Many small business owners and hobbyists selling on platforms like Etsy, eBay, and Amazon, or collecting payments with PayPal, Venmo, Etsy Payments, etc. are confused about the new tax law that went into effect January 1, 2022.   Let’s take a look at some of the common questions regarding the new law and what you…

Etsy is a popular platform for selling handmade products, but the costs can add up. Etsy takes a percentage of each sale you make through their platform, and charges some fees regardless of whether you make a sale or not.   Once you understand the fees Etsy charges (find an easy-to-follow guideline here), it’s important…

  Etsy charges sellers several fees, and you may notice that Etsy has charged sales tax on your behalf for some sales. This article outlines when Etsy automatically collects taxes from your buyers and answers some common questions about taxes and Etsy.   Why does Etsy charge sales tax? Etsy will automatically calculate, charge, and…

  How much Etsy takes per sale can cause sticker shock for many sellers once they see what they’re left with (if you’re not familiar with all the fees, you’ll find an easy-to-understand fee breakdown here). This article will explain how to lower the fees you must pay.   It’s important to understand; you cannot…

  It’s quick and easy to set up an Etsy shop, but is it cheap? At first glance, Etsy fees seem relatively low, but they can add up, especially for sellers outside of the US. This article will break down all the Etsy fees you should be aware of before setting up your shop. It…

Depending on how many websites you’ve visited before landing on this page, you may be tired of reading lists of names that aren’t even vaguely related to crafting (no matter how you spin it), overuse the word “craft”, or are so basic, you know they’re taken before checking registries.   I hope this list is…

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure here.      When you run a small business, it’s easy for a to-do list to become overwhelming.   Day to day, there are so many tasks to take…

Whether you have an Etsy shop, website, or just need a bio for promotional purposes, there’s a right way and a wrong way to write an About section.   This article shares the right way and some big DON’TS I’ve come across.     Why would somebody read an About page? Most shoppers read an…

These craft fair display tips are based on some of the most common mistakes vendors make.   No matter how much time you have before your next craft show, there are small changes you can make that will have a big impact.   If you’re getting ready for your first event, don’t stress yourself trying…

Sadly, the majority of small businesses fail.   After 5 years, about half of small businesses have survived, and only a third are left standing after 10 years (source). (I’m sure many don’t necessarily “fail” but no longer fit the needs/interests of the owner).   >> You can check out my personal story of “failure”…

I recently wrote an article about the worst-selling Etsy shops, which discusses the downside of creating a product that is too original, which is, there won’t be a big enough target market for your products.   So I want to shed a little light on how to know if the market you’re targeting is big…

I was recently interviewed for a website that shares tips for entrepreneurs and business owners.   One of the questions I was asked was:   What’s the biggest mistake you made with your business and see other businesses commonly make?   I wanted to keep my answer relevant to a variety of businesses, so I…

Everybody wants to know which Etsy shops sell the most and what they’re selling. And as I’ve mentioned in several articles, having a best-selling Etsy shop or craft show booth has less to do with what’s being sold and more to do with how it’s being sold.   Having a product that follows the current craft trends,…

Starting a craft business requires more than making products and setting up at a craft show or on Etsy. But you likely know that since you’re checking out a startup checklist.   Success is more likely when you plan for it and take your business seriously.   Although you may not need to apply for…

Does the announcement section in your Etsy shop really matter?   Yes, it does.   It’s some of the first text Etsy shoppers will read when they get to your shop.   It comes before your listings, sections, about, and policies. So you don’t want to waste the opportunity to fill this section with text…

When I started my handbag business, I chose material based on what stood out to me at the fabric store and created bag patterns based on what I liked or what I thought would be unique.   I did sell most of those handbags, but I wasn’t making the kind of sales I wanted, or…

More people are starting craft businesses to have better control of their income. But before you invest a bunch of time and money, or take the leap and quit your job, you want to know if it’s actually possible to make a living at it.   To make a living selling crafts you’ll need to:…

We’ve all been browsing before. We didn’t have anything in mind to buy but tagged along with friends to the mall, or popped into a store that looked interesting, or decided to check out a craft show.   Think about the last time you were in a shopping setting and were just browsing but ended…

There’s an image on Pinterest that catches my eye every time I see it. I’ve probably seen it close to a hundred times.   It’s a picture of a craft show table displaying greeting cards. The photo only captures a corner of the table, but you can tell it’s a clean, cohesive display.   Today…

Festivals are great places to sell products or services and make money. They’re a unique shopping environment and each festival will attract a different type of shopper, so you need to put some thought into which products will sell best for each event.   This article will share product ideas, as well as general product…