How Much Does It Really Cost To Sell On Etsy (Everything!)

How Much Does It Cost to Start on Etsy?

Curious about the costs of starting an Etsy shop? Let’s break it down:

Etsy Fees:

 • Listing Fee: $0.20 per item for 4 months, charged every time you list or relist an item.

 • Transaction Fee: 6.5% of the order total (including shipping and gift wrapping).

 • Processing Fee: Varies by country, but in the US it’s 3% + $0.25 per transaction.

Example:

 • Item Price: $25

 • Shipping Cost: $5 (paid by customer)

 • Total Fees: 9.5% + $0.45 per sale

 • Calculation:

 • Shipping: $5

 • Transaction and Processing Fees: $2.85 (9.5% of $30) + $0.45 = $3.30

 • Total Fees: $8.30

 • Take Home: $30 - $8.30 = $21.70 (about 72% of the total)

Other Expenses:

 • Labor

 • Materials

 • Equipment

 • Shipping supplies

 • Taxes

Advertising Costs:

 • Etsy Ads

 • Offsite Ads

Importance of High Profit Margins:

Starting with high profit margins is crucial to cover additional costs.

Example:

 • Selling a shirt:

 • Blank cost: $8

 • Shipping supplies: $2

 • Advertising: $5

 • Other expenses: $15

 • Total Costs: $23.30

 • Take Home: $30 - $23.30 = $6.70 (22% profit margin)

Final Thoughts:

While starting on Etsy incurs about 10% in fees, it’s a trade-off for access to millions of potential buyers. For comparison:

 • Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction

 • eBay: 6-15% depending on the category

 • Amazon: Average 15%, can be up to 45%

 • Poshmark: 20%

Starting on Etsy can be cost-effective with careful planning and high-margin products. Stay tuned for more insights!