There is provided a process for preparing β-mercaptocarboxylic acid represented by the following General Formula (3) comprising step of reacting hydrogen sulfide, alkali hydroxide represented by a formula: XOH (X represents Na or K), and unsaturated carboxylic acid represented by the following General Formula (1) under atmospheric pressure to obtain a reaction solution including a compound represented by the following General Formula (2) and step of neutralizing the reaction solution in an acid. An amount of the alkali hydroxide is equal to or greater than total moles of the unsaturated carboxylic acid and the hydrogen sulfide.