Looking for a way to make extra cash? Well, finding out how to sell printables on Etsy is a solid move. Not only is this a great side hustle, but it allows you the opportunity to be creative, too. Keep reading to learn more about this income idea!

If you’re wondering how to get started, you’ve come to the right place. From the initial idea and design to setting up your Etsy shop, this guide has everything you need to know. 

What are printables, anyway?

This is the name given to digital products that you can sell online. You design, create, and upload these materials to your online store. 

There’s a whole range of printables you may choose to sell.

For example, calendars, artwork, organizers, workbooks, coloring books, gift tags, wedding budget breakdown printables or invitations, greeting cards, photography, graphics, and other types of stationery. 

When a customer buys your printables on Etsy, they can download the materials in various formats and print them at home. Some sellers use a print-on-demand (POD) service, allowing the buyer to purchase the material and have it printed by a third party.

Can you make an income selling printables on Etsy?

The short answer is yes. There is money to be made by selling printables on Etsy and you can make a good side income.

In fact, the latest statistics show that the demand for Etsy printables has soared over the years, according to Influencer MarketingHub. 

Of course, the potential earnings from selling printables on Etsy vary widely. Success depends on factors like product quality, marketing efforts, and niche selection. 

Despite this fact, you should know that it’s possible to make a substantial income, and there are success stories out there!

To maximize your income, continually improve your designs, expand your product range, and invest in marketing. Participating in Etsy’s promoted listings can also boost visibility.

5 Simple steps to selling printables on Etsy

Selling printables on Etsy is a savvy way to get started if you’re wondering, “What can I sell to make money from home?”.

Of course, if you’re new to this process, you may not know where to begin. We’ve got you covered. Let’s take a look at five simple steps that you can follow to get set up. 

Step 1: Identify your product

First up, you need to decide what type of printable product you want to sell. You should work to both your design strength and the current demand in the market.

With that in mind, here are some ideas that you might want to consider for your Etsy printables: 

• Organizers
• Calendars
• Checklists 
• Coloring pages
• Lyrical quotes 
• Wedding invitations 
• Seat placements 
• Artwork 
• Bridal shower games 
• Guest lists 
• Gift cards and tags 
• Posters 
• Scavenger hunts 
• Flashcards 
• Photo booth props 
• Food prep sheets 
• Self-care materials 
• Budget planners 

It’s important not to try to do everything at once. So, if you want your Etsy store to be a success, you will need a niche.

For example, you may choose to specialize in bridal shower materials. You could make invitations, party games, and props for photos. 

By choosing a niche, you give yourself a good shot at getting known for certain products. You can build your brand around your offering so that customers know what to expect. 

Step 2: Create your printables

If you love design, it’s one of the hobbies that make money. You will need some design flair to learn how to make printables to sell on Etsy.

To get started, you will need to choose your software. You can use Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, Affinity, or any other design program to make printables.

And if you’re new to the realms of design, it’s worth getting up to speed on how to use them. You could take a design course or find tutorials and guides on the software’s respective websites below: 

Take the time to perfect your craft. When you are happy with your designs, make sure you download them in high quality. You will need to offer a range of formats for your Etsy store.

Step 3: Establish your Etsy shop

Next up, you’re going to need to open an Etsy store. If you already have one, you can skip this step. Follow the simple steps below to get started here: 

Sign up for an Etsy account

The first step in this process is easy. Visit the Etsy homepage and click on “Sell on Etsy”.

Choose a name for your store

After signing in, click “Open Your Etsy Shop” to begin the setup process. You’ll need to choose a shop name and personalize your shop’s appearance, banner, and policies to make it unique.

You will also need to add a logo for your store. This could be vital when attracting customers. 

Comply with the legal requirements 

Check your local regulations for any business licenses or permits you may need. SBA.gov can give you more information, and this article from NerdWallet offers a list of how to get a business license in each state. If you need more information, Etsy provides a helpful guide on legal policies and requirements.

Depending on your state, you may need to pay sales tax on the income that you make from Etsy. That can be a complex system. Be sure to read up on tax information before getting started with your shop.

Set up your payments

Before you get started with how to sell printables on Etsy, you need to make sure that you can get paid. You should link your Etsy store to a bank account for payments and configure your shipping options. You can do this during the set-up pages. 

To enter your payment information, you should first choose the country where your bank is located. This will determine what currency you get paid in. Select whether you are an “individual” seller or a “business” next. 

You will then need to fill out some personal details: your name, address, and other information. When you have done all of the above, you can connect your bank to Etsy using PLAID. 

Since you are dealing with downloadable products, you don’t need to worry too much about the shipping details. However, you may still need to fill out the details. 

For that reason, you should select “Calculate them for me” when choosing the postage prices. Enter your country of origin and zip code, and then for processing time, you can select “1 day”.  You also need to select a preferred delivery service before you can continue.

Step 4: List your printables

When you have set up your store, it’s time to get rolling with how to sell printables on Etsy. There’s an art to getting this part of the process right. Here’s what you need to do:

Add your printables to your store

After you’ve learned how to make printables to sell on Etsy, you should add your printables as listings. Make sure to provide clear, enticing titles and thorough descriptions so your buyers know exactly what to expect.

Perfect the promotional pictures 

A picture is worth a thousand words. This is the first thing that buyers will see, and so you need to make it count. Follow Etsy’s guidelines when choosing the right size.

Make sure that the pictures you use are bright and colorful. Your designs are your products, and so they need to capture the buyer’s attention. 

If you want to, you can create “mockups” of how the printables will be used.

For example, if the printable product is a picture, you can show it in a frame hanging on the wall. 

Get the pricing right 

Pricing your Etsy printables well is a must.

For instance, look at what other sellers are charging for similar digital products and go for an average price point.

When choosing a price, take into consideration the Etsy fees. The platform charges $0.20 USD per listing and also a transaction fee of 6.5% of the selling price, and other fees may also apply.

Offer high-quality printables

High-resolution images are crucial for achieving crisp and clear prints. So aim for a minimum resolution of 300 DPI (dots per inch) to ensure that your printables look sharp and professional. 

Additionally, save your design files in suitable formats like PNG or PDF. These formats preserve image quality and ensure that your printables maintain their visual integrity when customers print them.

Include printing instructions

In your product descriptions, go beyond just showcasing your digital products. Provide customers with clear and specific printing instructions. 

Recommend the appropriate paper type, size, and weight for optimal results. These instructions help customers achieve the best possible print outcomes.

Give buyers multiple file formats

Cater to a broad customer base by offering your digital products in various file formats. Common formats include PDF, JPEG, and PNG. Clearly state the available formats in your product listings so that customers can choose the one that suits their needs. 

Display sample prints too 

Enhance your product listings by including images or mockups that showcase your digital products when they are printed. Showcasing sample prints demonstrates the quality of your designs and assures potential buyers that your printables will look impressive.

Step 5: Advertise your printables

By this point, you should have your store and printables ready to go and know how to sell printables on Etsy. So, how can you make some sales? The answer is promotion, promotion, and more promotion.

Use social media to share your designs

Social media could help you sell your printables. You can make short, snappy videos sharing a sneak peek of your designs. This type of content works well on Instagram Reels and TikTok. 

Advertise via the Etsy platform

Don’t forget to utilize Etsy’s advertising tools. The platform offers both on-site and off-site advertisements. These ads can cost around 0.20 USD to 0.50 USD per click.

When we talk about how to sell printables on Etsy, promotion is key. Consider offering seasonal discounts, flash sales, and more to entice buyers.

For example, you might do a Christmas expense planner deal for people doing Christmas on a budget or a spooky Halloween offer. The promotions that you run should align with your audience.

So if you choose to open a bridal store, selling wedding-related stationery, that should guide the deals you offer. In the lead up to wedding season, you could offer a sale for your customers. 
You may find that this is a case of trial and error.

When you first set up your Etsy store, try out a few different promotions. You will quickly see which ones hook customers’ attention.

Is it worth selling printables on Etsy?

Yes it is definitely worth selling printables on Etsy. The stats show that the demand for printables is rising. That means that now is a good time to jump aboard and make some money.

However, you will need to have a knowledge of design and a creative flair to get started with unique side hustles like this.

How much money can you make selling printables on Etsy?

How much you make selling printables on Etsy depends on a range of factors. To make money, price your printables in line with the averages and ensure that you have easy download instructions. 

Every Etsy shop is different, so there is no exact number for how much you will earn with your store.

However, according to Smart Money Mamas, the median amount for a shop is approximately $300 a month, making this a possible side hustle but not a full-time job. But there are also shops that make a lot more than this, as well as less, so much of it will depend on your particular shop and ideas.

What is the best way to sell printables?

Using Etsy is one of the best ways to sell printables. You can create your own designs on your chosen platform and then upload them to the online selling website.

As part of how to sell printables on Etsy, you should first create unique designs. Make sure that they are available in a variety of formats so that buyers can download them. You can then list these digital products on the Etsy marketplace and sell them as downloadable content. 

How much does it cost to sell PDFs on Etsy?

Etsy charges 0.20 USD per listing and then a 6.5% transaction fee on each sale. 

However, the costs don’t end there. If you are paying for design software, this is an additional fee that you will have to cover before you make a sale. Your time is also valuable. Take into consideration how long it takes you to complete each design. 

When you are deciding how much to sell your PDFs for, you should look at all of the above costs. That way, you can make sure that you are making a healthy profit and not wasting your time on this side hustle. 

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Discovering how to sell printables on Etsy can help you earn money!

Selling printables on Etsy is a smart thing to add to your list of high-income skills. Especially if you have a flair for design and some smart ideas for how to make printables to sell on Etsy. Since you don’t have to physically post these products, you could make a nice passive income this way.

Whether you decide to sell organizers and calendars or even create your own artwork, there are plenty of opportunities to seize. Starting a side hustle like this can help you find financial success and more freedom with your time and money.