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The wedding industry spent over $57 billion in 2024, and that’s just one slice of the massive events market that needs professional-looking invitations. While traditional design agencies charge hundreds for custom invitations, there’s a growing middle ground of people seeking beautiful, customizable templates at affordable prices. That’s where you come in – creating and selling Canva invitation templates can be a lucrative side hustle that requires minimal startup costs and leverages your creative skills.
For aspiring digital entrepreneurs with an eye for design, selling Canva invitation templates offers a perfect entry point into passive income. You don’t need a degree in graphic design or expensive software – just creativity, attention to detail, and an understanding of what event planners and hosts are looking for in their invitations. The beauty of this business model lies in its scalability: create once, sell infinitely.
What You Need to Start
- A Canva Pro account ($119.99/year or $12.99/month)
- Basic design sense and attention to detail
- Understanding of current design trends
- Time to create and market your templates
- Basic knowledge of digital marketing
- PayPal or Stripe account for receiving payments
Identifying Profitable Niches
Instead of trying to compete in the broad “invitations” market, focus on specific niches where you can stand out:
- Wedding sub-categories (bridal showers, engagement parties, save-the-dates)
- Children’s birthday parties by theme or age group
- Corporate events and professional gatherings
- Seasonal celebrations (holiday parties, summer BBQs)
- Baby showers and gender reveal parties
- Milestone celebrations (graduations, anniversaries, retirements)
Research current trends within these niches and look for gaps in the market where you can offer something unique.
Getting Your First Templates Ready
- Start with a core collection of 5-10 templates in your chosen niche
- Create variations of each design (portrait and landscape orientations)
- Include multiple color schemes for each template
- Ensure all elements are properly locked and grouped
- Create clear instructions for customization
- Test your templates thoroughly before listing
- Prepare high-quality preview images
Remember to include:
- Clear typography hierarchy
- Plenty of white space
- Consistent styling across your collection
- Mobile-friendly designs
- Easy-to-edit text fields
Also See: Best Selling Canva Templates
Pricing Your Templates
Consider these factors when setting your prices:
- Market research of similar templates
- The complexity of your designs
- Your target audience’s budget
- Platform fees and competition
- Bundle pricing options
Starting price points:
- Single templates: $3-8
- Small bundles (3-5 templates): $12-20
- Large bundles (10+ templates): $25-45
- Complete collections: $50-100
Expected Income
As a new template creator, you might sell 5-15 templates per month initially, generating $15-120 in passive income. With a growing portfolio and effective marketing, monthly sales could increase to 20-50 templates, bringing in $60-400 per month. Some successful creators report earning $500-1,000 monthly after building a substantial template library and establishing their brand.
Where to Sell Your Templates
- Etsy (largest marketplace for digital products)
- Creative Market (design-focused platform)
- Your own website (using platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce)
- Design Bundles
- Template marketplaces
- Social media platforms (Instagram, Pinterest)
Next Steps
Starting your Canva invitation template business doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Begin by choosing one specific niche that excites you and create a small, cohesive collection of templates. Focus on quality over quantity, and make sure each design solves a specific problem for your target audience. Remember, success in this space isn’t just about design skills – it’s about understanding what your customers need and delivering solutions that make their lives easier.
Get started by posting your designs on one platform, preferably Etsy, as it has the largest market for digital products. Invest time in creating eye-catching thumbnail images and writing detailed descriptions that highlight the value of your templates. Consider offering a free template to build your email list and create a simple marketing plan using Pinterest and Instagram to showcase your designs. The key is to start small, learn from your early customers, and gradually expand your template collection based on real market demand.