How to set up an Etsy seller account: sign in to Etsy on a desktop browser, go to Etsy.com/sell and select Get started. You’ll choose your shop language, country and currency, pick a shop name of 4 to 20 characters, connect a bank account and a card for Etsy Payments, pay a one-time set-up fee if your location requires it, verify your identity with a government ID and a selfie, turn on two-factor authentication, and add your first listing. You must be 18 or older, and you can only open a shop in a country where Etsy Payments is available. Once open, each listing costs $0.20 and each sale carries a 6.5% transaction fee, plus payment processing.
Below is each step in detail, what to prepare, the fees, and the mistakes that slow new shops down.
What you need before you start
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| An Etsy account | The shop is opened from an existing account |
| A desktop web browser | Etsy says shop setup must be done on desktop |
| A bank account (or Payoneer in some countries) | To receive your sales |
| A debit or credit card | To pay Etsy’s bills; a non-reloadable prepaid card can’t be your only card |
| Government photo ID, unexpired | For identity verification; the name must match your bank account |
| A phone or authenticator app | Two-factor authentication is required |
Etsy says it doesn’t require sellers to have a business license. You’ll still need to follow your own country’s rules for running a business and paying tax. I’d gather everything in the table before you start, because stopping halfway to find an ID or a bank detail is the most common reason setup drags on.
How to set up an Etsy seller account, step by step
Based on Etsy’s help article on opening a shop:
1. Start at Etsy.com/sell. Sign in on a desktop browser, select Get started, and answer a few questions about your selling experience.
2. Set shop preferences. Choose your shop language, country and currency. Etsy warns you won’t be able to change the shop language later, though you can add translations after opening. If your bank account uses a different currency, conversion fees may apply.
3. Choose your shop name. Etsy’s rules:
- 4 to 20 characters long;
- no spaces or special characters;
- no profanity;
- not already in use by another member;
- doesn’t infringe someone’s trademark.
You can change the name after opening, but I’d pick carefully now. Customers and links will remember it. In my view, a short, pronounceable name that hints at what you sell is worth an extra hour of thinking.
4. Set up payment and billing. Connect a bank account to get paid, and add a debit or credit card to pay Etsy’s fees. You’ll also choose whether you’re selling as an individual or sole proprietor, or as an incorporated business, for tax purposes. US sellers verify their bank through Plaid; sellers in some countries onboard through Payoneer instead.
5. Pay the set-up fee, if it applies. Etsy describes a one-time, non-refundable shop set-up fee whose cost varies by location. When Etsy introduced it in 2024, it announced the fee as $15 for some new shops. Etsy’s fee policy says it may be waived at Etsy’s discretion.
6. Verify your identity. Etsy uses Persona to check a photo of your government ID and a clear selfie. You can choose express review with biometric data or manual review without it. The ID must be unexpired and match the name on your bank account. Etsy warns that failing several times may stop you from onboarding.
7. Turn on two-factor authentication. It’s required. Etsy recommends an authenticator app, with SMS or a phone call as alternatives.
8. Add your first listing and open your shop. Etsy says you must add your first listing before opening. Then select Open your shop.
9. Finish your storefront. Add a logo, banner, About section, shop policies and shipping profiles.
Honestly, step 9 is where many new sellers stop too early. An empty About section and missing policies make a new shop look untrustworthy. Fill them in before you promote anything.
Etsy seller fees at a glance
From Etsy’s fees help page:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Listing fee | $0.20 per listing; listings expire after 4 months, and auto-renewal costs another $0.20 |
| Transaction fee | 6.5% of the total order amount, including shipping and gift wrap |
| Payment processing (US) | 3% + $0.25 on the total sale price, including shipping and sales tax |
| Currency conversion | 2.5% when your listing currency differs from your payment account currency |
| Offsite Ads | 15%, or 12% for sellers with $10,000+ in sales over the past 365 days, capped at $100 per order |
| Shop set-up fee | One-time, varies by location (announced as $15 in 2024) |
Our guide to how much Etsy takes from sellers works through these fees on real-looking examples.
Who can open an Etsy shop
Etsy’s Terms of Use say you must be 18 or older to use its services. Users aged 13 to 17 can only use Etsy through a parent or guardian’s account, with their supervision.
You also need to live in a country where Etsy Payments is available. If yours isn’t supported, you can’t open a shop yet.
Setting up your shop to sell, not just to exist
Opening the account is the easy part. A shop that sells usually has:
- Clear, searchable titles and tags. Our guides to Etsy SEO and the best keywords for Etsy cover how.
- Strong photos. Etsy recommends images at least 2,000 pixels wide. Our Etsy listing photo size guide explains the details.
- Enough listings. One or two listings rarely get traction. See how many listings you should have on Etsy.
- Complete policies. Returns, shipping times and processing times, stated plainly.
- A real About section. Who makes the products and why.
In my view, a new shop should launch with at least a small, coherent collection rather than one test item. Shoppers browse, and search rewards shops with enough relevant listings.
Your first week after opening
Opening the shop is a starting line. Here’s how I’d spend the first seven days.
Day 1: check everything as a buyer. Log out, find your shop, and read it like a stranger would. Typos, blurry photos and missing shipping details jump out when you look with fresh eyes.
Days 2 and 3: add listings. I’d aim for a small, related collection rather than scattered one-offs. Ten listings around one theme usually beat ten random products.
Day 4: tighten titles and tags. Use the words buyers actually type. Etsy’s search reads titles and tags closely, so this is where early visibility comes from.
Day 5: set up your shipping profiles properly. Realistic processing times protect your reviews. Promise what you can always deliver, not what you hope to deliver.
Day 6: share the shop. Tell people who already know your work. Early sales and reviews help a new shop more than anything else.
Day 7: review your numbers. Etsy’s stats show visits and where they come from. Even small numbers tell you which listings attract attention.
Honestly, the first week is about learning, not sales volume. Treat every visit as feedback, adjust, and keep adding listings at a steady pace.
Common setup problems and fixes
ID verification fails. Check the ID isn’t expired, the photo is clear and the name matches your bank account exactly. Etsy limits repeated attempts, so fix the cause before retrying.
Your country isn’t listed. You can only open a shop where Etsy Payments is available.
The prepaid card is rejected. Etsy doesn’t accept a non-reloadable prepaid card as your only or primary card. Use a standard debit or credit card.
The shop name is taken. Try a variation that still works as a brand. Avoid names that copy existing brands, which can lead to trademark problems.
You can’t set up on your phone. Etsy requires a desktop browser for shop setup. My suggestion: borrow a laptop for an hour if you need to. The rest of shop management works fine on the app afterward.
Mistakes new Etsy sellers make
- Rushing the shop name. You can change it, but a stable name builds recognition.
- Underpricing. Remember the 6.5% transaction fee, payment processing and listing fees.
- Skipping policies and About. Buyers check them before trusting a new shop.
- Listing one product and waiting. Build a small collection first.
- Ignoring security. Two-factor authentication protects your earnings.
If you’d like help setting up and growing your shop, that’s our Etsy store management service. If Etsy isn’t the right fit, see our guide to Etsy alternatives for sellers.
FAQ
How do I set up an Etsy seller account?
Sign in on a desktop browser, go to Etsy.com/sell, select Get started, set shop preferences, choose a name, connect payment and billing, pay any set-up fee, verify your identity, turn on two-factor authentication, add a listing and open your shop.
How much does it cost to open an Etsy shop?
There may be a one-time set-up fee that varies by location (announced as $15 in 2024). After that, each listing costs $0.20 and each sale carries a 6.5% transaction fee plus payment processing.
Do I need a business license to sell on Etsy?
Etsy says it doesn’t require sellers to have a business license, but your local laws may.
How old do you have to be to sell on Etsy?
18 or older. Users aged 13 to 17 can only use Etsy through a parent or guardian’s account under their supervision.
Can I set up an Etsy shop on my phone?
No. Etsy says you need to set up your shop using a desktop web browser.
What ID do I need to sell on Etsy?
An unexpired government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport depending on your country, plus a selfie. The name must match your bank account.
Last updated: October 10, 2026. Fees and steps change; check Etsy’s help center. Sources: Etsy Help, how to open an Etsy shop; Etsy Help, verifying your identity; Etsy Help, fees and taxes; Etsy Help, payment processing fees; Etsy, fees and payments policy; Etsy Seller Handbook, set-up fee announcement; Etsy, Terms of Use.
