What I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Etsy Shop

(Bookkeeping Edition)

When I first started my Etsy shop, I was focused on creating and selling — not bookkeeping. But once those sales started rolling in, so did confusion about Etsy fees, taxes, and expenses.

I quickly realized that being a business owner meant more than just making cute things — it meant learning how to track my money, organize receipts, and prepare for tax season (without losing my mind).

Here’s what I wish I’d known about bookkeeping when I first hit “Open Shop.”

Etsy Fees Add Up Fast

I used to think a sale meant I was making money… until I saw how much was going to:

• Listing fees

• Transaction fees

• Payment processing

• Ad costs
  That $25 sale? More like $17 after everything. Ouch.

What I use now: The Etsy Seller Bookkeeping Bundle auto-calculates all fees so I can see my actual profit.

Not All Expenses Are Obvious

Packaging, shipping labels, materials, and even Canva subscriptions — they all count as business expenses. I wasn’t tracking any of it at first and ended up paying more in taxes than I needed to.

Fix: I started logging every expense monthly so I’d be ready at tax time (and not miss a single deduction).

Pricing Without Knowing Profit = Risky

I used to price based on “what felt right,” not what actually made money.

Now I use: the Etsy Profit Calculator to factor in all costs and know exactly what I’m earning per sale — before I list it.

Start Now, Not Later

Don’t wait until tax season or your first big sales month to get organized. I learned the hard way — you don’t have to.

Start with the right tools and stay ahead of your numbers. You’ll thank yourself later.

👉 Grab my Etsy Seller Bookkeeping Bundle here and simplify it all from the start.