Etsy vs. Shopify vs. Independent Site
Every business owner looks at the fees and thinks “there has to be a better option” so I am putting all the facts into one spot for you to for evaluate yourself.
Etsy
Very popular site for people to go to specifically for handmade items
Works as a search engine
Makes SEO super easy
Built-in shipping label calculator with option to purchase from site
.20 cents fee for each listing
6.5% of price per sale fee
Very saturated market
Heavy push to use paid ads in order for your business to be seen
Shopify
Easy user interface to create a custom webstie
Makes optimizing SEO easy
Built-in shipping label calculator with option to purchase from site
$29-79 per month for shop to stay open
.30 cents per listing
2.6% of price per sale fee
Independent website
There are two ways to approach independent websites. You can completely develop it from the ground up or you can use a hosting site that makes the process a little easier.
Creating the site from scratch is a lot of work. You need developers, coders, and honestly, there are easier ways to go about getting your website made. I would only suggest this option is you were producing hundreds of thousands of dollars per month.
For now, I am going to talk about using a hosting site because for beginners who want an independent website, this would be the easier option all around. I am going to be referring to Squarespace because that is what I use and am familiar with.
Squarespace
Fully customizable website and shop
Multiple website pages means you can have more information share about your business, including a blog
Monthly fee is $23-49, depending on which plan you choose
Transaction fee is 3-0%, depending on which plan you choose
Built-in shipping calculator
Some website building knowledge needed to optimize SEO and any custom plug-ins
Choosing what is best for your business can be difficult but it is important not to overstretch yourself. Meaning, if you are not the best with technology, stay safe and go Etsy. If you have a knack for tech and are a quick learner, go Squarespace.
Best of luck!
