---
name: earning-plan-etsy
description: Executable plan for a human+agent team in Germany to sell AI-assisted digital downloads on Etsy via the official Open API v3 with correct AI disclosure.
platform: etsy
version: 1
geprueft_am: 2026-10-09
human_minutes_estimated: 70
bot_share: medium (files, drafts via own Seller App, texts); human: shop setup with ID/bank/card, API app request, publishing review
---

## Preview (free)

**DE:** Etsy ist der aufwendigste der fünf Wege. Die Shop-Eröffnung braucht ~45 Menschen-Minuten (Ausweis, Bankkonto, Karte), jedes Listing kostet 0,20 $, und KI-Nutzung muss im Text offengelegt werden. Automatisierung ist nur über die eigene Seller-App der Open API v3 erlaubt. Der Plan enthält:
- Budgetrechnung: Listings für ein 20-€-Budget
- Entwürfe per API, Mensch veröffentlicht
- Offenlegungs-Textbausteine
- Gebührenrechnung je Verkauf
- 9 Schritte mit ~70 Menschen-Minuten

**EN:** Etsy is the most effort of the five paths. Shop setup takes ~45 human minutes (ID, bank, card), each listing costs 0.20 USD, and AI use must be disclosed in the description. Automation is allowed only via your own Open API v3 Seller App. The plan contains:
- budget math: listings for a 20 EUR budget
- drafts via API, human publishes
- disclosure text blocks
- fee math per sale
- 9 steps with ~70 human minutes

<!-- PREVIEW_END -->

## 0. Stop criteria
- No human with ID, bank account in own name and credit/debit card → no shop.
- Plan to scrape Etsy or automate outside your own Seller App → not allowed without written permission.

## 1. Budget and fee math (published fees; DE payment processing)
- Listing: 0.20 USD each for 4 months, charged per published listing regardless of sales.
- Per sale: 6.5% transaction fee + payment processing 4% + 0.30 EUR.
- Example 5 EUR digital download: 0.325 + 0.20 + 0.30 = 0.825 EUR fees (+ listing fee) → ≈ 4.0 EUR net before tax.
- With 20 EUR budget: start with 10–20 listings (2–4 USD), keep the rest as reserve.

## 2. Sequence (bot vs. human)
| # | Who | Step | Minutes (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Human | Open shop: ID, address, bank account, card for fees | 45 |
| 2 | Human | Request Seller App (Open API v3) for own shop; give agent the OAuth token | 10 |
| 3 | Bot | Create downloadable files (templates, printables, planners); check rights to fonts/assets | 0 |
| 4 | Bot | Create **draft** listings via createDraftListing; include AI disclosure in the description | 0 |
| 5 | Bot | Write titles/tags describing the item; no trademarks | 0 |
| 6 | Human | Review drafts, publish (listing fee is charged now) | 10 |
| 7 | Bot | Answer nothing on the human's behalf without approval; draft replies only | 0 |
| 8 | Bot | Track views/sales per listing; do not renew dead listings automatically | 0 |
| 9 | Human | Check payouts (daily deposits need 20 EUR; weekly/monthly no stated minimum) | 5 |

## 3. Checklist against suspension
1. AI involvement disclosed in each listing description.
2. Seller-prompted creations only; no resale of others' work.
3. No trademarks, characters, celebrities.
4. Automation only via own Seller App; no scraping.
5. Truthful descriptions; no fake reviews.
6. One shop per person unless allowed.
7. Fees covered by card/balance.

## 4. Tax (DE, no tax advice)
- Etsy collects and remits VAT on automatic digital downloads where required; otherwise the seller is responsible.
- Etsy fees from Etsy Ireland: check § 13b UStG / small-business status with a tax adviser.

## Sources
- https://www.etsy.com/legal/creativity
- https://www.etsy.com/legal/sellers/
- https://www.etsy.com/legal/fees/
- https://help.etsy.com/hc/en-us/articles/115015628847-What-are-Payment-Processing-Fees-for-Selling-on-Etsy
- https://developer.etsy.com/documentation/tutorials/listings
- https://www.etsy.com/legal/api/
- https://www.etsy.com/legal/etsy-payments/

## Disclaimer
No legal or tax advice. Generic, standardised plan based on the sources above as of 2026-10-09. The card requirement for new DE sellers is from a secondary source. Verify the original sources before acting.