I’m not a graphic designer—never was, never will be. But guess what? That’s never stopped me from making money on Canva. You don’t need a fancy degree or years of experience to get started. Canva was literally made for people like us—moms who want to make money online but don’t have the time or patience for complicated design software.
Canva’s drag-and-drop editor is so simple my 10-year-old could use it. Seriously. If you can click, drag, or type, you can create graphics people will actually buy. No tech nightmares, no hour-long YouTube rabbit holes. Open Canva. Pick a template. Start making money—before your coffee gets cold.
Free tools, templates, and instant design magic
Here’s the secret sauce: Canva hands you 250+ free templates, fonts, icons, and photos—all ready to go. No credit card. No hassle. You can get started without spending a cent. You can design everything—social posts, printables, planners, eBooks—all with just a few clicks
Because Canva is cloud-based, you can work on your side hustle anywhere—the kitchen table, the car line, even during nap time. All you need is Wi-Fi and a little creativity. Or coffee. (Lots of coffee.)
Still skeptical? Let’s talk real results. Thousands of moms—yep, just like us—use Canva to earn $200 to $2,000+ a month, all while keeping their day jobs.
Beginner sellers can make $500–$1,500/month with digital products, according to Side Hustle Nation.
Etsy moms are making $1,000+ every month with Canva printables—just from digital downloads.
My own Canva template shop? $700 last month—working only during nap time and after bedtime!
The best part? Once your digital products are live, they keep selling on autopilot. That’s true passive income, mama.
15+ Proven Ways to Make Money with Canva (No Experience Needed)
Ready for inspiration? Here are 15+ real ways you can make money with Canva—even if you’ve never designed a thing. I’ve tried many myself—they work! Let’s dive in.
1.Sell Canva Templates on Etsy
This one’s my bread and butter. Etsy is full of shoppers searching for easy-to-edit templates—planners, Instagram posts, invitations, you name it.
Hot tip: Find a niche—wedding planners, teacher resources, pet care. Fill your shop with unique, useful templates. Passive income, here you come.
2.Become a Canva Affiliate
Canva will actually pay you to spread the word. Join their affiliate program, grab your link, and earn commission every time someone signs up. Share your link in blog posts, Pinterest pins, even your email signature.
3.Offer Pinterest Pin Design Services
Pinterest is life for us moms—and everyone wants scroll-stopping pins. Offer your designs on Fiverr, Upwork, or in Facebook groups. I’ve made quick cash this way—no big portfolio needed.
4.Start a Printables Side Hustle
Create printable planners, chore charts, and meal trackers in Canva. Sell them on Etsy, Shopify, or your own site. People love to organize—and your printables make it easy.
Create Digital Planners or Journals
5. Create Digital Planners or Journals
Digital planners are in demand—especially for iPad and tablet users. Design yours in Canva, export as a PDF, and sell on Etsy or Creative Market. Bonus: no shipping, no inventory, and customers can reuse them forever.
6. Design & Sell E-book Covers
Authors crave eye-catching covers. Use Canva’s templates to create professional eBook covers for clients on Fiverr or in self-publishing Facebook groups. It’s quick, creative, and always in demand.
7. Make and Sell Social Media Kits
Brands, bloggers, and small businesses are always searching for social media kits that make their feeds pop. Design matching Instagram posts, stories, Facebook banners, and more—then sell them as bundles.
8. Start a Canva-Based YouTube Channel
Teaching Canva skills on YouTube is profitable! Share how-to videos, design hacks, or “watch me design” sessions. Earn from YouTube ads, affiliate links, and your own digital products.
9. Create Lead Magnets for Bloggers
Bloggers and business owners pay for custom lead magnets—checklists, guides, worksheets. Offer your services on freelance sites or in Facebook groups. Canva makes it easy to create polished, branded freebies.
10. Sell Wedding or Party Invitations
Weddings, birthdays, baby showers—everyone’s looking for gorgeous invites. Design templates or custom invitations in Canva and sell them as instant downloads on Etsy or Zazzle.
11. Offer Canva Training or 1:1 Coaching
Mastered Canva? Teach others! Moms, small biz owners, and VAs all need help. Host Zoom workshops, create a course, or offer private coaching.
12. Create Print-on-Demand Products (T-shirts, Mugs)
Combine your Canva designs with print-on-demand sites like Printful or Redbubble. You design, they print and ship—no inventory, no hassle. Create T-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and more.
13. Sell Resume Templates Designed in Canva
Help job seekers stand out with modern, eye-catching resume templates designed in Canva. Sell them on Etsy or your own site—and watch the sales roll in.
14. Join the Canva Creator Program
Join Canva’s Creator Program and get paid to design templates for their global library. If your work gets picked, you earn cash—and help millions create beautiful things.
15. Create & Sell Coloring Books for Kids
Use Canva to design adorable coloring pages or complete books. Sell digital versions on Etsy, Amazon KDP, or your own store. Parents love printable activities—and you’ll love the passive income.
How to Pick the Right Canva Side Hustle for You
Not sure which Canva money-maker fits you? No pressure! I’ve been there—juggling kids, chores, and a head full of wild ideas. Here’s exactly how I figured out what works best for me (and how you can too).
First up: How much actual time do you have? (Time is gold when you’ve got little ones running wild.)
Need something quick for nap time? Or do you want a bigger project for evenings and weekends? Some Canva side hustles take just 10 minutes a day; others need a few focused hours.
Be honest—your sanity matters most.
What skills can you put to work right now?
No need to be a design whiz. I started with zero experience—unless making snazzy college PowerPoints counts.
Quick gut check:
Are you comfortable with tech, or does it make you want to hide under a blanket?
Are you a writer at heart, or more of a visual thinker?
Are you good at following step-by-step tutorials?
Pick something that matches what you know now—learn the rest as you go. You’ll surprise yourself.
Products or services: Which one fits you best?
Here’s the big question: Do you want to sell digital products—think templates, printables, planners? Or would you rather offer services, like designing pins or social media kits for clients?
Products: Make once, sell again and again. Perfect for passive income and no deadlines
Services: Get paid for your time and skills—usually with a quick turnaround. Great if you love working with people and want cash, fast.
I started with services for quick wins, then shifted to products for that sweet, passive income. You can absolutely do both.
How to Start Your Canva Side Hustle (No Experience Needed)
Starting a Canva side hustle is easier than you think—and more fun, too. Here’s how to get started—even if you’ve never made a digital product before.
1. Sign Up for Canva Pro (affiliate CTA)
First things first: Sign up for Canva Pro (yep, that’s my affiliate link—cheers for fueling my coffee habit!).
Why Canva Pro? Premium templates, graphics, fonts, and that magic background remover—your designs stand out instantly.
Pro tip: The free version works, but if you’re serious about making money with Canva, Pro is 100% worth it.
Unlock all the features—try Canva Pro and get your first product live today!
2. Find Top-Selling Designs for Inspiration
Don’t start from scratch—spy on what’s already working!
– Browse Etsy, Creative Market, and Pinterest to see which Canva templates and printables are bestsellers.
– Look for bestsellers in your favorite niches—wedding, budgeting, teacher planners, etc.
– Note the colors, styles, and problems these products solve.
Save your favorites for inspiration—never copy, just get ideas.
3. Design Your First Product or Portfolio
Open Canva, pick a template, and start designing!
– Don’t overthink it—your first product doesn’t have to be perfect.
– Start simple: a checklist, an Instagram post, whatever feels easy.
– Use Canva’s drag-and-drop tools, stylish fonts, and free photos.
If you’re offering services (like pin design or resumes), create a quick portfolio to show off your style. Snap screenshots and upload them to a simple website or Google Drive folder.
4. Pick Your Selling Platform
Where will you sell? Here’s the breakdown:
– Etsy: Best for templates, printables, planners, and invites. Huge audience, easy setup.
– Gumroad: Perfect for digital products, low fees, instant payouts.
– Fiverr/Upwork: Great for offering design services—pins, logos, eBook covers.
– Your own website: Full control, higher profits—ideal once you’ve got a few sales under your belt.
Pick one and go. List your first product or service, upload those Canva mockups, and set your prices!
5. Promote Your Planner on Pinterest, Instagram, and Email
You could design the world’s cutest planner, but if no one sees it? Crickets. No sales!
– Pinterest: My #1 traffic source. Pin your planners, use searchable keywords (think: “How to Make Money with Canva Planners”), and join active group boards.
– Instagram: Share design tips, behind-the-scenes peeks, and customer testimonials in your stories and posts.
– Email: Grow your email list with a freebie (think: sample template), then send updates, exclusive offers, and new product launches.
Don’t be shy—get your designs out there; people are actively searching for exactly what you offer.
Where to Sell Your Canva Creations
Creative Market — premium customers, premium prices
I love Creative Market for reaching customers who want something unique and high-quality. You can often charge more here than on other marketplaces—perfect if your designs are more “boutique” than “bargain bin.”
And the best part? The buyers here aren’t just browsing… they’re looking to spend. But there’s one small thing you can do to make your listings stand out instantly (we’ll get to that soon).
Teachers Pay Teachers — perfect for educational design
If you love creating classroom resources, this platform is a goldmine.
Teachers are always searching for editable Canva lesson plans, worksheets, and classroom décor.
You don’t need to be a teacher yourself—you just need to make helpful, educational tools.
Great for passive income while helping educators nationwide.
I’ve seen moms make \$500+/month just from simple printable sets for teachers! But the real magic? There’s a way to design once and sell to *both* teachers and non-teachers at the same time—more on that in a minute.
Your own blog or email list — maximum profit, total control
Want the most control (and the biggest cut of your profits)? Sell directly on your blog or via your email list.
No marketplace fees eating into earnings.
Build real relationships with your audience—hello, loyal buyers!
Offer freebies, upsells, and even your own “Canva Template Club.”
Not blogging yet? No problem. Start with a freebie to collect emails, then pitch your products once you’ve got a few subscribers.
And if you think starting a list is overwhelming… wait until I show you the easiest freebie idea that gets signups in under 24 hours.
Pinterest + Gumroad — fast, simple, and scalable
Pair Pinterest traffic with a Gumroad shop for a low-maintenance, high-potential setup. Create pins for your products, link them to Gumroad, and let your designs sell while you sleep.
This is hands-down the fastest way to test if your designs will sell—but there’s one Pinterest “pin style” that gets double the clicks (I’ll share it in the case studies).
Collect emails from the start (freebies lead to sales!)
This one’s HUGE: start your email list on day one.
Offer a freebie—like a sample template, checklist, or mini planner—in exchange for an email.
Send helpful tips, exclusive discounts, and new-product alerts.
Your email subscribers are your hottest leads—they already love your style and are way more likely to buy again. My best customers? Always from my list.
And in the case studies below, you’ll see exactly how one mom built a list of 3,000 subscribers without spending a dime on ads.
Track time vs. earnings to scale faster
Mom life is busy—so make sure your side hustle is actually paying off.
Use a simple spreadsheet or free app to track time spent on tasks (designing, uploading, promoting).
Compare hours to earnings—focus on what pays the most per hour.
It’s shocking how often the *least* time-consuming tasks bring in the biggest profits—you’ll see proof in just a second.
Real Moms Making Real Money with Canva (Mini Case Studies)
Still wondering if this really works? Meet a few rockstar moms I know—proof you don’t need a design degree or endless free time to earn from home.
Sarah — $2,000+month in printables
Sarah, a mom of three, started selling printable planners and checklists on Etsy during nap times. No design background—just a love for organizing and the willingness to learn.
Now? $2,000+month in passive income.
Her secret: batching designs, using Canva Pro, and creating products for busy moms like herself.
💡 And here’s the kicker: one of her top-selling products wasn’t even in her original niche. She stumbled on it by accident—and you can, too.
Lisa — Canva coach for local business owners
Lisa began teaching Canva to small business owners in her area—helping them create social graphics without paying pricey designers. Her weekend workshops now bring in consistent monthly income.
Her secret: short, hands-on classes + ready-to-use templates her students can customize instantly.
And the best part? Lisa uses the exact same templates in her own online shop—earning money twice from the same designs.
Got it — here’s the mystery platform reveal woven in so it keeps the open-loop vibe and ends with a satisfying “aha” moment:
The Secret Platform Nobody’s Talking About — Yet
Okay, here’s the one I’ve been hinting at… Creative Fabrica.
It’s a growing marketplace for designers where you can upload templates, digital papers, fonts, and other creative assets. But here’s the kicker—unlike most marketplaces where you only earn when someone buys, Creative Fabrica also pays you *per download* when your products are part of their subscription plan.
That means you can make money from people who would never have bought your product outright—just because they downloaded it.
Why this is so powerful:
You get both direct sales and subscriber royalties.
Less competition than Etsy or Creative Market.
Built-in audience actively searching for Canva-friendly templates.
💡 Pro tip: repurpose your best Etsy or Gumroad sellers here for extra income—no extra design time needed.
And if you’re thinking, “That sounds great, but how do I actually get noticed on there?”—that’s where the next step comes in. In the bonus guide below, I’ll walk you through exactly how to make your first 5 sales on any platform without paid ads.
Pro Tips to Make Your Canva Side Hustle a Success
Want to actually see results (aka cash in your account) from your Canva side hustle? Don’t just wing it—use these proven strategies I swear by! These tips helped me grow my template shop from “cute hobby” to real, reliable income.
Stay consistent & batch your designs
Let’s be honest: life with kids is unpredictable. That’s why batching is my secret weapon.
– Set aside one morning or night a week to focus on designing.
– Create 3–5 products at once instead of one at a time.
– Schedule your uploads and Pinterest pins in advance.
Consistency doesn’t mean working every day—it means showing up regularly, even if it’s just a few hours a week. That’s how you build momentum (and your bank account)!
Use SEO keywords in your Etsy/Pinterest titles
If buyers can’t find your products, they can’t buy them!
– Do a quick search on Etsy and Pinterest to see what keywords pop up for your niche (think “Canva planner printable,” “editable wedding invite,” “budget tracker template”).
– Work those exact phrases into your titles, tags, and descriptions.
This simple SEO trick is how I get my products in front of more eyeballs—without spending a penny on ads.
Create mockups with Canva SmartMockups
Want your products to look irresistible? Use Canva’s built-in SmartMockups tool.
– Pop your design onto a laptop, phone, or lifestyle background in seconds.
– High-quality mockups = more clicks, more sales!
– Perfect for Etsy listings, Pinterest pins, and even Instagram posts.
You don’t need Photoshop skills to wow your customers—just a few clicks in Canva, and you’re golden.
Collect emails from the start (freebies lead to sales!)
This one is HUGE: start building your email list on day one.
– Offer a freebie (like a sample template, checklist, or mini planner) in exchange for an email.
– Send tips, exclusive discounts, and new product announcements to your list.
Your email subscribers are your hottest leads—they already love your style and are way more likely to buy from you again and again. Trust me, my best customers always come from my email list!
Track your time vs earnings to scale faster
Mom life is busy, so let’s make sure your side hustle is actually worth it.
– Use a simple spreadsheet or free app to track how much time you spend on each task (designing, uploading, promoting).
– Compare your hours to your earnings—focus on the projects that pay the most for your time.
This is how you’ll find your “sweet spot” side hustles and avoid wasting hours on low-profit gigs. Work smarter, not harder!
Here’s how I’d enhance this section for maximum engagement, curiosity, and emotional pull—while keeping the conversational tone and adding subtle open loops so readers are tempted to keep going:
Real Moms Making Real Money with Canva (Mini Case Studies)
Still wondering if moms like us are actually cashing in with Canva?
Let me introduce you to three rockstars I personally know (and seriously admire). These ladies prove you don’t need a design degree—or a ton of free time—to create real income from home. And the coolest part? Each of them started in a totally different way, so you can see just how many paths there are to Canva success.
Sarah sells $2,000month in printables
Sarah is a mom of three who started selling printable planners and checklists on Etsy during nap times. She had zero design background—just a love for organizing and a willingness to learn.
Now? She consistently brings in $2,000+ a month in passive income (yes, passive—her designs keep selling while she’s busy living life).
Her secret?
* Batching her designs so she’s not creating every single day.
* Using Canva Pro for premium templates and time-saving tools.
* Creating products that solve problems for busy moms just like herself.
*Want to get started like Sarah? [Try Canva Pro for free and create your first printable today!](#)*
Lisa teaches Canva to local business owners
Lisa wanted a flexible side hustle that fit around school runs and family dinners.
She noticed something: tons of small businesses in her area were *begging* for better social media graphics and branding—but had no idea where to start.
So she started offering Canva workshops at her local library and coffee shop, teaching business owners how to create their own graphics. She charges \$50–\$100 per session, and every class sells out.
Bonus income? Lisa uses Canva Pro to create custom training materials and templates she can reuse again and again—making her workshops faster to run and more profitable.
*Want to teach others and get paid for your Canva skills? [Sign up for Canva Pro and access premium resources for your classes!]
Amanda uses Canva for freelance Pinterest design
Amanda is a Pinterest addict (aren’t we all?) who turned her scrolling habit into a profitable service. She started designing custom Pinterest pin packages for bloggers and small business owners—using Canva to make eye-catching graphics that drive clicks.
She charges $15–$30 per pin package and books steady clients through Facebook groups and Fiverr. The best part? She can knock out an entire order during nap time or late at night after her toddler is asleep.
Amanda’s pro tip: Set up a Canva Pro brand kit so you can create on-brand designs for clients in minutes instead of hours.
