Thinking about making money online but feeling a little lost on where to begin? Deep breath, friend—you’re exactly where you need to be.

Heads-up! Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means if you click and make a purchase, I might earn a few bucks (or maybe just a few cents—but hey, it adds up!). I only share things I actually use and love, and this helps me keep doing what I do. Total win-win, right?

When I opened Canva for the first time nearly 10 years ago, I had no clue it would change my entire life. Back then, I was waiting tables, side-eyeing anything techy, and not planning to become a full-time Canva nerd (yet here we are). I didn't know I could make money with Canva.

If you'd told me I’d leave my waitressing job to become a Canva Instructor and run a digital business I love? I probably would've laughed and gone back to refilling someone’s iced tea. But I leaned in, played around, and eventually went all in.

Now? Canva is not just my favorite creative tool—it’s how I make a living. And if I can do it, you totally can too.

Canva isn’t just a design tool—it’s your new bestie for turning creativity into actual cash. Whether you’re testing the waters, dreaming about quitting that 9-to-5, or running your biz from the couch in fuzzy socks (no judgment, I’ve been there), Canva makes it easy and honestly… kinda fun.

A woman with glasses sits on the floor using a laptop, leaning against a wooden cabinet. Around her are open notebooks, magazines, a phone, and a coffee mug on a cozy woven rug in a homey setting with wicker and wood furniture.

And this isn’t just theory—I’m in it. I use Canva to make money every single day, and now I’m sharing what actually works.

Here’s what you’ll get:

  • How to get started (even if you have zero design experience)
  • What not to do (because yes, there are rookie mistakes)
  • Smart, simple ways to start making money ASAP

Why Canva is Perfect for making money in 2025

Canva is like Photoshop’s cool, chill cousin. Drag. Drop. Done. You can make planners, logos, social media graphics, ebooks—whatever your creative brain dreams up. You can easily make money with Canva but you need to do research and make designs that sell, not just what you want to make.

Here’s why Canva is even better this year:

✨ Magic Media + Bulk Create = faster designs, less burnout
🛠️ Templates for everything (even the stuff you haven’t thought of yet)
🎨 Magic Resize + Background Remover = chef’s kiss

Free vs. Pro – What Do You Need?

Start with Free. Seriously. Play. Learn. Sell.
If you love it (and you will), upgrade to Pro when you're ready to take it to the next level. It’s worth it when you start sharing templates, removing backgrounds, and building your brand kit. You will need a PRO ACCOUNT if you want to sell your Canva Designs. You won't be able to share template links unless you are a Canva Pro user.

Screenshot of the Canva dashboard with the prompt “What will you design today?” at the top, followed by options like Instagram Post, Facebook Post, Doc, Whiteboard, and more. The left sidebar shows folders like “TTT-Images,” “Workshop Success,” and “Digital Products.” Recent designs displayed include “10 Canva Side Hustles,” “Sapphire Brand Kit,” and “Spelling Game Ideas.” This is where you start to make money with Canva

✅ Step 1: Set Up Your Canva Account

Here’s how to get started:

  • Create a free account at canva.com
  • If you’ve got Pro, set up your Brand Kit (colors, fonts, logo)
  • Create folders for your stuff (Products, Mockups, Templates, etc.)

Speedy Tips to Save Your Sanity:
Hit R for rectangle, T for text box, and Shift + K to clear backgrounds.
You’re welcome. 🙃

Step 2: Learn the Basics & Features That Help Make Money With Canva

Master these and you’re golden:

  1. Magic Resize (one-click design resizer)
  2. Bulk Create (Hello, Easy Printable Packs!)
  3. AI tools like Magic Write and Dream Lab, which is now located in Canva AI
  4. How to use legal images, fonts, and elements
  5. Understand Canva’s content licensing: ✔️ OK to sell designs YOU create
    🚫 NOT OK to resell Canva’s templates as-is

Step 3: 7 Creative Ways to Make Money with Canva

1. Sell Digital Products

Create workbooks to make money in Canva. A collection of printable pages from a “Summer Side Hustle Workbook” including a cover with an illustration of a smiling woman in sunglasses writing at a desk, alongside worksheets titled “Quick & Easy Biz Plan,” “10 Summer Side Hustle Suggestions,” and “Side Hustle Brainstorm.”

2. Freelance Design

  • Design logos, flyers, social posts for small businesses.
  • Fiverr, Upwork, or your local coffee shop’s cork board — go where the people are.
  • Bonus: create a quick Canva portfolio to show off.

3. Social Media Template Packs

  • Businesses and influencers always need fresh content
  • Sell branded packs for Instagram, Pinterest, etc.
  • Add tutorials to increase value
Create Social Media image to make money in Canva. Five square green social media graphics decorated with pink floral illustrations, each featuring a self-confidence affirmation such as “I show up even when I don’t feel ready” and “I trust myself to handle anything that comes my way.” Each design includes space for a website credit at the bottom.

4. Workbooks, eBooks, and Lead Magnets

  • Great for coaches, bloggers, and online educators
  • Sell as standalone PDFs or as lead magnets to grow your email list

5. Teach Canva to Others

  • Start a blog, YouTube channel, or mini course
  • Monetize with affiliate links, digital products, or coaching

6. Print-on-Demand Store

  • Use Canva to design mugs, t-shirts, and stickers
  • Connect with platforms like Printify- this is the only one I have worked with, and it is easy to use.

7. License Your Designs

Step 4: How to Promote Your Stuff Without Feeling Icky

  • Pick your platform (Etsy, Shopify, Gumroad)
  • Use social media — and no, you don’t have to dance
  • Write juicy product descriptions with real keywords
  • Offer a freebie to grow your email list (future sales, baby!)

Step 5: Hot Tips to Grow Fast

  • Batch your content or outsource when you’re ready
  • Ride the trend waves — holidays, back-to-school, etc.
  • Ask for reviews — screenshots are social proof GOLD
  • Use mockups and promos that make your stuff look legit

😬 Common Mistakes Beginners Make

  • ❌ Using Canva templates- you need to start with a blank design
  • ❌ Choosing fancy designs over functional ones
  • ❌ Ignoring what people actually want to buy

FAQs: Real Talk about how to make money with Canva

Q: Can I really make money as a beginner?
A: Yes! Start small — even $50–$100 a month adds up fast.

Q: Do I need Canva Pro to make money?
A: Not right away, but it helps as you grow.

Q: Can I sell Canva templates as my own?
A: Yes, if you create them from scratch.

Q: Where should I sell my designs?
A: Start with Etsy, Payhip, or your own site. Test what works!

Q: Can I use Canva’s free elements in products I sell?
A: Yes — but double-check the licensing.

A feminine flat lay workspace featuring a silver laptop, pink notebook with a camera on top, a phone, open planner, pens, coffee, candles, and rose gold paper clips on a white desk with a soft pink gradient background. A hand is seen writing in the planner.

Starting something new always feels big — but Canva makes it doable (and kinda fun). You don’t need to be a pro designer or tech whiz to make money with Canva. You just need a few good ideas, a little confidence, and a willingness to try.

Try This Today:

  • Open Canva
  • Make a simple 1-page checklist or tracker
  • Add a title, fun color, and a few icons
  • Download as a PDF
  • Post it in a freebie group or give it to a biz friend

Just start. The rest comes with momentum.

A clipboard with a weekly goals sheet labeled Monday through Sunday, surrounded by a bright yellow alarm clock, yellow paper clips, thumbtacks, crumpled notes, and clothespins. A pen rests on the paper, suggesting planning in progress.

You’ve got the tools. You’ve got the ideas. And now you’ve got a simple way to make money with Canva — even if you’ve never sold a single thing before. Want more tips and tricks please join my free Facebook Group- Create and Sell Digital Products.

This isn’t just about design. It’s about creating freedom. Flexibility. And finally getting paid for your creativity.

Design Ideas That Match Your Niche, Style & Purpose!

Stuck staring at a blank Canva template?

Running out of ideas is the worst when creating social media posts, presentations, or printables.

That's where my AI-powered Canva Design Idea Generator comes in! Instantly get fresh, trendy, and SEO-friendly design ideas tailored to YOUR niche and style. No more creative ruts—just endless inspiration for your next Canva masterpiece!

Try this Canva Design Idea Generator NOW. Get 10 ideas to get you started.

TRY IT OUT- IT IS FREE!!!
AI Bot- in Pink, Yellow, Teal-for my AI TOOL Canva Designs

Grab my free Template Transformation Checklist to walk you through choosing, customizing, branding, and publishing your first Canva template like a pro. It’s the perfect companion to everything we just talked about.

You in? Are you ready to make money with Canva?

Here are some Facebook Groups to join to help with your Business Growth

TOOLS I USE!

Vertical graphic showing the phrase “Make Money with Canva – Simple Steps for Beginners” in bold pastel text. A laptop with a gradient Canva logo is placed on a sunlit desk next to a cup of coffee, pencils, and a potted plant, evoking a calm and productive environment.
Vibrant, vertical promotional graphic with the headline “Make Money with Canva – Simple Steps for Beginners” in bold yellow and pink. A laptop sits on a white desk with pastel sticky notes and colorful pens, aimed at creators interested in printables
Bright Canva-themed poster with the headline “Make Money with Canva: Simple Steps for Beginners” and subtext “Unlock Your Design Potential.” The image features a laptop displaying Canva’s logo, surrounded by coffee, pencils, notebooks, and plants on a sunlit workspace.

Pam is a Canva-loving, AI-experimenting, digital product creator on a mission to help women make passive income from home. She’s the redhead behind The Template Treehouse, where she teaches creative business owners how to design, sell, and automate like a boss (without burning out). When she’s not teaching Canva tricks or building Custom GPTs, you’ll find her at the gym or sipping coffee while batch-creating content in pink.

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