Etsy-preneurship: Everything You Need to Know to Turn Your Handmade Hobby into a Thriving Business

by Jason Malinak

Turn your handmade hobby into a thriving businessMost Etsy sellers are confident in their crafting and artistic capabilities. However, many need guidance on the business-related intricacies of starting and maintaining a successful Etsy business. "Etsy-preneurship" helps existing and potential Etsy sellers understand the business fundamentals needed to become a small business owner on Etsy, including taxes, bookkeeping, marketing, finances, administrative tasks, daily operations, legal requirements, business plans, and improving your business skills. This book will help you make the jump from enjoying your handmade/craft/art hobby to running a profitable business."Etsy-preneurship" offers step-by-step advice on what it takes to bring in extra income or even one day run a full-time business on EtsyOutlines the basic business skills and knowledge you need to run a business on Etsy Explains how Etsy makes entrepreneurship attainable for everyone

Each chapter even includes a downloadable business spreadsheet tool to help you put the steps into action. This book empowers Etsy sellers to turn their handmade hobby into a thriving business by employing foundational business concepts.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Reference, Self Help, Crafts, Art, How To

206 pages, Paperback

First published October 12, 2012

About the author

Jason Malinak, CPA, CPT, is Managing Director Chief Compliance Officer (CCO), Investor Services & IT, at JTS Capital Group LLC and an Accounting, Treasury, and Business Intelligence Consultant.

Reviews

[Sarah Fournier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave it 3 out of 5 stars only because the book was written for Etsy sellers in the United States so some of the chapters were not relevant to people living in Canada (eg. taxes). The material on marketing and promoting, business planning, and bookkeeping held alot of useful information that will definitely be implemented into my Etsy business.

[Leo Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fair guide to marketing your wares on Etsy. I liked the emphasis on accounting, which you will need if your business is at all successful. I'm taking off points, though, for all the slavish marketing of his other products both here and through the site referenced by the book.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very practical and useful guide into selling your crafts online, primarily aimed at Etsy marketplace, but can be adapted to any of the online sites. It comes with links to the website to download further forms and support with business planning and management.

It is written from a US based perspective, so a lot of the tax information is irrelevant to UK based businesses. However, the financial advice and guidance is very helpful. Glad I read it, now to put it all into practice. Looks like I'm doing my accounts this weekend. #sad face, #notsohappydance.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good resource. I learned a lot of general business principles as well as Etsy-specific tips. After reading, I feel extremely empowered.

[Brittany | BrittanyIsBooked · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book fairly useless past the chapter on financing. However, I did learn a great deal about what it takes to start a business. I think part of the bore for me was that I have already learned a lot about making online businesses succeed, and in fact, because this book was written five or so years ago, some of the information is a bit outdated. However, I made sure to stick it out in case there was additional information that I could tease out. What I found most useful was learning how to gain visibility on Etsy specifically. It was also helpful to read that third-party visibility is important (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, etc.), but I didn't feel like I was learning anything new for myself.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

As others have noted, this has become somewhat outdated, though the bulk remains relevant since it starts from the "I've never run my own business before" basics. Perhaps a touch too much emphasis on marketing he author's own tools, though at least he also provides a number of supplemental online documents free for readers, so the book does not devolve into a mere marketing exercise. I would say, however, that the titular promise of "Everything You Need to Know" is overselling it—there are a number of issues I would have liked to see covered in greater depth. Thankfully, we can supplement with other books so long as we can stand the inevitable topical overlap.

[Jolié Sayer-Sabatièr · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a useful book, but focuses mainly on bookeeping/accounting in the US. Has some useful information, but as I'm Canadian, the tax info is pointless. I know various tax systems are sometimes similar, but they aren't the same. I still found it a great read and somewhat informative.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great little nuggets and advice to kitckstart and get your Etsy shop running. It's a bit outdated for some of it since it's at least 8 years old and Etsy has changed a lot but the downloads are still available and it's great encouragement to get started and just go for it.

[Marie Osuna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written book, but not so applicable for today. It was written in 2011 and much of the information has changed.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful, practical book about Etsy and Etsy selling. Everything you need to know--particularly about finances and selling are all laid out in this book very clearly.

[Honest Mabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

So it’s helpful to a degree. All the resources are like dead links including the authors website which is a book portion of the books so more like 2.45 stars

[Ian Burleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone helpful but fairly outdated resources

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good starting point. Lots of good advice about the basics of setting up shop on Etsy, good admin and bookkeeping practices, marketing, etc. There are a lot of links/references to places to read more. Obviously one book can't cover every type of Etsy business thoroughly and no book can cover business taxes for every possible context, but there is guidance about where to find the relevant information. Some of the material might be slightly out of date as online and social media is constantly changing (e.g. no mention of Instagram for marketing). But still a good place to start, since the basics of running a small business on this platform don't change so quickly.

I didn't download the tools that the book offered but I did take lots of notes. I have a loooong list of next steps.

ETA: this was much more focused on the business side of things than the other book I read. Even though this book couldn't cover every state's rules for taxes and such I appreciated that it reminded the reader of how crucial it is to find that stuff out, and focused so much on the day to day running of a business. The other book barely mentioned bookkeeping.

[Rachel E. Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect resource for anyone thinking about or planning to sell on Etsy. It's easy to understand and gives you everything you need to set up your business to be profitable and legal.

[Delia Worley, CPA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outdated but still useful for beginners

I opened my Etsy shop in 2011 but didn't do much with it for years. In 2014 I started my own natural makeup company with my own website. Etsy didn't even cross my mind at the time. Well I learned quickly that my own website was way more time-consuming for me with a toddler to care for as well. I let my website go late 2015 and went back to my etsy shop.

I got a few sales over the months but nothing to brag about. Then I started taking webinars and reading books like this one. I was actually shocked in Jan 2016 when the orders started flowing in. I had my best month ever last month. I credit 3 tips for this. Which are in this book but I actually obtained the info from a free webinar I attended.

I rated this book 4 stars because while it does contain useful information for beginners I found the one resource (website) I was most excited about using is no longer in existence. Imagine my sad face when I realized this.

[Sabina Colleran · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book seemed to me real and in depth. if you're interested in starting an etsy business, read this. it's a relatively quick read and you can tell the author is dedicated to helping you succeed. he gives you everything you need to know about starting a business on etsy for real. I learned that my idea probably won't work and that I don't think I have the right passion to really give it a go. HOWEVER to someone who really does have the drive, this will give you a step by step plan, as if you were working with a consultant

[Galen Orosco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it because it focused on the actual business of running an Etsy shop. Either other books on Etsy touched on numbers and business briefly or not at all. They focused on the creative side while this book is all about numbers and business. If that makes sense. I also like that the author has provided excel templates for what the chapter is referring too.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who's starting out on Etsy (or any site or a crafting business in general).

[AlmieMeg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book for anyone seeking to start a business regardless of whether it is an Etsy business. My only constructive criticism would be that a few of the exercises were a bit cumbersome to access and a few were a bit too basic and perhaps unnecessary. But overall it was very encouraging and chocked full of ideas that can be further evaluated to fit a new business. The use of personal examples gave the book a great deal of credibility.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book seems very complete in all the details that one would need to start an Etsy business. Very detailed tax and money information. All the details that I would overlook. I like that there were work sheets on each chapter too. This is probably something that I would need to invest in if I were to tackle this endeavor. The only downside, is that now I that know what *should* be done to start a business, I don't know if I have either the time or skills to start one.

[Sonja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took many notes. Very informative. I am hoping all this info will help with my Etsy adventure.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book includes a lot of practical information about the nuts and bolts of running a business on Etsy. The writing style is friendly and approachable, but business-like. There are exercises to do in many of the chapters and additional information online to supplement the chapters. I read the book through without doing the exercises, but I plan to go back and work through them.

[Jenny J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very helpful as far as the nuts and bolts of running a creative business, and being realistic about that business. It covers all the practical details (like taxes and budgets) and makes a good resource. Perhaps not as "fun" as some of the other creative business books,but something you should read if you want to try to make money with a hobby.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, contemplating an Etsy store. He has a lot of extras available on his website, forms and such, that he mentions a lot. But good general information on starting a new business, which can be useful for any type of business, not just Etsy.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was helpful. Lots of solid information and specific recommendations. I haven't downloaded anything from the website, yet - I may still do that.

[Laura Bourassa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really useful. recommend it.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books was especially valuable for it's information and resources on taxes and finances. I'd recommend it if you're thinking of opening an Etsy shop or any other business like it.

[Steph Orange · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for a new creator to start and do things right. I am really looking forward to applying the marketing information, as that's where I need to improve an existing shop.

[Wendyjune]

Such a good insight into etsy and getting your creative business organised and taken seriously. Loved it, and keep referring to it.

[Ann Addley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book lots of tips

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good basis and hopefully helpful once the advice is pt into action. Book is a bit out-dated. May be the version I have. It can also drag on in some spots, but overall very helpful.