Why Your Etsy Shop Needs a Separate Bank Account - zero to biz (2024)

  • Etsy Essentials, Solopreneur Superstar
  • 14 Comments
  • by Steph | zero to biz

Why Your Etsy Shop Needs a Separate Bank Account - zero to biz (1)

There are so many things that need to be done in the beginning. When starting your business or opening your Etsy shop you’ve got to choose a name, think about your target market, find your niche, set up a shipping strategy, and that’s just a few of those start up to-dos. Although those are all important, my experience has taught me there’s another key thing to do immediately when you get going and it might even be considered the most crucial.

As soon as you can, open a separate bank account. It’s the number one thing I recommend when people ask questions about starting a business. A lot of the tasks in starting a business can be learned, figured out, or caught up on. Blending your finances is really hard to undo and is even frowned upon by the IRS.

Accounting is probably the least of your worries when starting your Etsy shop and definitely one of the least glamourous parts of being an entrepreneur. Business finances can be confusing (and stressful) enough, make it a little easier on yourself by opening a separate bank account from the very beginning. Luckily, getting a new bank account specifically for your business or Etsy shop is easy to do.

KEEP IT SEPARATE

It can quickly become very confusing to have your personal money mixed with your business finances. You’ll want to see how much money you’re spending and making – which can be done at a glance if you have a separate bank account. If not, you’re going to spend a lot of time combing through transactions and transferring information to get your bottom line.

Not only for personal reasons of seeing how your business is doing, but your accountant, bookkeeper, or CPA will thank you. It makes their job a lot easier come tax time and you’ll be spending less money since your financial information will be clear and all in one place.

Keeping it separate helps keep it simple.

EXPENSES

When you open your Etsy shop, you’ll be buying supplies for your products, shipping materials, and paying shop fees. Get a bank account that provides a free debit card to use for your expenses. Even better, find a credit card and earn points (or cash back) while you purchase materials.

Remember that any expenses are write offs on your annual tax return. If you have a debit or credit card dedicated to everything business related, you’ll make sure no expense goes missed.

INCOME

Set up all your streams of income (Etsy and Paypal for me) to deposit directly in your business bank account. Once again, you’ll be able to see how well your business is doing by a quick look at your bank account.

Both Etsy and Paypal make it super easy – Etsy deposits money into your account weekly, every Monday, and Paypal transfers your income with one click. You can set up your new bank account to receive their deposits.

JUST DO IT

When I started my Etsy shop, my expenses and income were basically nonexistent. However, within one month of getting started I opened a separate bank account. I wanted to keep my finances organized and legit from the beginning. I’m so glad I did it and always mention this to anyone contemplating starting any kind of biz.

Most banks have options for free bank accounts and I highly suggest taking advantage of that! Don’t wait – you can thank me later.

Ready to open your Etsy shop? Download my guide to getting started here!

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14 Comments on Why Your Etsy Shop Needs a Separate Bank Account

  1. Great information, very easy to follow . Great instructions

    Reply

  2. Great advice! Good information on hete thanks!

    Reply

  3. Did you open a personal banking account or a business bank account?

    Reply

    • Hi Victoria! I just opened a separate bank account – it wasn’t a “business” account because they had a fee.

      Reply

  4. Just an FYI, you can set up Etsy to pay you daily. I don’t think they’ll do it right away but it’s pretty quick after you open. It’s under the finances section and payments settings.

    Reply

  5. If I am cross-listing, should I have a separate bank account for each platform. For example I’m using Etsy and Depop. Should I have a bank specifically for Etsy and another for Depop? Or just one bank account for selling?

    Reply

    • Hi Sophie! I just have one bank account I funnel all business income into! : )

      Reply

  6. Hey Steph! how are you?
    Do I have to create a business acount on PayPal, or with the personal one its okay??
    Thank you so much!

    Reply

    • Hi Laura! I’m not sure, I think a personal one would be fine as long as it’s separate from your actual personal one (if you have one), but double check the terms and conditions!

      Reply

  7. If I open another checking account meanwhile I decide to file for a business license etc would I be able to switch it over to a business account?

    Reply

    • Hi Denise! I can’t imagine that would be a problem, but definitely recommend checking with the bank you use to make sure.

      Reply

  8. Hi Steph, thank you so much for this information! If I were to create an LLC for my company, do you know if I would have to open a business checking account or could I just open another regular checking account that is separate from my personal. I want to stick with my bank (Chase) but the business checking account requires a $2,000 minimum balance. I was wondering if I could just create a separate regular checking account instead of a business one? Thanks!

    Reply

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Hi there!

Why Your Etsy Shop Needs a Separate Bank Account - zero to biz (4)

I'm Steph, your personal cheerleader as you begin your biz. I started at zero over seven years ago and turned my hobby Etsy shop into a full blown business. Now, I want to share everything I know in helping you pursue your passion, live a life of freedom, and love Mondays a little more!

Why Your Etsy Shop Needs a Separate Bank Account - zero to biz (6)

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Why Your Etsy Shop Needs a Separate Bank Account - zero to biz (2024)

FAQs

Why Your Etsy Shop Needs a Separate Bank Account - zero to biz? ›

KEEP IT SEPARATE

Should you have a separate bank account for Etsy shop? ›

To make it easier to file your business taxes, set up a separate bank account to handle all of your Etsy expenses and transactions. This way, you have every business-related expense in one place and not mingled with your personal money.

Do I need a business banking account to sell on Etsy? ›

It's permissible to use your personal bank account to receive Etsy payments. However, if you decide to structure your Etsy shop as a Limited Liability Company (LLC), things change. In such cases, you will be required to open a business checking account where Etsy revenues can be accepted.

What bank account should I use for my Etsy shop? ›

Chase Business Complete Banking is an excellent option for Etsy businesses. It offers a straightforward account structure with no monthly service fee when certain requirements are met.

Can I use the same bank account for two Etsy accounts? ›

For your seller registration, you can use the same credit card and bank account for both your shops. Most browsers do not allow to be signed up to multiple accounts at a time, Etsy included. To manage different accounts, if you don't want to log in and out every time, you should use different browsers.

Can I use a personal bank account for business? ›

While you technically could use your personal bank account for business, it is generally not recommended. This is because mixing your personal and business finances could put your personal assets at risk if your business were to face legal issues.

Can I use a regular checking account for business? ›

Even if your financial institution doesn't say this (check your depositor agreement), you still shouldn't use the same checking account for business and personal expenses. All businesses, even very small ones, should keep these finances separate.

What happens if I sell on Etsy without a business license? ›

If you're running a business – that is, you're selling with the intent of making a profit – then you'll need an Etsy business license. But if you're just doing it for fun, as a hobby, then selling without a business license shouldn't be a problem. Keep in mind you'll have to pay sales tax regardless.

Do I need an LLC before selling on Etsy? ›

If you're based in the US, you can either operate your Etsy shop as an unincorporated entity — a sole proprietorship or a general partnership — or you can incorporate and form a corporation or a limited liability company (LLC). Sole proprietorships and general partnerships are the two simplest options.

How much does the average person make on Etsy? ›

How Much Does The Average Etsy Seller Make? The average successful seller on Etsy earns between $43,000 and $46,000 per year which is a fantastic foundation to build on as top earners make over $65,000 per month!

Is it safe to connect your bank to Etsy? ›

Etsy maintains records associated with transactions on Etsy Payments and does not pass any secure data, including credit card numbers or bank account information, to any sellers.

What is the safest payment method on Etsy? ›

PayPal. If you choose to pay through PayPal, you'll be redirected to a secure PayPal page and then back to Etsy to confirm the order.

What is the best payment method for Etsy? ›

Credit cards are the most commonly accepted payment option for Etsy stores. It's easy to take credit card payments on Etsy by setting up a merchant account with either Stripe or Square. With these services, buyers enter their credit card information directly into Etsy.

Can I have multiple Etsy shops under one LLC? ›

Yes, you can have multiple businesses under one LLC.

You can run two or more businesses under one LLC by either: running all the business activities under one LLC name, or. registering DBAs (“doing business as”), also known as Fictitious Names.

Does Etsy track IP addresses? ›

We obtain location information you provide in your profile or your IP address. With your consent, we may also determine location by using other information from your device, such as precise location information from GPS or information about wireless networks or cell towers near your mobile device.

How many Etsy shops can one person have? ›

Etsy doesn't limit how many shops a single person can create. Open a second Etsy shop or even more, but consider if managing multiple Etsy shops fits your lifestyle.

Should I connect my bank to Etsy? ›

Be sure to add your bank details within 30 days of your first sale to avoid your shop being suspended. You're required to verify your bank details within 60 days or your shop will be suspended. To update your bank account: On Etsy.com, select Shop Manager.

Is linking bank account to Etsy safe? ›

Etsy maintains records associated with transactions on Etsy Payments and does not pass any secure data, including credit card numbers or bank account information, to any sellers.

Should I make a separate email for Etsy shop? ›

If you have not already, set up an e-mail address that is specifically for your Etsy business. Do not use your own "personal" email address to hand out to others.

What bank accounts should a small business have? ›

Common business accounts include a checking account, savings account, credit card account, and a merchant services account. Merchant services accounts allow you to accept credit and debit card transactions from your customers. You can open a business bank account once you've gotten your federal EIN.

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