Etsy Hack - How to Create a Passive Income on Autopilot

By now, you've probably heard of Etsy as a side hustle where you can sell your creations through the Etsy platform. Did you know there's a passive income side to this where you can set it and almost forget it?

The Traditional Way Etsy Works is:

Open Your Etsy Shop
Add Listings to Your Shop
Market & Promote
Manage Your Orders

The more products you list, Etsy rewards you with better promotion through their online search engine. Very easy. There are no strings attached. In fact, Etsy has a very detailed guide to selling on Etsy here.

Dropshipping and Print on Demand on Etsy

But what about dropshipping? Can you list other people's items like from Aliexpress and just drop ship the items? No! Dropshipping is not allowed on Etsy, and they remove accounts pretty fast for trying.

But what about print on demand? That's where you create the design and print it on mugs and t-shirts. Yes! Print On Demand is allowed on Etsy, and this is where you can set up a passive income business.

Gear Bubble allows you to hook up your Etsy Dashboard to your Gear Bubble fulfillment center and automatically fulfill any orders that come in.

Here's how it works:

Step 1: You create a design. The top selling Etsy stores choose a fun topic like Funny Pets and base their designs on that.

Step 2: Upload that design to GearBubble.

Step 3: Inside GearBubble, you set it to auto-fulfill to Etsy.

Step 4: Now, click NEW PRODUCT to Etsy.

Step 5: Take sales on Etsy.

Step 6: Sales are automatically imported to the GearBubble dashboard.

Step 7: GearBubble fulfills the orders.

Step 8: Tracking numbers automatically get sent to Etsy.

What I love about this money-making strategy is that you can hire artists on Fiverr or create the designs yourself. Once you upload it and create a new product to Etsy, everything else is automated.

Remember, the more product designs / products you create, the more your products show up on Etsy's search engine. I'll do a full review of GearBubble after I use their service for a full 30 days.

Don't forget to bookmark this page because I'll be updating the page with more details as I start making money using this money-making strategy. If you know anyone who would like this, please share this with them. We rely on word of mouth advertising to market our website.

Frequently Asked Questions About Etsy

How to Sell on Etsy?

Interested in selling on Etsy? Welcome!
This guide helps you through the first steps of opening your shop, shares tips on how to get a strong start, and provides resources for further guidance along the way.

Get to know Etsy
Etsy is a unique marketplace for handmade items, vintage goods, and craft supplies. On Etsy.com, you’ll find a community of makers, small-business owners, and shoppers who all share a passion for uncommon and rare goods.

If you’re new to Etsy, take some time to get to know us. Review our seller policies and learn about fees for selling on Etsy to make sure that selling on Etsy is right for you and your business.

Open your shop
Before you create your shop, sign in or create an Etsy account. You’ll use this account to run your shop and to buy from other makers on Etsy. After creating your account, add your profile picture and bio to let other people in the Etsy community know who you are.

To open your Etsy shop:
Click Sell on Etsy at the top right of Etsy.com.
Click Open your Etsy shop.
Select your shop language, country, and currency, then click Save and continue.
Choose your shop name, then click Save and continue.

You need to complete the first step of opening your shop on a desktop web browser. Once your shop is open, you can manage your shop on the Sell on Etsy app.
Learn more about opening a shop.

Do I need a business license to sell on Etsy?
Etsy doesn’t require sellers to have a business license to sell on Etsy.
However, when selling on Etsy you're required to follow any laws that apply to you as a small business selling online. If you have any questions regarding which laws apply to you, please contact a qualified professional.

Finish your shop setup
Once you’ve signed up to sell on Etsy, there are a few steps you need to take to complete your shop setup and prepare to start selling items. Like any online business, you should think through key factors in your selling workflow. Consider things like production time, policies, and your plan for shipping.

Key shop elements to address:
Banner and shop logo: Upload clear photos that represent the style of your brand and make a strong first impression on shoppers.
Shop announcement: Share a brief welcome message with shoppers.

📦 For US sellers, as you finish your shop setup, consider purchasing USPS Shipping Labels on Etsy. You can save up to 30% than the USPS retail rates you would pay at the post office or elsewhere online. Read more about purchasing USPS Shipping Labels on Etsy.

Add listings to your shop
Once you’ve completed all your shop sections, you are ready to start adding products to your Etsy shop. When you add a product to your Etsy shop, we call this a listing. Learn how to list an item.

Marketing, branding, and promotion
A marketing strategy is key to the success of your Etsy shop. Marketing will help new customers find your products, lets you existing customers up to date with the latest with your shop, and can lead to an overall rise in sales.

Consider marketing your shop through paid advertising.
Consider offering discounts to incentivize shoppers to buy with sales and coupons.
Find a local craft fair or market where you can sell your goods.
Join the Etsy community and teams where you can network with sellers and shoppers.

Manage your shop
After you’ve listed your items in your shop, there are other factors to manage as your business develops and grows.

Questions about setting up your shop?
Explore our Beginner's Guides and the Seller Handbook to help you get started on Etsy.

There’s a ton of great tips in the Seller Handbook, and our Ultimate Guide to Starting an Etsy Shop is a great place to begin. You can also connect with other sellers in the Etsy Community.

What is Etsy?

Etsy is a marketplace for unique and creative goods. You can find or sell unique handcrafted items.

How much does Etsy charge?

Etsy charges a flat 20 cents per listing. Once an item sells, there is a 5% transaction fee on the sale price (including the shipping price you set). If you accept payments through Etsy Payments, Etsy collects a 3% + $0.25 payment processing fee when an item is sold.