E-commerce · Budget: £0 to £500 · Minimum age: 18+

Etsy handmade shop

An Etsy handmade shop lets you list and sell items you make or design, with Etsy charging fees when you list and sell. Etsy’s rules say items must be made, designed, handpicked or sourced by the seller <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/sell" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Etsy</a>.

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In plain words

Make items you design or create.
Check Etsy's rules before listing each item.
Take clear photos and describe your item.
Pack and post orders carefully.
Fees and materials reduce the money you keep.

Who it suits

Suits someone who enjoys making things, can set aside time to photograph and describe their work, and is happy to handle customer messages and fulfil orders.

People may pay for handmade or designed items that suit their needs, interests or tastes. Clear photos, honest descriptions and reliable fulfilment help buyers decide whether an item is right for them.

Step by step

Choose an item you can make reliably. Pick something you can produce to a consistent standard. List the materials, packaging and postage it needs, and check whether you can source them reliably. About 30-60 minutes.
Check Etsy's rules for your item. Etsy says listed items must be made, designed, handpicked or sourced by you. Read its Seller Policy if you are unsure whether your item is allowed Etsy. About 30-60 minutes.
Make and inspect one sample. Make a sample as you would for a customer. Check its finish, size and packaging, and note the materials and time it took. About 1-2 days.
Work out a price that covers your costs. Add materials, packaging, postage and the time you spend. Include Etsy's listing, transaction and payment processing fees, and check the current fees for your country Etsy UK Etsy Ireland. About 30-60 minutes.
Set up your Etsy shop. Create an Etsy account, choose your shop location and currency, and decide on a shop name. Check Etsy's current eligibility terms before opening a shop Etsy. About 1-2 hours.
Photograph and describe your item. Take clear photos in good light from useful angles. Write an accurate description that includes dimensions, materials and dispatch information. About 1-2 hours.
Set up payments and check your listing. Set up the payment and billing methods Etsy requests. Check the price, photos, description and dispatch details before publishing Etsy. About 30-60 minutes.
Pack, send and record each order. Pack the item carefully and send it using the method you selected. Keep a record of the sale and its related costs. About 15-45 minutes per order.
Review your listings and keep records. Notice which listings get attention and consider changing photos, descriptions or product choices. Keep clear records to help with any tax obligations that apply where you live. About 30 minutes each month.

Your first 15 minutes

This week, make one sample item, photograph it in good light and draft a listing with a clear description and price.

The money

Add materials, packaging, postage and the value of your time, then include Etsy's fees and any other costs. Etsy UK lists a £0.15 listing fee, a 6.5% transaction fee and payment processing of 4% + £0.20; Etsy Ireland lists a €0.18 listing fee, a 6.5% transaction fee and payment processing of 4% + €0.30. Other fees may apply, so check the current details for your country <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/sell" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Etsy UK</a> <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ie/sell" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Etsy Ireland</a>.

Example only: one £20 sale, with £5 materials, £3 packaging/postage and estimated Etsy fees of £2.45 (£0.15 + £1.30 + £1.00), leaves £9.55 before paying yourself for your time or tax. One €20 sale, with €5 materials, €3 packaging/postage and estimated Etsy fees of €2.58 (€0.18 + €1.30 + €1.10), leaves €9.42 before your time or tax. This simplified example assumes fees are calculated on the item price alone; actual charges can vary and other fees may apply <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/sell" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Etsy UK</a> <a href="https://www.etsy.com/ie/sell" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Etsy Ireland</a>.

The rules

You can generally sell handmade items on Etsy in the UK and Ireland. Your products must follow Etsy's rules, and you must follow the relevant tax, product-safety and consumer rules. Requirements can differ by location and product. Check with the relevant authority if you're unsure.

UK and Northern Ireland

Tax and records. The first £1,000 a year of trading income is covered by the trading allowance. If your income is above that, tell HMRC. The £1,000 is your gross income before expenses. If you need to register for Self Assessment, the deadline is 5 October after the relevant tax year GOV.UK Tax Help for Hustles GOV.UK. You must register for VAT if your taxable turnover is over £90,000 Business.gov.uk. Since 1 January 2024, platforms report sellers with 30 or more items or around £1,700 a year to HMRC. This reporting does not by itself mean you owe tax. Selling your own unwanted items is not taxed under this rule GOV.UK.
Consumer cancellation rights. In Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), you generally need to give customers required information before they buy. This includes clear information about costs, delivery and cancellation. For goods, the usual cancellation period ends 14 days after the customer receives them. Bespoke goods are an exception. Tell customers before they buy if they must pay return costs. You generally need to refund them within 14 days of receiving the goods or proof of return. Deliver goods without undue delay and within 30 days, unless you agree otherwise UK legislation UK Government guidance. This does not cover Northern Ireland’s rules. Check with Trading Standards NI about the rules that apply there.
Product safety. In Northern Ireland, consumer products you sell commercially must be safe. You must have a responsible economic operator established in Northern Ireland or the EU. Their details must appear on the product, packaging, parcel or an accompanying document UK Government. Great Britain uses the UK General Product Safety Regulations, not Regulation (EU) 2023/988 UK Government.
Shop rules and age. Check Etsy's current Seller Policy and eligibility terms before you list items or open a shop Etsy. The Etsy sell pages don't state a minimum age. If you're under 18, check Etsy's current terms and get appropriate help from an adult.
Advertising and customer data. Clearly label advertising or affiliate posts. For example, use “Ad” ASA. Use the ICO self-assessment tool to check whether you need to pay a fee for your data use. You are likely exempt if you keep customer details only for accounts and transaction records, but there are exceptions ICO.
Insurance and registration. Consider whether product or public liability insurance and suitable home insurance are right for you. The product-safety rules don't set out a general business licence or registration requirement. Check with your local council or Trading Standards if your product or activity may need one.

Ireland

Income tax and platform reporting. If you work under PAYE, register for self-assessment using Form 11 if your taxable non-PAYE income is over €5,000 or your gross non-PAYE income is over €30,000. Below those limits, declare it on Form 12 through myAccount Revenue. Keep records and check with Revenue about your circumstances. Separately, under DAC7, platforms report sellers of goods unless they have fewer than 30 transactions and under €2,000. Platform reporting does not by itself mean you owe tax Revenue.
VAT. For goods, the VAT registration threshold is €85,000 Revenue. Check with Revenue if you're unsure how the threshold applies to your sales.
Online consumer rights. If you sell online as a business, you generally need to give customers information before they buy. This includes your name and contact details, product details, the total price and extra charges, and cancellation information. Make clear when payment is due. Don't add optional extras using pre-ticked boxes. Send an order confirmation in a durable format, such as email. For goods, the 14-day cooling-off period starts when the customer receives the item. They must tell you they want to cancel within that period. They then have another 14 days to return it. You must provide a cancellation form and explain how to use it. You generally need to refund the customer within 14 days of being told, subject to receiving returned items. If you don't explain the cancellation right, it can be extended. The cooling-off right does not apply to personalised or made-to-order products CCPC CCPC.
Product safety. Product-safety rules apply to businesses selling consumer products in Ireland. Your products must be safe. Products placed on the EU market must have a responsible person in the EU. Their details must appear on the product, packaging, parcel or an accompanying document. Give customers the information they need to use products safely. Have systems to identify risks and monitor complaints or incidents. If a safety issue arises, take corrective action and notify the CCPC without delay. You must also inform the manufacturer and CCPC about an unsafe product on the market, and inform affected customers CCPC CCPC.
Business name. If you trade under a business name other than your own, register it with the CRO. Online registration costs €20 CRO.
Advertising, data and insurance. Label commercial social-media content clearly. For example, use “#Ad” CCPC. Ask Ireland's Data Protection Commission what data-protection steps apply to your customer records. Consider whether product or public liability insurance and suitable home insurance are right for you.
Licences and age. The product-safety rules don't set out a general product or business licence. Check with the CCPC or relevant authority if your product has special rules. The Etsy sell pages don't state a minimum age. Check Etsy's current eligibility terms and get appropriate help from an adult if you're under 18 Etsy.

Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified tax or legal adviser. General guidance, not legal advice. Check the official link beside each point before you start.

Common mistakes

Pricing only for materials and forgetting fees, postage or time.
Listing an item before checking Etsy's rules or product-safety needs.
Using unclear photos or leaving out dimensions and dispatch details.
Taking on more orders than you can make, pack and send reliably.
Not keeping records of sales, costs and messages about orders.

AI-made demonstration: this module has a 20-second street-chat video in the interactive guide. The presenter and the people in it are computer-generated, not real people.

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