Selling on Etsy VS Your Own E-Commerce Site

Etsy is an incredibly popular way to sell wares online. In fact, it has at least 2.1 million sellers and gets around 40 million buyers. Definitely credible! But then again, how on earth are you supposed to stand out on a site with so much content? Maybe it’s time to build your own—but that’s a challenge as well. Here are some pros and cons for selling on Etsy VS your own E-Commerce website.

Etsy Pro: It’s Easy to Start

Etsy has been around for nearly twenty years. Because of this, they know the best ways to introduce both buyers and sellers to the site in a way that makes sense. The “Open Your Etsy Shop” tab tells you in a straightforward way how to start and what fees will be added. Your own website, on the other hand, may be daunting if it’s something you’ve never done before.

Etsy Con: Fees

Etsy charges 20 cents for every listing. If you’re in the US or Canada, too, they collect five percent of the cost in a transaction fee. Lastly, there’s a payment processing fee of about three percent. It doesn’t sound like much, but this can add up depending on how many products you’re selling. And if you don’t pay the fees on time, they can even suspend your account. Most of the time the fees are automatically taken out, but if you have an outstanding balance this can change, so be careful.

Your Own Site Pro: It’s Completely Yours

Imagine you created a product you’re really proud of—maybe a hand knitted scarf, or some homemade jewelry. You sell it on Esty, and when someone asks the customer where they got that beautiful item, they only reply “Etsy!” and not your store name. That doesn’t seem fair, does it? With your own E-Commerce website on a dedicated web server, all your customers will know exactly where to direct their friends and family when they want to buy your product. This will help you build a name and a brand for yourself rather than just making some extra money selling products on the side.

Your Own Site Con: It’s Completely Yours

Ah, bet you didn’t think a pro and con would be the same! Because the website is under your control, that means you’re responsible for if it goes down, customer complaints, and advertisement. At first, it will be much easier to attract customers to Etsy than your own website, especially if your site looks amateur. Want to stand out? Check out our article, “The Role of Web Hosting in E-Commerce: Tips for Building an Online Store” to learn how to compete with Etsy and manage your site.

Etsy is popular, for better or for worse, and they nickel and dime you to sell. Your own E-Commerce site is totally yours, but might take some time to gain a loyal following. But once it does, your name will be the one everybody knows! Ready to start selling? First, you’ll need a dedicated hosting service. Dynamic Hosting is the best place to start, with a low cost!