How to set up an Etsy shop, Part I

Etsy Dos and Don'ts
Shop name
Banner
Business license


To begin with, make sure that Etsy will allow you to sell what you want to sell.  To find out what is allowed, check out this link, http://www.etsy.com/help/article/483.  This is their Dos and Don'ts page. 


To buy and sell on Etsy, you will need to register to use the web site, oh, and it's free of charge.  You do not have to supply your name but you'll have to supply an email address and your username (your official shop name).  

You'll need to come up with a good shop name.  If you already have an online business or brick and mortar store, it's best to use that name since you already have some name recognition.  A great name should either describe what you are selling or include your business name.  


You will see that a lot of Etsy shops have banners at the top of their home pages which usually include their shop name and other information.  Banners are nice to have but not mandatory.  Banners are easily created on programs such as Photoshop and other editing software.  Click on this link to see the information listed below, http://www.etsy.com/help/article/451.  There are businesses that charge to create banners for those that are unable to create their own.   


Look for a good avatar to represent you or your shop.  Since it is pretty small (only 75 x 75 pixels), you need to find an image that will look good at that small size.  Avatars are not necessary for people that only want to buy on Etsy although they are still fun to use!  For sellers, avatars can be used to advertise your shop and can be used quite effectively for advertising.  


Here are the expected sizes for each image type (in pixels):

Avatars: 75x75
Shop Banners: 760x100
Team Logo: 170x100
Listing Images: 570 pixels wide

Below we have included some links to some pre-made banner templates for those that need a little help:

http://www.pumpkinsandposies.com/free-etsy-shop-banners.html

http://starsunflowerstudio.blogspot.com/2011/01/40-more-awesome-free-etsy-banners.html

Finally, you will need to have a tax identification number for your business and you will need to know what sales taxes your state expects for you to collect from your customers.  Later, when you finally begin selling on Etsy, you will find when listing your products, you will need to fill in your tax information in the shop tax rate section.