Etsy

Built for sellers of unique, vintage, or custom-made goods, Etsy is a peer-to-peer online marketplace where millions of users buy and sell niche products.

Overview:

Now a publicly traded company, Etsy’s popularity has skyrocketed since its founding in 2005. Customers love the variety of products, and sellers love plugging their items into a community of over 33 million buyers. However, the listing fees, payment processing fees and transaction costs are pretty high. On top of a $0.20 listing fee for each product, they charge a 5% transaction fee, as well as a payment processing fee of 3% plus $0.25. That can impact your bottom line if you’re selling a lot of products. Therefore, we think Etsy is best for niche sellers who aren’t really moving a TON of orders. Also, users have the ability to create a customized storefront (with a separate domain name) in addition to selling products in the marketplace. However, that’s not one of their strongest calling cards like other marketplaces such as Bonanza or Storenvy.

Feature Overview:

• Unlimited product listings
  • Listings cost $0.20 each and remain live for 4 months
• Accept payments via Etsy Payments and PayPal
• Buy and print discounted shipping labels
  • Etsy also integrates with most shipping software options like Pirate Ship, saving users even more money on shipping labels
• Browse more features

Highlights:

• Three subscription tiers with different perks and features: Standard (no monthly fee), Plus ($10/month), and Premium (launching in 2019)
• Use their mobile App to manage orders, edit listings, and instantly communicate with buyers from your mobile device
• Visit the Help Center on their website for support