How To Start An Etsy Shop As A Teenager:7 Easy Steps (2023)

Are you wondering how to start an Etsy shop as a teenager?

You are creative and entrepreneurial, and you have a great product that you’d like to start selling on Etsy. There’s just one setback, you’re still in high school and technically, a minor.

You are confident that you can juggle school and a business, and your family and friends are ready to support you. But you’re not really sure if you’re allowed to have an Etsy shop or how to go about setting Etsy shop up.

You have questions in your mind about how old do you have to be to sell on Etsy and can you sell on Etsy under 18.

Luckily for you, I’m here to show you how to start an Etsy shop as a teenager.

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Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links and I may earn a commission if you click on them, at no additional cost to you. Hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.

If you are super busy and you want to start making money selling on Etsy fast, you can check out this and this Etsy course. It will help to step up your Etsy game and start earning within 3 months!

Alternatively, you can also check out this free Etsy Ebook that will share a list of best-selling products by month and teach you how to capitalize on seasonal trends to make sales.

How To Start An Etsy Shop As A Teenager

1. Determine And Create Your Products

2. Go Through Etsy’s Policy On Minors

3. Set Up Your Etsy Shop

4. Create Your Listings

5. Choose Payment Preferences

6. Enter Credit Card Details

7. Marketing Your Etsy Shop

If you’ve been wondering how to start earning money as a teenager, starting a business may have crossed your mind.

If you’re entrepreneurial and dedicated, that might just work! How to start a business as a teenager? One way is to create products and start selling on Etsy.

1. Determine And Create Your Products

Etsy is an international marketplace for unique and creative goods, from vintage valuables to eccentric handmade pieces.

When deciding on what to sell on Etsy, be mindful that your product has to be handcrafted, handpicked, or custom-made.

If you’re personally crafting your product, decide to create a product that:

1. You are passionate about and enjoy making

2. Has demand and market interest

3. You can add your own unique spin to

2. Go Through Etsy’s Policy On Minors

You’ve got a great range of products ready to go but you’re not sure how to sell on Etsy as a minor, how old to sell on Etsy or can a 16 year old sell on Etsy.

Here is all you need to know on how to sell on Etsy as a teenager.

As stated in Etsy’s Terms of Use:

all Etsy account owners must be a minimum of 18 years of age.
Etsy considers anyone under the age of 18 as a minor.
Minors are prohibited from creating an Etsy account or buying and selling on the platform. Minors between the ages of 13 to 17 are allowed to use Etsy with the permission and direct supervision of a parent or legal guardian.
The account has to be registered under the parent or legal guardian’s name, with the information of the parent or legal guardian.
A minor is not allowed to be listed as the shop owner, only the parent or legal guardian can do so.
The parent or legal guardian is also responsible for all activity that takes place on the account.
Minors under the age of 13 are not allowed to use Etsy under any circumstance, a parent may however run a shop on their behalf.

So if you’re wondering can a 10 year-old sell on Etsy? Unfortunately no, they can’t. But if you’re wondering can a 13 year old sell on Etsy, they can with their parent/guardian’s account.

To learn more about Etsy age requirement and using Etsy as a minor, read their Minors Policy.

3. Set Up Your Etsy Shop

Now that you have your parent’s or legal guardian’s approval to start an Etsy shop, let’s set up your Etsy shop with these simple steps. Ensure that your parent or legal guardian sets up the Etsy shop with you so that you adhere by the Etsy age requirements.

How old do i have to be to sell on Etsy? At least 13 years old. Now, let’s proceed with the steps to set up your store.

1. Create An Etsy Account

In order to have a seller account, you first have to create a shopper’s account first. Sign in via a parent or legal guardian’s email address. Once signed in,

1. Click on ‘Your Account’ on the right side of the page
2. Click on ‘Sell On Etsy’
3. Once you’re on the page, click on the ‘Get Started’ button

2. Choose Your Shop Preferences

Click on the “Let’s do this” button, which leads you to a series of general questions. Once you’ve answered the questions, you’ll be directed to the “Shop Preferences” page.

This page is auto-filled with default answers, it requires you to fill out your shop language, shop country, and shop currency. You can make changes to the answers in the drop-down menu, and click ‘save and continue’ once you’ve answered them.

Note: You will be charged a currency conversion fee of 2.5% when customers purchase from your shop if your bank currency and shop currency differ.

3. Name Your Shop

Type out your Etsy shop’s name here, the site will check if it is available. If it is already taken, the site will generate similar names for you to choose from. If it is available, you can proceed and click on ‘save and continue’ here.

The criteria for an Etsy shop name are:

Between 4-20 characters
No special characters, spaces, or accented letters
A new name that has not been taken by another seller
No obscenity
No trademark infringements

Finding the right name for your Etsy shop is an important decision when starting an Etsy shop. Read this article for great tips on naming your Etsy shop.

4. Create Your Listings

On this page, you will create your first product listing, exciting! This page has many sub-sections to it, let’s focus on the key areas.

Step 1: Add Photos & Videos

Click add a photo and add images from your computer. You can add up to 10 images at once. It is optional to add a product video, however, it is highly beneficial to have a short product video.

When taking product pictures or videos ensure that you showcase several angles and take them in good lighting (natural sunlight works well).

Step 2: Add A Thumbnail Image

Add a thumbnail picture, and ensure it’s the best picture you have of your product as it is the first visual customers will see of the product.

Step 3: Listing Details

Include the following in your listing details:

A title: The title has to be as descriptive as possible, the listing title is what pops up on Search.
About the listing: This section consists of 3 drop-down questions.
Listing Categories: Here is where you niche down your product and optionally, you can fill out the attributes section that covers areas such as color, material, etc.
Renewal options: During each new renewal cycle of 4 months, a renewal fee of $0.20 is charged. You can opt for listings to be manually renewed or auto-renewed here.
Product Type: Choose if your product is physical or digital.
Description: Write about your product and its qualities here in as much detail as possible. Get found on Search easily with a great description.
Production partners: Here you include anyone who was a part of creating your product.
Sections: Here is where you categorize products, i.e. earrings or necklaces
Tags: Here you can include tags that best describe your product and its category. Etsy tags are essentially keywords, carefully pick the right keywords that will lead your customers to you.
Material: Add any raw materials used to create your product in this section

Step 4: Etsy Shop Inventory & Pricing

In this section, you set the product’s price, the SKU (stock keeping unit) number, and the number of products available for sale.

If your product has any variations, you can add them here. Choose which variations your product has, for example, different sizes, from the drop-down menu.

However, be aware that a variation is another listing, and a $0.20 listing fee will be charged for each variation being sold.

And if you provide personalization services, you can activate them on the right side of the page.

Step 5: Shipping

The last step is to set up shipping. Etsy recommends free shipping for its shoppers. Offering free shipping to buyers drives up your listing’s Search ranking. So it is probably good to offer free shipping locally if it makes financial sense.

5. Choose Payment Preferences

Here you choose how you’d like to get paid. You have several options including Etsy Payments, check or money order, and Paypal.

See which option works best for your parent or legal guardian.

6. Enter Credit Card Details

As Etsy makes it compulsory for sellers to provide their credit card details, be sure to make your parent or legal guardian aware of this. It is for authorization purposes and to charge sellers’ fees.

Once you’re done filling out the ‘set up billing’ segment, click on the ‘Open Your Shop’ button. And just like that, you are now the proud owner of an Etsy shop!

You don’t have to wonder anymore how old do you have to be to have an Etsy shop!!

7. Marketing Your Etsy Shop

Now that you don’t have to worry about how old do you need to be to sell on Etsy, what to do for an Etsy shop to start selling?

1. Personalizing Your Etsy Shop

You can begin this exciting journey by firstly getting your shop customer ready. How, do you ask? Well by customizing your shop to reflect your brand. Start with…

Your Etsy Shop’s Bio

In this section, you briefly introduce yourself and your Etsy shop. Take the opportunity to share what is unique about your products or store here.

If your parent or legal guardian permits, share that you are a minor and that this is your very first business venture!

Your Etsy Shop’s About Section

In this part, you can share in detail how your business came to fruition here.

Take the opportunity to share your interests, how you create your products and why you started an Etsy shop with your audience. You can even share the way you came about how to sell on Etsy under 18!

If you have set up social media accounts for the shop, include the links in this section.

Your Etsy Shop’s Policies Section

When running an online store, it is key to set clear Etsy shop policies. Here you prepare answers to possibly frequently asked questions that your customers may have.

A policy section is super useful to refer to when your customers have outrageous requests. Cover important areas like shipping, order processing time, and return & refunds.

2. Market Your Etsy Shop Through Social Media Platforms

This strategy only applies if you are permitted to create and manage social media accounts under parental supervision.

Social Media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are great platforms to advertise your product for no additional cost.

Use these platforms to share important announcements like product launches, new product variations, sales, and seasonal promotions.

3. Master Etsy SEO

Etsy SEO is how you improve the visibility of your shop as well as your listings within Etsy’s search function and search engines using keywords.

There are a few things you can do to optimize your shop’s SEO. Firstly, when you select your categories for each listing, choose relevant and specific categories so that you pop up when customers search for the category.

Ensure that your product titles are descriptive of the products that you sell. For example, if I were selling ‘printables’, I’d name my shop ‘Aisha’s Productivity Printables’.

It is not completely necessary for your shop’s name to relate to the products you sell. Nevertheless, it will certainly help with visibility when customers are looking to buy the products you offer.

Also fully utilize the Etsy tags feature, Etsy tags are essentially keywords matched with buyers’ intent, so ensure the tags are detailed, like “cactus leather handbags”.

The best method for keyword research is by using an Etsy keyword tool. I recommend using Sale Samurai, it is affordable, highly effective, and has a 3 day trial period.

Note– As my reader, you get a discount coupon that has to be used in the sign up page. The code is outandbeyond (all in lowercase). This will give you 20% OFF for life.

What To Sell On Etsy

As you’re now aware of how to start an Etsy shop under 18 and how old do you have to be to start an Etsy shop, you might wonder about what to sell on Etsy.

If you haven’t figured out what to sell on Etsy and how to start earning as a teenager on Etsy, this section is dedicated to you.

As you are going to be selling on Etsy exclusively, it wouldn’t hurt to check out what sells best on Etsy, in fact, it will do you well!

The best-performing categories on Etsy include:

1. Jewelry & Accessories

2. Apparel

3. Craft Supplies

4. Paper & Party Supplies

5. Beauty & Personal Care

6. Home & Living

You should also totally check out Etsy’s Editor’s Pick, Best Seller’s List, and Popular Right Now List for inspiration.

If that sounds like too much work, step up your game and try out Sale Samurai to help you figure out what are the best items to sell on Etsy.

How Much Does It Cost To Sell On Etsy

Now that you’re up to date on how to start an Etsy shop as a teenager and how old do you have to be to open an Etsy shop, it is probably best to dive into the cost involved when selling on Etsy.

The great thing about Etsy is it is free up until you sell on the platform, which means it costs nothing to create an account and set up an Etsy shop.

The cost you incur when you sell on Etsy is known as seller fees, there are 3 key seller fees that every seller should know of.

Etsy Listing Fee: Each product and product variation listed on the marketplace is charged $0.20. Each listing has to be renewed (automatically or manually) every 4 months at $0.20.
Etsy Transaction Fee: Each time a sale is made on a product, you will be charged 5% of the total product price (including shipping and gift wrapping).
Etsy Payment Processing Fee: This is only applicable if you use Etsy Payments. The fee differs internationally, in the US, $0.25 on top of 3% per transaction is charged.

Other costs you may incur are fees on shipping labels and the costs of offsite ads if you choose to run ads.

Why You Should Start An Etsy Shop As A Teenager

Do you have to be 18 to sell on Etsy? No, you don’t, as long as you are operating the store under your parents’/guardians’ supervision. It’s beneficial to learn some essential skills and gain experience at a young age.

1. Learn How To Run A Business

By starting your very own Etsy shop, you are essentially a business owner. Starting and managing a business alongside school won’t be easy but you will learn A LOT.

Now, you know already about how old do u have to be to sell on Etsy.

However, to successfully run a business, you will need to first learn the basics. From research and development of products to conducting market research to learn about your target market.

There are just so many areas you will need to explore and master as a business owner. Some of the key areas you will need to comprehend include:

Product Development (research and development to create great products)
Branding & Marketing (establishing a brand online, creating brand awareness, growing market share, etc. )
Accounting & Finance (budgeting, costing, calculating profits, making financial decisions)
Business Strategy
People Management (if you have any staff)
Vendor Management (for the supply of raw materials)

On top of dealing with all these new subject areas, you will run into problems, need to expand your knowledge, and ask for help as you grow your business.

Running a business will not only provide you with the opportunity to learn about a business you are passionate about, but it will also help you build character and resilience.

2. Develop Valuable Skills

You already know a lot about how to start an Etsy shop as a teenager, but why should you start one? Starting and running a business allows you to pick up many valuable skills that will be so beneficial to you in the long run.

Here are the key skills that you will develop when running a business.

Time management
Communication
Money management
Organization
Decision Making
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Crafting Skills

Juggling school work and a business will teach you practical and priceless life lessons. You’ll be tested on managing time, prioritizing tasks, overcoming failure, and pivoting in times of uncertainty, all things that’ll make you a thriving entrepreneur.

Additionally, you get to hone your crafting and creative skills as you perfect your craft and create products that you are passionate about!

3. Build Your Transcript

If you have been actively learning about and running a business throughout high school, right from minimum Etsy age limit, you need to make it count! It is a great extracurricular for your transcript and college application.

You should definitely disclose the time and effort you’ve invested, the skillset you’ve developed, and the business’s progress in your transcript.

Starting a business will give you an upper hand compared to your peers as you’ll have ‘real life’ working experience under your belt.

If your school offers ‘business studies’ or entrepreneurship modules, you could use your Etsy shop as a case study as well.

You could also share your personal experiences, and guide others about how old do you have to be to use Etsy and do you need to be 18 to sell on Etsy or not.

4. Learn How To Be Financially Responsible

Financial or money management is an area that is hardly ever taught in school or at home, despite it being a valuable life skill. Starting a business on Etsy under 18 will urge you to develop financial skills that will be useful in a personal and professional setting.

Simple tasks like tracking your expenditure, creating a monthly supply budget, and learning about profit and loss will improve your financial literacy. At a young age to sell on Etsy, being financially literate is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

Tips On How To Start An Etsy Shop As a Teenager

So now that you have the answer to can minors sell on Etsy, you might be looking for tips to start the Etsy business. Starting a business involves several different aspects coming together.

There is research and planning, creating a brand and marketing, and the financial and legal aspects of things. Here I share with you a few tips on how to start making money online as a teenager with an Etsy shop.

1. Refine Your Craft

A tip I’d like to share with you is to make sure you give yourself time to refine your craft before you put your products up for sale.

The finer the quality of your product, the more satisfied your customers will be. Customers who have positive, fulfilling experiences are more likely to refer to your products and buy from you again.

Do not rush the process. On Etsy, buyers are investing in craftsmanship and quality.

You don’t have to worry about how old do you have to be to sell stuff on Etsy. Being a teenager, you have already become eligible to sell on Etsy. You can take out time for honing your skills and then launch your products after achieving mastery.

2. Have A Plan

You want to start a business and you have a product in mind, ok great, you can start selling. I wish it were that simple and straightforward but you can’t start a business without a plan or proper information.

You have to first draw up a business plan that outlines how you will structure, manage and expand your business. You should also list out the business’s vision and goals you aim to achieve in this plan.

Your business plan is the foundation of your business and will guide you in each stage of your business and help it grow.

Before starting your business, you must also go through Etsy’s policies on Etsy minimum age so that you’re aware about how old do you have to be to have an Etsy account and to sell on Etsy.

3. Develop Financial Skills

Virtually any individual will benefit from developing their financial skills. However, as a business owner, becoming financially literate is necessary.

As you know the answer to can i sell on Etsy under 18 is yes, you can, with your parent or guardian’s account, you will also need to learn how to manage the finances of your shop.

To successfully manage the business’s finances, you will need to learn basic accounting. You will need to learn how to create and understand financial statements such as income statements, cash flow statements, and balance sheets.

You should also learn how to price your products appropriately and calculate profitability to gauge the performance of certain activities, products, or the business as a whole. An example of an important calculation in a business setting is the return on investment, or ROI.

Having financial knowledge also allows you to develop a data-driven mindset. The understanding of vast amounts of financial data allows you to analyze and integrate it into making better business decisions for your business.

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4. Be flexible and ready to adapt

In life and business, change is inescapable. This applies to your Etsy shop as well. As the years progress there are going to be significant changes to the platform and to your business.

You can anticipate changes to market trends, the platform’s algorithm, customers buying patterns, and a lot more as time passes by.

You will also have to take customer feedback into consideration, launch new products, improve on your existing products and find ways to grow the business.

As a business owner, you have to be ready to weather these changes and be willing as well as competent enough to adapt or pivot.

Give yourself grace as you go through the challenges of running a business.

FAQs On How To Start An Etsy Shop As A Teenager

Can A Teenager Sell On Etsy?

Yes, a teenager can sell on Etsy. However, Etsy account owners must be at least 18 years of age. Teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 can use Etsy only if they have the permission and direct supervision of a parent or legal guardian who is the owner of the account.

How Do I Sell On Etsy If I’m Not 18

How do I sell on Etsy if I’m not 18? If you are not 18 and at least 13 years old, you are permitted to sell on Etsy only with the appropriate permission and direct supervision of a parent or legal guardian who is the owner of the account.

The parent or legal guardian is responsible for all activity conducted by a minor on the account.

Does Etsy Ask For ID?

Yes, Etsy may ask for your ID as a proof of verification of identity. For opening an Etsy store, you need to link your bank account where you will receive payments. Etsy could require you to submit a government-issued ID in order to validate your tax and bank information.

Can You Sell Non Handmade On Etsy?

Yes, you can sell non-handmade products on Etsy, if it comes under the category of craft supplies or vintage products.

You must sell original handmade products on Etsy, while reselling is allowed for vintage and crafts.

Do I Need A Logo For Etsy Shop?

It is always preferable to have a logo for your Etsy brand. A logo boosts brand visibility and helps to represent your brand across various social media platforms. You can use Canva or other free software to create a unique and appealing logo that represents your business.

Does Etsy Show Your Name?

Your name appears on your Etsy public profile, which consumers may use to find your profile. Etsy displays the name you enter when you register your Etsy shop.

You can change the name by going to Shop Manager > Settings > Info & Appearances > Change next to shop name.

Do I Need A SKU To Sell On Etsy?

You don’t need a SKU to sell on Etsy but it’s better if you have one. SKU or Stock Keeping Unit is an effective way to keep a track of the products in your Etsy store, inventory, personal website, and offline store (if you have one).

Why Is My Etsy Listing Blurry?

If your Etsy listing is blurry, it might be due to the incorrect size of image used with the listing. Etsy recommends that for listings, images must be 2000 pixels wide with a resolution of 72 PPI.

Images on the listings should be under 1 MB because those that are larger may not load correctly.

Can I Upload From Canva To Etsy?

Yes, for your digital products, you can directly upload the design or template from Canva to Etsy.

On your product listing page, you’ll be able to see upload file option, where you can select and upload the file which you want to list.

Can My Daughter Sell On Etsy?

Yes, your daughter can sell on Etsy. Any minor above the age of 13 years can sell on Etsy under their parents’ or guardians’ supervision. The Etsy account would have to be set up by the parent or guardian, as Etsy requires a contract and bank information.

What Happens If I Don’t Pay My Etsy Bill?

Your Etsy shop will be suspended if you have overdue bills on Etsy and you wouldn’t be able to take any orders till the overdue balance is cleared.

After you clear the pending amount, Etsy will reactivate your store and you will be able to resume your services.

How Do I Protect My Art On Etsy?

You can protect your art on Etsy by reporting the infringement on Etsy’s Reporting Portal.

Any listing created on Etsy is automatically copyrighted, and you can report a copyright violation if you believe your artwork or handmade goods have been misused or plagiarized. Before submitting a complaint, you must register on the Reporting Portal.

How To Start An Etsy Shop As A Teenager: Ready Set Go!!

Now that you know everything about how to start an Etsy Shop as a teenager, I’m assuming congratulations are in order!

Starting a business will not be easy but it will undoubtedly be worth it. Not only will you learn the necessary skills to run a business, but you’ll also learn how to manage your time and money whilst building your CV!

Be patient as it may take some time to build a steady flow of customers. Enjoy setting up your new business venture and remember, it’s okay if you don’t get everything right, you’ll learn as you go.

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