1. Conceptual design.
Find your niche, then get creative and create some great artwork for your stickers! You can draw it yourself or commission a designer or illustrator.
3. Decide how to print the sticker.
You can print stickers at home with Cricut through apps like StickerGiant or YourStuffMade, or use drop shipping to order stickers.
4. Decide how to sell stickers.
Marketplaces like Etsy, your own e-commerce site, or print portals like Society6 and Redbubble are all good options.
5. Set a price for your stickers.
Set a range of prices based on size and complexity of sticker design. Most stickers cost between $2-6.
6. Ship your stickers!
Stickers are one of the easiest items to ship. Enjoy the unique mailing fun and create a special experience for your customers!
Why make stickers?
The sticker possibilities are endless. Any artwork - be it illustrations, script letters or photos - can be turned into stickers. You can make it any size or shape and add special finishes like clear backgrounds or holographic glitter effects.
If you want to make and sell stickers online, there's definitely a market for them. According to data from eRank, which tracks popular items on Etsy, “stickers” were the 11th most searched item on the market in September 2021.
If you're already an artist, turning your creations into stickers is an easy process. If you're a newbie, the barriers to entry are low - the only limiting factor is your creativity. Stickers are used to express individuality and different interests, so you're sure to find buyers for any style you make.
Ilona Lin is the owner of Milkteanco, a sticker shop featuring cute kawaii-inspired designs. Ilona worked in sales before she finally decided to pursue her love of art and open a sticker shop full time.
"Meeting my sales quota barely quenched my thirst for creativity," she said. Ilona started her store during COVID and everyone was stuck inside. "I've seen so many inspiring videos and stories of people starting their own businesses from home and it blows my mind that I now have the time and passion to do it."
From a business cost standpoint, the materials to make the stickers are more affordable than other items you can make and require very little storage space to stock. Stickers cost less than $1 for small batches if you use a third-party printing service, or even less if you order larger quantities. If printed at home, stickers can be customized to avoid waste and backlog issues. Shipping is also simple, requiring only a small hard envelope for most orders.
