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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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? ›

One of the key reasons to have a separate business bank account for your Etsy business is to maintain accurate financial records. By keeping your personal and business expenses separate, you streamline your accounting and make it easier to track and report your business income and expenses for tax purposes.

Do I need a business bank account to open an Etsy shop? ›

After you click “Save and Continue” on the “Stock your shop” page, you'll get taken to a page focused on getting you paid — and paying Etsy. Here, you'll need to connect a business bank account so Etsy can pay you, and you'll need to add a credit or debit card to pay the company.

Can you use the same bank account for 2 Etsy shops? ›

Yes, you can use the same credit card for seller registration as well as the same bank account if you sign up for Etsy Payments. You must use the same taxpayer ID and address when applicable.

Do I have to connect my bank account to sell on Etsy? ›

To get paid on Etsy, you need to connect your bank account to your Etsy shop so that you can receive payments. You'll also need to add a debit or credit card to your account to pay your bills from Etsy.

Why does Etsy need to verify my bank account? ›

This helps us protect your funds in case the bank account wasn't updated by you. We want the funds to go to your bank account and not a bad actor's. This 5-day hold doesn't apply if you're verifying an account number already on file.

Should I get a separate bank account for my Etsy shop? ›

One of the key reasons to have a separate business bank account for your Etsy business is to maintain accurate financial records. By keeping your personal and business expenses separate, you streamline your accounting and make it easier to track and report your business income and expenses for tax purposes.

Can I use my personal bank account for Etsy shop? ›

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.

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 are you allowed to 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.

How much is an Etsy shop per month? ›

Subscriptions. There is no fee to have an Etsy shop (other than the product listing fees) but you can choose to pay a monthly subscription for Etsy Plus. This costs $10.00 per month (plus tax) and gives the following benefits: A monthly budget of credits for listings and Etsy Ads.

How to receive money from Etsy? ›

How Etsy Payments deposits work. When you make a sale through Etsy Payments, the funds are first added to your Payment account on Etsy. Then, according to your deposit schedule, your available funds will be sent to your bank account. You must have a valid bank account on file with your shop.

Do you need an LLC to sell 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.

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.

Should I give Plaid my bank username and password? ›

With Plaid, your banking credentials are never shared with the platform. Instead, that data is stored on Plaid's platform using some of the highest encryption protocols available. After you share the required personal information, you're taken through a series of steps to complete the connection.

How long does it take for Etsy to verify bank account? ›

We'll review it within 5 business days. To upload a bank statement for verification: On Etsy.com select Shop Manager.

What are the requirements to open an Etsy shop? ›

9 Steps To Set Up an Etsy Shop
  • Create Your Etsy Account. To create a seller account, you must first have a consumer Etsy account. ...
  • Enter Your Shop Preferences. ...
  • Name Your Shop. ...
  • Create Your Listings. ...
  • Input Your Payment Settings. ...
  • Enter Your Credit Card Details. ...
  • Open Your Shop. ...
  • Update Your Bio.
Apr 3, 2024

Do I need an LLC to open an Etsy shop? ›

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 it cost to have an Etsy business account? ›

There is no fee to have an Etsy shop (other than the product listing fees) but you can choose to pay a monthly subscription for Etsy Plus. This costs $10.00 per month (plus tax) and gives the following benefits: A monthly budget of credits for listings and Etsy Ads.

Can you open a normal bank account for business? ›

Yes, you can open a personal checking account for a sole proprietor business, but there are a number of reasons why it may not be the best choice.

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