Handmade

Selling your handmade goods online and at markets

Turn what you already make into a small shop: a WhatsApp or Instagram catalogue, local markets, and marketplaces such as Bob Shop, AYA Africa or Etsy.

Some evidenceLast checked 24 Oct 2026

To startR0 to R1 500
First randabout 4 weeks
WhereOnline or in person
Effort Fairly easy

See how this fits you, freeAbout 6 minutes, no sign-up.

Is this for you?

Best for

Makers of any craft who have a few products people already like and want to reach buyers beyond friends and family.

In South Africa: Good: WhatsApp and PAXI or Pargo work nationwide; Etsy payouts in rand are available.

What you need

A phone is enough to start
Works on everyday data
No camera needed
No cold selling
At least 4 hours a week · age 18+
Sewing, crafts or handmade (competent or better)

The money

What it can earn

Pocket money
A top-up
A second income
Can become a full income

Part time, most people earn a modest top-up from this. Treat bigger numbers you see online with care.

What people charge

No reliable SA figure yet

Prices depend on your craft; see the price evidence on each craft path. Channel fees are listed above.

Costs to plan for

Start-up: R0 to R1 500
Every month: Market stall fees (about R170 to R550 a day at the markets we checked), marketplace fees per sale, packaging and courier.
Payment fees: Bob Shop 7.25% to 8.75% excl. VAT; AYA 20%; Etsy about 12.65% + R9.20 per order incl. VAT on fees (plus US$0.20 per listing); Yoco 2.30% at markets.
Margin: Depends on your craft. Fees take 8% to 20% depending on the channel, so price for the most expensive one you use.

How it is paid: Margin per item after materials, fees and courier. Our viability score for it: 50 out of 100 (how we score).

How to start

1
Test it cheaply Before you spend
- List five products with prices on your WhatsApp Business catalogue
- Visit one market as a shopper and note what sells
- Success signal: ten sales to people who are not friends or family
2
First week Days 1 to 7
- Price your three best products with your pricing worksheet
- Photograph them in daylight on a plain background
- Set up a WhatsApp Business catalogue
3
First month Days 8 to 30
- List on one marketplace (Bob Shop or AYA)
- Book one market stall
- Track every sale and fee
4
By three months Days 31 to 90
- Drop the channel that sells least
- Ask a local shop to stock you
- Only try Etsy if your item is light, high-value and unique

A market day or your own network can bring first sales quickly; marketplaces take longer to get noticed. First income usually takes 7 to 90 days. A day-by-day version for your situation is in the full plan.

Step-by-step guide

Selling handmade goods online and at markets: from your first product photos to your first sales

25 short lessons with scripts, templates and rand prices to copy. R149 once-off, and the first lesson is free.

See what is inside

Customers and demand

Who pays

Local buyers who like handmade, gift buyers, and (on Etsy) overseas buyers.

Gets your products in front of buyers who are not already your friends.

Is there demand?

Channels checked Oct 2026: Bob Shop lists free with a 7.25% to 8.75% excl. VAT success fee; AYA Africa is free to join and keeps 20% per sale; Etsy accepts South African shops with payouts in rand but charges about 12.65% plus R9.20 per order after VAT, and overseas shipping often costs more than a small item. Hello Pretty, the best-known SA handmade marketplace, has closed. Markets charge R170 to R550 a day (Hoedspruit, Field Market, Cedar Market). Takealot needs stock, barcodes and a R400 a month subscription, so it suits makers with volume.

WhatsApp Business catalogueInstagramFacebook MarketplaceBob ShopAYA AfricaEtsyWeekend marketsTakealot (later, with volume)

Getting customers

Start where your buyers already are (WhatsApp and local markets), then add one online marketplace. Good daylight photos and quick replies do most of the selling.

Listing on online marketplaces (Takealot, Bob Shop, Etsy, Teacha!)Direct messagesWord of mouth and referralsIn-person networkingResponding to enquiriesBeing found through search or content

Risks and rules

Watch out for

Paying for a market stall that does not sell: visit as a shopper first
Etsy: international shipping and returns can wipe out your profit on small items
Fake "proof of payment" screenshots: check money has reflected before you send anything
Overpayment scams: a buyer pays too much and asks for the difference back

Competition: High online; less at well-chosen local markets.

Room to grow: Moderate: more channels and wholesale to shops, limited by how much you can make.

Legal and tax in South Africa

Labelling rules depend on what you make: cosmetics (soap, balms) under the FCD Act, clothing under Consumer Protection Act regulation 6.
Describe every item truthfully.
Register for income tax with SARS once you earn; keep records of every sale and every material you buy (materials are a business cost).
Check your municipality's home-business rules if customers come to your home.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start selling your handmade goods online and at markets in South Africa?

Our research puts start-up costs at about R0 to R1 500. Recurring costs: Market stall fees (about R170 to R550 a day at the markets we checked), marketplace fees per sale, packaging and courier.

How long until the first income?

Typically about 30 days, and between 7 and 90 days. A market day or your own network can bring first sales quickly; marketplaces take longer to get noticed.

Can I do it with only a phone?

Yes, a smartphone is enough to start, although a laptop helps as you grow.

What about tax and legal rules?

Labelling rules depend on what you make: cosmetics (soap, balms) under the FCD Act, clothing under Consumer Protection Act regulation 6. Describe every item truthfully. Register for income tax with SARS once you earn; keep records of every sale and every material you buy (materials are a business cost). Check your municipality's home-business rules if customers come to your home.

Sources (12)

Bob Shop: selling fees (first-hand, checked 24 Oct 2026)
AYA Africa: sell on AYA (vendors) (first-hand, checked 24 Oct 2026)
Etsy Help: countries eligible for Etsy Payments (first-hand, checked 24 Oct 2026)
Etsy: fees and payments policy (first-hand, checked 24 Oct 2026)
Etsy Help: payment processing fees by country (first-hand, checked 24 Oct 2026)
Etsy Payments policy (first-hand, checked 24 Oct 2026)
Hello Pretty: winding down notice (first-hand, checked 24 Oct 2026)
Hoedspruit Farmers Market (K2C Biosphere) (first-hand, checked 24 Oct 2026)
Field Market: traders (first-hand, checked 24 Oct 2026)
The Cedar Market: trader information (first-hand, checked 24 Oct 2026)
EasySel: Takealot seller fees explained (2026) (second-hand, checked 24 Oct 2026)
Yoco: card machine transaction fees (first-hand, checked 24 Oct 2026)

Free tools for this

Test selling your handmade goods online and at markets with your own numbers Estimate the tax on this side income

Not sure this is the one?

The free test ranks every option against your skills, time and budget.

Take the free test