How to sell on Etsy + Homeschool
Published:
October 12, 2020
Contributor:
Abby Banks
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.
Many homeschool moms want to find ways to bring in some extra money. The reality is that 2/3 of homeschool families are making it on a single income. But it’s wonderful to find a side hustle that you can do from home while also homeschooling! Selling on Etsy has been an amazing part-time business for our family for almost a decade. Here’s how you can sell on Etsy and homeschool too.
Why You Should Sell on Etsy
There are so many reasons why you should sell on Etsy.
First, here are the benefits to you:
- If you’re a crafter, you can sell your handmade items.
- If you’re a thrifter, you can sell vintage items.
- Digital designers can sell their files.
- You can put in as little or as much time as you want.
- You can work around your own schedule.
- Modeling entrepreneurship to your kids is huge!
- Depending on how much effort you put into this side gig, you can bring in a nice chunk of change each month – quite possibly even paying for the mortgage!
- Having a side business can help prevent homeschool burnout, because you’re able to focus on something you love while you decompress from homeschooling.
Next, these are the benefits to selling on the Etsy platform specifically:
- Etsy brings the customers to you
- The platform is intuitive and user friendly
- You can get started for $0 (not including the cost of materials)
How to Fit in Working From Home While Homeschooling
I already mentioned that working on your side hustle can help prevent homeschool burnout. This point is huge for me! As an introvert, I am completely wiped out from talking to my five kids and helping them with their schoolwork each day. By the time the afternoon rolls around, I’m ready for a break, and this is a great time to head to my “Etsy shop” and get some orders processed.
The beauty of opening an Etsy shop is that you can make it fit your life. Here are some ways you can fit it in to your homeschool life and schedule. You can work on your business:
- Early in the morning before the kids are up
- During naptime
- In the afternoons when school is done
- In the evening when dad is home with the kids
- After the kids go to bed
- On the weekends
Of course, as with anything else in life, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. In the seasons where I prioritize building the business, the payout increases. But if you’re happy with a small side income for only a handful of hours a week, then that’s all you need to do.
Top Tips
After selling on Etsy for almost a decade, I’ve learned a few things. Here are my top tips:
- Get in on the trends
- Create systems – batch your work
- Create systems to organize your materials and products
- Try to have at least 100 items in your shop for maximum exposure
- Use the titles and tags for maximum exposure to the words your customers will use when searching for an item
- Learn to take great pictures – a simple iPhone actually has a great camera!
- Don’t be afraid to get started even when things aren’t perfect – you can learn as you go
- Have fun!
Resources
If you’d like to learn more about getting started with an Etsy shop, then check out these resources below from 4onemore.com
Bonus tip: Your teen can start an Etsy shop and you can use it for credit on their high school transcript! Check out the Selling on Etsy Masterclass for Teens for more information, including details for how to count this as high school credit.
Selling on Etsy Masterclass for Teens
Abby Banks
Abby is a former public school teacher, now homeschooling her five children. She’s in the trenches just like you and knows it can be challenging to be home with your kids all day while you struggle to keep up with the housework and educate your kids (and maybe even work on the side!). She blogs over at www.4onemore.com and hosts the Homeschool with Moxie podcast.
