When I first started using Canva, I thought it was just for making social media graphics.
I did not realize it could actually make money.
But once I saw people selling planners, templates, and design services created with Canva, I understood something important. Canva is not just a design tool. It is a business tool.
You do not need to be a professional designer.
You do not need expensive software.
You just need basic editing skills and consistency.
There is huge demand for digital graphics. Businesses, bloggers, influencers, and coaches all need them.
That demand creates opportunity.
In this post, I will show you 23 real ways you can start making money with Canva.
Why Canva Is Perfect for Beginners
Canva makes starting simple.
No experience required
You can use ready made templates and customize them in minutes.
Low startup cost
You can begin with a free account and sell digital products without inventory.
Scalable income
Create once and sell multiple times.
High demand
Online businesses always need graphics and templates.
Canva gives you a low risk way to start earning online.
1. Sell Printable Planners
Printable planners are one of the easiest ways to start making money with Canva. People love planners because they help organize their lives, manage time, track goals, and even plan meals or finances. You can design daily planners, weekly layouts, habit trackers, or budget planners.
When I first tried this, I started with a simple weekly planner template. I posted it on Etsy, and to my surprise, it sold within a few days. The key is to keep your design clean and functional. Make sure it is editable, so buyers can print or customize it as they like.
You can sell printable planners on Etsy, your blog, Shopify, or even on social media. Once created, they become a source of passive income because you only make them once but can sell them multiple times.
2. Create Digital Planners
Digital planners are similar to printable planners but are optimized for tablets and apps like GoodNotes or Notability. They often include clickable tabs, hyperlinks, and interactive sections that make navigation easier for users.
I remember creating my first digital planner and being nervous because I thought it was too complicated. Once I tested it on my iPad, I realized how simple it was to make interactive tabs in Canva. Digital planners can sell for higher prices than printables because they are convenient and reusable.
Focus on making your digital planner intuitive, attractive, and easy to customize. Many people are willing to pay for a professional-looking product that saves them time.
3. Sell Resume Templates
Job seekers are always searching for clean and modern resume templates that will help them stand out. Canva makes it easy to design professional, editable resumes that can be customized by clients.
When I started designing resumes, I created three styles: minimalist, creative, and corporate. Each style appealed to different audiences. I noticed that clients especially loved templates that were easy to edit and visually appealing without being too flashy.
You can sell resume templates on Etsy, your own website, or in career-focused online groups. Adding cover letter templates or matching LinkedIn banners can increase the value of your package.
4. Design Media Kits for Influencers
Influencers and content creators need media kits to pitch themselves to brands. A media kit is essentially a visual resume for influencers, highlighting audience size, engagement, collaborations, and personal branding.
I first created a media kit template for a friend who is an influencer. She loved it because it saved her hours of work and looked professional. Customizable Canva templates like this are very popular.
When creating media kits, include sections for statistics, bio, social media links, collaboration examples, and contact information. Make the design clean and visually appealing, because first impressions matter.
5. Sell Ebook Templates
Many coaches, writers, and online business owners want professional-looking ebooks but do not have design skills. Canva allows you to create editable ebook templates that are ready to use.
When I designed my first ebook template, I included pre-made chapters, headers, and page layouts. The buyer could simply swap in their own content and publish immediately.
Ebook templates are scalable because one design can be sold multiple times to different buyers. You can sell them on Etsy, your website, or to email subscribers as part of a bundle.
6. Design YouTube Thumbnails
YouTube creators need thumbnails that are visually appealing and clickable. Canva is perfect for this because it allows you to create bold, colorful, and professional designs quickly.
I remember offering a bundle of five thumbnail designs to a new YouTuber. She loved them so much she asked for monthly updates. This is an example of how you can turn a single service into recurring income.
Focus on using high-contrast colors, readable fonts, and compelling visuals. The goal is to create thumbnails that make viewers stop scrolling and click.
7. Create Pinterest Pins for Bloggers
Bloggers need fresh pins to drive traffic to their sites, and Pinterest is always looking for eye-catching, vertical designs. Canva makes it easy to create pins that are both beautiful and optimized for Pinterest.
When I started designing pins, I created sets of 5 or 10 for clients, which they could schedule for weeks ahead. Many bloggers are happy to pay for ready-to-use designs because it saves them hours of work.
You can offer monthly pin packages or single-pin design services. Study Pinterest trends and colors to make your designs stand out, and always include clear text overlays that communicate the post topic.
8. Sell Canva Ebook Templates
Many online business owners, coaches, and writers want ebooks but don’t have the time or skills to design them. Canva makes it easy to create professional, fully editable ebook templates.
When I designed my first ebook template, I focused on readability, clean layouts, and pre-designed chapter headings. Buyers could simply swap their content into my template and publish immediately.
Ebook templates are very scalable. One template can be sold hundreds of times, especially if you offer different styles, such as minimalist, colorful, or corporate. Bundling a cover, chapter pages, and a workbook version can also increase value and price.
9. Design YouTube Thumbnails
YouTube creators need thumbnails that grab attention. Many struggle to make them stand out. Canva lets you create bold, high-contrast designs that catch the eye instantly.
I remember working with a small YouTuber who wanted thumbnails for 10 videos. After she saw her click-through rates increase, she asked me to design a monthly bundle. This is a great example of recurring income opportunities.
Tips for thumbnails: use large, readable fonts, bright colors, and strong visuals. Faces or expressive images often perform best. Make sure your thumbnails communicate the video topic clearly.
10. Create Print-On-Demand Designs
Print-on-demand allows you to sell physical products like t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and stickers without holding inventory. Canva is perfect for designing the graphics for these products.
I started with simple quotes on mugs and saw how quickly they could sell once uploaded to a print-on-demand platform. The key is to research trending designs in your niche and create something visually appealing that people actually want to wear or display.
Once uploaded, the platform handles printing, shipping, and customer service. You focus solely on creating designs. Over time, your collection can grow into a passive income stream.
11. Sell Printable Wall Art
Wall art is a massive market. Minimalist quotes, motivational prints, nursery art, and modern designs sell consistently.
I first created a set of inspirational quote prints for my Etsy shop. The first week, a few sold almost immediately. Customers love wall art that is easy to download and print at home.
Tips: focus on popular quotes, current design trends, and visually appealing typography. Offer multiple sizes or color options to appeal to different tastes.
12. Design Business Cards
Business cards are always in demand, especially for small businesses and startups. Canva lets you design editable, professional templates that clients can personalize.
When I first started offering business card templates, I included a few matching elements like social media banners or letterheads. Clients appreciated the cohesive branding. You can sell these templates individually or as part of a branding package.
Pro tip: keep designs simple, readable, and visually striking. Minimalist styles often sell better because they appeal to a wider audience.
13. Create Event Flyers
Church events, small business sales, birthday parties, and community events all need flyers. Canva makes it easy to create eye-catching designs in minutes.
I began by designing local community flyers and realized that even small events pay for professional designs. The key is to make templates editable so clients can swap text, dates, and images without breaking the design.
Offering themed flyer packs or bundles can increase sales. For example, creating a set of “Holiday Event Flyers” or “Birthday Party Flyers” allows buyers to get multiple designs at once.
14. Offer Canva Coaching
Many people struggle to use Canva effectively, especially beginners. If you’ve mastered the basics, offering coaching or tutorials can be very profitable.
I started by giving one-on-one sessions to friends and small business owners. After a few sessions, I realized I could charge a premium for structured coaching. You can also create group workshops, webinars, or even recorded courses.
Tip: focus on helping people solve specific problems, like creating Pinterest graphics, digital planners, or social media templates. Providing clear, actionable steps is more valuable than generic tutorials.
15. Design Workbooks for Coaches and Course Creators
Online coaches and course creators almost always need workbooks to go along with their programs. These workbooks help students take notes, complete exercises, and stay engaged.
Canva makes it very easy to design structured workbook layouts with sections for prompts, checklists, reflection questions, and exercises.
I once created a simple 20 page workbook template with fill in sections and branded colors. It ended up being one of the most requested items because coaches want their materials to look polished and professional.
If you position yourself as someone who creates clean, easy to use workbook templates, you can charge premium prices. You can sell them as editable templates or offer custom design services.
16. Sell Instagram Highlight Covers
Instagram highlight covers may seem small, but they sell consistently. Many business owners and influencers want their profiles to look cohesive and branded.
You can create themed highlight icon packs such as minimalist, pastel, luxury gold, or neutral aesthetic sets. These are quick to design but highly scalable.
I noticed that when highlight covers match a brand’s color palette, profiles look more professional instantly. That is what customers are paying for. They want simplicity and consistency.
Bundle multiple icons together and sell them as a pack to increase perceived value.
17. Create Lead Magnets for Businesses
Lead magnets are free resources businesses offer in exchange for email addresses. Examples include checklists, guides, mini ebooks, or cheat sheets.
Many business owners know they need a lead magnet but do not know how to design one properly. That is where you come in.
I once helped a small business owner redesign her checklist into a polished PDF in Canva. Her email signups increased because the resource looked more trustworthy and professional.
You can offer lead magnet design as a service or create customizable templates that businesses can edit themselves.
This is valuable work because it directly helps businesses grow their email lists.
18. Design Presentation Templates
Students, professionals, and entrepreneurs constantly need presentation slides. Canva has excellent presentation features that allow you to design clean and modern slide decks.
You can create themed presentation templates for business pitches, webinars, workshops, or school projects.
The key is clarity. Keep slides simple, readable, and visually structured. Include title slides, section dividers, content slides, and image layouts.
Presentation templates are attractive because they solve a common problem. Many people struggle to design slides that look professional.
19. Sell Wedding Invitation Templates
Wedding invitations are a strong digital product category. Couples often want elegant, editable templates they can customize themselves.
Canva allows you to design invitation suites that include save the date cards, wedding invitations, RSVP cards, and thank you notes.
When creating wedding templates, focus on timeless styles such as floral, minimalist, or modern typography. Make sure the layout is easy to edit and clearly organized.
These templates can sell at higher price points because weddings are emotional and important events.
20. Design Course Slides
Online education continues to grow. Many instructors need slide decks for their courses but lack design skills.
If you can design structured and visually appealing course slides, you can sell templates or offer custom design services.
When I created my first course slide template, I focused on clarity and consistent branding. Including content placeholders and layout variations makes the template more valuable.
This niche works especially well if you market to coaches, educators, and online entrepreneurs.
21. Create Shop Banners and Branding Packages
Etsy sellers, Shopify store owners, and small businesses need branding elements such as shop banners, profile images, and social media covers.
You can offer complete branding kits designed in Canva. These may include logos, banners, highlight covers, and post templates.
Small business owners often want affordable branding solutions. Canva templates give them flexibility to edit while still maintaining a professional look.
Branding packages allow you to charge more because you are providing a complete solution rather than a single design.
22. Sell Digital Stickers
Digital planner users love decorative sticker packs. These stickers are used inside digital planning apps and notebooks.
You can create themed sticker packs such as productivity, fitness, budgeting, self care, or seasonal designs.
This is a fun niche because creativity plays a bigger role. Bright colors, cute icons, and trendy themes often perform well.
Once you build multiple sticker packs, you can bundle them together to increase revenue per customer.
23. Start a Printables Blog
One of the smartest long term strategies is starting a blog focused on printables.
Here is how it works. You create free printables to attract traffic. Then you monetize with display ads, affiliate links, or premium printable bundles.
This approach combines Canva with content marketing.
Over time, your blog can generate traffic from Pinterest and search engines. That traffic can turn into consistent income.
It takes longer than selling a single template, but it builds long term digital assets that can grow steadily.
How To Choose The Right Path
Now that you have seen 23 ways to make money with Canva, the most important step is choosing one direction.
Do not try to do everything at once.
Ask yourself:
- Do I prefer working with clients or selling digital products?
- Do I want quick income or long term passive income?
- What niche am I interested in?
Start small. Create one product or offer one service. Improve your skills as you go.
Perfection is not required to begin.
Conclusion
Canva is more than a design platform. It is an opportunity.
You do not need to be a professional graphic designer.
You do not need expensive tools.
You do not need years of experience.
What you need is consistency, willingness to learn, and action.
Every single method listed in this post has real income potential. Some can bring quick freelance payments. Others can grow into scalable digital businesses.
The biggest mistake is waiting until you feel ready.
Pick one idea.
Create your first design.
List it for sale.
Offer your service.
The difference between people who make money with Canva and those who do not is simple.
They start.
