The 5 easiest Etsy shops to start where entrepreneurs can earn 6 figures or more

Digital downloads are one of the easiest products to make for Etsy because they don't require any physical inventory. You can create your own templates, graphics, and workbooks for free on programs like Canva or InDesign, then upload your designs to Etsy. Once a customer purchases a download, they can print it on their own. 

Digital downloads can also include posters, spreadsheets, sewing patterns, stationery, invitations, and planner pages. You can also sell digital files like fonts and photo presets, one Etsy seller said in a podcast episode. 

Kayla Warner has sold printable and digital planners on Etsy since 2018, running her business as a passive income stream. In 2021, her shop brought in $95,000 in revenue, Insider previously reported.

Jewelry can be a low-cost item to produce; the materials can be inexpensive and shipping costs are minimal because jewelry can be lightweight. Some Etsy sellers start with clay earrings or simple metal pieces before making more complex jewelry items. 

Jewelry is a popular category on Etsy, which means it's also a competitive market. You'll need to make your designs unique and use best practices around search-engine optimization to help shoppers find your products. 

Alexa Allamano started selling handmade jewelry on Etsy in 2008 and has expanded to a Shopify store. In 2021, her company earned $123,000 in revenue, Insider previously reported.

One of the reasons shoppers turn to Etsy is for customizable and seasonal clothing, like T-shirts and sweatshirts with inspirational quotes or fun graphics. Some sellers use on-demand printing and dropshipping services so that they never have to buy or hold inventory. 

Emma Larocque has been selling embroidered tees and sweatshirts on Etsy since 2021. She uses Printful, a print-on-demand dropshipping company, to customize and ship her products.

Last year, Larcocque earned $71,000 in sales on the platform, Insider previously reported. 

Similar to custom apparel, Etsy sellers can utilize on-demand printing services to sell trendy and fun stickers. Sellers can make stickers of memes, pop-culture references, or their original art.

Elyse Burns has been selling stickers and stationery on Etsy since she was 18 years old. In 2021, her business grossed more than $1 million in revenue, Insider previously reported. 

Candles have become a popular side hustle on Etsy and on social media, where influencers often post reels of themselves making and pouring soy or wax candles. 

Erica Boucher has been selling handmade candles on Etsy since 2020, but her most lucrative revenue stream is her YouTube channel, which she uses to talk about her business and show how her candles are made.

In 2020, she earned $14,320 from YouTube ads, Insider previously reported.