Starting a printables business is one of the easiest ways to earn passive income online. With low startup costs and no inventory to manage, you can create digital products once and sell them repeatedly. Whether you’re designing planners, worksheets, wall art, or stickers, this guide will help you launch a profitable printables business.
Step 1: Choose a Niche for Your Printables
Selecting a niche helps you attract the right audience. Popular printables include:
- Planners & Organizers: Daily, weekly, monthly planners, budget trackers
- Worksheets & Educational Materials: Kids’ activities, homeschool resources
- Wall Art & Posters: Motivational quotes, aesthetic designs
- Business & Marketing Printables: Social media templates, branding kits
- Lifestyle & Hobby Printables: Meal planners, workout trackers, journal pages
- Party & Event Printables: Invitations, decorations, wedding planners
Pick a niche that aligns with your interests and has demand.
Step 2: Design Your Printables
You don’t need to be a professional graphic designer to create printables. Tools like:
- Canva (Beginner-friendly)
- Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop (Advanced users)
- Affinity Designer (Affordable alternative to Adobe)
- Procreate (Great for hand-drawn designs)
💡 Tip: Make sure your designs are high-quality, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to print.
Step 3: Decide on File Formats
Most printable products are delivered in PDF, PNG, or JPG formats. Ensure your files are:
✔️ High resolution (300 DPI for printing)
✔️ Available in multiple sizes (for wall art)
✔️ Properly formatted for home printing or professional print shops
Step 4: Set Up an Online Store
You can sell your printables on various platforms:
- Etsy – The most popular marketplace for printables
- Gumroad – Great for selling digital downloads directly
- Creative Market – For premium designs and templates
- Your Own Website (Shopify, WooCommerce) – Full control over branding and pricing
💡 Tip: Start with Etsy or Gumroad if you’re a beginner, then expand to your own website for higher profits.
Step 5: Create Eye-Catching Product Listings
To attract buyers, your listings should include:
- High-quality mockups (Use Placeit or Canva to showcase your designs)
- Detailed descriptions (Explain what’s included and how to use it)
- SEO-friendly titles & tags (Use keywords buyers are searching for)
Example Listing Title: Minimalist Monthly Planner | Printable PDF | A4, A5, Letter Size
Step 6: Price Your Printables for Profit
Common pricing strategies:
- Small printables (checklists, budget sheets): $2 – $10
- Planners, workbooks, journals: $10 – $25
- Premium bundles (multiple items): $30 – $100
💡 Tip: Offer discounts for bundles to increase sales.
Step 7: Market Your Printables Business
Drive traffic to your store using:
- Pinterest (Pin your designs with SEO-friendly descriptions)
- Instagram & TikTok (Share behind-the-scenes design process)
- Facebook Groups & Communities (Join niche-related groups and share your products)
- Email Marketing (Offer freebies in exchange for email sign-ups)
Step 8: Automate and Scale Your Business
- Create multiple products to maximize sales
- Offer bundles for higher profits
- Run promotions & discounts to attract new buyers
- Consider selling commercial licenses so businesses can use your designs