For many at-home moms, Etsy has been a god send. It is one of only a few places (artfire being one of those other options) that allows crafty individuals to make some money from their hobby, as long as it involves something being handmade.

But is there money to be made?

Over a month ago CNNMoney.com ran an article on Etsy. While the majority of articles that tend to pop up on the subject praise Etsy for being a pioneer in the world of handmade sales, CNNMoney.com dares to take a new look at the topic.

For instance, the casual seller might be doing fine but only a small percentage of shop owners ever make it to the big numbers that they had hoped to find when they first launched their business.

Unfortunately the handmade business can be fickle. If the prospect of launching a 6 figure business is your only reason to consider the site as a way to peddle your wares, the odds are that you will end up very disappointed. That is not to say that the products listed on the site aren’t good. In many cases, they are beyond what you would find in a store.

However, as I mentioned at the beginning of this piece, it is a haven for many at-home moms in need of a few extra dollars. While no one is going to become a millionare selling their crafts, there is money to be made on a smaller scale. With the right amount of skill and a little networking to help get the word out about your product, you can make enough money to help offset a portion of your day-to-day household expenses. If anything, you might just make enough money to keep your hobby afloat!

Popularity: 23% [?]