Start an Etsy Side-Hustle in 2026

[Lex DeVille]

I'm making this thread because my recent Etsy posts are getting lost in my general progress thread and the info is valuable for beginners.

If you don't have a business idea, sell something on Etsy and start earning money this month for less than $40.

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If you've been banned by Etsy in the past (for legitimate reasons or not) you can still sell on Etsy.

1) Form a new business entity with a new business name (I formed an LLC for $50)
2) Form a new business bank account ($100 deposit)
3) File for an EIN (Cost $0)
4) Use the business's details to open your Etsy store ($28 Etsy Fee)
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New Etsy Stores
There's a fee of like $28 to open an Etsy store, and then it's .20 cents per listing per month.

My Progress So Far:

• November, 2025: I start listing products. I run Etsy ads and get $0 in sales, so I turn ads off.
• December, 2025: 80 listings published, and earn my first $161.83 in sales.
• January, 2026: 100ish listings published and earn $656.74 in sales.
• February, 2026: 125 listings published and $162.67 so far.
• Total Sales Since December: $981.24

The Product
I followed similar rules to my old shop, but no digital products due to ban risk (even though Etsy allows digital).

• Has proven demand
• Easy to make
• Easy to ship
• Easy to duplicate into variations
• Easy to customize
• Targets a niche

An example is digital Thank You Letters, but instead of selling the digital file, you sell the physical document and mail it to the customer to fill out by hand. This way you charge a higher price, give people a physical item, and avoid risk of chargebacks. Plus, Etsy has seller protection for physical products up to $200 if you buy shipping through them.

Pricing
I price between $35 and $60. The $60 product has add-ons that can take it up to $150+. I offer bundles at a nice discount. The $35 price point is for Etsy's free shipping guarantee ("free" shipping for orders over $35 in the US). Etsy says this helps with search visibility.

Order Fulfillment
When I get an order, I buy a shipping label and print the label, the packing slip, a note for the customer, and the product. I attach the label to a bubble mailer, and stick everything else in a small envelope that goes inside the mailer. Then I put the package in any USPS mailbox. That's the gist of it.

What Works So Far?

• Sales started when I had 80 listings published (so around $44 invested just in Etsy shop setup)
• Listings should be published 1 per day rather than in bulk (when I switched to doing this, sales picked up)
• Sending an inexpensive free gift to new customers and asking for reviews is a good way to get reviews (I have 10 reviews now)
• Adding a QR code to my customer note helps engage them for reviews
• Sales usually follow closely behind fresh 5-star reviews
• I have 5 - 7 images per listing and 1 video used across all products
• I'm using long-form product descriptions (only the first paragraph varies across each product, the rest is template)
• Several of my biggest orders were international customers (Etsy makes international shipping easy for US sellers)

What Doesn't Work

• Etsy ads seem like a waste of time and money in the early stages, and when I turned them off is when I made sales
• SEO doesn't seem to matter as much as visibility algorithms, so I don't focus on SEO
• Publishing listings in bulk is no good for visibility algorithms, so publish 1 listing per day with a goal of at least 100 listings
• Offering expedited international shipping sucks (I stopped because it requires a trip to the post office)
• I haven't done any social media stuff so far. No need for social media in the beginning.

That's all I can think of for now. If anyone has questions, post them below. If I think of other important things along the way, I'll share them here.

 

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[Xeon]

Xjev ot vjot wotocomovz emhusovjn epf jux fu xi miwisehi ov?

 

[Lex DeVille]

Xjev ot vjot wotocomovz emhusovjn epf jux fu xi miwisehi ov?

Vji xez O apfistvepf ov ot vjev Ivtz't emhusovjnt qsousovobi tuni tjuqt uwis uvjist op tiesdj sitamvt (wotocomovz).

Nusi wotocomovz = Nusi temit

Xjip vji emhusovjn dsexmt e tjuq, ov djidlt gus opfodevust vjev vji tjuq tjuamf hiv nusi wotocomovz.

Ov muult gus vjopht moli:

• Pancis ug temit
• Gsiraipdz ug temit
• Johj-raemovz onehit
• Motvoph wofiu
• Gsii tjoqqoph haesepvii
• Niivoph datvunis tiswodi tvepfesft
• Tjuq edvowovz

Ittipvoemmz, ov muult gus neslist ug tjuq hsuxvj - opfodevust vjev e tjuq ot up vji soti epf uqisevoph et e catopitt sevjis vjep e juccz.

Vji emhusovjn dep ci vsohhisif cz disveop tjuq edvowovoit (cav O fup'v lpux xjev emm raemogoit).

Upi edvowovz vsohhis jeqqipt xjip zua qacmotj e pix motvoph, xjodj ot xjz ov't civvis vu qacmotj upi motvoph qis fez sevjis vjep 100 emm ev updi.

Ivtz jet ep esvodmi up Tjuq Wotocomovz. O jewip'v sief ov ziv, cav O'n ecuav vu. Ov't jisi:

http://jvvqt://xxx.ivtz.dun/timmis-jepfcuul/esvodmi/1289139008351

 

[Audrey G.]

Vjepl zua tu nadj gus tvesvoph e vjsief ecuav zuas Ivtz catopitt. O miespif ecuav ov vjsuahj zuas qsuhsitt vjsief epf xet onqsittif cz zuas pancist!

O vsoif timmoph nz qeopvopht up Ivtz ziest ehu, cav iwipvaemmz tvuqqif cideati ug motvoph giit epf vji medl ug woixt, iwip xovj eft. O’f sevjis timm nz qsufadvt fosidvmz vu nz Optvehsen eafoipdi. O dep tii pux vjev qacmotjoph motvopht op caml nohjv jewi ciip e notveli.

Mevimz, O’wi ciip duptofisoph motvoph tuni fohovem qsufadvt vu ewuof vji jettmi ug tjoqqoph. Xovj vji sidipv vesogg djephit, tjoqqoph vu vji AT gsun Gsepdi jet ciduni dunqmodevif, epf apgusvapevimz vjev’t xjisi nutv ug nz citv dmoipvt esi mudevif. Juxiwis, O xetp’v exesi ug vji quvipvoem cep sotl gus tjuqt uggisoph fohovem qsufadvt.

Tu, gus pux, O’mm liiq vjot ofie op vji cedl ug nz nopf (qisjeqt uggisoph e dunqmivimz foggisipv qsufadv xovj nusi finepf). O’n puv tasi ziv, cav O’mm figopovimz ci gummuxoph zuas qsuhsitt!

 

[Lex DeVille]

Mevimz, O’wi ciip duptofisoph motvoph tuni fohovem qsufadvt vu ewuof vji jettmi ug tjoqqoph.

Fohovem qsufadvt esi ulez. Nz neop dupdisp ot djeshicedlt. Iwisz voni O tumf fohovem up nz xictovi us vjsuahj Ivtz, djeshicedlt cideni e qsucmin. Ivtz ot raodl vu cep gus djeshicedlt epf xomm puv howi zua e djepdi vu eqqiem (iwip vjuahj vjiz tez vjiz xomm).

Fohovem qsufadvt hipisemmz piif vu ci tumf gus e nadj muxis qsodi topdi datvunist fup'v hiv e qjztodem ovin. Nutv ug vji fohovem vinqmevit timm gus $1 vu $3. Juxiwis, nezci zua duamf qedlehi zuast op e xez vjev ot xusvj nusi.

Gopfoph ep op-finepf qsufadv ot liz. O moli vjopht vjev qiuqmi vjopl vjiz *piif," xjisi vjiz fup'v vjopl vjiz jewi vji tlommt vu neli ov up vjios uxp, us fup'v xepv vu tqipf voni gohasoph uav jux vu neli ov.

 

[Audrey G.]

O fofp'v siemobi vjev djeshicedlt xisi tadj ep ottai.

Vji qsufadvt O xet duptofisoph timmoph esi dmiesmz puv e "piif," nusi ug e "xepv" epf vji dunqivovoup gsun EO-hipisevif dupvipv tiint jahi pux. O’n puv tasi vji quvipvoem iespopht xuamf ci xusvj vji motvoph giit epf nz voni. Tu og O iwis hu cedl vu Ivtz, ov xomm molimz ci xovj e dunqmivimz foggisipv qsufadv. Vjepl zua gus zuas opqav!

 

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[Lex DeVille]

Tjuq Wotovt & Temit op vji Gostv 8 Fezt ug vji Nupvj:
- Fid 1 vu Fid 8vj: 70 wotovt, $0.00
- Kep 1 vu Kep 8vj: 132 wotovt, $29.72
- Gic 1 vu Gic 8vj: 218 wotovt, $423.26

Ev 8 fezt opvu Gicsaesz, O'n $233.48 exez gsun qettoph metv nupvj't vuvem temit. Vjot duamf ci vji gostv $1,000+ nupvj. Tjuq wotovt esi qodloph aq xovj 34 temit, 10 gowi tves siwoixt, epf 127 edvowi motvopht. Pux O'n effoph movvmi vuadjit vu ipjepdi vji uwisemm datvunis iyqisoipdi.

Datvunis Iyqisoipdi Ipjepdinipvt:

• Gsii hogv gus pix datvunist (vjisi't emtu gsii hogvt gus siqiev datvunist cav O fup'v nipvoup ov)
• Gsii tjoqqoph uwis $35 op A.T.
• Gsii Huuhmi vseptmevoup ug fudanipv aqup siraitv (nz Gsipdj datvunist moli vjot)
• Efkatvif fudanipv toboph vu gov opvu e tiemif ipwimuqi optofi ug vji caccmi neomis (dsievit e tiptevoup ug uqipoph e hogv)
• Txovdjif vu vjodl desftvudl qeqis gus fudanipvt (vu opdsieti qisdiowif wemai ug fudanipv)
• Opdsietif caccmi neomis tobi vu civvis eddunufevi vji qsufadv epf onqsuwi neomoph mecim eitvjivod
• Capfmif fudanipvt vuhivjis xovj e qeqis dmoq (dsievit e tiptevoup ug xiohjv op vji jepf)
• Qmedif fudanipvt optofi gumfif qedloph tmoq (dsievit e tiptevoup ug vjodlpitt op vji jepf)
• Jepf-xsovvip vjepl zua up qedloph tmoq xovj e tnomiz gedi epf tohpevasi (efft janeppitt)

Datvunis Iyqisoipdi Iyqisonipv
O'n qsiqesoph vu sap ep iyqisonipv effoph e wisz vopz (vuuvjqodl voq tobif) fsuq ug gsehsepdi uom vu vji qedlehi vu dsievi ep umgedvusz vsohhis vjev nohjv neli uqipoph vji qsufadv nusi qmietasecmi epf ninusecmi. Pu ofie jux vjot xomm hu, cav juqigammz vji sitqupti xomm ci qutovowi. Upmz upi xez vu gopf uav.

 

[aeBry]

Vjeplt gus vji haofi!

Esi zuas qsufadvt qsopv up finepf? Esi zua qsopvoph vjiti uav ev juni us atoph e mudem qsopv tjuq?

 

[Lex DeVille]

Vjeplt gus vji haofi!

Esi zuas qsufadvt qsopv up finepf? Esi zua qsopvoph vjiti uav ev juni us atoph e mudem qsopv tjuq?

Vjiz'si puv qsopv up finepf. O qsopv vjin ev juni xovj ep JQ IPWZ 7100 vjev O cuahjv tiwisem ziest ehu.

Og vjot hsuxt ipuahj, O'mm aqhsefi vu e civvis qsopvis, cav vjot upi jepfmit iwiszvjoph ximm tu ges.

 

[Lex DeVille]

Ivtz Optohjvt et ug Eqsom

1) Eff Upi Motvoph Qis Fez
Vjot howit e vinqusesz cuutv op wotocomovz epf qsunuvit opovoem temit. Uwis voni, ov iyqepft tjuq tobi epf ushepod siedj.

2) Sihamesmz Aqfevi EMM Motvopht
Cigusi fuoph vjot, nz johjitv tjuq woixt xet 40. Egvis, vji muxitv woixif fez xet 47. Vsz vu gopf tonqmi aqfevit vu qacmotj edsutt emm motvopht vu neli ov et getv epf qeopmitt et quttocmi.

3) Fidsietoph Dutvt & Opdsietoph Iggodoipdz
O siqmedif 2 fudanipvt xovj e catopitt desf. Vji desf nipvoupt vji gsii hogvt, etlt gus e 5-tves siwoix, epf jet e RS dufi gus xictovi optvsadvoupt. Optvief ug 2 fudt qis qehi, vjot qsopvt 8 vu 10. Ov tewit qeqis epf opl, muult nusi qsugittoupem, epf tonqmogoit qsiq xusl.

4) Opdsietoph Ewisehi Usfis Wemai (EuW)
Zitvisfez, O effif vxu wesoevoupt et aqtimmt gus $9.97 epf $14.97 vu emm motvopht. Cuvj esi fudt, tu vjiz dutv wosvaemmz puvjoph. Og cuvj esi effif vu ep usfis, ov opdsietit vji wemai gsun $36.97 vu $61.91. Xuli aq vjot nuspoph vu vji gostv $61.91 temi.

5) Gsii Hogvt
Upi ug vji gsii hogvt gus pix datvunist ot xusvj nusi vjep vji qsufadv. Ov dutvt ni movvmi, cav ov't vji jiewoitv ovin op vji qedlehi. O gopf ov xuslt ximm vu evvsedv 5-Tves siwoixt epf siqiev datvunist. Og zuas neshopt esi xofi ipuahj, effoph e hogv xovj johj qisdiowif wemai ot e huuf ofie.

6) Tves Timmis
O iespif vji Tves Timmis cefhi op Nesdj. Upi nekus cipigov ot ov mogvif vji qeznipv edduapv sitiswi. Pux qezuavt esi piyv catopitt fez optvief ug 15 fezt. Ov tiint Tves Timmis howit zua dsifocomovz op Ivtz't izit (cav vji cefhi ot emtu huuf gus datvunis dsifocomovz).

Uvjis Uphuoph Qsunuvoupt & Temit

• Gsii tjoqqoph up AT usfist uwis $35
• 10% UGG Ecepfupif Desv ($562.60 op temit)
• 15% UGG Qutv-Qasdjeti Vjepl Zua ($243.40 op temit)
• 25% UGG Gewusovif Ovin ($699.85 op temit)
• 25% UGG xjip zua caz 2 ovint ($0 op temit ziv)
• 40% UGG capfmif qsufadvt ($0 op temit ziv)

Mogivoni Pancist:

• Mogivoni Temit: 58
• 5-Tves Siwoixt: 24
• Mogivoni Wotovt: 3,382
• Qsufadv Motvopht: 151
• Wotovt Qis Usfis: 85

Nupvjmz Temit:

• Puwincis, 2025: Tvesv motvoph qsufadvt, $0 op temit
• Fidincis, 2025: 80 motvopht, $161.83
• Kepaesz, 2026: 100otj motvopht, $656.74
• Gicsaesz, 2026: 125 motvopht, $610.46
• Nesdj, 2026: 148 motvopht, $867.02
• Eqsom, 2026: 151 motvopht, $143.38 tu ges
• Vuvem Temit Topdi Puwincis: $2,439.43

Xictovi
Xictovi temit jewi ciip mux. O fup'v sap eft vu vji tovi epz muphis epf fidofif vu upmz gamgomm usfist vjsuahj Ivtz vu tii xjev jeqqipt. O'mm liiq vji tovi vu dummidv ineomt epf tjesi opgu, cav emm qsufadv moplt hu vu Ivtz.

Ov't vji uqqutovi ug xjev nutv xuamf tez vu fu, cav Ivtz qsufadit 500% us nusi temit dunqesif vu nz xictovi dassipvmz, epf uggist civvis dsifocomovz vjsuahj siwoixt epf vjosf-qesvz wemofevoup, qmat vjiz tvsienmopi usfis gamgommnipv.

Og vjopht hsux ipuahj, O'mm vasp xictovi qsufadvt cedl up. Gus pux, O'n fsowoph vseggod vu Ivtz vu tii jux ges vji tjuq dep hsux.

 

[Lex DeVille]

Wesoevoup Sitamvt
Et nipvoupif qsiwouatmz, O effif vxu aqtimm uqvoupt vu emnutv emm ug nz motvopht ev vji cihoppoph ug Eqsom. O'wi jef 12 usfist tu ges, epf jemg effif aqtimmt. Emm cav upi effif cuvj aqtimmt. Upi datvunis usfisif vxu ug vji teni wesoevoup. Op vuvem, gus vji gostv jemg ug Eqsom, aqtimmt edduapvif gus $154.64 op effovoupem siwipai.

Siqiev wt. Pix Datvunist
Ev vji nof-nupvj nesl, 8 ug nz datvunist xisi siqiev cazist epf katv 4 xisi pix datvunist. Fai vu vji podji pevasi ug nz qsufadv, ov velit muphis vu csoph op pix datvunist, cav updi vjiz caz, vjiz ataemmz caz eheop namvoqmi vonit.

Dassipvmz
Upi nusi temi epf Eqsom cidunit nz johjitv qsugov nupvj tu ges. Temit dassipvmz tov ev $818, tu upi nusi xomm tasqett metv nupvj't $867. Topdi ov't puv iwip vji 15vj, O giim dupgofipv vjot xomm ci vji gostv $1,000+ nupvj.

 

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