How to Start a Greeting Card Business in 2024 (beginner’s step-by-step guide from scratch!)

When I finally let go of fear and put my greeting cards out there, I made $500 in revenue in my first month! That was 2018, when I had just learned calligraphy for 3 months and then wanted to start a greeting card business just in time for the holidays.

At the beginning, I had so many questions, like “What size should I sell my cards at?” and “How do I even invoice my customers?” but with time, I figured it out and since then, I’ve sold greeting cards every Christmas.

If you’re interested in selling your art and starting a greeting card business, stick until the end of this video because I’ll be answering the most common questions I asked myself when I first got started selling my cards. I also explain when the best time for starting to sell your cards is!
Give this video a thumbs up if it was useful and let me know in the comments!

NOT SURE WHICH ENVELOPES TO BUY? MY RECOMMENDATIONS

FREE RESOURCES:

CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro
0:10 Printed or handmade?
0:37 Card size
1:17 Find a print shop
2:13 Take photos
3:05 Price your cards
4:27 Where to sell your cards
6:59 Pro tip: When to sell your cards

FREE CREATIVE RESOURCES

FAVOURITE CALLIGRAPHY SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT

TECH EQUIPMENT

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[BusinessBasics]

I like how you just jumped into the topic and don't ramble on like some other creators 😆 A very professionally done tutorial with great information and tips. Thanks for sharing!

[toris]

"Don't let perfectionism stop you" - that is a true takeaway! I launched my greeting card business this summer and find that my biggest hindrance is myself - second-guessing, overthinking, etc. I constantly have to tell myself that "it doesn't have to look my favorite professional company at this point". Do what you can with what you have and you'll grow from there.


Thanks again for making this video!

[SonnyL]

Great tip with the white poster board as a back drop for pictures!!! Stealing your tip! 😊

[SonnyL]

Deciding to get uncomfortable and working towards your dream is scary. A job income will always be there as a back up. Extremely proud of you and look forward to witnessing you achieve all your dreams! ❤

[WhereisMyBlueCrayon]

You won me with “ Don’t let perfectionism stop you” phrase. I’m an old woman and this is one of my biggest hindrance when is related to my artwork. Wonderful video! Thanks! You got a new subscriber!😊

[mumjourney]

Yay yay yay just do it .. don’t let professional or big company scary you .. do it and make your dream coming true … JUST DO IT

[michiganlighthouse]

Nice. Tips. I've sold various handmade things over the years but still picked up good reminders and some new tips. I concur - sales are much brighter at the holidays!

[dhilenkasamaraweera]

I hope to start off a small greeting card business soon and I didn't know where to begin with. I found this really helpful. You explained exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much ❤

[kimberlythomas]

I felt like you were talking directly to me! Especially about the fearful and perfectionism part! I really do appreciate you and the information in this video! VERY informative and well put together. Thank you so much. This was the push I needed.

[barbjursic]

I did graphics before I retired but I was an amateur watercolor artist as well. From the start, I scanned my paintings both floral and landscape and I've had good luck printing them on my inject printer in various sizes. I knew about the envelopes and purchased about 250 of each size, but I've also had success designing for business size envelopes which are available at the dollar store. I haven't been selling them lately but your video gives me incentive. Thank you.

[diannewalls]

Thank you ! I'm retiring soon and want to use my card talents to sell....I've been making cards since Sept. 2014 ....I attend a Stampin up class once a month...it's tons of fun and so much information!! I'll keep coming back and refreshing my memory on things you had to say...Thanks again!!

[ringtonetemu]

Absolutely a great presentation. I wanted to start a card business for many years and just didn't. But watching your presentation put Me back in gear. Love your direct approach and your NO RAMBLING style. Pretty to the point and super encouraging! thank you!

[joshuapatterson]

@DinaLu You absolutely KILLED it in this video. Bravo! I'm a pretty good writer (my family loves my card letters), and I'm getting ready to start my own card business.

[danacalinia]

Thank you for sharing these tips! I’ve always wanted to make cards and even remember designing some in the 4th grade using regular copy paper and markers 😅 I totally want to add this to my arsenal of potential side hustles. Anything to feed my creativity and make a living off of it is a good idea 😊

[sarahhubraj]

Thank you so much for your video! I am thinking of starting a business selling my homemade cards and this is great!

[YanGong-mw]

I am just start my greeting cards business and your video is so helpful. Thank you!

[christinelatham]

Thank you for this information. I make handmade cards and have had several people ask to buy them as a set, but I haven’t known where to start. This video had ALL of the information I needed! Thank you again for your kindness.

[qklhwle]

Thank you thank you so much!! This helped me with some questions I had! I need to learn the digitalis’s the art work!

[PatrickCooperPhotography-nwpp]

That is a valid point about pricing hand made greeting cards higher than cards that have been printed by a printing house. And that actually reminds me of a very silly and surprising moment that occurred when I was selling my hand made cards at a market stall on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. A young woman was approaching my stall. As she was walking over, I told her that my cards were $4 each. Straight away, she stopped in her tracks and said: "Too expensive. I can buy cards for $1 over there" and started walking off away from my stall. I don't know exactly where she meant by "over there" though she was pointing to the right. She may have been referring to another stall at the market or the local post office (which was in that general direction.) It's very likely that she was referring to postcards at the post office which sell for around $1. This is very silly comparing the prices of postcards to greeting cards. Although similar, they are two different products. And regardless if they're hand made or professionally printed, a greeting card will always be considerably more expensive than a postcard. And it's common knowledge. As she was walking away, I told her that my cards are hand made and a lot of work went in to them. She casually replied: "Oh" and kept on walking away. That was a bizarre incident!

[troyvo]

i’m thinking about quitting my FT corporate job and starting a greeting card business. gotta test it out first and see how it goes!