warebyhow to sell your crafts online, and to people near you
candles, pottery, jewelry, prints, knits: here’s where handmade sells, what each place costs, and the steps from your first photo to your first order.
in this post
1where to sell2step by step3selling locally4shipping or pickup5what sells6questions7sourcesto sell crafts online, pick a place by who’s buying: etsy or amazon handmade for buyers anywhere, a store of your own (shopify, big cartel or square online) once you have a following, and wareby for buyers within 25 miles who can pick up. then photograph your work in daylight, price it to cover materials, time and every fee, and start with the people who already know you. most makers sell in two places: one that brings new buyers, and one that’s theirs.
where can you sell handmade crafts?
there are three kinds of places, and each brings buyers a different way:
| kind of place | examples | who brings buyers | on a $35 sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| handmade marketplaces | etsy, amazon handmade | the marketplace, from buyers anywhere | $3.78 on etsy, $5.25 on amazon handmade |
| your own store | shopify, big cartel, square online | you do | $1.32 to $1.46 in card fees, plus a monthly plan on some |
| local | wareby, craft fairs, markets, local shops | people near you | $4.85 on wareby’s free plan. a booth fee at a fair |
the full list, with what each is best for: the best platforms to sell on.
how do you start selling crafts online?
- pick 5 to 10 pieces to start: your best sellers in person, or the things friends ask about most.
- photograph them in daylight, near a window, on a plain background, plus one photo in use: the mug with coffee in it, the necklace on someone. our seller guide has more photo tips.
- price for profit: materials, your time at a real hourly rate, packaging and every fee. here’s the formula, with real numbers.
- write plain descriptions: what it is, its size, materials and care, and how long it takes if it’s made to order.
- choose where to sell, using the table above. starting free makes sense while you learn what sells.
- decide how it reaches people: shipping for buyers far away, and pickup or local delivery for buyers nearby, which skips the boxes and postage.
- tell everyone you know. your first ten orders almost always come from people who already know you.
how do you sell crafts locally?
local buyers are the easiest to keep. they can see your work in person, pick it up, and come back for gifts all year. three ways to reach them:
- craft fairs and markets. a booth fee buys you a weekend of people holding your work. bring a sign with your shop link or a qr code, so they can order later.
- local shops. boutiques and cafes often sell local work on consignment, keeping a share of each sale.
- a local marketplace. on wareby, shoppers within 25 miles find your shop online, then pick up or get it delivered by you.
should you ship, or offer pickup?
both, if you can. shipping opens up buyers anywhere, but it adds boxes, postage and breakage. pickup and local delivery cost you almost nothing and suit big or fragile pieces: lamps, large bowls, framed prints.
on wareby, each shop chooses: pickup, delivery inside an area you set, shipping, or all three.
what crafts sell best?
we can’t tell you what will sell in your town, but here’s what we’ve seen work: things people buy as gifts, things they use up and buy again (candles, soap, cards), and things that look better in person than in a photo, which is where local buyers come in. start with what you love making, then watch what people ask for twice.
questions people ask
where is the best place to sell handmade crafts?
etsy has the most handmade buyers, shipped anywhere. amazon handmade reaches amazon shoppers. your own store costs the least per sale once you have a following. wareby is for buyers within 25 miles, with pickup or local delivery.
how do i sell my crafts locally?
craft fairs and markets, consignment in local shops, and a local marketplace like wareby, where shoppers within 25 miles can find your shop and pick up.
can i sell crafts online for free?
you can start free: wareby, big cartel (up to 5 products) and square online’s free plan have no monthly fee. you still pay card processing when you sell, and on wareby, a sale fee. etsy charges 20¢ a listing.
do i need a business license to sell crafts?
it depends on your state and city. most states with a sales tax need you to register to collect it, so start with your state’s revenue department, then check your city for a local license.
how much should i charge for my crafts?
enough to cover materials, packaging, every fee and a real hourly wage for your time, plus profit. our pricing guide walks through it with real numbers.
sources
- etsy: fees & payments policy
- amazon seller central: amazon handmade referral fees
- shopify: pricing
- big cartel: the gold plan
- big cartel help: processing fees explained
- square: online store plans
- wareby: seller plans
we checked every fee and fact about other companies on october 12, 2026, on their own pages. fees change, so check theirs before you decide. spot something out of date? email hello@shopwareby.com and we’ll fix it.
etsy, shopify, square online, hotplate, amazon handmade, ebay, big cartel, wix, squarespace and facebook marketplace are trademarks of their owners. wareby isn’t affiliated with any of them, and we make wareby, so weigh our opinions with that in mind.
we started tandoco, a small bakery in minneapolis, and sold under a blue tent at farmers markets before we built wareby. our story
