3 Things To Know Before Moving Your 3D Printing Business from Etsy to Shopify

--- title: '3 Things To Know Before Moving Your 3D Printing Business from Etsy to Shopify ' date: '2023-11-25' summary: 'Things To Consider When Deciding Between Selling 3D Prints on Etsy or Shopify' image: 'https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/shopify-vs-etsy-for-3d-printing/shopify-vs-etsy.png' author: 'MatterManifest' tags: ['Selling', 'Intermediate', '3D Printer'] --- Deciding where to sell your 3D printed creations can be a pivotal choice for your business. Two popular platforms, Etsy and Shopify, offer distinct advantages and considerations for 3D printing entrepreneurs. From cost factors to the level of control over your brand, the decision between Etsy and Shopify comes with a range of implications. In this comprehensive guide, we will break down the key factors that influence your choice between Etsy and Shopify as platforms for your 3D printing business. We'll delve into the economics of selling on each platform, explore the pros and cons, compare fee structures, and provide insights into when it's better to choose one over the other. By the end of this article, you'll have a clearer understanding of: - When Does Shopify Become Cheaper Than Etsy? - Pros And Cons For Shopify And Etsy For 3D Printing Sellers - How Do Shopify Fees vs. Etsy Fees Compare For 3D Prints? - When Is It Better To Sell 3D Prints On Etsy vs. Shopify? - Is Shopify better than Etsy for 3D Printing? # --- # # 1. Minimum Number of Sales One of the main reasons to move to Shopify from Etsy is it can be more cost-effective, particularly as your business expands. Shopify's transaction fees can be lower than Etsy's, especially with higher-tier plans and by using Shopify Payments. However, you need to be generating enough sales in order to meet the Shopify’s monthly fee + transaction fees. | Factor | Etsy | Shopify | | -------------------------------- | -------------------------- | ----------------------------------- | | **Market Reach** | ✓ Large, built-in audience | ✗ Requires own marketing | | **Ease of Use** | ✓ Easy setup | ✗ User-friendly but more complex | | **Community Support** | ✓ Strong community support | ✗ Less community-focused | | **Customization** | ✗ Limited customization | ✓ Extensive customization | | **Branding Control** | ✗ Less branding control | ✓ Full branding control | | **Upfront Fees** | ✓ $0.20 per listing | ✗ $39/month for basic plan | | **Transaction Fees** | ✗ 6.5% of the sale price | ✓ 2.9% + 30¢ per online transaction | | **Fees Paid For $1000 In Sales** | ✓ Approx. $65 | ✗ Approx. $69 | # **Once Your Monthly Sales pass $1,200, Etsy's higher transaction costs becomes more expensive than Shopify's upfront pricing model.** While Shopify may be more expensive initially due to its monthly cost, it offers a range of advantages that could make it a preferrable choice even if you aren't selling $1200 per month yet. For example, if you're looking to build a 3D Printing brand, create a dedicated website for 3D Prints, or gain access to valuable buyer email information so you can build a longer term relationship with your customers, Shopify provides the tools and flexibility needed to achieve these goals. In this case, your monthly sales should be at least breaking even with Shopify's monthly fee. # The following example uses the [3D Printed Articulated Slug](/catalog/friendly-articulated-slug) product as mentioned in a previous article on [How to Sell 3D Prints on Etsy](/blog/easy-way-to-start-selling-on-etsy), we can get an idea of how to calculate profit assuming you are selling this item for $5 each. ![](https://assets.mattermanifest.com/uploaded/site/blog/shopify-vs-etsy-for-3d-printing/Etsy-Slug-Seller.png) [TylerRoseWorkshop is not affiliated with MatterManifest. This image is purely for demonstration purposes] # ## Material Costs: $0.26 Per Item - Utilizing PLA filament priced at $20/kg. - Cost per item, given filament usage of 0.01315kg. # ## Electricity Costs: $0.07 Per Item - Each item requires 3 hours of print time on an Ender 3. - Ender 3 consumes 0.12 kWh per hour. - At California's power rate of $0.20/kWh. # ## Shopify Fees: $0.445 Per Sale - The basic plan costs $29 per month, approximately $0.95 per day. - With a listing price of $5.00 per item, Shopify's transaction fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 equates to. # ## Net Profit Calculation for a $5 Sale (Assuming Buyer Covers Shipping): - The net profit per $5 sale is $4.22, reflecting an 84% margin. - This calculation includes costs for materials, print time, and Shopify's transaction fee, totaling $0.78 per item. # ## Breaking Even with Shopify's Monthly Fee: - To cover Shopify's monthly fee, a shop needs to sell ~ 9 units monthly just to break even. - For a seller aiming to earn a minimum of $100 per month, at least 31 units of $5 items need to be sold. - This threshold ensures the venture is profitable, excluding potential costs like advertising or additional app integrations. --- # # 2. Know Your Marketing To be successfully selling on Shopify, you will need to generate your own traffic to your site via your own marketing while establishing trust with each customer that visits your store. This can be a benefit, as you will own your customer relationships entirely without being limited by an intermediate like Etsy. Below are a few accessible ways to use social media platforms to help you promote your products for free while generating free traffic to your Shopify store. # ### TikTok Unlike some other platforms, **TikTok** provides the opportunity for your content to reach new people organically. This can be particularly advantageous for small businesses or individuals with limited marketing budgets as you have the maximum chance of going viral on TikTok. **Best ways to create engaging content on TikTok:** 1. **Printing Process Time-Lapse:** - _Description:_ Showcase the mesmerizing process of 3D printing through time-lapse videos. - _Example:_ Capture a time-lapse video of the entire printing process, edit to highlight key moments, and add a popular TikTok soundtrack. 2. **Before-and-After Transformations:** - _Description:_ Create suspense with before-and-after videos of 3D printed products. - _Example:_ Film a short clip introducing a new 3D printed product, tease the final result, and reveal the completed product. 3. **Creative Product Showcases with Effects:** - _Description:_ Use TikTok's effects and filters to make your showcases stand out. - _Example:_ Feature 3D printed products using different effects, filters, and music. 4. **Interactive Challenges and Duets:** - _Description:_ Engage users with challenges or duets related to your 3D printed products. - _Example:_ Start a challenge where users demonstrate creative uses of your 3D printed items. # ### Instagram Instagram offers different features suitable for showcasing 3D printed products and building an audience of potentially interested customers. 1. **Product Showcases with Carousel Posts:** - _Example:_ Create a carousel post featuring a 3D printed product from various angles. 2. **Behind-the-Scenes Videos on IGTV:** - _Example:_ Film a time-lapse video of the 3D printing process and share in-depth insights on IGTV. 3. **Interactive Stories with Polls and Questions:** - _Example:_ Use Stories to ask followers to vote on preferences for new product releases. 4. **User-Generated Content and Contests:** - _Example:_ Run contests for customers to share how they use your 3D printed products. # ### Pinterest Pinterest is great for visually showcasing products and is well suited for content ideas around aesthetic 3D Printed Products. 1. **High-Quality Product Pins:** - _Example:_ Design Pins with multiple images of a 3D printed product, highlighting various features. 2. **Tutorial and DIY Idea Boards:** - _Example:_ Create a board with DIY project ideas involving your 3D printed items. 3. **Color and Design Inspiration Boards:** - _Example:_ Curate a board showing different color options for your 3D printed products. 4. **Customer Testimonials and Reviews:** - _Example:_ Create a board featuring positive feedback and images of customers with your products. --- # # 3. Know The Cost Of Business Tools And Software Apart from the usual day-to-day costs of running a Shopify business, there are some important things you might want to budget for, like accounting software and getting your website developed. Making sure you've got both these bases covered is key to setting up your Shopify store for success in the long run. ### Accounting Software While Shopify offers basic reporting tools, using dedicated accounting software can provide more comprehensive insights into your business finances. This is crucial for managing expenses, tracking revenue, and preparing for tax season. An option we prefer is QuickBooks because it integrates seamlessly with Shopify, allowing you to automatically sync your sales, expenses, and other financial data. The cost of integrating and setting up QuickBooks with your Shopify store can vary based on several factors, including the complexity of your store, the specific QuickBooks features you need, and whether you choose to do the setup yourself or hire a professional. Here are some cost considerations: QuickBooks Subscription QuickBooks offers various subscription plans, each with different features. The cost of your subscription will depend on the plan you choose and the needs of your business. QuickBooks Online typically ranges from around $30 to $200 per month. | Feature Group | Simple Start | Essentials | Plus | Advanced | | ---------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------- | | **Monthly Cost** | $15/month | $30/month | $45/month | $100/month | | **Basic Features** | ✓ (Guided setup, transaction tracking, invoice and payments, tax deductions) | ✓ (Includes all Simple Start features) | ✓ (Includes all Essentials features) | ✓ (Includes all Plus features) | | **Reports & Tracking** | Basic financial reports, receipt capture, mileage tracking | Enhanced reports | Comprehensive reports, inventory management, project profitability | Powerful reports, Excel data sync | | **Sales & Payment Handling** | Sales handling, estimates, 1099s, 1 sales channel | 3 sales channels | All sales channels | All sales channels, batch processing | | **User Access & Management** | - | 3 users, bill management, time tracking | 5 users | 25 users, custom controls, expense management | # ### Customization and Development for Shopify Customization and development play a crucial role in enhancing a Shopify store's functionality. Shopify provides a user-friendly platform with a variety of themes and apps, however if your store requires specific features or design elements that are not readily available, you may have to hire Shopify store experts / developers. Initial Setup and Configuration Setting up a new Shopify store with basic configuration, theme installation, and initial product setup may cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000, depending on the complexity and customization requirements. New or Ongoing Development When working with Shopify Experts and developers, cost considerations are essential and can be structured in two main ways: Hourly Rates Shopify experts and developers often charge hourly rates. Rates can vary from $50 to $200 or more per hour, depending on the developer's experience and the complexity of the task. Fixed-Price Quotes Some developers may offer fixed-price quotes for specific projects. This can provide more clarity on the total cost, but it's crucial to have a detailed project scope to avoid misunderstandings. --- # # Closing Remarks In summary, transitioning from Etsy to Shopify demands careful consideration of several factors. It's imperative to grasp the minimum sales threshold required to offset Shopify's monthly fees and transaction charges, with tools like the Slicer offering valuable insights into material and electricity costs. Equally vital is a nuanced understanding of marketing strategies, emphasizing platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest to drive traffic effectively. Budgeting for initial expenses, including domain registration and theme acquisition, is essential, and the significance of incorporating accounting software, particularly QuickBooks, cannot be overstated. Additionally, acknowledging potential costs associated with Shopify customization and development ensures a holistic approach to establishing a Shopify store geared for enduring success. Happy selling! 🚀 --- --- --- Explore Our 3D GCODE Catalog: Discover a wide range of [3D products in our catalog](/catalog), all ready for printing with pre-prepared Gcodes. Whether you seek inspiration or a starting point for your projects, our catalog offers endless possibilities for your creativity. 3D Printing Diagnostic Troubleshooter: Experience hassle-free troubleshooting with our [3D Printing Diagnostic Troubleshooter](/diagnostic) tool. In just three simple steps, it helps you identify and resolve 3D printing issues effectively, ensuring you can get back to creating with confidence. Disclaimer: We do not share account information from our seller network. We may use publicly available information from non affiliated sellers for illustration purposes. Any such examples used to explain ideas and we do not monetize affiliates for these sellers. All copyright and IP owned by the original artist and sellers credited.

3 Things To Know Before Moving Your 3D Printing Business from Etsy to Shopify

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