If you’re an artist, craft enthusiast, or unique product creator, Etsy provides a fantastic platform to showcase and sell your wares. Understanding the costs to sell on this platform can certainly affect your overall profitability. As such, the question: how much does Etsy charge to sell, can significantly impact your decision to put your work on this platform.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to Etsy’s fee structure, enabling individuals to navigate the various costs associated with selling on the website.
##Listing Fees
One of the initial fees the sellers have to consider is the listing fee. The cost to list an item on Etsy is $0.20. This fee is charged regardless of whether the item sells or not and allows the listing to stay on the site for four months. If the item doesn’t sell within this period, the seller must pay the listing fee again to relist it. As such, it’s crucial to price your items appropriately and make sure the listing is appealing to buyers.
##Transaction Fees
Let’s delve into one of the core costs – transaction fees. After you’ve made a sale, Etsy charges a transaction fee of 5% of the price you display for each listing plus the amount you charge for shipping and gift wrapping. For example, if you sell a handmade scarf for $30 and charge $5 for shipping, you’ll be charged a transaction fee of $1.75 ($35 x 5%).
This fee can significantly affect your bottom line if you are not prepared for it, so it’s crucial to take it into account when pricing your items.
##Payment Processing Fees
Moreover, there are fees for using Etsy Payments—the platform’s primary method for handling transactions. It enables buyers numerous payment options and can therefore increase potential sales. However, it does come at a price.
Etsy Payments fees vary depending on the location of your bank. For example, for US sellers, the fee is 3% of the total sale price plus a flat fee of $0.25. Let’s use the same scarf example above. If you use Etsy Payments, you’ll incur a fee of $1.35 (($35 x 3%) + $0.25). This fee will be automatically deducted from your sales.
##Advertising and Promotional Fees
Etsy also offers advertising and promotional tools that can increase the visibility of your listings, but these features come at a cost. These services are optional, and the fees vary depending on the specific tool used.
Etsy Ads charges you based on the budget you set for advertising your listings, with a minimum daily budget of $1. Promoted Listings and Google Shopping ads costs are also determined by the budget you set.
On the other hand, Offsite Ads is a service in which Etsy advertises your items on various websites and platforms outside of Etsy. For Offsite Ads, if you make a sale from a click on one of these ads, you’ll pay an advertising fee of 15% of the total order value for sellers making less than $10,000 a year, or 12% for those making more.
##Subscription Fees
Lastly, Etsy offers two subscription options, Etsy Plus, which costs $10 a month and offers tools to help expand your business, and Etsy Standard, which is free. Etsy Plus pays for itself in perks such as restocking low inventory items, and Etsy Standard offers vital basics such as secure transactions.
In conclusion, the answer to how much does Etsy charge to sell, varies greatly based on your specific shop needs, how you price and list your items, your reliance on advertising and promotions, and even on the location of your bank. It’s essential for sellers to consider these costs, in order to price their items correctly, maintain profitability and understand the game plan for developing their Etsy business.
With an excellent product, a solid marketing strategy, and a keen understanding of these fees, Etsy can indeed be a profitable platform for skilled artisans who provide unique and valuable products. Enhancing your knowledge about Etsy’s fees can help you thrive in this creative marketplace.