How to Make Money Selling Stickers and Decals on Etsy

If you're a creative person who loves designing or doodling, selling stickers on Etsy could be a fun and profitable way to make money!

Stickers are popular because they’re affordable, customizable, and can be used for everything from decorating laptops and water bottles to planning and journaling.

And the best part? You don’t need a huge upfront investment to get started.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through on how to make money selling stickers on Etsy, step by step.

1. Get Creative with Your Sticker Designs

The first step to selling stickers is, of course, creating awesome designs.

You don’t need to be a professional artist to succeed—stickers come in all styles, from simple doodles and quotes to detailed illustrations.

The key is finding a niche or theme that resonates with your potential customers.

Design Ideas to Get You Started:

• Cute animals: Designs of cats, dogs, or other animals always sell well.
• Motivational quotes: People love using inspirational stickers in their planners and notebooks.
• Pop culture: Create designs based on trending shows, memes, or fandoms (just be careful with copyright!).
• Seasonal stickers: Create designs for holidays like Christmas, Halloween, or Valentine’s Day.

If you're not a great artist, don’t worry! You can use tools like Canva or Procreate to create simple but appealing designs. Canva is beginner-friendly, and Procreate offers more advanced drawing capabilities for iPad users.

2. Make Your Stickers

Once you have your designs ready, it’s time to turn them into actual stickers!

There are a couple of ways to do this depending on your budget and how hands-on you want to be.

Printing at Home:

If you want to keep everything in-house, you can print and cut your stickers at home. For this, you’ll need:

• A good printer like the Epson EcoTank for high-quality color prints.
• Sticker paper, such as Avery or OnlineLabels, which is perfect for inkjet or laser printers.
• A cutting machine like the Cricut or Silhouette Cameo to make clean, precise cuts around your designs.

Using a Print-on-Demand Service:

If you’d rather not deal with printing and cutting, you can use a print-on-demand service. These services handle everything from printing to shipping for you. Popular options include:

• Printful
• Sticker Mule
• Redbubble

Using print-on-demand allows you to focus more on designing and marketing your stickers, but keep in mind that you’ll have less control over the production process.

3. Set Up Your Etsy Shop

Now that you’ve got your sticker designs ready, it’s time to set up your Etsy shop.

Etsy is a great platform for selling handmade and custom products, and stickers are super popular here.

The setup process is simple, and Etsy guides you through each step.

• Create your Etsy account if you don’t have one yet.
• Choose a shop name that reflects your brand and is easy to remember.
• Fill out your shop policies, including shipping times, returns, and any custom options you offer.
• Set up your payment methods (Etsy Payments or PayPal are most common).

4. Price Your Stickers Right

Pricing your stickers can be tricky, but you want to make sure you’re covering costs and making a profit while still being competitive. Here’s how to think about pricing:

• Consider your costs: Include the cost of materials (sticker paper, ink, packaging), your time, and Etsy fees (Etsy takes a small percentage of each sale).
• Check your competition: Browse other Etsy shops selling similar stickers to see how much they’re charging. Most individual stickers sell between $2 to $5, while sticker packs can go for $10 or more.
• Factor in shipping: If you’re mailing the stickers yourself, you’ll need to account for postage, packaging materials, and shipping fees. Many sellers offer free shipping but factor that into the sticker price.

5. List Your Stickers with Great Photos and Descriptions

One of the keys to selling on Etsy is having great product listings.

People can’t see your stickers in person, so your photos and descriptions need to do the selling for you!

Tips for Great Photos:

• Use good lighting: Natural light is best! Take photos by a window or outside to make your stickers look bright and colorful.
• Show different angles: Include multiple photos of your stickers, including close-ups and in-use examples (like on a laptop or journal).
• Use mockups: You can use mockups (digitally placing your sticker design onto photos of notebooks, water bottles, etc.) to show what your stickers will look like on different items.

Write Clear Descriptions:

• Include details about the size, material, and finish of the stickers (are they waterproof? Matte or glossy?).
• Let buyers know if your stickers are hand-cut or printed using a professional service.
• Mention any special features, like if the stickers are removable or perfect for planners.

6. Promote Your Etsy Shop

Once your shop is up and running, you need to spread the word!

Etsy has a huge audience, but promoting your shop yourself can help bring in even more customers.

Marketing Ideas:

• Social media: Share your designs on Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. Stickers are super visual, so platforms like these are perfect for showing them off.
• Use Etsy ads: Etsy offers an advertising feature that lets you promote your listings to more people. Start with a small budget and see if it brings in more sales.
• Run sales or promotions: Offer discounts for new customers, or run seasonal promotions to encourage buyers to stock up on stickers.

7. Offer Great Customer Service

To build a successful sticker business on Etsy, providing excellent customer service is key.

Respond to messages promptly, package your orders with care (people love cute, personalized packaging!), and make sure you meet your shipping deadlines.

Happy customers often leave great reviews, which help boost your shop’s reputation and attract more buyers.

Wrap Up: Etsy Makes Good Money

Selling stickers on Etsy is not only a creative and fun way to make money, but it’s also easy to start with minimal investment.

By designing unique stickers, offering quality products, and promoting your shop, you can turn your hobby into a profitable side hustle.

Remember, success takes time, so be patient and keep improving your designs, listings, and marketing. With the right approach, you could be earning a steady income from your stickers in no time!Good luck, and happy selling!

Leah Espinosa

Blogger

A single mom of 4 who loves productivity, marketing, and selling. Passionate about cooking, storytelling, and finding inner peace in every life’s adventures.