Creating and selling printables on Etsy is a great way to make money from home. This popular side gig also requires you to be savvy about the ins and outs of operating a business, especially if you’re new to it. 

Understanding the risks, expenses, and other factors involved in selling your own products is crucial if you want your endeavor to succeed. 

But with so many different opportunities available, it can be difficult to know where to begin. 

If you’ve been thinking about monetizing your creative skills with an Etsy shop or other online store, this blog post will give you some helpful insight into how to make money selling printables on Etsy.

👉 Discover our workbook to start your digital product business simply and quickly !

What is Etsy ?

If you’re not familiar with Etsy, it’s a global marketplace designed to connect both buyers and sellers of handmade and vintage items. 

The site is also home to a wide selection of creative products, like printables. Etsy sellers have the option of using their own website or setting up an online storefront via Etsy’s platform. 

If you choose the latter, Etsy will automatically take a small fee from your sales. While you can sell just about anything on Etsy, there are a few categories that tend to be especially popular with sellers. 

These include apparel, crafts, home decor, and stationery. If you’re interested in selling your own printables on Etsy, you can use the platform to market and sell your designs online. This gives you the chance to reach customers around the world.

How to make money selling printables on Etsy

When selling your own handmade or printable products on Etsy, the first step is to come up with a design. 

To ensure that your creations are appealing and relevant to your audience, it’s a good idea to conduct some research. Once you’ve created your printables, you’ll need to set up an Etsy shop. 

This is the place where you’ll list and promote all of your products. At the same time, you’ll also need to set up a payment method. You have the option of using a third-party payment processor such as PayPal or Stripe. 

Doing so will help protect you from getting scammed out of money by customers who don’t pay, as well as prevent you from losing money from transaction fees. Once your shop is up and running, the only real work is marketing your products. 

Etsy sellers with more sales and a higher star rating are more likely to appear toward the top of search results, so it’s important to take advantage of all the tools available to you.

The pros of selling printables on Etsy

• You can make money with your hobbies : if you love to create but don’t have a ton of money to invest in a side hustle, selling printables on Etsy is a great way to monetize your hobbies and make money from home. Since you’re selling your own designs and products, you don’t need to buy any inventory or stock up on supplies.
• You can sell products anywhere : since e-commerce is becoming an increasingly popular way to shop, selling printables or digital planners on Etsy gives you the chance to reach a broader audience and make money selling online. Whether you’re in another country or living in your hometown, Etsy is accessible to anyone with internet access. This means you don’t need to worry about finding customers and can make money selling printables from anywhere.
• You can test the market before investing : if you’re worried that you might not be able to sell enough of your printable ideas to make a living, selling printables on Etsy is a great way to test the market and see if there’s enough interest in your products. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to understand your market : spend wisely.
• You can find a niche : if you sell printables on Etsy, you can also use the platform to explore etsy printable shops and discover new niches. This is a great way to expand your audience and find potential customers who are interested in your products.

👉 Discover our workbook to start your digital product business simply and quickly !

The cons of selling printables on Etsy

• You have to manage inventory and shipping : when you sell products on Etsy, it’s your responsibility to store, manage, and ship inventory. Additionally, if you’re selling products that require custom shipping, such as framed posters or large items, you’ll need to find a way to pay for this.
• Everything you make is profit : unlike selling a product for a company, the only real profit you’ll see from selling printables on Etsy is the amount of money you make from sales. This means that you’ll have to cover all of your own expenses, such as marketing and equipment, out of that profit.

How to make money selling printables on Etsy : step-by-step

• Choose a product to sell : before you can start making money selling printables on Etsy, you’ll need to choose which product to sell. If you’re just getting started with this side gig, it’s a good idea to start with something simple, such as greeting cards or posters. These items are easy to produce and don’t require a lot of skill.

• Research markets and competitors : once you’ve chosen your product, it’s time to research the market and competitors. You can do this by visiting forums or joining social media groups related to your items and competitors. At the same time, you’ll also want to consider how you’ll market your products.

• Create your product : once you have a clear idea of what you’re going to make and how you’re going to sell it, it’s time to start creating your product. Whether you’re designing a poster, greeting card, or something else, you’ll need to be sure that it meets government standards and that you’re following any rules and regulations that apply.

Important things to know before starting an Etsy shop

• You need to know what you’re making : while you can sell pretty much anything on Etsy, you’ll have a much better chance of success if you know what you’re making. This means that you’ll need to do your own research, come up with your own designs, and follow through with the creation of your products. 
• You need to know where to sell : while Etsy is the go-to marketplace for many sellers, it’s not the only one and it’s certainly not the only one for printables. Before you start selling on Etsy, you’ll need to do some research and see what other options are available.
• You need to be organized : since you’ll be managing your own inventory, marketing, and shipping, it’s important to be organized. You can start out with a simple excel spreadsheet and computer program, or even a note-taking app on your phone.

Key steps when making money selling printables on Etsy

• Design your product : before you can start selling your products, you’ll first need to design them. This means coming up with an idea for a design, sketching it out, and then creating and printing your product.
• Set up your Etsy shop : once your product is ready, the next step is to set up your Etsy shop. This includes coming up with a memorable name, selecting a theme for your shop, and creating a product listing for your designs.
• Promote and sell : once your shop is up and running, you’ll need to promote it and get as many people as possible to see it. This means joining online groups, leveraging social media, and setting up email marketing campaigns.

Our final words

Selling printables on Etsy is a great way to make money from home, provided you’re willing to put in the work and research required to succeed. 

It’s important to know what you’re selling, who you’re selling to, where to sell, and how to meet the needs of your customers. 

The more you know, the more likely you are to succeed.