How to sell Canva templates in 2024 (+ mistakes to avoid) (step-by-step)
Table of Contents
Canva’s popularity, including the demand for Canva templates, has increased significantly in recent years. But, this isn’t very surprising—Canva is known for being the most user-friendly online graphic design tool ever made.
Not only is it available for free, but it is also the reason why creators without a graphic design background can now easily create their own Canva templates, monetize their work and earn passive income.
Here’s why you should do the same:
- Passive income. Selling Canva templates allows you to generate passive income by creating a product once and selling it multiple times.
- Flexibility. Canva templates can be made for different audiences and niches, including social media, marketing, blogging, and more.
- Scalability. You can always add new digital products and expand your offerings to increase your earnings.
- Minimal costs. Creating and selling Canva templates requires minimal startup costs, making it an affordable way to start an online business.
In this article, we will share a step-by-step guide on how to sell Canva templates in 2024. We will also look at the best types of Canva templates to create, mistakes to avoid, and whether you should sell Canva templates on an online marketplace.
Is it even worth selling Canva templates?
I’d say it’s worth giving it a try, especially if you’re already a Canva user. But, the amount of money you can make depends on different factors.
Here are some statistics to consider:
- Canva has over 55 million users worldwide, so there’s clearly a large market for creative templates.
- Canva templates can cost anywhere from $5 to $100 or even higher, depending on the complexity of the design, providing the opportunity for good profit margins.
- Canva templates can be used by anyone and are in high demand among social media influencers who use them for design purposes or marketing projects.
- Canva template sellers can make anywhere from $100 to $1000+ per month, according to some estimates.
So, selling Canva templates can definitely be a profitable side hustle or business if you create in-demand templates that people are willing to pay for. It’s important to research the market and understand your audience to create Canva templates that meet their needs.
How to sell Canva templates (step-by-step)
If you want to sell Canva templates, you’ll need an eCommerce platform that offers a secure payment processing system, automated file delivery, and a user-friendly interface to track your sales performance.
Sellfy is one such platform that provides all of these features, along with marketing tools like email campaigns and discounts to help you expand your customer base. You can also customize your storefront to match your brand and showcase your templates in the best possible way.
The best part is that Sellfy lets you receive instant payouts and keep 100% of your earnings. So, if you’re interested in using Sellfy as your eCommerce platform, then keep on reading.
1. Launch your Canva template shop with Sellfy
You can sign up for a 14-day free trial or choose a subscription plan to get started. With the free trial, you’ll be able to test out Sellfy’s features before committing to a paid subscription. Just remember that you won’t be able to sell Canva templates and accept payments unless you upgrade to a paid plan.
Our platform provides a range of subscription plans to suit different needs. Here are the available options:
- Starter—designed for creators who want to sell an unlimited number of Canva templates, access 2000 email credits, and utilize a custom domain.
- Business—ideal for creators with high Canva template sales volumes who want a white-label store, store design migration, cart abandonment, product upselling, and 10,000 email credits.
- Premium—tailored to creators with the highest Canva template sales volumes who require product migration, priority support, 50,000 email credits, and additional tools to promote their templates.
To sign up, you will need to enter your first name, a valid email address, and create a password. Once you’ve started your trial, it’s essential to verify your email address to receive Sellfy updates, account information, and more.
After verification, you can opt for a pre-designed Sellfy theme, which is the simplest choice, or customize your store from scratch using the Store Customizer tool.
Out of the two options, the pre-made theme is the easiest and most efficient way to create a professional-looking store with minimal effort. You can then utilize the Store Customizer tool to personalize the theme by modifying colors, buttons, text, font, images, and other design elements.
Optional: embed Canva templates on your own site
If you already have your own website, you have the option to integrate Sellfy checkout, specific Canva templates, or your entire store into your site by connecting your domain or using one of our 3 embed options:
- Buy Now button—this option lets you add a call-to-action button to your website, which can be customized to match your web design, and paired with your Canva templates and description.
- Single product—this option allows you to feature a Canva template product along with its description, buy now button, and images.
- All products—with this option, you can add your entire storefront, including all your Canva templates, to your website.
2. Add your Canva templates to your store
To upload your Canva templates to Sellfy, navigate to the PRODUCTS section on your dashboard. Next, click on Add new product and start the upload process.
Each product can contain up to 50 files. If you prefer to offer your Canva templates as single or multiple files, you can create compressed .zip file folders.
Also, you don’t have to worry about running out of storage or bandwidth as Sellfy provides unlimited storage and bandwidth. Additionally, your file size can be as large as 10 GB per product.
3. Set up payment methods to monetize your templates
Sellfy provides support for various payment methods to ensure your customers can pay using their preferred currency and payment option.
Sellfy has integrations with two major payment processors to facilitate payment collection:
- Stripe—allows customers to pay using major credit cards, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
- PayPal—enables customers to pay using a PayPal account, major credit card, or local European payment options.
To add payment methods to your store, you need to go to STORE SETTINGS > Payment settings where you can connect your Stripe or PayPal account.
4. Your customer will receive an email with a download link
Sellfy’s automated file delivery is one of its advantages, providing convenience and time-saving benefits. Once payment is made, the Order Confirmation page will automatically redirect customers to the Canva template download page.
At the same time, Sellfy sends a Purchase email with a download link as soon as the payment is confirmed. Customers can download the template in-store or via the template link in their email.
To prevent piracy, Sellfy generates unique download links for each Canva template purchased, allowing customers to attempt up to five downloads. With automated downloads, customers can receive their digital products quickly and easily.
Here are the steps in the process:
- Your customer makes a purchase;
- Sellfy sends a confirmation email and redirects the customer to the purchase confirmation page;
- The customer can download the template either in-store or via the template link in their email.
How to create Canva templates in minutes
Creating Canva templates is a relatively straightforward process that requires some basic design skills and knowledge of the platform. So, let’s go through the steps together.
1. Choose a template type
Assuming that you’ve already signed up for Canva, the first step in creating your own Canva template is to choose a template type. Canva offers a wide range of template types: social media graphics, presentations, resumes, business cards, posters, and flyers. Choose a template type that you plan on offering to your audience.
2. Design your template
Once you have chosen your template, it is time to start designing. You can choose from Canva’s collection of pre-made templates or create your own template design from scratch. You can also customize and edit your template by adding your own images, text, colors, and other design elements.
3. Save your template as a Canva template
After designing your template, you can save it as a Canva template. This will let your customers edit and customize the template to their liking. To save it as a Canva template, click on Share and select how you want to publish your template.
4. Export your Canva template
Now, you can export your Canva template as a PDF or image file, and then upload it to your Sellfy store. Exporting your template allows your customers to download and use the template. To export it, click on Download and select the file format you want to export your template in.
5 popular template ideas for your business
Now that you know how to create Canva templates, let’s look at popular things to make on Canva to sell—templates that will never go out of demand.
Social media graphics
Social media templates are one of the most popular types of Canva templates. They include templates for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. These types of templates are in high demand as many social media influencers look to create a strong and visually appealing online presence.
Business cards
Canva has a huge range of business card templates that you can customize to fit your customer’s brand. Business cards are a great type of Canva template to sell as they are almost always used by all sorts of businesses and entrepreneurs.
Flyers and posters
Canva offers a wide selection of flyer and poster templates that you can edit and design to fit different audiences. Flyers and posters are generally used to promote events, parties, products, and services by either businesses or individuals. So, they’re one of the best types of Canva templates to offer.
Infographics and vision boards
There’s always a demand for visually presented information such as infographics and vision boards. They are excellent types of Canva templates to create and sell as they are often used for meetings, webinars, and conferences, including social media.
Portfolios and resumes
Resumes and portfolios are in high demand as job seekers look for ways to make themselves stand out from the crowd. And, the good news is that Canva also offers plenty of templates that you can edit and turn into attention-grabbing resumes.
3 common mistakes to avoid when selling Canva templates
While selling Canva templates can be a profitable business, there are some common mistakes that you should avoid.
These mistakes can negatively impact your sales:
- Overcrowding the design. One of the biggest mistakes that beginners make is creating overly complex designs. Your Canva templates should be user-friendly and easy on the eyes. Remember, a little goes a long way. So, to keep it simple, consider logically organizing the layers and free elements. Also, ensure that your colors don’t clash.
- Undervaluing your work. Another mistake that new Canva template sellers often make is underpricing their templates. Some may not price their work high enough to reflect the time, effort, and skill required to create it. It’s important to consider the time and effort it took to create your templates and price them accordingly. So, don’t be afraid to charge what your work is worth.
- Not using a platform with marketing tools. Simply creating and uploading your templates to a website or an online marketplace is not enough to get sales. To stand out from the competition, you need to actively promote your templates with marketing tools. While promoting on social media is helpful, don’t forget about other marketing channels such as email and using promotional tactics like discount codes. To achieve this, you need to opt for a platform that provides marketing tools.
Should you sell Canva templates on Etsy and similar marketplaces?
If you have a vast collection of high-quality Canva templates, it may be tempting to sell them on marketplaces as an easy way to get started. However, it’s important to carefully evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of selling Canva templates on Etsy and similar marketplaces.
The pros and cons of selling Canva templates on marketplaces
For one, marketplaces are highly saturated with numerous digital products, making it difficult for your templates to stand out. In addition, marketplaces typically charge a commission on sales, reducing your profit margins.
To have full control over your Canva template business, it may be more beneficial to sell your templates through your own website or a reliable eCommerce platform like Sellfy.
So, while selling Canva templates on Etsy or other marketplaces can provide a wider audience exposure, there are also drawbacks like marketplace fees, the need for lower pricing to compete with other people selling Canva templates, and limited control over branding.
Let’s summarize the advantages and disadvantages.
Pros:
- Exposure to an audience of potential buyers
- Access to a pre-existing infrastructure for sales and distribution
- Marketing may be handled by the marketplace
Cons:
- Marketplace fees can cut into profits
- Lower pricing may be required to compete with other sellers
- Limited control over branding and presentation
- Potential for piracy and unauthorized sharing
By considering these pros and cons, you can make an informed decision on whether selling Canva templates on Etsy aligns with your business goals and preferences.
FAQ: selling Canva templates
Can I make money selling Canva templates?
Yes, you can! The amount of money you can make depends on several factors like the quality of your Canva templates, demand for your designs, and your marketing efforts.
Some sellers make a few hundred dollars a month while others make a full-time income from their sales. It’s important to do your research, create high-quality Canva templates, and market them effectively to maximize your earning potential.
How to create editable Canva templates?
To create templates with Canva, follow these steps:
- Create a free Canva account or log in and select Create a design.
- Choose your preferred template from Canva’s template library (e.g. brochure, flyer, social media post).
- Design your template using Canva’s drag-and-drop interface.
- Click on the Text tab and add any editable text fields you want to include in your template.
- Once you’ve finished designing your template, click on Download and select the PDF – Print option.
- In the Download Options box, make sure to check the Include editable text option.
- Click Download and your editable template will be saved as a PDF file.
- Now you’re ready to sell templates!
Are Canva graphics copyright free?
Canva graphics are not necessarily copyright-free. However, Canva provides users with a library of free and paid graphics that are licensed for use in various ways. It is important to review the licensing terms of each graphic before use to ensure compliance with copyright laws.
Should I sell Canva templates on Etsy?
Selling templates on Etsy can be a profitable business, but there are some potential cons to consider. These may include increased competition in the marketplace and the risk of others stealing your designs.
Additionally, various fees are associated with listing and selling your Canva templates on Etsy, making it difficult to have full control over your business.
Where to sell Canva templates?
We recommend selling templates through your own website or an online store like Sellfy as it provides full control over your business (marketplaces tend to be oversaturated with competitors, making it hard for your work to be noticed).
By selling templates through an online store like Sellfy, you can customize your site and choose a store design that aligns with your own style and brand.
Sellfy, a platform designed for creators who want to avoid complexity while achieving results, is an excellent option. So, if you’re looking for a simple and effective way to sell Canva templates online, then Sellfy might be the perfect fit for you.
Is there a limit to the number of templates I can sell with Sellfy?
There’s no limit to the number of templates or any other products that can be sold from your Sellfy store. Sellfy has unlimited bandwidth, which means that you can upload single files that are up to 10 GB, or products containing multiple files (up to 50 files per product) totaling up to 10 GB.
What types of templates sell best?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question as it largely depends on the current trends and demand in the market.
However, popular types of templates include social media graphics, business cards, flyers and posters, infographics and vision boards, and portfolios and resumes.
We suggest exploring marketplaces like Etsy and Creative Market, or platforms like Pinterest and Instagram, to see what’s trending.
How do I market my Canva templates to potential customers?
While some marketplaces may offer promotional tools and marketing services for their sellers, you can also use Sellfy’s built-in marketing features to promote your templates.
Some of these features include upselling, creating discount codes, offering freebies, setting up email campaigns and cart abandonment recovery reminders, and using social media integrations.
You can also utilize Sellfy’s affiliate program to have others promote your templates for you. Plus, Sellfy provides analytics and insights to help you track your sales, grow your online business, and adjust your marketing strategies accordingly.
