How To Sell Canva Templates And Make Money

Let’s be real for a second the idea of making money online from something creative, fun and flexible sounds like a dream right? Enter selling Canva templates.

If you’ve ever played around in Canva which is basically like the friendlier cousin of Photoshop then you already know it’s a graphic design tool made for non designers. And guess what? The demand for pre made templates on Canva is massive we’re talking Pinterest pins, Instagram stories, eBooks, planners, media kits, resumes, business cards, and everything in between.

So if you’re wondering how to sell Canva templates and actually make money then you’re in the right place. Whether your side-hustling, freelancing or dreaming of quitting your 9–5 this guide will walk you through everything step by step with real tips and strategies. Grab a drink, cozy up and let’s dive in.

Why Sell Canva Templates?

Before we get into the how let’s talk about the why. Because trust me there are some seriously good reasons to jump into this business model.

1. Low Startup Cost

You don’t need expensive software or a degree in design. Canva is free though Canva Pro gives you more features and you can start creating templates today. No inventory, no shipping just your creativity.

2. Passive Income Potential

Once you create and list a template it can sell over and over again. That means you can make money in your sleep. Yes, literally.

3. Huge Market Demand

Online business owners, bloggers, influencers, coaches and students all of them are constantly looking for high quality time saving templates.

4. Flexible and Fun

You can work from anywhere, choose your own hours and create designs you actually enjoy making. It doesn’t get better than that.

 Step 1: Choose Your Niche

This is probably the most important step and one that many people skip.

If you try to create templates for everyone you’ll end up attracting no one. Instead focus on a niche an audience with specific needs and style preferences.

Some profitable Canva template niches:

• Social Media: Instagram templates, Pinterest pins, Facebook covers

• Online Business: Workbooks, lead magnets, media kits, pricing guides

• E-commerce: Product mockups, thank you cards, packaging inserts

• Bloggers/Content Creators: Blog post templates, content calendars

• Coaches/Educators: Course slides, eBooks, checklists, planners

• Weddings/Events: Invitations, save the dates, seating charts

Pro Tip: Look at Etsy or Creative Market and pay attention to what’s trending. What are people buying? What kinds of designs get hundreds of reviews?

 Step 2: Design Your Templates in Canva

This is the fun part. Time to roll up your sleeves and get creative!

A few best practices for designing high-quality templates:

• Keep it customizable: Your customer wants to be able to easily change colors, fonts, and text.

• Stay on brand: Make sure your templates look cohesive and consistent.

• Use Canva elements legally: Only use free or Pro elements that allow for commercial use. You can’t just sell Canva’s pre made designs as is.

• Use placeholders: Don’t use real logos or images. Use placeholders so customers can add their own.

If you’re using Canva Pro you’ll have access to premium fonts, photos and elements. It’s not required but it definitely helps your templates stand out.

Examples of what you can create:

• 30 page eBook template for coaches

• 50 pack Instagram post templates for beauty brands

• Lead magnet bundle with checklist, worksheet and guide

• Resume template pack for students

  

 Step 3: Package and Organize Your Templates

Let’s say you’ve just created a beautiful 20 page media kit template. Now what?

You need to package it up in a way that’s easy to download and use.

Here’s how it usually works:

1. Create a shareable Canva link (click “Share” → “Template Link”).

2. Paste that link into a PDF guide or instruction sheet (“Click here to access your Canva template”).

3. Save that PDF file as the digital product your customer will receive.

You can also include:

• Instructions for editing

• Font and color recommendations

• License info (personal use only vs. commercial use)

Pro Tip: Consider offering your templates in bundles. People love getting a deal and bundles increase your order value.

 Step 4: Choose Where To Sell Your Templates

There are two main ways to sell Canva templates:

1. Marketplaces (Great for Beginners)

These platforms already have built in traffic which is amazing when you’re just starting out.

• Etsy – Perfect for digital products and very Canva friendly.

• Creative Market – Popular with designers, slightly higher standards.

• Design Bundles / TheHungryJPEG – Focused on digital downloads.

Pros:

• Instant audience

• Easy to set up

• No website needed

Cons:

• Competition

• Platform fees

• Less control over branding

2. Your Own Website (For More Control)

Selling on your own site via Shopify, WooCommerce or Gumroad gives you total control over pricing, branding and email list building.

Pros:

• Keep more profit

• Build your brand

• Upsell, bundle and grow your email list

Cons:

• Requires more setup

• You’ll need to drive your own traffic

Tip: Start on Etsy and gradually build your own site. You can even drive Etsy traffic to your email list using a thank you freebie!

 Step 5: Market Your Templates

This is the part where most people struggle but it doesn’t have to be scary! You don’t need a huge following or big ad budget. You just need some smart strategies.

Here’s how to market your Canva templates:

 Pinterest

This is a goldmine for traffic. Design beautiful pins using your own templates (how meta) and link to your product listings or blog posts.

 Instagram or TikTok

Show off how your templates work with Reels or carousels. Create “before and after” videos, quick design tutorials or behind-the-scenes peeks.

 Email List

Even a small email list can drive sales. Offer a free mini-template in exchange for an email address and pitch your full products later.

 Etsy SEO

If you’re on Etsy use strong keywords in your title, tags and description. Think like your buyer and what would they type in the search bar?

 Blogging

Write blog posts like “How to create a media kit” or “Best lead magnet ideas” and include your templates as the perfect solution.

 Step 6: Price Your Templates To Sell and Profit

Let’s talk money. You want to price your templates fairly but also profitably.

Common price ranges:

• Simple one page template: $5–$15

• Instagram bundles (20–50 graphics): $15–$35

• eBooks / workbooks (20+ pages): $20–$50

• Full brand kits or mega bundles: $50–$150+

A few pricing tips:

• Look at competitors but don’t undervalue yourself.

• Consider your time, effort and template complexity.

• Bundle and tier your products (Basic, Pro, VIP).

And don’t forget to factor in platform fees like Etsy’s 6.5% transaction fee + listing fee when calculating profit.

 Step 7: Keep Growing and Scaling

Once you’ve made a few sales — first of all congrats!

Now it’s time to scale up:

• Add more products to your shop

• Offer matching items or bundles

• Launch seasonal holiday themed templates

• Ask for customer reviews (social proof = more sales)

• Repurpose your best sellers into different formats

Eventually you can even start selling template memberships, done-for-you kits or courses teaching others how to design templates.

The sky’s the limit once you find your groove.

 Real Talk: What You Need To Succeed

Let’s wrap it up with a bit of real talk. Selling Canva templates isn’t a get rich quick scheme but it is a real scalable business if you treat it like one.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• A strong understanding of your audience

• A good eye for design (don’t worry it gets better with practice)

• A little patience while your shop gains traction

• Consistency in creating and marketing your products

And most importantly? Belief that you can do this. Because if you’re still reading you clearly care and that’s already half the battle won.

Conclusion

Selling Canva templates is one of the easiest and most accessible ways to start making money online especially if you love design, flexibility and creative freedom. You don’t need to be a graphic design expert. You don’t need a massive audience. You just need to start.

So pick your niche, design that first template and get it out into the world. Because this is the best way to build your dream business one template at a time. Want help creating your first Canva template or setting up your Etsy shop? Drop a comment below or hit me up and I’d love to help you get started!