The Pros & Cons of Etsy vs. Shopify for Selling Online (Sell crafts, handmade & digital products)

Are you wondering the pros & cons of Etsy vs. Shopify for selling your handmade goods online? In this video, I'm giving you a full overview of both Etsy and Shopify along with some of my thoughts as to which platform is the best for you. After watching, if you have any other questions about which e-commerce platform to choose, feel free to let me know down in the comments!
----------------------------------------------
⬇️ Get your bookkeeping templates from Paper + Spark:
paperandspark....
----------------------------------------------
⬇️ Additional Resources mentioned in this video:
Get started on Etsy with 40 free listings: etsy.me/3SjsqDo
A Guide to Etsy fees: paperandspark....
Etsy vs Shopify - how each platform handles sales tax: paperandspark....
Download a free step-by-step checklist of the financial & legal stuff you need to do to get set up properly: • Financial checklist fo...
Get a bookkeeping system to support you (made especially for physical product sellers!): paperandspark....
How Paper + Spark spreadsheets work: • OUTDATED - How a Paper...
When to Worry about Taxes as a Handmade Seller: paperandspark....
Read my blog post all about understanding online sales tax: paperandspark....
----------------------------------------------
⬇️ Let’s connect:
Facebook: / paperandspark
Instagram: / paperandspark
TikTok: / paperandspark
Pinterest: / paperandspark
Twitter: / paperandspark
----------------------------------------------
👋 Hi! I'm Janet LeBlanc
I’m a Louisiana girl now living in South Carolina, a Certified Public Accountant, a serial-entrepreneur, and a mom of two. My passion is helping other creative women bring their entrepreneurial dreams to life with confidence. As an accountant and data nerd, I love creating tools + resources to help you achieve financial success in your biz and personal life.
Why should you listen to anything I have to say? Because I’ve been in your shoes! I started a handcrafted jewelry shop on Etsy back in 2011 as a side hustle from my accounting job. During my time in the handmade community, I heard a lot of the same frustrations and questions over and over. Concerns like, when am I supposed to register my shop? Do I have to charge sales tax to my customers? When do I claim this on my tax return? What sort of bookkeeping system am I supposed to use?!
In 2014, I finally united my love of handmade and accounting and founded Paper + Spark. In 2015, the first iteration of the Etsy Seller Spreadsheet debuted. This product completely changed the course of my entrepreneurial journey. Creating spreadsheets isn’t the sexiest or most glamorous product to design (although I like to think they’re pretty, for spreadsheets), but getting the chance to help creatives feel more confident about their money has been SO fulfilling and I am grateful to serve you today!
🌐 Visit Paper +: Spark to learn more:
paperandspark....
----------------------------------------------
#handmadebusiness #creativebusinessowner #onlinestore
The Ultimate Guide to Starting & Scaling a Handmade Shop: TBD youtube video link
How Paper + Spark spreadsheets work: How a Paper + Spark spreadsheet works
Financial checklist for Etsy sellers: • Financial checklist fo...
----------------------------------------------
⬇️ Let’s connect:
Facebook: / paperandspark
Instagram: / paperandspark
TikTok: / paperandspark
Pinterest: / paperandspark
Twitter: / paperandspark
#etsyshop #shopify #handmadebusiness #creativebusinessowner

[@craftyjuniper]

I use Shopify and am happy with them. the options can be overwhelming. I like their support of POS, great for craft shows, which is s where I make the most.

[@paperandspark]

Glad to hear it Lynda!

[@ChristinaAaliyah]

This was really helpful thank you!

[@paperandspark]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Journeyforgeusa]

I just set up my Shopify. I like it for the most part but I'm a little confused on the calculated shipping. Etsy was easy enough. Enter you dimensions and weight and you're good to go, no guess work.

[@LindyL]

thank you! Im about to start my own online shop for digital downloads. :) Im going to try Etsy

[@paperandspark]

Best of luck! Etsy is a great place to get started with selling digital products.

[@TheeHerbJunkie]

Thanks very helpful (:

[@barbarakenzer2648]

I joined Shopify for the reason Etsy was more expensive. I am not happy with Shopify. When there is a problem the questions you may have does not get answered. If I had a choice to do this again, I would not go on any online stores. They do not contact me after letting them know i am having a issue.

[@paperandspark]

I'm sorry to hear that Barbara! Customer support is important.

[@therealdeal4492]

Etsy is a bit more in fees... BUT you don't have to apply and set up all the sales taxes... also shopify reveals your home address to ALL if doing a small business from your home that's not cool and only should be revealed if they purchased or something.. Yeah I'm closing my shopify I just started

[@paperandspark]

This may help paperandspark.com/etsy-vs-shopify-handling-sales-tax/

[@therealdeal4492]

And revealing your home address? At this point I have been on etsy for 3 years and just started shopify which I'll be closing..the address reveal and the taxes not worth it

[@paperandspark]

You don't need to charge sales tax in every state on Shopify like you do on Etsy. Etsy is a marketplace and has to deal with marketplace sales taxes. Shopify is not - you only deal with sales taxes in states in which YOUR business has nexus (which is usually just your own state). So it may end up being simpler than you think. Where/how does Shopify reveal your home address?

[@therealdeal4492]

Since shopify reveals my home address to everyone and I have to apply for and setup all the sales taxes... Etsy is worth the extra fees in my opinion

[@paperandspark]

Keep in mind you only have to set up sales tax on Shopify for any states in which your business has nexus - which for many of us is only the state in which we are located.

[@lakhbirkaur3648]

Hi I recently started watching your videos and they are helpful. I want to open handmade jewelery shop on etsy or shopify(still to decide) next year in feb.I want to make bead and crystal bracelets with matching earings and i saw same type of jewelery already people are selling on etsy so i am confused that i am able to sell or not or what new i can add to it and whatever i am trying to make new designs similar to that already exits on etsy. Can you please guide me regarding this should i go with the designs which i am thinking even if similar to that already there on etsy.please if you can guide me regarding this as you have experience of selling jewelery on etsy as i watched your other video. Also if you can let me know from where i can find the jewelery trend of 2023. Thanks

[@paperandspark]

If there are shops on Etsy selling things similar to yours, the downside is that means you have to compete with them. But the upside is that it also usually means there's an existing market on Etsy for your type of product! If those similar shops are making sales, that means people are looking for your type of thing on Etsy already. Now the question becomes - how will you convince those browsers to buy from YOU? Marketing, pricing, positioning, your product quality & materials, messaging, photography, customer service, branding - all those things can make a difference here - along with what makes YOUR products unique or stand out. It takes work - but it's possible!

[@lakhbirkaur3648]

@@paperandspark Thank you!! Can you help with trending jewelery in 2023 trustable resources so that i can see if i have to redesign my jewelery to look more unique and go with trend or to keep the designs as it is.i hope you understand my confusion. Thanks

[@paperandspark]

Sorry I don't have a good resource for looking at trending jewelry ideas for 2023!

[@lakhbirkaur3648]

@@paperandspark ok thank you

[@lakhbirkaur3648]

@@paperandspark Hi Again i have to thank you for suggesting me the points before starting my jewelery shop and i am working on those points and i am getting it on how to start a business as i am total newbie to this. You left a link to email you privately but today i cant find it Sorry i was not able to email you yesterday. As you deal with taxes so i have some questions regarding this before starting my business. Thanks

[@coachaprildulac]

where do canceled and refunded orders go on etsy and shopify? are thy in the cvs?

[@paperandspark]

Refunded orders should show up on your Shopify CSV. Cancelled & refunded orders from Etsy aren't listed on your Etsy Orders CSV. If the original order isn't imported in though, do not enter the corresponding refund.

[@Hitu090]

Hi, what about eBay?

[@teaappe5542]

Is there any fees.