How to Start an Etsy Shop in 2026: Step by Step

📅 Updated October 2026 ⏱ 4 min read ✍️ Craftific.com

Here is how to start an Etsy shop in 2026, step by step, following the order Etsy's own setup uses: account, shop preferences, name, payments, billing, identity check, two-factor security and your first listing. It also covers what it costs and what to prepare before you begin, so setup takes one sitting.

Quick answer

To start an Etsy shop, create an Etsy account, go to etsy.com/sell on a desktop browser, set your shop language, country and currency, choose a 4–20 character name, connect a bank account, add a billing card, pay the one-time set-up fee, verify your ID, turn on two-factor authentication, add your first listing and open the shop.

What you need before you start

Gather these first so setup does not stall halfway:

Item	Why Etsy needs it
Government photo ID and a selfie	Identity verification (handled by Persona)
Bank account in your name	Payouts — the name must match your ID
Debit or credit card	Paying Etsy fees; a prepaid card cannot be your only card
Phone or authenticator app	Two-factor authentication is required
Shop name ideas	4–20 characters, no spaces or special characters
One finished product with photos	You must add a listing before the shop can open

Etsy shops can only be opened in countries where Etsy Payments is available.

How to start an Etsy shop in 10 steps

Create an Etsy account and add a profile photo and short bio.
Go to etsy.com/sell on a desktop browser and select Get started. Answer the short questions about your experience.
Set your shop preferences: language, country and currency. The shop language cannot be changed later.
Choose your shop name. It must be 4–20 characters with no spaces, punctuation or profanity, and not already used. The Etsy shop name generator checks the format for you.
Set up payments. Connect your bank account (US sellers verify through Plaid) and choose your tax seller type — individual or business.
Add billing. Add the card Etsy will charge for listing and other fees.
Pay the one-time set-up fee. It is shown in the Total due now section and is non-refundable.
Verify your identity with your photo ID and a selfie.
Turn on two-factor authentication. An authenticator app is the most reliable option.
Set up your shopfront, add your first listing and select Open your shop.

What it costs to run

Fee	Amount	When
Set-up fee	One-time, shown during setup	When you open the shop
Listing fee	$0.20 per listing	Each listing, renews every four months or on sale
Transaction fee	6.5% of the item price	Each sale
Payment processing (US)	3% + $0.25	Each sale
Offsite Ads	12–15% of the sale	Only on sales from Etsy's offsite ads

On a $9.99 digital download, that leaves a US seller about $8.59 before any Offsite Ads fee. The Etsy fee calculator works out your own prices.

Insight: Open with five to ten listings, not one. Etsy needs a listing to open the shop, but a shop with a single product gives buyers little reason to trust it and gives Etsy little to rank. Ten related listings for one buyer make the shop look established from day one.

Your first week after opening

Finish the shop page: a banner, a logo, an About section and shop policies. Buyers check these before buying from a new seller.
Write listings for search: put the main phrase first in the title and fill all 13 tags. The Etsy title generator and Etsy tag generator help with both.
Add listings steadily rather than all at once, and read Etsy Stats after 30 days to see which search terms bring views.

If you are still choosing what to sell, start with Etsy shop ideas, then follow the full process in how to sell digital products on Etsy.

Starting an Etsy Shop: Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to start an Etsy shop?

Etsy charges a one-time, non-refundable set-up fee shown during setup (widely reported as $15), then $0.20 per listing and 6.5% of each sale, plus payment processing. There is no monthly fee unless you choose Etsy Plus.

Can I start an Etsy shop on my phone?

Etsy's help centre says to start the shop from a desktop browser at etsy.com/sell. Once it is open you can manage orders and listings in the Etsy Seller app.

Do I need a business to open an Etsy shop?

No. You can sell as an individual and choose that tax seller type during setup. Whether you need a licence or an LLC depends on where you live — see do you need an LLC to sell on Etsy.

What do I need before I start?

A government photo ID, a bank account in your name, a debit or credit card, a phone or authenticator app for two-factor security, a shop name idea and at least one finished product with photos.

How long does Etsy shop setup take?

With everything ready, about an hour. Identity verification is usually quick but can take longer if your photos are unclear or your ID name does not match your bank account.