How to Make Printables to Sell

Creating printables has become one of the most popular ways to build an online income stream. While scrolling through Etsy, you’ve probably noticed beautiful planners, worksheets, and wall art that other women are selling – and wondered if you could do the same. The good news? You absolutely can.

Many women dream of building a business that fits around family life, but most opportunities require significant time or money to get started. Printables are different. With basic computer skills and a few hours each week, you can create digital products that customers love and need. The initial investment is minimal, and once you create a printable, you can sell it hundreds or thousands of times, resulting in passive income.

In this article, you’ll learn exactly what printables are, how to create them, where to sell them, and which types consistently make money. By the end, you’ll understand how to turn your computer into a tool for generating extra income – whether you want to pay for dance lessons, build an emergency fund, or eventually replace your full-time job.

Also See: 40 Home Business Ideas To Start (& Quit Your Job)

What Are Printables?

Printables are digital files that customers purchase, download, and print at home or at a local print shop. These digital products range from practical organizational tools to beautiful decorative pieces. A mom might buy a cleaning schedule to organize her household tasks, a teacher might download worksheet templates for her classroom, or a bride might purchase a wedding planning bundle to coordinate her special day.

Printables are usually sold in PDF, PNG, or JPG form:

• PDF: A format used to present un-editable documents best suited for printing.
• PNG: An image file format designed to ensure no loss of quality each time the file is opened and saved again. This format is best suited for graphics instead of photography.
• JPG: An image file format designed for digital photography.

The magic of printables lies in their convenience and instant delivery. Customers receive their printable files immediately after purchase, and they can print as many copies as they need. For sellers, this means no inventory to store, no shipping to handle, and no rush to the post office. Each sale happens automatically, even while you sleep.

How to Make Printables to Sell (Step-by-Step)

Before jumping the gun and starting to design, you really need to first understand your potential customers and what they want to buy. Begin by visiting online marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon’s digital products section. Study the best selling printables in your areas of interest. Notice not only what’s popular but also what customers say in their reviews – their feedback reveals what they value and what problems they want to solve.

1. Selecting Your Focus Area Rather than creating random products, concentrate on a specific category where you can excel. For example, if you’re passionate about organization, you might focus on home management printables. If you have teaching experience, educational materials might be your strength. This focused approach helps you understand your customers deeply and create products that truly serve their needs.
2. Design Principles for Printables Creating effective printables involves more than placing text on a page. Consider these essential elements:
   
   – White space: Leave room for writing and visual breathing room
   – Font choices: Use clear, professional fonts that print well
   – Color scheme: Select colors that look good both on screen and in print
   – Paper size: Design for standard paper sizes (usually 8.5×11 inches or A4)
   – Print quality: Test your designs to ensure they’re clear when printed
3. Tools for Creating Printables
   Choosing the right tools makes a significant difference in your creation process. Here’s a detailed look at your options:
4. Graphic Design Software: Choosing the right tools makes a significant difference in your creation process. Here’s a detailed look at popular options:
   – Canva: This drag-and-drop interface is perfect for beginners. The free version offers plenty of features to create professional designs, while the paid version adds useful features like background removal and resizing.
   – Microsoft Word and PowerPoint: This familiar program works surprisingly well for printable design. Its strength lies in precise positioning and alignment of elements.
   – Google Slides: Similar to PowerPoint but completely free. Excellent for collaboration and accessing your designs from any device.
   – Adobe Creative Suite: Professional-grade software like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop Elements offer the most design flexibility. Consider this investment when your business grows.
5. Marketing Your Printables Perhaps equally (if not more) important to the printable you create is having beautiful product photos. There’s a lot of competition, and even if your product is the best, if your image doesn’t stop the shopper’s scroll, they’ll never see it. There’s a number of ways to do this, but one effective way is to create mockups showing your designs in use – a planner on a desk, a wall art printable in a frame, or a budget tracker with sample entries. Write descriptions that highlight both features and benefits, showing customers exactly how your printable will improve their lives.
   

How to Sell Printables Online

Making beautiful printables is only half the journey – finding the right place to sell them determines your success. Selecting a sales platform impacts everything from how much you earn per sale to how you’ll interact with customers. Different platforms attract different types of buyers, and understanding these differences helps you choose where your printables will perform best.

Many digital printable sellers start on one platform and expand to others as their business grows. This multi-platform approach helps reach more customers and creates multiple income streams. However, mastering one platform before expanding ensures you don’t spread yourself too thin or compromise the quality of your customer service.

Let’s examine each major platform where you can sell your printables, understanding their unique advantages, fee structures, and the types of customers you’ll find there.

Etsy

Etsy stands out as the natural starting point for most printable sellers. The platform combines user-friendly features with an established audience actively searching for digital products. When you open an Etsy shop, you’re stepping into a marketplace where customers already understand and trust digital downloads.

Setting up your Etsy shop involves several important steps. The platform charges a small listing fee of $0.20 per item, which keeps your product visible for four months. While this might seem like an expense, it’s minimal compared to the costs of running your own website. Each sale includes a transaction fee of 6.5% plus payment processing fees. These fees pay for a robust platform that handles all the technical aspects of selling – from secure file delivery to payment processing.

The true value of Etsy lies in its search algorithm and built-in traffic. The platform’s search engine helps customers find your products when they’re ready to buy. Through Etsy’s analytics, you’ll see which listings attract the most views, where your traffic comes from, and which products convert into sales. This information proves invaluable as you refine your product line.

Etsy also provides tools to manage customer communications, process refunds, and handle disputes. The platform’s messaging system keeps all your customer interactions in one place, making it easier to provide consistent service. You’ll receive notifications when customers have questions or when they leave reviews, allowing you to respond promptly and build your Etsy shop’s reputation.

Your Own Website

Running your own website through platforms like Shopify or WordPress with WooCommerce offers unprecedented control over your business. Unlike marketplace platforms, your website becomes a true branded destination where you decide how your products are presented and sold.

The initial setup requires more effort than marketplace platforms. Most sellers choose Shopify for its all-in-one solution or WordPress with WooCommerce for its flexibility. Shopify starts at around $29 monthly, while WordPress costs vary based on your hosting and plugin choices. These costs often include features like abandoned cart recovery, email marketing integration, and detailed analytics – tools that help increase your sales over time.

With your own website, you build direct relationships with customers. You collect email addresses, create newsletters, and develop marketing campaigns without platform restrictions. This direct connection proves invaluable as your business grows. When you launch new products, you can notify your customer base immediately instead of hoping they find you through marketplace searches.

The greatest advantage of your own website is the ability to build a brand. You control the entire customer experience, from their first visit through post-purchase support. This control extends to pricing, promotions, and product bundling without marketplace restrictions or competition right next to your listings.

Teachers Pay Teachers

Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) serves a specific but substantial market: educators seeking classroom materials. This platform connects you directly with teachers, homeschool parents, and educational professionals actively looking for teaching resources.

Starting on TpT requires understanding its unique requirements. The platform offers two seller account types: Basic (free) and Premium ($59.95 annually). Basic sellers earn 55% of their sales, while Premium sellers earn 80%—a difference that quickly covers the Premium fee for active sellers. The platform handles file delivery, payment processing, and basic marketing tools.

Creating products for TpT demands attention to educational standards and practical classroom use. Successful sellers often include detailed teacher notes, alignment with educational standards, and clear grade-level recommendations. The platform’s review system heavily influences sales, as teachers rely on peer recommendations when choosing materials.

TpT’s seasonal nature follows the school calendar. Back-to-school season (July-September) typically brings the highest sales, while curriculum planning periods throughout the year create additional peak selling opportunities. Understanding this rhythm helps you plan new product releases and promotions effectively.

Creative Market and Design Bundles

These specialized marketplaces cater to customers seeking high-quality design resources, including printables. The audience here often has different expectations and higher budgets than general marketplace shoppers.

Creative Market operates on a different model than other platforms. They review seller applications carefully, maintaining high quality standards. Once accepted, you set your prices, with the platform taking 40% of each sale. Despite the higher commission, many sellers find success here due to higher price points and customers who value design quality.

Design Bundles offers multiple selling options, including participating in their bundle deals where multiple creators combine products for special promotions. While this can mean lower per-item revenue, it exposes your products to new customers and can drive traffic to your other offerings.

Both platforms attract customers willing to pay premium prices for unique, well-designed products. Success here often comes from creating comprehensive product collections or specialized designs that stand out from standard printables found elsewhere.

Pricing Printables

Setting prices for digital products differs from physical items because you aren’t dealing with material costs or shipping fees. Many new sellers undervalue their work, focusing only on the fact that digital products cost nothing to duplicate. Instead, consider the complete value you’re providing to customers.

Understanding Your Market

Before settling on prices, spend time researching your competition and target market. Browse through Etsy’s printable section, noting prices for products similar to yours. Look beyond the basic price points – examine the complexity of designs, the number of pages included, and how the products are packaged or bundled.

Pay attention to reviews at different price points. Often, customers purchasing $3 printables leave similar feedback to those buying $7 versions. This insight suggests that price isn’t always the determining factor in customer satisfaction. Instead, the usefulness and quality of the printable matter more.

Building Your Pricing Structure

Single printables typically start between $3-7, depending on complexity and market demand. A simple daily planner page might sell for $3, while a detailed budget tracking system with multiple pages could command $7 or more.

Bundles present opportunities for higher price points while offering customers better value. A monthly planner bundle combining weekly spreads, habit trackers, and goal-setting pages might sell for $15-30. Customers appreciate the convenience of coordinated designs and the cost savings compared to buying pieces individually.

You may also consider creating different tiers of products. Entry-level items priced at $3-5 help new customers try your products with minimal risk. Mid-range offerings at $7-12 provide more comprehensive solutions. Premium bundles at $15-30 or higher deliver complete systems or collections for your most committed customers.

Seasonal Pricing Strategies

Different seasons bring varying levels of demand for certain printables. Wedding planners sell well in early spring as couples begin planning summer weddings, and school-related printables peak during the back-to-school season. Adjust your prices based on these natural demand cycles.

Holiday-themed printables often command premium prices during their peak seasons. Christmas planners or holiday budget trackers might sell for 20-30% more during November and December when customers need them immediately.

The Value of Testing

One of the many great things about selling online is that your initial prices aren’t permanent. You can test different price points for similar items and track your sales volume. Sometimes, raising prices actually increases sales as customers perceive higher value. Other times, a slight price decrease significantly boosts volume.

Monitor your earnings at different price points. Selling 100 planners at $3 each generates the same revenue as selling 50 at $6, but requires managing twice as many customers. Find the balance that works best for your business model and customer service capacity.

20 Printable Ideas That Make Money

Planning and Organization

Monthly and weekly planners dominate the printables market because they combine practicality with recurring needs. The most successful versions include:

• Weekly planners with designated spaces for appointments, meal planning, and daily priorities
• Monthly calendars featuring extra space for notes and goal tracking
• Daily schedules broken into time blocks, perfect for busy parents managing multiple activities
• Goal planning systems that break annual goals into quarterly and monthly action steps

These planning tools succeed because customers return regularly for updated versions and often recommend them to friends once they find a layout that works well for their lifestyle.

Home Management Systems

Home management printables sell consistently because they solve common household challenges:

• Cleaning schedules that break tasks into daily, weekly, and monthly routines
• Room-by-room decluttering checklists with specific action steps
• Home maintenance logs organized by season, helping homeowners track important tasks
• Emergency information sheets for babysitters and household members
• Meal planning systems that include shopping lists and pantry inventories

The success of these printables lies in their ability to simplify complex household management into manageable steps.

Financial Planning Tools

Money management printables remain popular year-round:

• Monthly budget worksheets with expense tracking categories
• Debt payoff planners showing progress and milestones
• Savings trackers for specific goals like vacation or emergency funds
• Bill payment calendars coordinating due dates with paydays
• Cash envelope system trackers and templates
• Expense tracking sheets for small businesses

These tools sell well because they help customers take control of their finances in a private, personalized way.

Special Events and Celebrations

Event planning printables command higher prices due to their specialized nature:

• Wedding planning bundles with timelines, budgets, and vendor contact sheets
• Baby shower planning kits, including guest lists and gift trackers
• Birthday party planners with theme ideas and decoration checklists
• Holiday planning systems for gifts, decorations, and traditions
• Vacation planning guides with packing lists and itinerary templates

These printables succeed because they help reduce stress during important life events.

Faith-Based Resources

Spiritual development printables serve a dedicated market:

• Bible study journals with space for notes and reflections
• Prayer journals featuring different prayer focuses for each day
• Scripture memory systems with tracking tools
• Church event planning templates
• Family devotional planners
• Religious holiday preparation guides

These items sell well because they help people develop consistent spiritual practices.

Educational Materials

Teaching resources provide steady income throughout the school year:

• Subject-specific study guides and worksheets
• Reading logs and book report templates
• Homework planners with assignment tracking
• Flash card templates for various subjects
• Learning games and educational activities
• Lesson planning templates for teachers

The education market remains strong as parents and teachers seek supplemental learning materials.

Small Business Tools

Entrepreneurs consistently purchase organizational tools:

• Social media content planners with posting schedules
• Inventory tracking systems
• Client information sheets and meeting planners
• Project management templates
• Invoice and receipt templates
• Business expense tracking sheets

These tools sell well because they help other entrepreneurs systematize their businesses.

Seasonal and Holiday Items

Time-sensitive printables can command premium prices:

• Garden planning worksheets for spring
• Summer activity planners for families
• Back-to-school organization systems
• Holiday budget and gift tracking tools
• New Year goal-setting workbooks
• Seasonal meal planners and recipe organizers

Success with seasonal printables requires proper timing and marketing several weeks before the season begins.

Health and Wellness Trackers

Personal development printables maintain steady sales:

• Fitness logs with measurement tracking
• Meal planning for specific dietary needs
• Water intake tracking sheets
• Sleep logs and evening routine planners
• Habit formation tracking systems
• Self-care planning tools

Project Management Tools

Project-specific printables help people stay organized with complex tasks:

• Home renovation planning sheets with budget tracking
• Room design planners with measurements and color schemes
• DIY project trackers with materials lists
• Moving planners with room-by-room inventories
• Contractor contact logs and timeline trackers
• Before and after project documentation sheets

Travel Planning Resources

Travel documentation helps people organize trips efficiently:

• Packing lists for different types of trips
• Travel itinerary planners with daily schedules
• Trip budget worksheets with expense tracking
• Travel journal templates
• Road trip planners with route mapping
• Accommodation comparison charts

Time Management Systems

These printables help people maximize their productivity:

• Time blocking templates for different schedules
• Meeting planners and note-taking systems
• Daily priority setting worksheets
• Work-from-home schedule planners
• Student study schedule organizers
• Productivity tracking sheets

Children’s Activities

Parents consistently seek educational and entertaining materials:

• Behavior charts and reward systems
• Chore charts by age group
• Educational worksheets for different subjects
• Activity planners for school breaks
• Routine charts for morning and bedtime
• Summer bucket list planners

Recipe Organization

Kitchen organization tools remain consistently popular:

• Recipe card templates in various styles
• Meal prep planning systems
• Family favorite meals trackers
• Grocery inventory sheets
• Pantry organization labels
• Weekly meal rotation planners

Digital Organization

Help people manage their online presence:

Gift Planning Systems

• Password tracking sheets
• Digital photo organization systems
• Computer file naming systems
• Online account tracking logs
• Digital declutter checklists
• Screen time tracking sheets

Gift Organization

Year-round gift organization helps reduce stress:

• Gift idea trackers for family members
• Holiday gift budgeting sheets
• Present wrapping supply inventories
• Birthday calendar systems
• Gift giving history logs
• Special occasion reminder sheets

Home Decor Printables

Decorative items offer creative variety:

• Inspirational quote designs
• Seasonal wall art collections
• Custom name art templates
• Gallery wall planning guides
• Room color scheme planners
• Artwork sizing guides

Memory Keeping

Help people preserve important memories:

• Baby milestone tracking sheets
• School year memory books
• Family tradition documentation
• Vacation memory journal templates
• Photo organization systems
• Family history interview guides

Pet Care Organization

Pet owners need specialized organizational tools:

• Veterinary visit records
• Pet medication tracking
• Grooming schedules
• Pet sitter information sheets
• Training progress logs
• Pet expense tracking systems

Each of these categories offers opportunities for both individual products and comprehensive bundles. Success often comes from identifying specific pain points within each category and creating solutions that directly address those challenges. Remember to consider seasonal timing, target audience needs, and potential for product expansion when developing items in any of these categories.

Also See: Best Selling Printables on Etsy to Make and Sell

Summary

Creating printables offers a unique opportunity to build an income stream that grows with your effort and creativity. Each design teaches you something new about what customers want and need. As you listen to customer feedback and refine your offerings, you’ll develop products that truly serve your market while creating the flexible income you desire.