You’ve probably seen those viral videos claiming people are making $20,000+ a month from digital downloads on Etsy. While those stories are inspiring, they don’t always feel realistic if you’re juggling a 9-5 family or don’t have a background in design. I’m here to show you a more attainable path. In my first year, I made $3,000 selling Canva templates on Etsy, and I’m not a graphic designer, nor do I use Photoshop.
What I do have is consistency, creativity, and a willingness to learn. If you’ve ever wondered how to make money selling templates on Etsy, here’s exactly how I did it (and how you can, too).
Why Sell Canva Templates on Etsy?
Digital products like templates are one of the easiest ways to build passive income. You create the product once, and it can sell over and over without additional work. Templates also require zero shipping, no inventory, and low startup costs—making this a perfect side hustle or entry into digital entrepreneurship.
My shop focused on things like:
- Social media templates
- Business forms
- Resume designs
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. The key is creating clean, helpful, and well-designed templates that save people time.
Learning Canva: Your Best Friend in This Business
I built my entire Etsy shop using Canva, a user-friendly graphic design platform perfect for beginners. You don’t need expensive software or formal training to succeed in this space; you just need a little creativity and time.
→ If you’re brand new, check out Canva’s free tutorials.
Even after years of using Canva, I’m still learning new tricks and shortcuts. You don’t need to be an expert; you just need to start.
Setting Up Your Etsy Shop for Success
Step 1 – Create Your Etsy Account
Before you can learn how to make money selling templates on Etsy, you’ll need to set up an Etsy seller account.
Pro Tip: Etsy charges $0.20 per product listing, but you can get your first 40 listings free when you sign up with a brand-new email. Sign up here.
If you already have an Etsy account as a buyer, I recommend creating a new account specifically for your shop so you can take advantage of free listings.
Step 2 – Set Your Shop Preferences
You’ll need to select:
- Your shop language
- Country
- Currency
Important: Your primary language cannot be changed later, so choose carefully.
Step 3 – Choose a Shop Name
Your Etsy shop name should:
- Be unique and reflect what you sell
- Be simple and memorable
- Stay under 20 characters
You can change your shop name later—but only once—so spend some time brainstorming.
Step 4 – Create Your Listings
Here’s where the fun begins!
When creating your product listings, use strong keywords like “editable Canva template,” “budget spreadsheet,” or “wedding planner template.”
- Write clear, friendly descriptions
- Include attractive product images or mockups
- Offer value by bundling multiple templates together
Keywords are key. Etsy functions like a search engine, so make sure your titles, tags, and descriptions include phrases like how to make money selling templates on Etsy, “digital downloads,” and specific niche keywords related to your products.
What I Learned from Earning $3,000 Selling Templates
While $3,000 may not be life-changing money, it’s an extra stream of income that requires very little ongoing effort once your shop is live. Along the way, I learned:
- Product photos and SEO matter more than you think
- Niching down helps (don’t try to sell every type of template)
- Customer service is still important, even with digital products
- You can make money while you sleep
If you’re ready to start your own passive income journey, selling templates on Etsy is an achievable, low-risk way to do it.
Final Thoughts: Is Selling Templates on Etsy Worth It?
If you’re serious about building passive income and want to learn how to make money selling templates on Etsy, it’s absolutely worth a try. It’s not an overnight success story—but with consistency, creativity, and smart marketing, you can create an evergreen revenue stream.
