On Etsy there is no separate buyer account and seller account: you create one Etsy account first, and your shop is added to that same account later. The first form you fill in is an ordinary sign-up form, and the seller side arrives through shop setup, where Etsy asks for a shop name, a first listing, payout details and an identity check.
This guide is for anyone who has decided to sell on Etsy and wants to know which screen they are on and what comes next. If Etsy's site is not in your language, plan for that as well: Etsy's site languages do not include Turkish, for example, so many sellers fill in the forms in English. Knowing what each step asks for before you start is what keeps setup from stalling halfway.
The difference between a buyer account and a seller account
The account you shop with, favourite items with and message sellers from is the account your shop will belong to. Etsy's guide to opening a shop puts it plainly: you must have an existing Etsy account before creating a shop. A "seller account" is simply an Etsy account with a shop attached.
You can keep buying after your shop opens. The only change is that Shop Manager is added to your account, the area where you manage listings, orders and settings.
Use your existing account or open a new one?
You can open a shop on the account you already shop with, and a separate sign-up is not required. One rule should drive the decision: during setup Etsy verifies your identity, and the ID needs to match the name on the bank account you add to get paid. The account should belong to the person whose ID and bank account the shop will use. Pick an email address you will still control years from now, since orders, bills and security notices go there.
Step 1: create the Etsy account
Creating the account takes a few minutes. On Etsy's registration screen you sign up with an email address and password, or with one of the other sign-in options shown, and then add your name. If Etsy asks you to confirm your email address, open the link it sends you.
Two small preparations help at this stage:
Choose a strong password you do not use on any other site.
Keep the device you will use for two-factor authentication close by. Etsy says that as a security measure it requires shop owners to set up two-factor authentication.
Step 2: turn the account into a seller account
With the account ready, you start shop setup from Etsy's Sell on Etsy page. Setup asks for information in order, and one choice, the shop language, is one you cannot change later on your own. The table summarises the steps in Etsy's shop setup guide and what to have ready for each one.
| Step | What Etsy asks for | Have this ready |
|---|---|---|
| Shop preferences | Shop language, country and currency | A language you are comfortable using with buyers, your bank account's currency |
| Shop name | 4 to 20 characters, no spaces or special characters, not already in use | Two or three backup names that do not infringe a trademark |
| First listing | At least one listing before the shop can open | Photos or mockups, title, description, price |
| Getting paid | A bank account (a Payoneer account in select countries) | Bank details in your own name |
| Identity check | A photo of your government ID and a clear selfie | An ID that has not expired and matches the bank account name |
| Billing | A debit or credit card to pay Etsy bills | A card that accepts international payments |
| Set-up fee | A one-time, non-refundable shop set-up fee | Enough balance on the card |
| Security | Two-factor authentication | The device you will use to confirm sign-ins |
The first listing is where most people spend the longest. According to Etsy, there are 7 tabs in the listing form to fill out before you can publish, and the listing fee is $0.20 per listing. Our walkthrough of your first Etsy listing, field by field covers each tab.
How you get paid depends on where you live. Türkiye, for example, is on the list of countries eligible for Etsy Payments and not on the list of countries that use a Payoneer account, so sellers there connect a bank account directly. Our guide to getting paid on Etsy from Türkiye with Etsy Payments has the details.
Where setup usually gets stuck
Setup rarely stalls for technical reasons. The cause is usually a small mismatch, so check these points before you begin:
Name mismatch. If the name on your ID differs from the name on the bank account, verification can stall. Etsy requires an ID that has not expired and matches the bank account name.
Shop language. Etsy says you will not be able to change it later. The one exception is that Etsy Support can change it after you have translated your shop information and every listing into the new language.
Currency. If you list in a currency other than your payment bank account's, Etsy charges a 2.5% currency conversion fee.
Shop name. The name you want may be taken, or may echo someone else's brand. Arrive with backups.
Expecting PayPal. It is not offered everywhere. Etsy explains that because PayPal does not operate in Türkiye, it is not available to Etsy Payments sellers located there.
What changes in your account once the shop is open
Once the shop opens, Shop Manager appears in your account: listings, orders, stats and settings all live there. Your buyer side stays as it was, and you can keep shopping from the same account.
Two things are worth knowing in the first days. Etsy says a published listing may take up to 48 hours to appear in search results and categories, so not seeing it on day one is normal. And if you sell print on demand, add your production partner under Shop Manager > Settings > Partners you work with, because Etsy requires sellers using production assistance to share this on the applicable listings.
For the whole shop opening with country-specific details, see how to open an Etsy shop from Türkiye, step by step.
Learning the steps in the Alomations Classroom
If following written steps feels slow, watching them can be easier. The Alomations Classroom has free video tutorials in English and Turkish, one tutorial per lesson, open on every plan including Free, and a guided tour takes you to them from any page in the app. We collected other options in free ways to learn selling on Etsy.
Once your shop is open, connecting it to Alomations does not mean handing anyone your Etsy password. The connection uses the official Etsy API and happens on Etsy's own sign-in screen, takes under two minutes, and can be revoked from Etsy at any time. Alomations is not affiliated with or endorsed by Etsy. The steps are in connecting your Etsy shop to Alomations in two minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a second Etsy account to become a seller?
No. Etsy builds the shop on an existing account. The one thing to get right is that the name on your ID matches the bank account you will be paid into.
Can I change my shop language later?
Not by yourself. Etsy Support can change an open shop's default language, but only after you have translated your shop information and every listing into it.
How much does it cost to open an Etsy shop?
Etsy charges a one-time, non-refundable set-up fee, and the cost varies by location. For sellers in India, Etsy states a one-time $10 USD fee. Elsewhere, go by the amount shown on your setup screen. On top of that, your first listing carries the $0.20 listing fee.
Can I accept PayPal?
It depends on your country. Sellers located in Türkiye cannot accept PayPal in their shops. However a buyer pays, the funds go to your Etsy Payment account, and you manage deposits to your bank from there.
When your shop is open, you can try the Alomations free plan to get your first listings ready faster.