Quick answer: Yes, but only through a shop you own. A 13 to 17 year old can't have their own Etsy account. You open the shop in your name, with your payment details, and you supervise it. Under 13, Etsy isn't allowed at all.
| Age | Etsy |
|---|---|
| Under 13 | Not allowed, even with a parent |
| 13 to 17 | Only through a parent's shop, with the parent supervising |
| 18 and up | Their own shop |
How the setup works
- You open the shop. The Etsy account is in your name, with your email.
- Your payment and bank details. Sales are paid out to you.
- Say who's involved. Etsy's minors policy expects the shop to make clear that a minor is selling with a parent's supervision.
- You stay in charge. Etsy holds the account owner, you, responsible for listings, orders, messages and refunds.
What your teen does, and doesn't, get
They can: make the products, take the photos, write the listings for you to post, pack and ship.
They can't: have their own login, see their own dashboard, or run the shop without you. On paper, the shop is yours.
That's fine if the goal is selling their stuff. It's a weaker fit if the goal is for your teen to learn by running something of their own, because the decisions and the numbers live in your account.
The money and the taxes
- Payouts go to you. If you want the money to be your teen's, you pass it on yourself.
- Tax forms are in your name. Etsy reports sales under the account holder.
- Your teen's earnings still matter. If the business is really theirs, keep a record of what they made and spent. Real earned income can open doors, like a custodial Roth IRA. Here's how that works.
Before you set it up
Three questions worth answering first:
- Who is the seller? If you'll be doing most of the work, a parent shop is honest. If your teen will, they'll feel like a supplier.
- What happens to the money? Decide now how much goes back to them and how much they save.
- Who answers customers? On Etsy, that's you, by design.
If your kid is under 13
Etsy is off the table. That's the gap we built Lemonade Stand for: your kid gets their own store and login, and you approve every product, order and message before anything goes live. For the full Etsy rules, see how old you have to be to sell on Etsy. For other sites, see where kids can sell online.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 13-year-old sell on Etsy?
Only through a shop a parent or guardian owns and supervises. The account, the payment details and the responsibility belong to the adult.
Can a 14 or 15 year old have their own Etsy shop?
No. Anyone under 18 can sell only through a parent's or guardian's shop.
Whose name is on an Etsy shop for a teen?
The parent's. The account, the bank details and the tax reporting are all in the account holder's name.
Can my teen get paid directly from Etsy?
No. Payouts go to the account holder, the parent, who can pass the money on.
Is there a way for a kid under 13 to sell online?
Not on Etsy. Lemonade Stand is built for kids under 13: the kid runs their own store and a parent approves every product and order.
Etsy's policies change. We checked Etsy's minors policy in October 2026. Confirm current terms with Etsy before you open a shop. Not legal or tax advice.