In this article, you will get all the information you need to know to start a sticker business from scratch. There is initially no need for you to have any business or design expertise.
If you follow the steps in my comprehensive guide, you'll be able to produce stickers without violating any trademarks and have them ready for sale. We can also automate some of the more tedious tasks with the help of AI, giving you more time to focus on the creative parts of operating your business.
After finishing this post, you'll be well-equipped to start a lucrative sticker business. If you're interested in learning how to make money while pursuing your love of design, then keep reading!
Table of Contents
Generating Ideas
Creating original concepts is crucial when launching a sticker company. As an example, you can use AI programs like ChatGPT to improve your communication skills. A free account may be created in less than a minute with just your Gmail address. After logging in, a popup labeled “ChatGPT” will pop up; select the text input located there. If you ask for suggestions for image-only stickers you may sell, you'll receive suggestions in real time.
Additionally, you can request that the tool add additional specifics to each suggestion. This is considerably more efficient than browsing marketplaces like Etsy, Redbubble, and Society6 to see what others are offering, and there's no risk of plagiarism.
You should know that any suggestions the tool makes that involve Disney, Pixar, or any other trademarked company or concept should be disregarded. Here we'll use cartoon animals as an example, but this method may be used to any area where you're experiencing creativity block. There is no need to do this if you are already flush with original concepts.
Making Stickers
With our concepts in hand, we can use an AI tool called Midjourney to create visual representations of them. To illustrate, Midjourney is an AI that creates graphics in response to a suggestion. If you want to use Midjourney, you'll need to create a free account on Discord.
This tool's convenience lies in the fact that it needs no special expertise to operate. Initiate a prompt by entering “/imagine” in the message area, and then enter the desired image's parameters. Type “cute panda eating bamboo sticker cartoon style” and hit enter, for instance, to get a sticker depicting a panda munching on bamboo in a cartoony fashion. The AI will produce four photos in response to the prompt, and each image can be re-rolled three times for more possibilities. If you see an image you like but feel needs some work, you can request alternate versions of it.
After making your final decision, you may save the image by right-clicking it and selecting “Save As.” All the stickers you need can be made by repeating the steps above. It's important to remember that enlarging photos might lead to distortion, therefore enlarging tiny stickers like these is not recommended. Now that all the pictures have been downloaded, you may move on to the next phase.
Copyright Check
It is crucial to check for copyright and trademark issues with the photographs before moving forward. Carrying out a Google search in reverse is one method for achieving this. Begin a fresh Google search and then select the camera button to accomplish this. Click “upload a file” and select a relevant image from your computer. To do so, click the button below, and the image will be checked for internet similarities.
The more results that show up, the more likely it is that the image is a mashup of multiple pieces, making it safer. If you're worried that an image might be plagiarized, you can look for its original source using the “find image source” button.
If you plan on selling the photos you took on your trip, you'll need to get a business license from the government. While I have found success with this approach, I recommend seeking the advice of an expert for any really perplexing issues.
Preparing Stickers
Taking off the sticker's supporting material makes it ready for standalone sales. We'll be utilizing either Photoshop or PhotoPea for this. While Adobe Photoshop is the preferred image editor, a free alternative called PhotoPea can be downloaded at the website photopea.com. It's essentially a web-based version of Adobe's Photoshop, and it's loaded with features.
To get started, we'll launch PhotoPea and make a new project, specifying a size of 10 by 10 inches at a DPI of 300. The next step involves bringing in a picture taken during the trip, making it fit the entire canvas by stretching it, then cropping out the background with the fast selection tool.
We'll use the alter tool to refine the selection and make sure it cuts cleanly. When we're satisfied, we'll use control (Mac) or command (Windows) + J to copy the selection to a new layer. We may now store the product in PNG format on our computer and start marketing it. Free and simple to use, this procedure has prepared our stickers for internet sale.
Making Mock-ups
Developing mockups is a great method to give life to your designs and boost sales. Mock-ups can be made in a number of ways; for example, with the help of a mock-up generator like Redbubble, Society6, or Printify; or by purchasing a mock-up generator from a website like Creative Market or Etsy.
An alternative that costs money every month is to use mockup design software like Placeit. Remember that in order to display and sell the image as a sticker, you will still need to cut it out of its original context.
Another option is to study the most successful mockup kinds to see if you can duplicate them and apply them in the future. It's a tried-and-true method employed by thriving businesses, and it's probably generated close to $500,000 in revenue.
Tips
Having a wide selection of styles for customers to choose from is essential. If you're serious about making a go of it in this field, consider the following two suggestions for optimizing your workflow and expanding your portfolio:
- The first step is to use Figma: A design organization and batch uploading tool. You may simply drag and drop your designs into different folders in this application. This not only speeds up the process of uploading designs, but also makes them accessible and editable in the event of a system failure.
- Second, replicate your plans: To save time and effort, try out different iterations of the same layout. Use a single image in multiple ways by swapping out the accompanying text, or make several variations on the same layout. To reach more potential customers and boost sales, try using this strategy. Create text suggestions for your ideas with ChatGPT, and then quickly modify them in Figma.
FAQs
What kinds of artwork are most suited for stickers?
Stickers that have eye-catching artwork or typography tend to do particularly well. However, there is no ironclad rule; instead, you should try out several approaches and observe what your target audience responds to best.
What kind of products can I sell my stickers on?
Stickers can be printed and sold on a wide range of products on print-on-demand sites like Redbubble, Etsy, and Society6. You may sell your stickers in sheets or even on tee shirts on some sites.
How much can I expect to earn from my side hustle?
How much money you make from your side business will depend on things like how popular your designs are, how much you charge for your stickers, and how much time and energy you invest into advertising and expanding your customer base. Sticker design can be a lucrative side gig; some people make a living doing it, while others make a few hundred dollars a month at most.
How much does it cost to start a side hustle in sticker design?
Designing stickers as a side business can be done on a tight budget. The primary expenditures will be the preliminary purchase of design software and/or tools and the listing fees associated with print-on-demand marketplaces. So that you may get started with a small financial commitment, many design software applications provide free trials or basic plans.
Conclusion
To make money and start your own business online, print on demand is a fantastic option. You can contact people all over the world and earn a good living by making your own original designs and selling them on sites like Redbubble and TeeSpring.
Staying on top of your work and using programs like Figma to help you keep organized can increase your chances of success. As an added bonus, you can reach a wider audience and produce more designs overall by duplicating your drawings and using text prompts from ChatGPT.
When done correctly, print on demand may be a lucrative source of income and the foundation for a prosperous online enterprise.