Here, you can sell and buy anything from the comfort of your home.

Nothing beats such a feeling: all you have to do is click on your phone, and just like that, your products are available to prospective customers.

The company boasts of having more than 350 million active customers, all of which are spread worldwide.

The service is available in 180 different countries.

Better still, third-party sales are becoming the order of the day, amassing a considerable portion of overall Amazon.

This beginner’s guide is for you if you’re looking to start selling on Amazon in 2022.

We’ll cover everything you need to know to get started.

Let’s dive into things now.

Can You Make Money Selling on Amazon?

It is possible to make money selling on Amazon.

Many people are doing it and making a living from it.

However, it is not easy, and it takes a lot of hard work and dedication.

If you are not willing to put in the work, it is probably not something you will be successful at.

At the moment, Amazon has more than 1.9 million sellers listed to sell their products through the platform.

Things are picking up fast; at such a rate, we expect the number to rise.

However, this does not mean you are late.

As the service grows, a place for new sellers and buyers opens up too.

One might wonder, how much money can you make selling on Amazon?

Well, the answer to this question can vary.

First of all, you need to keep in mind that different sellers offer different products on Amazon.

The actual income in figures will vary depending on the products and customer flow.

Also, there are different ways of selling your products on Amazon.

However, just like any other business, you should expect to incur some expenses and fees before your online store can be fully functional.

However, the rest is just straightforward from here.

Is Selling on Amazon profitable?

There has been a noticeable shift in consumer spending in favor of eCommerce.

This growing trend is part of why many people are opting to run online stores, and Amazon provides one of the best fulfillment networks in the world.

The fourth quarter of 2021 saw 56% of Amazon goods being sold by third-party sellers.

And according to the available data, most Amazon sellers make at least $1100 every month in sales.

As this practice has just been fully adopted recently, almost all sellers can be deemed new to the game.

So even if you are new to it all, there are ample opportunities to make a profit.

Do You Have To Be A Business To Sell On Amazon?

Amazon does not require that you have a company to sell on their site.

However, there are specific requirements that you must meet to be eligible to sell on Amazon.

These include:

• You must be at least 18 years old
• You must have a credit or debit card that you can use to make payments on Amazon
• You must have a valid email address
• You must have a phone number that can be used to contact you.

You might get confused on which profile to use on Amazon, personal or business.

However, please note that both are pros and cons to selling on Amazon as a business or as an individual.

You may have more control over your inventory and pricing as a business, but you will also have to pay fees and sales tax.

You may have less control, but you will not have to pay as many fees as an individual.

What Is Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)?

Fulfillment by Amazon service is provided by Amazon to its sellers.

Amazon FBA allows sellers to send their inventories to Amazon’s fulfillment centers.

Once the inventory arrives at the fulfillment center, Amazon will first pick, then pack, and finally ship the items to the customer’s doorstep.

This takes off the burden from the sellers, allowing them to reach their customers quickly and conveniently deliver the products.

How Does FBA work?

The program operates on simple terms.

An Amazon seller can ship their products and merchandise to these Amazon fulfillment centers for storage.

Whenever a customer places an order on one of these products, the employees at Amazon will take it upon themselves to find the product from the inventory, prepare it, package it, and send it to the customer.

You can take advantage of these services, especially since you are just getting started trading on Amazon.

Below are some benefits that you can enjoy from using the service.

Associating Your Brand With a Big Name

Having Amazon’s name associated with your product is a big win in the market.

The name itself gains the customers’ trust, and they are more likely to patronize you because of it.

Chances are they have already heard about Amazon!

You can even attract an Amazon customer.

24/7 Customer Service for Your Products

After your products are in the fulfillment center, all inquiries, returns, queries, and refunds will be handled by Amazon.

Better still, the service is offered to you for free.

Better Shipping Deals

 Amazon has already established relationships with shipping companies.

They will use them to ship your products to customers.

Also, they are shipping many products at once, which comes with deals such as discounts.

The shipping cost will be less than shipping them individually.

Wider Customer Reach

Once a seller qualifies for the FBA listings, they are Amazon Prime-eligible and will therefore have a time logo.

This service will not only instill trust in existing customers but will also attract new ones.

You will even benefit from Amazon advertising.

Standardization of Shipping Services

After being ordered, all products on the FBA listing are included as part of the Amazon marketplace.

They are processed the same way Amazon processes its own products.

Therefore, you can list your product on your website, but Amazon will still cover the rest of the heavy lifting through the FBA program.

FBA Drawbacks

However, just like any other program, FBA also has some drawbacks.

For example, if your products are oversized or slowly moving, the storage fee might become costly.

Also, if your goods or products get damaged, you will be required to pay removal fees for them.

Lastly, you have to be ready to pay disposal fees for any unsellable products in your inventory.

However, these disadvantages should not worry you.

You can easily bypass them if you are a savvy seller.

For instance, you can start small as you grow and stock up little inventory for your infant market.

Later, you can upscale little by little.

What Are FBA qualifications?

You have to be eligible for the program to trade on Amazon using it.

Amazon FBA Eligibility can be termed as a three-step process.

The first step is to create an Amazon account as a seller successfully.

Assuming you already know what you want to sell on the platform, you will decide which plan to sign up for, an Individual Plan or a Professional Plan.

There are twenty categories in which your products can fall.

If you go for the Professional Plan, you get exclusive access to 10 additional categories.

Product Restrictions

After registering, you must pay attention to the second eligibility step, the product restrictions.

FBA has a list of things they can ship and those they cannot.

As FBA enables you to use Amazon’s warehouses, restrictions will apply to all the inventory they hold for you.

Most of them, however, come down to common sense.

For example, you cannot list products whose sale is illegal within the United States.

Ornate Restrictions

There are also some ornate restrictions to be followed too!

For example, you cannot list products such as automobile tires, paper sky lanterns, loose batteries, or gift certificates.

The last step is inventory eligibility.

Their fulfillment warehouses are spread worldwide to store sellers’ goods.

Eligibility

The eligibility is specific to a product category, but some will cut across all of them.

For instance, for your inventory to be put in the Amazon store, all the products have to be barcoded with either an Amazon barcode or a manufacturer’s one.

Products with faulty barcodes will not be considered for shipping.

Packaging Requirementsligibility

The packaging requirements are straightforward.

They will not ship anything that bangs around the box, so your packaging must be top tier.

Also, they require you to use six-sided boxes made of cardboard for shipping purposes.

They will also not allow in any products that will require the employees to assemble for shipping.

Do I need FBA to sell on Amazon?

No, you don’t need to use FBA to sell on Amazon.

However, many sellers prefer FBA because it offers several benefits, such as fast shipping and hands-off fulfillment.

However, there are many other options available for selling on Amazon.

These include:

Amazon’s Merchant Services.

Amazon Merchant Services is a payment processing service for businesses that sell on Amazon.com.

Amazon Merchant Services allows a third-party seller to accept credit and debit card payments and ACH payments from customers.

Amazon Merchant Services also provides businesses with the ability to track their sales and inventory levels and manage their customer information.

Amazon Webstore.

It is a platform that helps businesses create and manage their own online stores.

The service provides a customizable eCommerce solution that includes everything businesses need to get started selling online.

Amazon Webstore service offers a wide range of features and tools to help businesses grow and succeed online.

How Much Does It Cost To Sell on Amazon?

The fees that Amazon charges sellers on its platform keep it going.

However, as a seller, you need to determine how much profit your Amazon business will generate.

Let’s look at the breakdown of the fees that Amazon charges its sellers.

1. Monthly Amazon seller fee – Professional sellers on the platform (sellers who manage to sell more than 40 items) must pay a $39.99 subscription fee every month. The fee is fixed whether you make the sales or not. Individual sellers do not pay any monthly fee.
2. Per item charges – For every item an individual seller sells on Amazon, they are charged $0.99. professional sellers are not charged such fees.
3. Shipping charges – These are the fees that a company charges to ship products to customers. These fees can vary depending on the company, the products being shipped, and the customer’s location.
4. Referral fees – A referral fee is a commission paid by one company to another for the referral of a customer. The referral fee is typically a percentage of the total transaction value and is paid by the company that receives the referral.

Is it Possible To Sell on Amazon for Free?

Yes, it is possible to sell on Amazon for free.

There are two ways to do this: Amazon Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) or using a fulfillment service other than Amazon.

With FBA, Amazon handles storage, shipping, and customer service for your products.

You will pay fees for these services, but you will not have to pay for a monthly subscription.

If you use a fulfillment service other than Amazon, you must pay for that service.

However, you will not have to pay any additional fees to Amazon.

Selling on Amazon: How To Get Started

If there is one thing that Amazon did a great job on, it is streamlining the selling process.

Selling on Amazon is just like starting a small business.

Let’s look at the steps followed in doing so.

1. Create a Business Plan

A business plan is a formal document that outlines the goals and objectives of a business.

It also includes a detailed overview of the business’s financials, marketing strategy, and operations plan.

The importance of a business plan lies in its ability to act as a roadmap for the company’s future.

Together with your Amazon selling plan, a business plan will be the starting point for setting up your business.

You will know what items to list where, how to fund your operations, and much more.

1. Start Market Research

There are several ways to conduct market research for an online business.

Common methods include surveys, focus groups, and online research.

This step is crucial, especially if you already have what you want to sell in mind.

You can study how other established Amazon businesses within your industry function and borrow a leaf.

How do you ensure that your product brings you success?

Is your product the right one for Amazon?

The more you know, the less risk you are taking.

1.  Find Product Suppliers

After you have established the type of product you want to sell, you can then shortlist some trusted suppliers in the industry.

It would be best if you reached out to each one of them, taking time to listen to their offers before making an informed decision.

The best way to do so is by getting in touch with the supplier’s brand representative or manager.

You can go the modern way and reach out through email.

It might be a tedious job, but you didn’t come all this way to pick just any other supplier.

1. Register for an Amazon Account

Registering for an Amazon account is easy on the Amazon seller central.

If you meet all the eligibility requirements, you go to the Amazon website and click on the “Your Account” link at the top of the page.

Click on the “Create a new Amazon account” button and follow the on-screen instructions.

1. Create Product Listing

To create a listing on Amazon, do the following:

1. Go to Amazon.com and click on the “Sell on Amazon” button.
2. Sign in to your Amazon account.
3. Click on the “Create a new listing” button.
4. Enter the product name, description, price, and other relevant information.
5. Choose a category and subcategory for your product.
6. Upload photos of your product.
7. Click on the “Submit” button.

6. Manage Inventory

Listing your products is one thing, and managing the inventory is another.

Taking control of your Amazon inventory attracts shoppers, reduces your inventory costs, and reduces losses.

However, many small businesses on Amazon lack a sound inventory management system.

You can use Amazon inventory management software.

It allows you to track and automatically manage your inventory.

Doing so ensures that you do not have too much or too little.

Other tips to help you manage your inventory include understanding your inventory turnover rate, prior planning for sales fluctuations, etc.  

Selling on Amazon: Is It Worth It?

Your experience with Amazon as a seller has a lot to do with you as a seller.

Some sellers believe that Amazon is worth it and have been successful in their ventures.

Others have tried and failed, though.

That said, below are the pros and cons of selling on Amazon.

Pro: Increased Visibility and Reach

When you sell on Amazon, your products become visible to millions of customers worldwide.

An Amazon shopper will trust your product too.

Pro: Prime Shipping

 If you use Fulfillment by Amazon, your products will be eligible for Prime shipping.

Prime members get free two-day shipping on eligible items, leading to increased sales.

Access to Amazon’s customer base: This can be a great way to grow your business.

Pro: Easy To Get Started

Amazon makes it easy to get started selling.

You can sign up and start selling quickly and easily.

Better still, you can use the convenient Amazon seller app on your smartphone.

Con: Less Control

You may have less control over your product listings and branding on Amazon than you would on your own website.

Also, Amazon’s customer service and return policies may not be as favorable to sellers as those of other online marketplaces.

Wrapping Up

Overall, selling products on Amazon can be a very lucrative business venture.

With the right products and the right strategies, you can make a lot of money selling on Amazon.

Just be sure to do your research and understand the platform before getting started.

However, it is hard work to take care of shipping and logistics.

That means you either need to ship things yourself or contract a fulfillment service to do so for you.

There are several fulfillment services in the market today that can help you take your business to the next level by taking care of shipping and logistics for you.

We’ll explore what those companies do and how to take advantage of them and which is best for your situation.

Our Top Picks

An overview of favorite fulfillment services from our comprehensive list below.

Our Pick

ShipBob

• A great 2-day shipping option makes fulfilling Amazon orders simple and easy
• The company offers robust data analytics, meaning sellers can make informed decisions

Visit ShipBob

Runner Up

FBA by Amazon

• The biggest benefit of this platform is the seamless integration with the Amazon marketplace
• High-quality customer service and great uptime makes issues easy to solve and quick to work through

Visit FBA by Amazon

Also Great

Deliverr

• Great for smaller operations that focus on selling through eBay, Walmart, and Shopify
• Simple, fixed-rate pricing makes budgeting easy and reduces surprises for operational overhead

Visit Deliverr

What Are Fulfillment Services?

Fulfillment services are companies that take on several different aspects of the shipping and logistics process, including:

• Warehousing
• Shipping
• Order processing

They often vary in their specializations and the specific services they offer, but the central thing they do is store products and ship them to customers.

What Does a Fulfillment Service Do?

There are several different tasks that a fulfillment service can take on.

Shipping is the central one that all such services perform.

But shipping also frequently entails warehousing – keeping your products within a warehouse so they have them ready to ship as soon as they receive the order from you.

Beyond that, fulfillment services can take on payment, order processing, returns, and quality control.

What Is a Fulfillment Service Provider?

A fulfillment service provider, also known as a third-party logistics provider, is a business that provides fulfillment services.

They take care of the logistical elements of selling products that you don’t want to and/or have the resources to accomplish.

Fulfillment service providers are also significantly distinct from dropshipping services.

Drop-shipping services both manufacture products and fulfill the orders for those products.

As the business owner, you’re simply acting as a salesperson for the drop-shipped product.

Third-party logistics providers, on the other hand, do not manufacture any goods of their own.

They exist to help you fulfill orders on goods you have acquired or manufactured.

The Best Fulfillment Services of 2022

There are several fulfillment services on the market today.

We’ve compiled the top 15 companies so you can compare their core features and plans.

1. ShipBob

ShipBob is a globally-operational third-party logistics provider and omni-fulfillment solution.

Over seven thousand brands trust them to ship orders all over the world.

ShipBob offers high-quality supply-chain services, fast shipping, and memorable customer experiences.

Our Pick

ShipBob is a globally-operational third-party logistics provider and omni-fulfillment solution.

Over seven thousand brands trust them to ship orders all over the world.

ShipBob offers high-quality supply-chain services, fast shipping, and memorable customer experiences.

Visit ShipBobRead ShipBob reviews

Best For:

ShipBob is an excellent choice for business owners with lots of customers in the continental U.S. (due to their 2-day Express Shipping Plan).

Its distinctive pick and pack pricing model (wherein the first four picks are free) makes it perfect for companies that receive several small orders of four items or less.

The company’s strong emphasis on robust data analytics also makes it a great option for sellers that want to collect as much data on their shipping processes as they can.

Notable Features:

• 2-Day express shipping plan
• Inventory management tools
• Data reporting and analytics

Pros:

• Wide reach of global fulfillment centers
• Unique, customized unboxing experiences
• Ability to customize your fulfillment operations
• Guaranteed two-day shipping for specific clients
• Wide variety of e-commerce integrations

Cons:

• Customizability also entails complexity
• Pricing model may work poorly for some companies

Is ShipBob Hard to Use?

No, it’s not hard to use.

The firm has taken care to maximize ease of use on all its platforms.

Once you get used to its system, it’s a breeze to navigate.

Pricing & Plans:

ShipBob is open about the pricing for their core features.

They charge a mostly flat rate for inventory receiving – if your items take two hours or less to receive, you are charged $25.

Beyond that, you’re charged $40 per man-hour.

Their pick and pack price structure are very interesting – the first four items in a given order are free, and then they only charge $0.20 for every pick after those.

This is on the extreme low end, but that’s mostly because they internalize those costs in the storage and receiving fees.

Our Take:

ShipBob is one of the best fulfillment services out there due to its low prices, high customizability, quick shipping potential, and focus on data.

2. Amazon FBA

Fulfillment by Amazon (also known as FBA) is one of the best options for sellers on this list, with extensive reach and high-quality service.

Runner Up

Amazon FBA is great for all sorts of sellers.

It has a broad base of appeal, which allows it to be excellent for most people, but doesn’t offer many opportunities for customization.

Visit Amazon FBARead Amazon FBA reviews

Best For:

Amazon FBA is great for all sorts of sellers.

It has a broad base of appeal, which allows it to be excellent for most people, but doesn’t offer many opportunities for customization.

Notable Features:

• High-quality customer service
• Access to Amazon returns
• Amazon Prime qualification

Pros:

• High rates of customer satisfaction
• Vast logistical reach
• High shipping accuracy
• Guaranteed quick delivery to Prime members
• Very low requirements

Cons:

• Very little capacity for customization
• Sales focused on Prime members
• Muddy and unclear fee structure

Is Amazon FBA Hard to Use?

Amazon FBA is probably one of the easiest providers on this list, due to the straightforward options they provide.

Pricing & Plans:

This company is one of the more expensive ones on our list, but its pricing structure is too complex to outline here.

Our Take:

If you’re looking for a simple order fulfillment service and don’t want to have to think too much about it, Amazon FBA is the way to go.

3. Deliverr

Deliverr is an excellent partner for a small business that focuses on e-commerce platform integration.

Also Great

This firm is best for smaller operations that focus on selling through existing marketplaces like eBay, Walmart, Amazon, and Shopify.

Visit DeliverrRead Deliverr reviews

Best For:

This firm is best for smaller operations that focus on selling through existing marketplaces like eBay, Walmart, Amazon, and Shopify.

Notable Features:

• Two-day shipping for 95% of the continental US
• Algorithm-based inventory management
• Trusted seller shipping badges on several marketplaces

Pros:

• Simple, fixed-rate pricing.
• Unique shipping badge program increases sales
• High levels of e-commerce marketplace integration
• Guaranteed two-day shipping

Cons:

• No international fulfillment centers
• No returns processing
• No employee account functionality, which makes delegating challenging

Is Deliverr Hard to Use?

It depends on how big your team is.

If it’s just you, Deliverr is very easy to use.

Due to its lack of support for employee accounts, it can get very challenging as your team grows.

Pricing & Plans

This firm is known for its simple, fixed-rate pricing structure that consolidates all prices into “fulfillment” and “shipping” categories.

You can choose to pay more for quicker shipping, but the fulfillment costs only depend on size.

Our Take

This is a relatively new and burgeoning company, and we’re excited to see where the years take them given their distinct takes on pricing and inventory management.

4. FreightPros

FreightPros, now known as Nolan Transportation Group, focuses on rail freight shipping, and is geared towards smaller businesses.

FreightPros, now known as Nolan Transportation Group, focuses on rail freight shipping, and is geared towards smaller businesses.

Visit FreightProsRead FreightPros reviews

Best For:

This firm is best for enterprises seeking an easy process without wanting long-term warehouse storage.

Notable Features:

• Cold and temperature-controlled shipping
• Discounted freight shipping
• Partners with independent truckers

Pros:

• Cheap, flexible less-than-truckload shipping
• Easy to use and navigate
• Serves all major railheads and ports
• Unique and high-quality last-mile solutions
• Affordable

Cons:

• Limited long-term warehousing
• Not focused on individual customer orders
• No order processing support

Is FreightPros Hard to Use?

No, it’s quite simple to use.

Pricing & Plans:

NTG does not provide public information on their pricing, but they do bill themselves as affordable, and customer reviews attest to this.

Our Take:

This company works very well for small businesses looking for point-to-point shipping capacity.

5. Falcon Fulfillment

Falcon Fulfillment is a high-volume fulfillment provider that focuses on the beauty, health, and wellness industries.

Visit Falcon FulfillmentRead Falcon Fulfillment reviews

Falcon Fulfillment is a high-volume fulfillment provider that focuses on the beauty, health, and wellness industries.

Best For:

This is best for sellers of beauty, health, and wellness products that send out high amounts of products each month.

Notable Features:

• Two-way inventory management services
• Customized packaging
• Advanced data reporting

Pros:

• Industry-specific specializations
• High volume requirements can lead to lower prices
• Order editing through their order processing service
• Cutting-edge and proprietary management software
• Return management and processing

Cons:

• Extremely high monthly minimum of 4,000
• No global distribution centers
• Requires Shipstation to fully use its integrations

Is Falcon Fulfillment Hard to Use?

If you don’t operate in their focus industries, some things can be challenging to translate over to their system, but it is by and large not challenging.

Pricing & Plans:

They have a $1500 set-up and onboarding fee, they charge $17.50 for every line item in inventory receiving and charge $18 per pallet per month.

They don’t disclose a pick and pack price.

Our Take:

Falcon Fulfillment has a niche, and it fills it with excellence.

If you happen to be in that niche, you will not find many better options for your business.

6. WhiteBox

WhiteBox is a dropshipping, fulfillment, and communications support system that seeks to integrate several aspects of contemporary business life.

WhiteBox is a dropshipping, fulfillment, and communications support system that seeks to integrate several aspects of contemporary business life.

Visit WhiteBoxRead WhiteBox reviews

Best For:

WhiteBox is best for Amazon sellers who move lots of products but still want to expand their listings, as well as for businesses that want to explore dropshipping.

Notable Features:

• High-quality Amazon integration
• Dropshipping capability
• WhiteBox Growth Agency provides marketing consulting

Pros:

• Unified system that covers several features
• Easy to add dropshipping
• They market your Amazon products
• The Growth Agency brings further success to your operation

Cons:

• Monthly order minimum of 1,000
• No pricing transparency
• No bulk or special-care information

Is WhiteBox Hard to Use?

WhiteBox is not hard to use.

Pricing & Plans:

WhiteBox does not offer public pricing information.

Our Take:

This company has some drawbacks, but it fills its niche so effectively that it’s certainly worth it for those who fit it.

7. Simpl Fulfillment

Simpl Fulfillment is a small-scale provider that tries to maximize the streamlined simplicity of the fulfillment process.

Visit Simpl FulfillmentRead Simpl Fulfillment reviews

Simpl Fulfillment is a small-scale provider that tries to maximize the streamlined simplicity of the fulfillment process.

Best For:

Smaller businesses that can’t afford high fees.

Notable Features:

• Efficient custom packaging
• Advanced data reporting
• Subscription box support

Pros:

• No monthly order minimums
• Very affordable
• Multichannel integration with Amazon, eBay, and Walmart
• 2-day shipping for many customers

Cons:

• Only one warehouse
• Due to their lack of monthly order minimums, they may not have the capacity to deal with clients who move a large amount of product.

Is Simpl Fulfillment Hard to Use?

No, all reviews we found indicated it was easy to use.

Pricing & Plans:

This company is quite cheap – no set-up or receiving fees, very low pick and pack fees ($0.25 per item after the first three)

Our Take:

Simpl Fulfillment is an excellent third-party logistics provider and is especially well-suited to smaller enterprises working on a budget.

8. FedEx Fulfillment

FedEx Fulfillment is the logistics-focused arm of the shipping giant FedEx.

Visit FedEx FulfillmentRead FedEx Fulfillment reviews

FedEx Fulfillment is the logistics-focused arm of the shipping giant FedEx.

Best For:

Companies who want to take advantage of FedEx’s massive, reliable shipping operation.

Notable Features:

• Advanced Order Monitoring
• Custom packaging
• Address verification

Pros:

• Walmart and eBay integration
• Lower shipping costs in-house through FedEx
• Returns processing
• Trustworthy and reliable international reach

Cons:

• No Amazon integration
• Limited to Fedex’s shipping operation
• Inconsistent customer service, according to some client reviews

Is FedEx Fulfillment Hard to Use?

Some customers have reported some challenges in navigating the interface.

Pricing & Plans:

FedEx has relatively high receiving and pick and pack fees, but relatively low storage fees.

Our Take:

FedEx Fulfillment is, if nothing else, reliable.

If that’s your priority at the end of the day, they’re an excellent option.

9. Red Stag Fulfillment

Red Stag Fulfillment is an e-commerce fulfillment company based out of Kentucky focused on reliability and effective handling of sensitive goods.

Visit Red Stag FulfillmentRead Red Stag Fulfillment reviews

Red Stag Fulfillment is an e-commerce fulfillment company based out of Kentucky focused on reliability and effective handling of sensitive goods.

Best For:

If your business deals primarily or significantly in fragile or especially large goods, there’s no better place to go than Red Stag, since their whole operation is built around those.

Notable Features:

• Same-day fulfillment options
• Video monitoring of inventory
• Guaranteed fulfillment time-frame

Pros:

• Extremely high accuracy ratings
• Specialized in fragile, oversized, and special-care products
• Includes a Prime-eligible badge when selling through Amazon
• Low monthly order minimums
• No forced long-term contracts

Cons:

• Needlessly expensive for sellers without special care products
• Only two fulfillment centers
• No dedicated account manager

Is Red Stag Fulfillment Hard to Use?

Many customers have found their user interface not to be user-friendly.

Pricing & Plans:

Red Stag Fulfillment has relatively high prices due to its special care capacity, but for a full outline, you will need to get a quote from them.

Our Take:

If you deal in high-care items, Red Stag is one of the best fulfillment providers you can use.

10. Whiplash

Best For:
Large enterprises looking to deftly shift between different business levels will be hard-pressed to find a better company than Whiplash.

Also, if you want to exercise significant control over the fulfillment process, Whiplash has several tools for you to do that.

Visit WhiplashRead Whiplash reviews

Whiplash is one of the top third-party logistics providers on the market.

Best For:

Large enterprises looking to deftly shift between different business levels will be hard-pressed to find a better company than Whiplash.

Also, if you want to exercise significant control over the fulfillment process, Whiplash has several tools for you to do that.

Notable Features:

• Rules engine for granular inventory management
• Dropshipping capability
• Supply chain mapping capacity

Pros:

• Wide variety of fulfillment types supported
• Large number of global and US fulfillment centers
• Returns processing capability
• Amazon, Walmart, and eBay integration
• Custom packaging and subscription box support

Cons:

• High monthly order minimum of 2400
• Very little public pricing information
• Limited customer support hours

Is Whiplash Hard to Use?

Whiplash has several features that give it complexity, but we did not find any reviews claiming it was hard to use.

Pricing & Plans:

Whiplash does not offer much pricing information to the public, but they have a minimum monthly storage fee of $250.

Our Take:

If you’re a large-scale operation that wants to have a significant hand in determining how the fulfillment process takes place, Whiplash is excellent for you.

Smaller enterprises or ones that do not want to take advantage of its unique benefits will likely be better served elsewhere.

11. RedHawk Global

RedHawk Global, now known as RedHawk Logistics, is a freight-focused supply chain management company that competes frequently with Nolan Transportation Group.

Visit RedHawk GlobalRead RedHawk Global reviews

RedHawk Global, now known as RedHawk Logistics, is a freight-focused supply chain management company that competes frequently with Nolan Transportation Group.

Best For:

This firm is best for businesses that have a complex supply chain to manage and don’t need to be handheld through the process.

Notable Features:

• Web-based transportation system
• Automatable route decisions
• Warehouse with an ideal location

Pros:

• Highly specialized route management and advice
• Well-reviewed customer service
• Access to more than 70 discounted shipping carriers
• Provides shipping insurance
• Capacity to move massive and complex items

Cons:

• No individual order fulfillment
• Complex for new businesses
• Only one warehouse

Is RedHawk Global Hard to Use?

Like many complex platforms, RedHawk Global can be easy once you get the hang of it, but it may prove challenging for many customers to get to that place.

Pricing and Plans:

Redhawk is a freight brokerage company, so prices vary too much between shipping needs for them to provide public pricing information.

Our Take:

If you’re looking for a place you can closely manage your supply chain and work with experts to optimize your logistics processes, RedHawk Global is an excellent choice.

12. eFulfillment Service

eFulfillment Service is a third-party logistics provider focused on fulfillment of e-commerce orders.

Visit eFulfillment ServiceRead eFulfillment Service reviews

eFulfillment Service is a third-party logistics provider focused on fulfillment of e-commerce orders.

Best For:

Smaller businesses looking for an easy, streamlined fulfillment process.

Notable Features:

• Proprietary order fulfillment software
• Refund-backed shipping guarantees
• Advanced inventory management

Pros:

• No volume or inventory requirements
• Maintained an A+ rating with Better Business Bureau for 20 years
• In-house IT team
• Focus on ease of use
• Smart packaging

Cons:

• No Walmart or UPS integration
• No public pricing information
• Not helpful for large volume enterprises

Is eFulfillment Service Hard to Use?

No, it is not hard to use.

Pricing and Plans

This company does not provide public pricing information.

Our Take

EFulfillment Service is a good choice for its niche – simple, reliable, small-scale e-commerce fulfillment.

13. Ships-a-Lot

Ships-a-Lot is an e-commerce fulfillment brand geared toward highly specialized “white glove” service for its customers.

Visit Ships-a-LotRead Ships-a-Lot reviews

Ships-a-Lot is an e-commerce fulfillment brand geared toward highly specialized “white glove” service for its customers.

Best For:

If your business has a lot of fulfillment needs and is focused on brand-building around selling small, direct-to-consumer products on Shopify and/or Amazon, Ships-a-Lot is likely the partner for you.

Notable Features:

• Limited number of clients
• Shopify specialization
• Fast shipping guarantees

Pros:

• Limited number of clients means high-quality customer service
• Integrations with several e-commerce platforms
• 24/7 customer support
• Guaranteed 24-hour turnaround for client shipping
• Effective returns management and processing

Cons:

• Unclear pricing
• Limited client numbers means they reject many requests

Is Ships-a-Lot Hard to Use?

Ships-a-Lot does not offer much public information about its platform, but we have found no negative reviews of its ease of use.

Pricing and Plans:

The company does not offer public pricing information.

Our Take:

While this firm isn’t very clear on what its niche is, if you happen to fit it, it appears to be an excellent choice.

14. Rakuten Super Logistics

Rakuten Super Logistics focuses on doing the simple things well – operating to deliver products quickly and reliably in the US.

Visit Rakuten Super LogisticsRead Rakuten Super Logistics reviews

Rakuten Super Logistics focuses on doing the simple things well – operating to deliver products quickly and reliably in the US.

Best For:

This firm is best for mid-sized businesses that want a fast and reliable US shipping network.

Notable Features:

• Lot tracking services
• Xparcel program that maximizes shipping efficiency
• Custom project support

Pros:

• Over 15 US fulfillment centers
• Shipping within 1-2 days to most US customers
• Return management and processing
• Wide network of carriers and warehouses that ensures low prices

Cons:

• Monthly order minimum of 250
• No international fulfillment centers
• No public pricing information

Is Rakuten Super Logistics Hard to Use?

It is unclear if their platform is hard to use or not.

Pricing and Plans:

This company does not publish its pricing information.

Our Take:

Rakuten Super Logistics does not have many unique features to offer, but you don’t always need distinctiveness – fast and reliable service is often more than enough.

15. ShipMonk

ShipMonk is a full-service third-party logistics provider that works to make their clients’ experience as smooth as possible.

Visit ShipMonkRead ShipMonk reviews

ShipMonk is a full-service third-party logistics provider that works to make their clients’ experience as smooth as possible.

Best For:

This firm is best for businesses that primarily sell through Etsy and/or Groupon and who don’t have to deal with too many special product needs like oversize loads and health regulations.

Notable Features:

• Technologically optimized warehouse experience
• Advanced subscription box functionality
• Etsy and Groupon compatibility

Pros:

• Extensive ecommerce integrations
• RFID-empowered warehouse technology
• Highly customizable packing and kitting experience
• Returns management and processing
• No onboarding costs

Cons:

• Poor accommodation of oversize and unusual size products
• No storage insurance
• No FDA-certified handling for FDA-regulated products

Is ShipMonk Hard to Use?

No, ShipMonk is not hard to use.

Pricing and Plans:

The firm has no onboarding or receiving costs, but compensates for that with high-end pick-and-pack prices.

Our Take:

If you’re an Etsy or Groupon seller, there are few better options for you than ShipMonk.

How Do Fulfillment Services Work?

Effectively, these services work by you sending them your products to store in their warehouse space.

When someone places an order, you notify them.

The order fulfillment company then begins the process of fulfilling orders by picking the items in question off the shelf and shipping them off to the customer.

What Is the Process of Fulfillment?

This depends on how challenging a logistical problem you have before you.

Shipping orders can use multiple fulfillment centers throughout a supply chain in getting the product from one place to the next.

What Is Included in Fulfillment?

Order fulfillment describes the transition between an item that you want to sell and the customer you’re trying to sell it to.

What Do Fulfillment Services Cost?

Cost can vary significantly across services, depending on pricing models and the quality of the work.

But generally, there are four aspects of pricing here:

• Reception of inventory
• Item storage
• Picking and packing
• Outbound shipping

Services charge for the labor involved in receiving the inventory you send to them.

There are a couple of different ways to handle inventory receiving that impact cost.

This will often cost between $25 and $45 for every hour it takes to obtain and categorize your products.

Then you need to pay for storage.

These are the costs behind keeping your inventory stored at the fulfillment service’s warehouse.

Typically, you will find prices between $8 and $40 per pallet per month.

Once you have an order, the fulfillment service engages in the pick and pack process, where a laborer picks out the right product and packs it to ensure it’s ready to be shipped.

These vary significantly, between 20 cents per item and $13 per item.

The cost of shipping the product will likely be your largest one.

This cost varies significantly depending on destination, weight, and size.

That said, fulfillment companies can often ship things 10-30% cheaper than standard shipping companies.

On top of those costs, some fulfillment services also charge a one-time onboarding fee, account management fees, inbound shipping receiving fees, and return handling fees.

Further, some have additional optional services you can request, like order processing and custom packaging.

What is Ecommerce Fulfillment?

Ecommerce fulfillment just brings the concepts of fulfillment services generally to the world of web-based commerce.

Frankly, most fulfillment services deal primarily in e-commerce these days – there are few needs for them outside of internet sales.

How To Choose an Ecommerce Fulfillment Service Provider

Each e-commerce fulfillment service provider brings a unique set of services, pricing models, and styles of business operations to the table.

It’s important to do your research before choosing the one for you.

What’s the Best Ecommerce Fulfillment Service Provider?

There is no clear best among these firms.

Each one has significant advantages and drawbacks, and the best one for you will depend on the features and goals of your specific business.

Benefits of Fulfillment Services

Partnering with one of these firms is an excellent decision for many operations that want to take their business to the next level.

Extend Your Reach

First and foremost, a fulfillment service will help you extend your products’ reach in the world.

If you’re trying to run a small e-commerce business from your home or a storefront, you will encounter so many obstacles if you start being successful.

At the end of the day, you can only pack so many boxes yourself.

Free Up Your Space

No one has unlimited storage space.

Storage constraints are often more significant for small businesses than they are for larger competing businesses.

Are there rooms in your house dedicated to storing inventory?

Do you miss having a break room for employees at your store since it’s been dominated by boxes?

Fulfillment services solve this problem by allowing you to store products in their warehouses.

Improve Customer Service

This is one of the unexpected (yet significant) benefits that come from using a fulfillment service.

It helps with customer service in three ways: increased efficiency of product delivery, freeing time for you and your employees to provide better customer service, and direct customer service impacts from the company itself.

Typically, these providers can process and ship orders more efficiently than you will be able to do in-house.

That means lower wait times, which improves the customer experience a great deal.

Improve Scalability

Contracting out shipping and logistics processes allows for greater scalability of your business model since this field relies primarily on fixed costs.

Lower Shipping Costs

Often, third-party logistics providers have discounted shipping rates.

Even with the costs that you’ll pay, most businesses will save big on these costs.

Customizable Packaging

If you’re running your packing operation in-house, chances are you’re using boring packaging – plain cardboard boxes and the like.

Some providers offer you the capacity to customize your packaging.

This practice allows you to make the experience of receiving and opening packages into something both brand-building and enjoyable for the customer.

Wrapping Up

As you can see, the shipping fulfillment industry is a challenging one to engage with, but research yields much fruit.

Don’t choose a business partner without looking into them – there’s a lot of information out there, and there are so many niches that different firms fill.

With so many options, it can be hard to know which to choose.

Still confused about fulfillment services?

Let us know below!

We hear people saying that they’ve sold their crafts, art, clothes, or other items with an Etsy shop.

If you have crafts and goods that you’d like to sell, you might wonder how you can make your way into the world of Etsy.

We will give you a deep look at how you can do that.

This is a guide for the extreme beginner, in which we’ll cover everything related to how to sell on Etsy.

We’ll explore what an Etsy shop is, how it works, and what you can expect.

Our hope is that you feel comfortable getting started after reading this guide.

You can also use the guide as a reference while you start out.

Let’s take a look.

What Is Etsy?

Etsy is an online marketplace that allows people to sell their creative goods.

The goods listed aren’t always creative but could be vintage or thrifted in some way.

The marketplace is thriving, and millions of sellers make a living or supplemental income on the site.

The site’s goal is to encourage human connection in commerce.

Many sites are automated in 2022, and Etsy’s fundamental goal is to offer a non-automated marketplace.

The result is creative, engaging, and meaningful merchandise.

It’s easy to become a seller if you follow the guide below.

However, it’s also worth looking at the site before you get started to try and get a feel for what it’s all about.

[box_with_button title=”Recommended Reading:” link_text=”What is Etsy?” link_url=”https://bloggingtips.com/what-is-etsy/”]

Learn the basics of Etsy, including what it is, how it works, and what to expect before setting up a shop.

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How Profitable Is Selling on Etsy?

Remaining profitable as an Etsy seller depends on several things.

First, your profits depend on your product line and effort.

Etsy’s listing fees, transaction fees, and payment fees add up to 8% in most cases.

We’ll discuss those specifics in a minute.

Beyond that, you should think about marketing expenses, delivery expenses, conversion rates, and the cost of creating your product.

Then, weigh those costs against how much you’ll price your product.

Alternatively, you might not be profitable with a good product if your operations aren’t well thought-out.

The sky is truly the limit, though, as Etsy’s audience is massive.

Those users are all available to you if you play your cards right.

How Much Does it Cost to Sell on Etsy?

There are fees you should be aware of before becoming an Etsy seller.

These fees sometimes catch sellers off guard, so planning your business around these fees is a critical component to success.

Is There a Listing Fee for Etsy Sellers?

There is a listing fee on Etsy, which is around 20 cents per listing.

This fee needs to be paid even if you don’t sell the item.

Listings expire after four months on the site, then you’ll need to renew the listing.

That costs 20 cents as well.

You can schedule an auto-renew but still pay 20 cents when renewal happens.

Also, note that multiple quantity items sold include a scaled fee.

Say you sell three units of an item, then you’d be charged 60 cents for the total sale.

What Is the Etsy Transaction Fee?

The transaction fee for Etsy sellers which is the most significant part of this platform’s fee, is currently 6.5% of your total sale.

It is worth noting that this fee applies to shipping and gift wrapping as well.

As the platform has grown in the past year, so has this fee, rising and increasing from 5% to 6.5%.

We know, it feels like a good chunk of your sale, but it is said to go toward innovation and marketing advancements.

However, Etsy provides you with the chance to get your product out there, and most people just pay the fee because there aren’t many other places that can do what Etsy does for sellers.

What Are the Etsy Payment Processing Fees?

Payment processing fees vary by country.

They are added to every transaction that uses Etsy’s payment system.

In the United States, that rate is 3% of the transaction plus 25 cents.

You can view other payment processing fees for other countries here.

These fees pay for the safety and security of Etsy Payments.

That feature is a big part of why buyers trust the site.

That’s also why buyers feel comfortable purchasing from small sellers.

When people don’t think they’ll be scammed, they’re more likely to buy from you.

This is another expense for sellers, but Etsy’s rate is still relatively low.

What Are the Etsy Currency Conversion Fees?

Currency conversion fees are 2.5% on Etsy.

This fee only applies if you and your buyer use different currencies.

The fee gets taken out before funds reach your account.

You can control the listing location if these fees aren’t ones you want to deal with.

Listing products overseas also requires different shipping logistics.

It’s profitable to sell to people worldwide; there’s just more to think about.

Not that Etsy doesn’t allow all currencies.

Here is a list of Etsy’s supported currencies.

What Are the Etsy Shipping Costs?

Etsy shipping costs fall upon the Etsy seller.

The cost per customer depends on the dimensions and weight of your product, but you must also factor in the distance of the shipment.

The best way to cover this cost is to get an accurate reading of these things, which allows you to charge the customer for the price of shipping.

You should account for different shipment destinations and list the respective prices on your site.

• Costs vary by carrier.
• Explore your options.

Primary shipment options are FedEx, UPS, DHL, and USPS.

The carrier you use for personal items might be more expensive when dealing with bulk.

It also helps streamline your shipping labels and handling processes before starting with real Etsy customers.

There are online tools that help you make the right decision.

What Does It Cost to Promote on Etsy?

Promoting your Etsy shop happens through the pay-per-click (PPC) method.

This method allows you to display your ads based on user keyword searches.

You select the keyword phrase you’d like to associate your Etsy ad with, and Etsy places it for you free of charge.

You’re only charged when someone clicks your ad, but that, each click costs a particular amount.

The more popular the keyword phrase, the more the cost-per-click (CPC).

There isn’t a fixed-rate cost to promote an Etsy shop, which means that you can adjust your advertising budget to your needs.

However, your ad is taken off when you reach your budget limit, so it’s wise to dedicate a small percentage of your profits to advertising.

That way, your marketing budget grows with your business.

The growing marketing budget helps to keep your business profitable as well.

PPC is a very popular entry-level digital marketing job, so if you don’t want to learn this yourself, rest assured that there are many digital nomads out there likely willing to help you out.

What Are Offsite Ad Fees?

Offsite ad fees come from Etsy marketing your product on other sites.

There’s nothing you have to do in this situation.

Etsy markets these products as they see fit.

You can opt out of offsite ads if you’ve made less than 10,000 USD in your Etsy shop over the last year.

Sellers are charged a 15% fee for sales made through offsite ads.

Those who made more than $10,000 don’t have the option to opt out.

Sales made for these sellers will come with a 12% marketing fee.

The total advertising fee for an offsite ad order will never exceed $100.

How To Sell On Etsy

Now that we’ve covered the nuts and bolts, let’s look at selling on your Etsy store.

Here’s the fun part.

We’ll look at tips and tricks to market, design, and sell your products with an Etsy shop.

What Do I Need To Do To Create a Shop?

The first thing you need to do is make an account.

Accounts are free to make and take little time to actually set up.

Once you create a password and log in, you’ll be prompted to create your profile.

You write a bio and add your profile photo.

These two factors are important.

As a seller, you’ll want to learn the elements of personal branding, as a well-curated profile is a great way to improve your brand image.

The next account creation steps are below.

How To Set Up Your Payment and Billing Details

Once your profile is set up, you need to establish your billing details.

The important page here is called “how you’ll get paid.”

First, you select where your bank is located, then enter your bank account information.

You can then add a debit or credit card to your account.

Make sure all of the information is correct to avoid problems later.

Once that’s done, you can move forward to “open your shop.”

With those simple steps, your shop is up and running.

It might not have much to sell, but it exists on Etsy.

Do I Need a Credit or Debit Card To Create an Etsy Shop?

You need to have a credit or debit card to open your shop.

This allows Etsy to charge you fees when necessary.

It’s more challenging to manage a financial relationship with bank account information.

Businesses can’t make smooth transactions with bank account information alone.

There are too many small transactions between store owners and Etsy to use bank account information, so credit cards or debit cards are needed.

If you don’t have one, it might be worth opening a debit card account.

Even if it’s just for Etsy, it’s a helpful tool for your store.

How To Customize My Shop Settings

Once your financials are in order, it’s time to set up shop.

Etsy offers many ways to manage your aesthetic.

You can upload banners, logos, announcements, and more.

It’s good to have a mission statement or brief statement for people who visit your page.

Welcome visitors and give them a clear idea of your brand philosophy.

You can also get creative with your about section.

Add videos, photos, and any other information that illuminates your brand.

This is the time to list your shop policies as well.

Write concise policies that users can follow.

Any confusing language in your policy could be an issue.

People aren’t likely to engage if they aren’t sure of your terms.

If you’re someone who sells one product, this is the time to give a pitch.

Talk about why you focus on that product.

Additionally, talk about why an Etsy listing stands out compared to others.

Note that Etsy gives you numerous options to improve your site image.

In addition, Etsy’s creative community might have a lot of ideas on how to improve your look.

Do some digging online to see what others have done.

It’s okay to get inspiration from other pages.

How To Create Listings

The basic process of creating a listing is simple.

Click “shop manager” if you’re using a desktop.

Click “more” if you’re on the mobile app.

Now click “listings.”

Once you’re there, click “add a listing.”

Etsy runs you through several steps at this time.

You’ll start by adding videos or photos.

It’s smart to add numerous photos or “variation photos” of different aspects of your product.

You’ll then add a thumbnail image.

After that, you can start to do descriptive copywriting for your product.

These tasks include titles, descriptions, categories, and specific attributes.

You’ll then add the pricing and inventory information and set up your shipping logistics.

Don’t forget to account for sales tax.

You can use Etsy’s in-house marketing platform once you’re done creating and organizing the details of the listing.

Questions About How to Sell on Etsy

How to Market, Brand, and Promote My Shop Products on Etsy

Marketing and branding are key pieces of the puzzle.

Your success depends on your marketing.

A few tricks are free and easy to implement.

Focus on your photos, descriptions, and prices first.

Photos should be clear and free of any confusion.

Photos should be flattering while remaining honest.

Product titles should be concise.

Long and confusing titles don’t do well.

You can also work keywords into titles and descriptions.

Descriptions should be very accurate.

This isn’t the time for embellishments.

Clear, easy-to-read descriptions will serve you well.

Pricing is arguably the most important factor.

You can play around with different price points to see what works best for your products.

Promoting products happens through the pay-per-click methods described above or other marketing platforms that you invest in.

How To Set up Sales and Discounts for Your Shop

Open your Etsy account and enter the “Shop Manager” tab.

Then, click on Sales and Discounts.

Here, you’ll see some of your options.

Click the “Create a Promo Code” button and work through the specifics of your deal.

You can take percentages off, remove fixed amounts, or remove the shipping cost.

You can also use this tab to run a sale.

Select “Run a Sale” and specify the details of your sale.

Choose between percentages and fixed rates for your discounts.

You can also use the page to organize an Etsy gift card for your online store.

How To Send Targeted Offers To Interested Shoppers

Go to the “Shop Manager” page and go to sales and discounts.

Then, select the option to “automatically send offers to interested Etsy shoppers.”

You can use this to send emails to people who have shown interest in similar products.

For example, those who have abandoned similar items in carts, favorited similar products, or purchased from you.

These ads can target a potential customer for you.

You can also send post-purchase thank you offers.

How To Ship on Etsy

Shipping for your Etsy shop happens on your own terms.

However, you, the seller, are responsible for ensuring that customers receive their items.

Etsy doesn’t facilitate the shipping process.

That means you find a carrier, make estimates for shipping rates, and monitor the shipment of your items.

It sounds like a lot of work, but sellers quickly get the hang of things.

Plus, your effort is reflected in the price of shipping.

Is Selling On Etsy Worth It?

We think so!

If you have a good idea, it’s worth trying.

The beautiful thing about an Etsy shop is you can start slow.

You don’t need a business plan and you don’t need investors.

You just need a few products to get the ball rolling.

If those products sell, you can try to sell more, yet you don’t have to keep going if they don’t sell.

So there is minimal risk.

We suggest getting started this way to give you time to learn the ropes and figure out your niche in the marketplace.

If you understand how Etsy works, you can probably sell your product effectively – you just have to give it a shot!

Top Tips To Help You Sell On Etsy

Let’s look at some refined tips for improving your page.

The ideas above will get the ball rolling.

You might need a little extra effort to make things take off.

1. Hire a Professional Photographer

Photographs are extremely important.

According to Meero, “90% of online buyers say that photo quality is the most important factor in an online sale.”

Standard phone photos might not do the trick.

See if professional photography is within your budget.

It’s a good investment for most sellers.

2. Learn Etsy SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is important in online platforms like the Etsy marketplace.

Optimization gets you higher in searches and provides more exposure.

Fortunately, the process is the same for most platforms.

There is a lot to learn about how it’s done.

Take a look at this guide for some beginner’s insights on improving your Etsy rank.

3. Optimize Your Pricing

Pricing is a big issue for some sellers.

If your price isn’t aligned with market value, you will lose sales to competitors.

A low price is a great way to attract new buyers.

This might allow you to generate interest in your profile and products.

You should find your optimal price point, though.

Many times, that price point already exists in similar products of other sellers.

Some market research should give you a rough estimate of your idea pricing.

It’s never a bad idea to change prices based on events or market changes.

Try to find different options for deals, discounts, price raises, and more.

4. Hire a Copywriter

Writing isn’t everyone’s thing.

If you’re struggling to write descriptions and titles, it might be worth hiring a copywriter.

These are people who can turn your descriptions into profitable marketing blurbs.

There are plenty of places to find working writers who can help you.

5. Take Payments in Different Ways in Your Etsy Shop

Etsy Payments allows you to take payments in different ways.

You can make these payments work for you by customizing your payment settings.

Go to the “Shop Manager” tab, then select “Finances,” followed by “Payment Settings.”

You can manage the timing and manner of your payments on that tab.

Giving customers options opens your buyer audience.

Some people only shop with their preferred payment method, so you can lose customers if you exclude options.

6. Start Collecting Email Addresses

Email marketing is an effective form of Etsy advertising.

The only way to do it is to gather email lists.

You can do this by creating a subscription tab for email updates.

Newsletters are also great ways to generate interested audiences.

You can scale your newsletter independently of your site and make an income that way, too.

The most important thing is gathering email addresses and sending regular updates on your store.

Sellers that foster a sense of community tend to do well.

Customers that engage with your brand’s journey will keep coming back.

They’ll promote your products to friends and family as well.

There are different methods to generating a large newsletter following.

It’s a challenge, but it’s worth it.

Note that you can’t send emails to people who don’t subscribe.

Harvesting emails is unethical, and it’s an easy way to get the “spam stamp” on future emails.

Time To Get Started!

The information above is all you need to start your small business Etsy Shop.

There’s more to learn, though.

So make sure to explore our site if you get stuck.

We have more resources on using Etsy, digital marketing, Etsy plus, and more.

Are you looking to sell your handmade items online, but don’t know where to start?

Have you heard of Etsy, but aren’t sure what it is or how it works?

In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to Etsy and explain what it is, how it works, and more.

Plus, we’ll provide tips for getting started with Etsy.

If you’re still wondering, “what is Etsy?” then keep reading to learn more about this popular online marketplace for handmade goods.

What Is Etsy?

Etsy is one of the many online stores that allows almost anyone to sell their products.

As a result, you can find any number of goods to purchase, and you can sell just about anything you want.

Whereas Amazon sells mostly mass-produced products, Etsy is all about selling handmade and vintage goods and digital products.

Etsy launched in 2005.

The purpose of the business was to create a global space for people to list handmade goods and antiques.

All items on Etsy must fit into one of three categories: handmade goods, vintage items (must be 20 years or older), or crafting supplies.

If a product can’t fit into one of these categories, it can’t be sold on Etsy.

Etsy is intended to be a place where people can find unique, even personalized goods.

It’s also a way to support individual sellers and small business ventures.

What Is Etsy Used For?

Etsy is designed for artists and craftspeople to share their many creations.

Sellers can create just about anything they want to sell, including physical and digital products.

Etsy allows people to make extra money, while some turn it into a total income.

For buyers, Etsy allows people to find items they wouldn’t find anywhere else.

It’s a good alternative for those who don’t want to shop at big box stores or significant online retailers.

What Is Etsy Known For?

Etsy is known for selling handmade and vintage items.

Most people think of the store when they want to purchase a gift or buy something nice for their home.

They’re also known for handmade jewelry and clothing.

It’s similar to Amazon Handmade, which also features unique goods.

How Does Etsy Work?

Etsy works like many other online stores.

Sellers list items in individual shops and buyers make their purchases through Etsy.

The seller is responsible for shipping the item.

Browsing Products

Buyers have several options when shopping on Etsy.

You can search for anything, such as personalized birthday invitations, jewelry, or coffee tables.

The search results will show the items that best match your search.

If you’re not sure what you want but just want to shop around, Etsy makes it easy for you to browse through different categories.

Each category is divided into subcategories and further subcategories to help you shop.

For example, under the Home & Living category, there’s a home subcategory with further subcategories like wall decor and cookware.

When you click on something you like, you’ll also see similar suggestions and collections that include that item.

Buying Products

When you find an item to purchase, you add it to your cart.

You’ll have the option to select a quantity if there are multiple products available.

You’ll also be able to choose size, color, etc., if applicable.

If it’s an item to be personalized, the seller will have a space where you can make a note.

Even if you buy from more than one seller, you can still make one purchase from your cart.

Etsy will separate the costs up to pay each seller.

The seller will ship the item to you by the stated time.

If it’s a digital product, you should be able to download it immediately unless the seller has to customize it.

Etsy also makes it easy to buy gifts.

They have a gift-buying guide separated into groups like gifts for pets or birthday gifts.

If you can’t make a decision, you can just get an Etsy gift card.

Fees & Pricing

As a buyer, you don’t pay any fees other than sales tax where applicable.

The seller pays fees to Etsy, so you just pay the price listed by the seller.

Sometimes, different product variations will be priced differently, so be sure to check the price before buying.

You should also check whether the seller accepts returns.

Some items, particularly personalized products, usually can’t be returned.

Shipping Costs

Many items ship for free on Etsy.

You can see if an item has free shipping on the search page or the product page.

If an item has shipping costs, these costs are factored in at checkout.

Shipping fees are based on your location.

Selling on Etsy

Selling on the Etsy platform can be quite profitable, especially if you have a knack for creating homemade products or finding vintage goods.

As with most online marketplaces, there are rules and procedures you’ll have to follow.

Buying and Selling

Etsy makes it easy for buyers and sellers alike to use its platform.

As long as you follow a few basic guidelines, you can become a successful Etsy vendor.

What Can Be Sold on Etsy?

Etsy only allows you to sell handmade products, vintage goods, and craft supplies.

When selling handmade items, you have to be clear about all of the people who helped produce them.

You must also use your own photos, not stock photos.

If you wish to sell a vintage item, it must be at least 20 years old.

Be aware that Etsy may ask you questions about your items to verify authenticity.

Craft supplies are anything that can be used to make a craft and also includes party supplies.

Supplies don’t have to be handmade and can be commercial or vintage.

What Can’t Be Sold on Etsy?

All items sold on Etsy must be physical or digital products.

You can’t sell services, post want ads, or share referral codes.

Etsy has a list of prohibited items such as tobacco/alcohol, illegal products, and items that glorify hatred.

Etsy also has policies regarding intellectual property.

You can’t sell anything that violates another person’s intellectual property rights.

Finally, you can’t resell items in the handmade products category.

Everything you list in this category must be handmade items.

Do You Need a License To Sell on Etsy?

Etsy doesn’t require sellers to have a license.

However, you may need a business license based on where you live, how much you’re selling, and what you’re selling.

You’ll need to check your state’s laws to be sure.

Creating a Shop

Your Etsy shop is like your storefront.

It’s a page where buyers can go and see all of your products in one place.

Do I Need a Shop To Sell on Etsy?

You do need a shop to sell on Etsy since it will serve as a landing page for all of your products.

It doesn’t have to be as elaborate as some of the ones you’ll find on the site.

What Do I Need To Create a Shop?

To create a shop, you’ll first need to create an Etsy account if you don’t already have one.

Next, you’ll need a shop name.

Enter your location and type of currency.

You’ll also need to enter the billing information as Etsy will use this account for charging your fees.

Once you finish setting up your shop, you’re ready to list your first item.

You can always make your shop more professional as your business grows.

Fees and Pricing

There are some costs and fees associated with selling on Etsy.

However, when you plan appropriately, you can offset Etsy fees with your pricing.

Seller Payments

When buyers purchase an item, they’ll usually use Etsy Payments.

This option gives them several options for paying, such as with most major credit or debit cards.

Customers can pick their preferred way to pay.

How Do I Get Paid?

When a buyer makes a purchase, the money is deposited into your bank account.

Is Etsy Legit or a Scam?

Etsy is a legitimate business both for people who want to sell and buy on the platform.

When selling, Etsy is upfront about its fees.

You also receive payment after every sale.

Etsy also offers buyer protection for customers.

Each payment option is secure, so you know your personal information is safe.

While most of the sellers are reputable, you may run across a scammer or someone who doesn’t offer the best products or services.

If you’re the victim of a scam, Etsy’s buyer protection program will ensure you get your money back.

You’re also protected if you receive an item that isn’t as described in the listing.

Is It Safe To Buy Products on Etsy?

There are ways for sellers to try to scam buyers.

The fortunate thing is that Etsy payments are secure, backed by buyer protection, and trustworthy.

Sellers won’t get your private information other than a shipping address.

You can adjust a shipping address to a P.O. box or other location if you’re concerned.

In terms of credit card information, Etsy Payments is well regarded and offers high levels of protection.

If you purchase something and don’t receive goods, Etsy will refund you.

If there are challenges with your product or you feel you’ve been deceived, you can open a case with Etsy.

Is Etsy Worth It?

There are both pros and cons to selling on Etsy.

The Etsy marketplace is vast, so you have the opportunity for many people to see your product.

You don’t have to create a website and do a lot of marketing to get people there.

However, the Etsy market is fairly saturated.

There’s a good chance that many other people are doing the same thing you do.

It can be a challenge to stand out.

That said, if you offer a unique and high-quality product, you can find success on Etsy.

After you build up a following, you may want to transition to your own online store so that you don’t have to share so much of your profits.

Alternatives to Etsy

Amazon Handmade is one alternative to Etsy.

It’s a subset of Amazon that lets you sell handmade goods.

While you’ll get the benefit of Amazon’s much larger customer base, it’s more challenging to get your store approved.

You can also set up your own online store using a platform like WordPress or Shopify.

While you won’t have to share your profits, you’ll have the fees and extra work associated with running a website.

Wrapping Up

The Etsy marketplace is a place where buyers and sellers can share their love for handmade, vintage, and personalized items.

The store makes it easy for buyers to find unique gifts and custom items to match their personalities.

For makers, Etsy is a great place to turn your passion into profit.

You can list your handmade items on a website that already has a large audience.

You can have an online store without the hassle of running a website.