How to Make Passive Income Using Canva (Even If You’re Not a Designer)

Ever scroll through Etsy, Pinterest, or Instagram and see all those beautiful planners, Instagram templates, or eBooks and think… “Wait, people are actually making money from this?”

The answer is yes 😏. And the best part? Most of these creators started just like you, no fancy design degree, no crazy tech skills. Just a laptop, Canva, and a little creativity.

Hi, I’m Cate from Cate Creates It. When I started, I had zero formal design experience. I just wanted to make tools that helped business owners stay organized, save time, and look professional online. Fast forward to today, and I’ve sold over 18,000 digital products, including PLR Notion templates, Instagram content packs, eBook/workbook templates, and more. All of it started with Canva.

If you’ve been dreaming of earning passive income online, you’re in the right place. I’m going to break down how you can start making money with Canva, even if you’ve never sold a digital product before.

What Is Passive Income and Why Canva Works

Passive income is money that keeps flowing in with little to no ongoing effort after your initial work is done. Think of rental income or investment dividends. You do some work upfront, then enjoy the rewards over time ✨.

Digital products made with Canva work the same way. Create a template, ebook, or planner once, and it can sell over and over again with no extra effort needed per sale.

Here’s why Canva is perfect for beginners:

• Beginner-friendly: Drag, drop, done. No complicated software.

• Affordable: Free to start, with optional Pro features for more advanced options.

• Versatile: Create planners, eBooks, social media templates, workbooks, printables, and more.

• Scalable: One product can turn into multiple offerings with minimal effort.
  

Plus, Canva’s commercial license is entrepreneur-friendly. You’re allowed to customize and sell your designs commercially. In short, Canva gives you the tools, confidence, and legal peace-of-mind to build digital products that practically sell themselves.

My Story: From Non-Designer to Selling 18,000+ Products

I’m Cate, founder of Cate Creates It, and I know firsthand that you don’t need to be a professional designer to sell digital products.

I started in 2018, passionate about content creation, organization, and marketing. With no formal design training, I leaned on Canva to create templates and planners that solved real problems for business owners.

Some of the products I created include:

• Notion templates for private and PLR use

• Instagram carousel, post, and story templates for entrepreneurs and specific niches like therapists

• Ebook and workbook templates

• Printable planners for productivity and self-care

• PLR (private-label) templates entrepreneurs could rebrand and resell

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By focusing on clear, attractive designs that solve real problems, my shop steadily grew. Today, my digital products have made me over 18 000 sales and even more $$$, all powered by Canva and smart selling strategies.

Let's take a look at a few simple steps that can help you finally get started in creating and selling digital products.

Step 1: Pick Your Niche and Validate Demand

Choosing a niche is crucial. Don’t just make something pretty. Make something people actually want. Successful Canva sellers focus on high-demand, low-competition niches.

How to choose your niche:

1. List areas you’re interested in or knowledgeable about, for example, wedding planning, social media marketing, education, or productivity.

2. Validate demand. Check marketplaces like Etsy, Creative Market, or Amazon KDP. Type keywords in search bars. If it autocompletes, people are looking for it.

3. Check competition. Too many sellers can make it hard to stand out. Look for niches with solid demand but room to shine.

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Evergreen niche ideas:

• Entrepreneurs: Social media templates, lead magnets, business planners

• Teachers: Worksheets, lesson plans, educational printables

• Lifestyle: Journals, habit trackers, meal planners

• Weddings and events: Invitations, menus, seating charts

💡 Tip: Use free tools like Google Trends, Keywords Everywhere, or ChatGPT to brainstorm keywords and ideas. Then test them in your chosen marketplace search bar.

Step 2: Brainstorm Winning Canva Product Ideas

Once you’ve picked your niche, think about specific products people want. Some high-converting digital product ideas:

• Social media templates: Instagram posts and stories, Pinterest pins, Canva carousels

• Business marketing kits: Flyers, brochures, media kits, email newsletter templates, lead magnets

• Planners and journals: Daily planners, habit trackers, goal-setting journals

• Resume and portfolio templates: Modern, editable CVs and portfolio layouts

• Wedding and event stationery: Invitations, save-the-dates, menus, seating charts

• Ebooks and workbooks: Guides, self-help workbooks, recipe books, educational resources

• Educational printables: Worksheets, flashcards, lesson plans for teachers

• Canva element bundles: Icons, fonts, illustrations you create or license

• Printable wall art: Motivational quotes, digital posters

Each product solves a specific problem. Always ask yourself: what task does your audience need help with?

Step 3: Create Your Product in Canva

Here’s the fun part: designing your product.

• Start from scratch or customize Canva’s free templates.

• Use 3–4 colors and 2–3 fonts for clean, professional designs.

• Include instructions for buyers, for example, “Type your text here” or “Write your goals on this page.”

• Use free elements unless you clearly note that Canva Pro is required.

Licensing tips:

• Canva’s license requires your product to be created by you. Don’t resell someone else’s template.

• If using Pro elements, buyers need a Pro account. Note this in your description.

• For editable templates, deliver a view-only Canva link so buyers can open it in Canva without violating royalties.

Export products as PDFs or PNGs for printables, or share view-only links for Canva templates. Bundling related items like a social media pack or a planner with multiple pages adds perceived value and increases sales.

Step 4: Choose Where to Sell

Here’s where your products can make money:

• Etsy: Millions of buyers searching for digital products every month.

• Shopify / Your own site: Full control, great for scaling your brand.

• Fiverr / Upwork: Sell custom template design services or pre-made packages.

• Creative Market / Creative Fabrica: Perfect for selling design assets to other creators.

• Amazon KDP: Turn Canva ebooks or workbooks into print-on-demand books.

• Teachers Pay Teachers: Best for educational worksheets and planners.

• Gumroad / Sellfy: Simple digital shops for direct sales with minimal fees.

💡 Pro tip: Combine platforms for maximum reach. For example, Etsy, your own site, and Gumroad.

Step 5: Market Your Products for Maximum Sales

Even amazing templates need visibility. Treat your shop like a real business.

• SEO & Keywords: Use searchable phrases in titles and descriptions, like “Editable Canva Instagram Template Bundle.”

• Eye-catching mockups: Show your templates in use, like phone screens, framed prints, or mockups. Canva has free mockup frames.

• Clear descriptions: Explain value and instructions. Note if Canva Pro is required.

• Social media: Share your creations on Pinterest and Instagram with behind-the-scenes content.

• Customer engagement: Encourage reviews and showcase user photos. Positive feedback builds trust.

• Email lists and bundles: Offer a free template, then promote bundles or vaults. Bundles increase average order value.

• Optional paid ads: Small daily budgets on Etsy or Instagram can boost visibility.

Passive income grows as you build a catalog and refine your marketing. Patience is key.

Canva PLR Tips

If you want to resell templates, PLR (private label rights) products are gold. You can edit, rebrand, and sell them as your own. In my shop, I offer PLR Notion templates, Instagram packs, and eBook templates ready for entrepreneurs.

⚠️ Not all templates in the Business Vault are PLR, but there is a dedicated PLR section with multiple ready-to-sell products.

High-Converting Digital Product Ideas (Quick List)

• Instagram and social media templates

• Business marketing kits

• Planners and journals

• Resume and portfolio templates

• Wedding and event stationery

• eBooks and workbooks

• Educational printables

• Canva element bundles

• Printable wall art

Start small, perfect your products, then expand. Even one well-made template can keep selling for months.

Join the Vaults for Inspiration and Templates

Ready to start? You don’t have to do it all alone.

• Freebie Vault: Free inspiration, sample templates, and content ideas to kickstart your creations.

• The Business Vault: Thousands of done-for-you templates, including a PLR section you can resell. Not all templates are PLR, but the PLR section gives multiple ready-to-sell products.

With these resources and your own creativity, you can turn Canva into a real passive-income business. Trust me, if I can do it, you can too 😌

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