Build your Online Printables Empire in Just 8 Steps

Have you ever downloaded a printable planner, worksheet, or wall art and thought, I could totally make something like this!? Well, you’re absolutely right—you can! Selling printables online has become a fantastic side hustle or even a full-time business for creative entrepreneurs. Whether you're into designing calendars, budgeting tools, or motivational quotes, printables are a low-cost product with the potential for high rewards. Plus, once you create them, they’re passive income gold.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to create and sell printables online. And don’t worry—you don’t need to be a graphic design wizard or own fancy tools to get started. If I can do it, trust me, so can you.

Why Printables Are a Great Product to Sell

First, let’s talk about why printables are worth your time. Printables are digital files (like PDFs or JPGs) that customers download and print themselves. This means you don’t have to worry about inventory, shipping, or storage. Once you upload your printable to an online shop, it’s available for anyone to buy, download, and use instantly.

The best part? You only need to create a printable once, but it can generate sales indefinitely. Talk about working smarter, not harder! Plus, with the rise of DIY enthusiasts and people looking to organize their lives, there’s a huge market for these products.

Step 1: Find Your Niche

Before you start designing, decide what kind of printables you want to create. The printable world is vast, so narrowing your focus will help you stand out.

Some popular niches include:

• Planners: Daily, weekly, or monthly planners for productivity enthusiasts.

• Budgeting Tools: Expense trackers, savings goals sheets, and debt payoff charts.

• Wall Art: Motivational quotes, kids’ room decor, or seasonal designs.

• Educational Printables: Worksheets for kids, study guides, or homeschool resources.

• Event Printables: Wedding invitations, party decorations, or gift tags.

Think about your interests and what problems your printables could solve. For instance, if you’re a teacher, educational worksheets could be your jam. Love home organization? Create meal planners or cleaning checklists.

Step 2: Plan Your Design

Once you’ve chosen a niche, it’s time to brainstorm ideas. Think about what your audience needs and how you can create something useful, attractive, and unique.

For example, if you’re designing a budget planner, you might include sections for income tracking, monthly expenses, and savings goals. If you’re making wall art, consider trendy fonts, uplifting quotes, or minimalist designs that will appeal to modern tastes.

Pinterest is an excellent place to gather inspiration. Search for keywords related to your niche, and take note of what’s popular. Just remember: inspiration is great, but copying is a no-go.

Step 3: Choose Your Tools

You don’t need to be a graphic design pro to make beautiful printables. These beginner-friendly tools will have you designing like a pro in no time:

• Canva: This is a favorite for a reason. Canva offers tons of templates, fonts, and graphics, and the free version is surprisingly robust.

• Adobe Illustrator: If you’re more advanced or want total control over your designs, Illustrator is a powerhouse (though it does come with a learning curve).

• Affinity Designer: A one-time purchase alternative to Adobe, perfect for vector-based designs.

• Procreate: Ideal for creating hand-drawn or illustrated printables if you own an iPad.

Pick the tool that feels most comfortable for you and matches your design goals. Canva is a great place to start if you’re completely new to design.

Step 4: Create Your Printable

Now for the fun part: bringing your ideas to life! Start by setting up the correct dimensions for your printable. The most common size is 8.5x11 inches (standard letter size), but you can also create A4, A5, or custom sizes depending on your audience.

Tips for Designing Your Printables:

• Keep It Clean: Simple, uncluttered designs are easier to use and more appealing to buyers.

• Use High-Quality Fonts: Pair complementary fonts to create a professional look. Sites like Google Fonts and Font Bundles are great resources.

• Incorporate Colors Wisely: While colorful designs can be eye-catching, consider creating black-and-white versions for customers who want to save on printer ink.

• Add Your Branding: Include a small footer with your website or logo to help build brand recognition.

Once you’re happy with your design, save it as a high-quality PDF (the preferred format for most printables).

Step 5: Set Up Your Online Shop

With your first printable ready to go, it’s time to set up your shop. There are several platforms where you can sell digital products:

• Etsy: A popular marketplace with built-in traffic. Listing fees are $0.20 per item, plus a small transaction fee.

• Shopify: Great if you want to create a standalone store. Shopify’s tools make it easy to sell and manage digital downloads.

• Creative Market: Ideal for selling design-focused products like templates and wall art.

• Gumroad: A straightforward platform that handles payments and downloads for you.

• Your Own Website: If you already have a blog or site, adding a digital shop is a smart way to keep everything in one place.

Each platform has its pros and cons, so choose one that aligns with your goals. If you’re just starting out, Etsy is a beginner-friendly option.

Step 6: Optimize Your Listings

A great product needs a great listing to attract buyers. When creating your product listing, focus on these key elements:

• Eye-Catching Title: Include keywords your audience might search for, like “Printable Budget Planner” or “Minimalist Wall Art.”

• Compelling Description: Highlight the benefits of your printable and what makes it unique.

• High-Quality Images: Show your printable in action by creating mockups (e.g., a planner on a desk or wall art in a stylish frame). Canva and Placeit are excellent tools for creating mockups.

• SEO Keywords: Research and include relevant keywords in your title, description, and tags to improve your product’s visibility.

Step 7: Market Your Printables

Even the best printables won’t sell if people don’t know they exist. Marketing is essential for getting your products in front of the right audience.

Marketing Ideas:

• Pinterest: Pin images of your printables with links to your shop. Pinterest is a goldmine for digital product sellers.

• Social Media: Share behind-the-scenes looks, customer reviews, and promotions on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.

• Email Marketing: Build a list of potential customers and send updates about new products or special offers.

• Collaborations: Partner with bloggers or influencers in your niche to promote your printables.

The more effort you put into marketing, the more sales you’ll see.

Step 8: Scale Your Business

Once you’ve got the hang of selling printables, think about ways to scale your business. Could you create bundles of related printables? Offer custom designs? Start a subscription service for exclusive content?

You can also expand your audience by exploring new niches or creating seasonal products like holiday planners or back-to-school worksheets.

Conclusion: Your Printable Empire Awaits

Selling printables online is a fantastic way to turn your creativity into a profitable business. With low start-up costs, endless niche possibilities, and the ability to work from anywhere, it’s a dream side hustle for entrepreneurs.

Whether you’re a total newbie or a seasoned designer, the steps in this guide will set you on the path to success. From choosing your niche and designing your first printable to setting up your shop and marketing your products, you now have all the tools you need to get started.

The best part? The possibilities are endless. Today, you might sell a budgeting worksheet to a college student. Tomorrow, you could help someone organize their dream wedding with your custom planner. Who knows—you might even create a bestseller that funds your next vacation.

So grab your laptop, fire up Canva, and start creating. The world is ready for your printables, and your printable empire is just a few clicks away!