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Are you feeling stressed out at the thought of starting an Etsy business?

Do you have 100 things running through your mind from what should I sell, do I need to niche down if I have different product ideas, what should be the name of my store, do I need a license to sell on Etsy – if this sounds like you in today’s blog post, I am going to break down all of these concerns and much more! 

The objective of this blog post is by the end of it you’ll be able to actionable steps to starting your Etsy business rather than procrastinating because of the unknown. 

Can I sell on Etsy without a business license?

Etsy doesn’t require sellers to have a business license. Which is nice for those who are starting out and might not have the income at the moment to acquire one. 

However, I do recommend considering getting one in the near future. The benefits of a business license are to receive legal protection, credibility, tax compliance, and many vendors require one to sell. 

I got my LLC with LegalZoom – you can speak with a professional about your small business and they give you peace of mind that you are doing it the right way.

What should I sell on Etsy – I have tons of ideas? 

There are two types of people those who know what they want to sell and those who have tons of different ideas? I usually have too many ideas – let me know in the comments which are you. 

My recommendation when you’re first starting out on Etsy is to really focus on why you’re starting an Etsy business. 

The main reason for many is creating a profitable shop that can replace their full-time income. 

If this is the same for you – then you need to narrow down the different product ideas you have in mind, do market research, and make sure there is a demand and it’s profitable. 

The end goal is to make money and not waste your time with a store full of things you like to create but not make you any income. 

This is a lesson that I personally had to learn the hard way. Just because I can do it doesn’t mean I should. 

If you want to try a few different products in the beginning until you find your winning products that is totally fine. However, make sure that when you find your winning product idea you niche down. 

If you need help learning how to do market research, validate your product ideas, and niche down make sure to fast-track your results today by grabbing my Etsy Mastery Course. 

You’ll learn the EXACT steps needed to be taken to start, manage and scale your Etsy shop to a full-time income. 

How do I choose my shop name? Do I pick a generic name?

The shop name is important but you don’t want to spend so much time choosing a name that it keeps you from even getting started. 

I am going to walk you through the different scenarios that might apply to you. 

You first need to have a clear idea of your brand. Ultimately what you want to present to your customers and the shop message is the key in helping you pick a great shop name. 

Some sellers add their niche in the name while others who change their mind a lot choose a name that is broad enough to fit any niche. 

You can also start with a broad name and once you have narrowed down your niche then change your shop name. 

The one thing I want you to take away is that whatever name you pick for your Etsy store make sure it’s available across all platforms where you’re planning to promote your business. 

You need consistency with social media handles

Having a handle that is the same on every platform makes it easier for people to find you, and it makes the marketing of your handle much simpler, too.

There are sites like Namecheck that check username and domain names all across different platforms in a matter of seconds. 

https://youtu.be/2DjXt8obnQo

I’m overwhelmed at the thought of having to use social media do I need it for my business? 

As you start your Etsy business – you’ll start seeing how much works it takes to create, manage, and grow it. And you can easily get overwhelmed and waste valuable time on social media if not used correctly.

When first starting out I recommend focusing on one social media platform. I personally recommend using Pinterest. You get a lot of traction quickly unlike other platforms.  

Once you mastered Pinterest then you can move on to another one. 

This is going to help you build brand awareness outside of Etsy but not leave you so overwhelmed especially in the beginning when we underestimate how much time it takes to list a product let alone promote it on different social networks. 

How long will it take to make money on Etsy?

This is a hard question to answer since there are so many contributing factors that take place. For instance, do you have an irresistible product, do you know who your target audience is, did you optimize your listing for SEO the right way, do you have drool worth photos, do you know how to market yourself, do you have experience selling online? 

These are things that factor into if you’re going to make money right away or not. 

For most sellers – including myself, your first product might not be the best-looking one or unique. When I started selling on Etsy my first printable was created on a word document and it was hideous. 

You might not have never heard of Etsy SEO until a couple of days ago.

You don’t have any experience with digital marketing or selling online. 

And these might be the reasons why it might take you a couple of months to get your first sale.

And it’s okay. You don’t have to be great to start but you have to start to be great. It really comes down to your mindset and your perspective. There you have it the top questions I get asked all the time about starting an Etsy shop. 

And if you haven’t already, make sure you check out our FREE resources!

• Follow me on Instagram: @nancybadillo13
• Check out my YouTube HERE for more tips
• Join my FREE Facebook Group Daily Etsy Seller Tips

Rooting for you!

– Nancy

P.S. Have you attended my free masterclass yet to help you scale your Etsy business to the next level with my 4 step framework for a profitable Etsy shop. If not, CLICK HERE to register before seats fill up.

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