Seller FAQ

SECTION 1: Getting Started
What is StateCrafted?

StateCrafted is Colorado’s verified marketplace exclusively for local makers. We connect Colorado artisans and small businesses with conscious buyers who value authentic, locally made goods. Every seller is verified before they can list — so buyers know every product is the real deal.

Who can sell on StateCrafted?

Any Colorado-based maker, artisan, or small business that can verify their Colorado connection. We offer three levels of verification:

  • Tier 1 (Bronze) — Colorado-Owned: your business is registered in Colorado
  • Tier 2 (Silver) — Colorado-Made: your products are made in Colorado
  • Tier 3 (Gold) — Colorado-Sourced: your products are made with Colorado-sourced materials

You must qualify for at least Tier 1 to sell on the platform.

How do I apply to become a seller?

Click “Become a Seller” from anywhere on the site to access the seller application form. You’ll select your subscription plan, submit your basic business information, and upload the documents required for your verification tier. Applications are typically reviewed within 1–2 business days.

How long does approval take?

Most applications are reviewed within 1–2 business days. You’ll receive an email confirmation once your verification is approved and your account is ready to set up.

Is there a limit on how many products I can list?

No. All subscription plans include unlimited product listings. List as many products as your store carries — there are no per-listing fees or caps.

What are the verification tiers?

StateCrafted uses a 3-tier badge system to communicate the level of Colorado authenticity behind each seller:

  • Bronze — Tier 1: Colorado-Owned. Business registered in Colorado. Requires: business license + CO address.
  • Silver — Tier 2: Colorado-Made. Products made in Colorado. Requires: Tier 1 docs + process description + product photos.
  • Gold — Tier 3: Colorado-Sourced. Materials sourced from Colorado. Requires: Tier 2 docs + supplier invoices.
What documents do I need to get verified?

Requirements depend on which tier you are applying for:

  • Tier 1 (Bronze): Colorado business license or registration + Colorado business address
  • Tier 2 (Silver): All Tier 1 documents + a description of your production process + sample product photos
  • Tier 3 (Gold): All Tier 2 documents + supplier invoices or sourcing documentation proving Colorado-origin materials
Can I apply for a higher tier later?

Yes. You can upgrade your verification tier at any time by submitting the additional required documents. Simply contact us or use the upgrade option in your seller dashboard. There is no extra fee to upgrade your badge tier.

How long does my verification last?

Verifications are valid for 12 months. You’ll receive a reminder before your anniversary date to resubmit your documents. StateCrafted also conducts quarterly spot checks on 10% of sellers to maintain marketplace integrity.

What happens if my badge is suspended?

If an issue arises with your verification — such as a failed spot check or expired documents — your badge will be suspended and products will move to standard placement while you resolve it. You’ll be notified by email with steps to reinstate. You have 14 days to respond before further action is taken.

Can my badge be revoked?

Yes. Badges can be permanently revoked for intentional misrepresentation, failure to respond within the required window, or repeated violations. You will always receive written notice and have an opportunity to appeal before any permanent decision is made.

What are the subscription plans?

All plans include unlimited product listings, a branded storefront, and access to the full seller dashboard. Zero transaction fees or commissions — ever.

Plan

Monthly

Founding Rate

Annual (20% off)

Products

Maker

$99/mo

$79/mo*

$79.20/mo

Unlimited

Professional

$199/mo

$159/mo*

$159.20/mo

Unlimited

Studio

$399/mo

$319/mo*

$319.20/mo

Unlimited

* Founding Maker rates are available to the first 100 sellers and are locked for life at the discounted price.

What is the Founding Maker program?

The first 100 sellers to join StateCrafted receive Founding Maker status, which includes:

  • Your first month FREE — no charge until day 31 after your account is approved
  • Lifetime locked pricing at the discounted founding rate — your price never increases
  • A “Founding Maker” badge displayed on your storefront
  • Priority placement at launch
  • First access to new features
  • Quarterly feedback sessions with the founder

Once 100 founding spots are filled, this program closes permanently.

When does billing start for Founding Makers?

Free First Month: As a Founding Maker, your first month is completely free. Your first subscription payment is not charged until day 31 after your account is approved. You’ll receive a reminder email before your free period ends. Your Founding Maker rate is then locked for life from that point forward.

Is there a discount for paying annually?

Yes. Paying annually saves you 20% compared to the monthly rate. Your subscription is billed once per year and automatically renews unless cancelled.

Are there any transaction fees or commissions?

None. StateCrafted does not take a percentage of your sales. You keep 100% of every sale (minus standard Stripe payment processing fees of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, which are charged by Stripe, not StateCrafted).

How does billing work?

Your subscription is billed monthly (or annually if you choose that option) via Stripe. Your payment method is charged automatically on your billing renewal date. You’ll receive an invoice by email each cycle.

Founding Makers: your first billing date is 31 days after account approval. No charge is made during your free first month.

Can I earn credits toward my monthly fee?

Yes. StateCrafted may issue account credits as rewards, referral bonuses, or goodwill adjustments. Credits are applied automatically against your next billing cycle. You can view your current credit balance in your seller dashboard.

Can I change my plan?

Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade your subscription plan at any time from your dashboard. Upgrades take effect immediately; downgrades take effect at the next billing cycle.

Can I cancel my subscription?

Yes. You can cancel at any time from your seller dashboard. Your store remains active through the end of your current paid billing period. StateCrafted does not offer prorated refunds for partial billing periods. Note: cancellation permanently forfeits Founding Maker status and cannot be reinstated.

What does my seller storefront include?

Every seller gets a branded mini-site within the StateCrafted marketplace. Your storefront includes:

  • Your store name, logo, and bio/story
  • Your full product catalog
  • Your verification badge (Bronze, Silver, or Gold)
  • Customer reviews and star ratings
  • A Message Seller button for direct customer inquiries
  • An optional link to your own website
  • Sales analytics and referral tracking data
Can I link to my own website from my storefront?

Yes. You can add a link to your own website directly from your storefront. We track clicks from your StateCrafted storefront to your external site — this is displayed in your analytics dashboard.

How does referral tracking to my website work?

When a customer clicks your external website link from your StateCrafted storefront, we automatically track that click and attribute it to your store. Your analytics dashboard will show the number of referral visits sent to your website over time.

How do I write product listings?

You manage all product listings directly from your Dokan seller dashboard. You can add titles, descriptions, photos, pricing, inventory, and shipping details. We also offer AI-assisted writing tools within your dashboard to help you optimize product titles, descriptions, and SEO metadata.

What is the AI SEO and content writing feature?

StateCrafted includes an AI content assistant in your seller dashboard that can help you generate and optimize product titles and descriptions, write your storefront bio, and suggest SEO meta titles and descriptions for your products.

Can customers leave reviews on my store?

Yes. Buyers can leave star ratings and written reviews on individual products and on your seller storefront. Reviews are visible to all shoppers and you can respond to them from your dashboard.

How do I communicate with customers?

Customers can send you a direct message using the Message Seller button on your storefront and on any product page. You’ll receive an email notification for each new message and can view and reply from your seller dashboard.

Can I use coupon codes?

StateCrafted’s business admin may issue platform-wide coupon codes. These are funded by StateCrafted — you are paid your full product price regardless of any discount a buyer uses.

Is there a minimum number of products I need to list?

There is no hard minimum, but we recommend having at least 5 products listed before your store goes live. Sellers with fewer than 3 products listed are flagged for a friendly check-in to help get their store fully stocked.

How do orders work?

When a buyer places an order, you’ll receive an email notification immediately. You manage fulfillment directly — pack and ship the order, then mark it as shipped with a tracking number in your Dokan dashboard. The buyer receives automatic tracking updates.

How long do I have to ship an order?

You set your own processing time in your dashboard (we recommend 1–5 business days). Orders not shipped within 5+ days without communication may trigger a platform review.

Do I handle my own shipping?

Yes. Sellers are responsible for all packing, shipping, and carrier selection. You set your own shipping rates and policies in your dashboard. StateCrafted provides guidance and shipping policy templates.

What if a customer has an issue with their order?

Buyers contact you directly for order questions. If an issue can’t be resolved between you and the buyer, StateCrafted will step in to mediate. Please respond to buyer messages within 48 hours to avoid escalation.

What is your return and refund policy for sellers?

Each seller sets their own return and refund policy, which must be clearly posted on your storefront. StateCrafted maintains platform-level guarantees for buyers in cases of items not received or significant misrepresentation.

How do I get paid?

Payments are processed through Stripe. When a buyer completes a purchase, funds are routed directly to your connected Stripe account. You keep 100% of your product price, minus Stripe’s standard processing fee (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction).

When do payouts arrive?

Stripe typically processes payouts to your bank account within 2–7 business days of a completed order. You can view payout status and history in your Stripe dashboard and in your StateCrafted seller dashboard.

How do I set up my payment account?

During seller onboarding, you’ll connect your Stripe account (or create a free Stripe account) directly from your seller dashboard. This is required before your store can go live and before any payouts can be issued.

Does StateCrafted take a commission on my sales?

No. StateCrafted is a subscription-based platform. We never take a percentage of your sales. Our revenue comes from your monthly subscription fee only.

What does my seller dashboard include?

Your Dokan seller dashboard gives you full control of your store, including:

  • Product management — add, edit, and organize all listings
  • Order management — view, process, and update orders
  • Analytics — sales data, traffic, and referral clicks to your external website
  • Storefront editor — update your bio, logo, and store settings
  • Message inbox — view and reply to customer messages
  • Payout reports — track earnings and Stripe payouts
  • Credit balance — view any StateCrafted credits applied to your account
  • AI writing tools — generate and optimize content for your listings and storefront
Is the platform mobile-friendly?

Yes. StateCrafted is fully responsive on all devices. Your seller dashboard is also accessible on mobile for managing your store on the go.

Can I see how my storefront is performing?

Yes. Your analytics dashboard shows storefront views, product page views, sales data, and referral click-throughs to your external website. Data updates regularly so you can see what’s working.

How do I get help if I have a question?

You can reach StateCrafted support by:

  • Live chat — available on the website via the chat widget during business hours
  • Email — contact us at support@statecrafted.com
  • Your onboarding call — every new seller gets a one-on-one walkthrough with the founder

We aim to respond to all seller questions within 24 hours on business days.

Is there a seller community?

Yes. All StateCrafted sellers are invited to join our private seller group — a space for networking, sharing tips, asking questions, and connecting with fellow Colorado makers. Details are shared during your onboarding.

What onboarding support do new sellers get?

Every new seller receives:

  • A welcome email with setup instructions and a checklist
  • A 20–30 minute one-on-one onboarding call with the founder
  • Platform walkthrough covering your dashboard, product listing, and storefront setup
  • Follow-up check-ins at day 7 and day 14
What if I want to give feedback about the platform?

We love seller feedback — it directly shapes how StateCrafted grows. Founding Makers are invited to quarterly feedback sessions with the founder. You can also email feedback anytime or share it in the seller community group.

I still have questions. Who do I contact?

Reach out to us anytime at support@statecrafted.com or use the live chat on statecrafted.com. We’re here to help you succeed.

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