fix them first.

  • Your product line depends on resale goods that do not fit Etsy’s rules
  • Your prices leave no room after fees, shipping, packaging, and replacements
  • Your photos are weak and you are hoping the product will “speak for itself”
  • Your policies are incomplete or unclear
  • Your shop branding feels random from listing to listing
  • You are buying too much stock before testing demand
  • You have not checked local home-business rules
  • You are entering a product category with extra safety or labeling rules without confirming them first

Each red flag points to the same idea: an Etsy shop does better when the basics are steady before traffic arrives.

Step 25: Run a Pre-Opening Check Before You Send Customers In

Review the full customer path from discovery to delivery before you open.

Can someone find the product, understand it, trust the shop, pay without friction, and receive what they expected?

This path is your real opening test.

Confirm the items that match your shop model:

  • For physical goods, confirm stock, packaging, shipping profiles, return settings, and processing times.
  • For digital goods, confirm file delivery, file quality, and whether the product description explains the file clearly.
  • For all Etsy shop models, confirm payment setup, branding, and shop policies.

Start with a small batch of listings if needed. A steady opening is better than a rushed one.

Pre-Opening Checklist for an Etsy Shop

Use this checklist before you treat your Etsy shop as open for business.

  • Product type fits Etsy’s allowed categories
  • Business structure chosen and name cleared
  • Employer Identification Number obtained if needed
  • State and local registration steps checked
  • Home-based zoning or licensing questions checked where you live
  • Bank account and card connected for Etsy setup
  • Pricing tested against materials, packaging, shipping, and platform fees
  • Break-even point calculated with your own prices and costs
  • Funding and operating capital plan in place
  • Suppliers or production partners lined up
  • Shop icon, banner, title, and profile completed
  • Listings written and reviewed for clarity
  • Shipping profiles and processing times set
  • Return settings in place for physical goods
  • Packaging or digital files tested
  • Insurance options reviewed
  • First marketing plan ready after the shop looks complete
  • Small opening batch prepared so you can test the full process

Business Plan

Draft your business plan as you complete the previous steps.

Finish your plan once your costs, funding, pricing, and break-even numbers are in place.

The plan gives you one place to test whether your Etsy shop can cover its costs before you commit money.

Small Business Administration guidance describes two common formats for a plan.

A traditional plan is detailed and comprehensive, while a lean startup plan summarizes only the key elements.

Check the format a lender or investor expects before you finish your plan.

Pull these pieces from the previous steps into your plan:

  • Your product lane, product mix, and target customers
  • Your business structure, name, and local setup checks
  • Your Etsy fees, pricing, and break-even numbers
  • Your startup costs, funding, and operating capital
  • Your suppliers, equipment, insurance, and product risk checks
  • Your first marketing plan for when the shop opens

Profit logic belongs in the plan: show how many sales cover your costs and what happens in slow months.

Include your break-even calculation, because it is an important part of a plan presented to a potential investor.

For help writing it, read How to Write a Business Plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Does Etsy require a business license or a registered business to open a shop?

Answer: No, Etsy does not require sellers to have a business license.

You must still follow any laws that apply to a small business selling online.

The payment setup form includes a choice between selling as an individual or sole proprietor and selling as an incorporated business.

Question: If I only sell on Etsy, do I still need to register for sales tax?

Answer: You may not need to collect it yourself, but confirm with your state tax agency.

Under marketplace facilitator laws, sales tax on many Etsy orders is calculated, collected, and remitted through Etsy checkout.

Your Shop Manager sales tax settings cover places where Etsy does not collect automatically.

Registration rules differ by state, so ask your state tax agency whether any duty still applies to your shop and any other sales channels.

Question: Do I need to track taxes and records from day one?

Answer: Yes. Form 1099-K reports gross sales processed through Etsy Payments, before fees, refunds, and shipping costs are subtracted.

You pay tax on profit, so keep records of fees, shipping, refunds, and expenses from your first sale.

Whether you receive the form depends on federal and state reporting thresholds, so confirm current rules with the IRS or a tax professional.

Etsy requires taxpayer details on file once your sales reach a set level, or your shop can be suspended.

Question: Can I run an Etsy shop while keeping a full-time job?

Answer: Yes. Many sellers run shops alongside jobs, fitting shop tasks into spare moments.

Some sellers update listings and answer messages from a phone during breaks and commutes, and share household tasks to free up time.

Make sure shop activity does not interfere with your job.

Expert Advice From Etsy Sellers Who Have Done It

Learning from people who have already opened an Etsy shop is a smart way to prepare.

Experienced sellers can help you avoid weak product choices, poor pricing, rushed listings, and setup problems that are easy to miss.

The entries below include interviews, founder stories, and seller-focused resources that show what it takes to start strong.

Kirsten Devitt, Each To Own (Etsy Seller Handbook)

Kirsten Devitt sells laser-cut jewelry through her Etsy shop, Each To Own. This interview covers her path from side projects to a livelihood.

Kirsten explains her pricing formula, her bank loan for equipment, and how she copes when sales go quiet.

Read the Interview

Kimberly Palmer, Palmer’s Planners (Etsy Seller Handbook)

Kimberly Palmer built Palmer’s Planners, an Etsy shop selling digital money planners, while working a full-time job.

Kimberly shares five time-management tips, including saying no, getting help at home, and working on the go.

Read the Article

Brooklyn Candle Studio (Shopify Masters)

The founder of Brooklyn Candle Studio started selling soy candles on Etsy as an experiment before opening her own online store.

The episode covers wholesale requests, product photography, and hiring seasonal workers during a busy holiday season.

Listen to the Interview

Heather Johnson, HeatherXStudio (Side Hustle Nation)

Heather Johnson started an Etsy shop selling print-on-demand items like shirts and mugs after her work hours were cut.

The show notes cover running a high-volume listing store, evaluating competition, pricing, promotions, and listing best practices.

Listen to the Interview

Emily McDermott, PrettyArrow (Side Hustle Nation)

Emily McDermott sells spreadsheet templates on Etsy, including budget and debt payoff spreadsheets.

Emily explains how she researches keywords, stands apart from competing sellers, and optimizes listings for digital templates.

Listen to the Interview

Nicole Lewis, Art 2 The Extreme (Creative Hive)

Nicole Lewis, a former elementary art teacher, runs Art 2 The Extreme, an Etsy shop known for personalized rainbow crayons.

This interview covers pitching magazines and gift guides, using Etsy’s affiliate program, and finding a photographer for product photos.

Read the Interview

Ana Colak-Fustin, ByRecruiters (Starter Story)

Ana Colak-Fustin started an Etsy shop selling resume templates alongside her full-time job.

Ana’s story covers testing products quickly, how long regular sales took, and what she learned from doing everything herself.

Read the Interview

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