Seller Handbook

In an emergency, it pays to have a plan. Natural disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity,* and for small business owners, even a brief disruption can have a real impact. Since disaster readiness and response information can be scattered and difficult to find, we've pulled together essential resources for Etsy sellers—from building a resilience plan to recovering after a crisis—all in one place.

Need help now?

• Apply for a grant. US sellers impacted by a FEMA-declared disaster may be eligible for emergency relief through Etsy's Disaster Relief Fund via CERF+.
• Pause your shop. Turn on Vacation Mode to remove listings from public view and auto-reply to buyers while you're away.
• Build your climate resilience. Explore the free Climate Academy, online courses for makers on climate risk, preparedness, and recovery.

Follow these handy links to jump directly to the resources you need:

• How to prepare before a disaster happens
• What to do after a disaster strikes
• Ways to maintain your Etsy shop during an emergency

How to prepare before a disaster happens

Having a plan in place can help your business weather the unexpected. We understand that many small businesses can’t easily absorb a major loss—and that’s why we’re here to help you stay one step ahead of risk.

• Take a free course. The Climate Academy, developed by Nest and Etsy and available to sellers for free, offers self-paced online modules on climate risk assessment, disaster preparedness, and recovery. Courses are currently available in English, with some content specific to US-based makers.

• Assess your risk. Your location and workspace shape your vulnerability. Use these tools to identify local climate issues.

• Review your insurance. Homeowners insurance rarely covers business property. Understand what's covered—and what isn't before you need it.

• Make a business continuity plan. A continuity plan helps you maintain critical functions during a disruption. Get started with this business continuity template.

• Strengthen your workspace. Weatherization and home-hardening can reduce damage risk. Find steps that fit your situation—and explore grants, tax credits, and low-interest loans to help cover the costs.

What to do after a disaster strikes

If your business was affected, a range of organizations offer funding, resources, and support. Here's where to start.

Etsy support

• Emergency grants: Eligible U.S.-based sellers impacted by a FEMA-declared disaster are able to apply for grants through Etsy's Disaster Relief Fund via CERF+. See also this list of additional funding sources.

Recovery resources

• Nest Climate Resource Database: The Nest Climate Resource Database, developed with EDF and supported by Etsy, connects US makers and small businesses with tools, funding sources, and organizations for disaster recovery and resilience, expanded coverage for regions facing acute climate risk.

• FEMA: FEMA provides access to disaster help and recovery resources. Review this eligibility checklist before applying, then visit FEMA's disaster assistance website.

• SBA: The Small Business Administration offers low-interest loans for businesses damaged in a declared disaster. Review eligibility requirements and visit SBA's disaster assistance website.

• Insurance: Contact your agent and review your existing policies. Use these questions to ask your insurance agent and an overview of the claims process to help you prepare.

Ways to maintain your Etsy shop during an emergency

Hurricane, blizzard, broken leg, you name it—sometimes real-life situations stand in the way of your business. If something happens, stay knowledgeable and keep customers in the loop.

• Communication: If you’re affected by a storm or sell something in an area where shipping might be slow, let buyers know. You can do this in your shop announcement, message to buyer, simply by sending a message, or you can edit processing times to reflect delays.

• Shipping: Stay up to date on shipping delays where you’re shipping to and from. If you use the United States Postal Service (USPS), you can track service disruptions with USPS service alerts.

• Mobile: Even if your router goes down, your shop doesn't have to. To edit your shop's messaging or manage orders straight from your phone, download the Etsy Seller app.

• Vacation Mode: Putting your shop on Vacation Mode will remove items from the public view of your shop. In this mode, buyers will not be able to purchase from your shop. They’ll receive an auto-reply to messages and can sign up to get a notification when you return. This is a good option if you have limited or no access to your shop. Find out how to turn on Vacation Mode.

• Etsy’s Purchase Protection: Etsy's Purchase Protection program was built to ensure that buyers and sellers have a positive experience on Etsy. For eligible sellers, this program can offer a little extra peace of mind when cases arise. Etsy may cover buyer refunds for orders up to $250 on any case arising from a qualified order. Read more about Etsy’s Purchase Protection program for sellers.

* According to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, annual cost of natural disaster damages in the US have increased nearly 40% from 2013–2023 compared with the decade prior, and the Federal Reserve’s Small Business Credit Survey found small businesses reported a 7% increase in disaster-related losses from 2019–2021.