Guides for online sellers
Clear explanations of Etsy, Shopify and eBay fees, pricing and profit margins, with worked numbers you can check in the calculators.
EtsyEtsy fees explained: what you pay on every sale in 2026
Etsy charges a listing fee, a transaction fee and a payment processing fee on almost every order, plus advertising fees on some. Here's how each one works, with real numbers.
ShopifyShopify fees explained: plans, payment rates and hidden costs
With Shopify you pay a monthly plan and a card fee on each order, and sometimes an extra transaction fee. Here's what each costs and how to turn it into a per-order number.
ComparisonEtsy vs Shopify: which keeps more of each sale?
Shopify charges less per order, but Etsy brings you buyers. The answer depends on how many orders you get and what it costs you to find customers.
PricingHow to price handmade products so every sale makes money
Rules like “double your costs” ignore platform fees and your time. Build the price from the bottom up instead, then check it against the market.
ProfitHow to calculate e-commerce profit margin
Profit margin tells you how much of each sale you actually keep. Here's how to calculate it, how it differs from markup, and the costs that most often get missed.
ShippingFree shipping vs charging for shipping: what it does to your profit
On Etsy and Shopify, moving the shipping cost into your item price doesn't change your fees. It changes how buyers see your price. Here's how to decide.
EtsyEtsy fees for digital downloads in 2026
Printables, planners and templates pay the same Etsy fees as physical items, but with no shipping or materials the numbers work very differently. Here's what you really keep.
EtsyEtsy fees UK 2026: what UK sellers pay on every sale
UK sellers pay a different processing rate from US shops, plus a regulatory operating fee and VAT on Etsy's fees. Here's the full list, with a worked example in pounds.
PricingHow to price candles: a step-by-step pricing formula
Wax and fragrance are only part of the cost of a candle. Add your time, packaging, heavy shipping and Etsy or Shopify fees, then solve for a price that leaves real profit.
AdsWhat is a good ROAS for a Shopify store?
A 3x ROAS can be great for one store and a loss for another. A good ROAS depends on your margins, and you can work out your own in a minute.
eBayeBay fees explained: what sellers pay in 2026
eBay's fees mostly come down to a final value fee and a per-order fee, but shipping, sales tax, Promoted Listings and category rules all change what you keep.
TikTok ShopTikTok Shop fees explained: what sellers really pay in 2026
TikTok Shop's referral fee looks small, but creator commissions, fulfilment, returns and ads decide what you actually keep. Here's every cost, with an example.
ResalePoshmark vs Mercari vs Depop: which keeps more of each sale?
Poshmark takes 20%, Mercari 10% and Depop only a processing fee, but shipping and audience change the picture. Here's the same item on all three.
ProfitHow to calculate the break-even point for an online store
How many sales does your shop need each month before it makes any money? The break-even formula answers it, and shows which lever to pull first.
PricingHow discounts affect your profit (and how much more you need to sell)
A 20% discount doesn't cost you 20% of your profit. On a typical online product it can cost half of it. Here's the maths, and when a sale is still worth it.