In today’s digital age, there’s never been a better time to start your own custom sticker business. If you yearn to sell your own artwork and designs, a multitude of DIY platforms exist to help you fulfill the dream, like Etsy and Shopify, or even more robust website tools like WIX or Squarespace.
Don't get too far ahead of yourself, though.
Diecutstickers.com is here to help you get started on your business journey. Gathered from years of working with fledgling creators and entrepreneurs, here are some key questions, tips, tricks, and must-knows about how to start a sticker business.
Why Start a Sticker Business
Today’s economy can quickly leave gaps in your budget that your income just can’t match. Maybe you’re an entrepreneur looking for a more independent and flexible lifestyle. Stickers are a viable option when you need a source of side income you can run from home. If you’re a creative type with a sense of whimsy and a drive to share your work, why not try a sticker business?
The sticker business is relatively easy to get into and very inexpensive to fund. There are very few upfront investments, and profit margins are generally high. It’s a perfect start-up company for people just like you!
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Sticker Business?
Unlike many businesses, a sticker business is a very inexpensive venture. Most people can start this type of business with as little as $100. On the high end, you could spend up to $1,000. You may continue to invest in your business venture as it grows. Ultimate investment expenditures can go as high as $5,000.
What Are the Costs Involved in Starting a Sticker Business?
Starting a DIY sticker business requires understanding the costs that go into it. You may already have some of the things you need. Here are nine areas you’ll likely need to invest in.
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Drawing tools: If you want to create your own designs, you should have access to tools like a Wacom Intuos Drawing Tablet or iPad Pro and Apple Pencil. These items range from $100 to $1,500 each.
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Design software: Software apps like Canva offer free plans where you can draw and design your own illustrations. But if you decide to go with the big guys like Adobe, you can spend up to roughly $90 a month for their full package.
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Sticker paper: There are various types of sticker paper, such as matte, glossy, and vinyl. Due to their high quality (we’re talking waterproof and UV-protectant), vinyl sticker paper is generally the most expensive. This can range from $10 to $100, depending on the number of sheets you buy.
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Printer: There are two types of printers—inkjet and laser. Laser printers tend to have faster print speed (beneficial if you’ve got a growing business or mid-sized office) than their counterpart. Laser printers can go from $100 to $1,000.
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Cutting tools: Depending on the level of your production, you have three cutting options with a wide range of prices: decal scissors, exacto knives, and automatic cutting machines. You’re looking at anywhere from $20 to $500, depending on the tools you choose.
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Online store fees: Sites like Etsy require business owners to pay several required and optional fees that can equal up to 25% of your item for every listing. eCommerce services like Shopify require monthly fees that start at $29 and go to over $300.
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Packaging and shipping fees: Depending on where your customer lives, packaging and shipping fees can be costly. You might need to limit your shipping to specific geographic locations or include shipping fees in your product price. On the positive side, depending on the amount and type of sticker sales (individual, package, or bulk), shipping can be relatively cheap (from $.73 to $1.50 for USPS). Larger shipping options are priced by weight. These numbers can vary a lot, but according to the USPS, the average is about $10 per pound.
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Business registration fees: Registration depends on the status of your business. For example, if you’re a one-person business that operates as a sole proprietorship, you aren’t generally required to register. Registration rules and regulations do vary across states, so be sure to check if your state requires any specific licenses.
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PO Box: For safety reasons, using your home address as part of your business info is not a good idea. We recommend that you sign up for a PO Box. You can either sign up for one with the U.S. Postal Service or with a private service like UPS. Prices depend on the PO Box size, but they typically start at $10 to $30 a month.
For all the details on the equipment and workflow processes involved on the production side, read How to Make Stickers to Sell.
Should You Buy Equipment or Find a Vendor?
If you’re feeling pretty confident about the costs and production scope involved, awesome! If you’re scratching your head, no worries. Rest assured, you have plenty of options to partner with a print vendor. Using a print vendor allows you to use their equipment and resources instead of investing in your own. In the long run, this option may cost you more than having your own equipment, but it is a great choice when you’re just getting started and working through your sticker business growing pains on the way to success.
For example, if you’re an artist who wants to take ownership of the design side, you can invest in the necessary design and creation tools. Then, you can partner up with a printer vendor like Diecutstickers.com to produce custom stickers and bring your artwork to life.
Partnering with us will grant you access to easy-to-use design templates, where you can preview the look of your finished sticker product. Don’t see the shape you want on the template page? No problem. We have a rich menu of insanely custom stickers where one of our account representatives will personally work with you to accommodate your needs.
Who Is Your Audience?
Before you get hyper-focused on your sticker designs, it’s important to first think about who you want to sell your stickers to. In other words, you need to get to know your target market and create stickers designed to meet their needs and interests.
Consider starting small with a narrow audience and then, depending on engagement and audience reaction, expand your reach accordingly. A good place to start is by looking at others working in a similar space.
Competitor Analysis
Let’s be real; there are a ton of businesses out there, big and small, that sell stickers. Just type “stickers” in the Etsy toolbar, and you’ll find millions of results that pop up.
Here are a few keys to getting your products seen:
- Who are your competitors? (e.g., their branding, values, mission, etc.)
- What are they doing? (e.g., the types of stickers they sell, the designs they use, the way they promote their products, etc.)
- What are they missing? (e.g., maybe they aren’t doing funny/comedic stickers or don’t offer Holographic Stickers or Sticker Sheets, etc.)
These areas can give you direction on how to make your sticker business unique enough to stand out from the pack. It will take some time and plenty of experimenting before you find a niche that aligns perfectly with your brand. This is part of the journey, so be patient.
What Kind of Stickers Do You Want to Sell?
Now comes the fun part. Once you have a good idea of who and what you’re up against, it’s time to tap into your creative juices.
Depending on the type of branding and products you want to provide, there are many sticker options. Below are the nine main types of stickers to consider. Keep in mind that Diecutstickers.com’s services include all of these, so if you’re looking to outsource your printing and cutting, we’ve got you covered.
1. Die Cut Stickers
Die Cut Stickers are cut and shaped to the outline of your artwork, so both the sticker and paper backing are cut into the same shape.
2. Kiss Cut Stickers
Kiss Cut Stickers are crafted so that the sticker layer is cut and shaped to the outline of your design, but the paper backing is not. As a result, Kiss Cut Stickers have extra space to add to your design.
3. Clear Stickers
Clear Stickers blend in seamlessly over any surface, making them a popular choice for designs that have a good amount of negative space. Most Clear Stickers are weather-proof.
4. Sticker Sheets
If you want to create fun peel n’ stick sheets, consider Sticker Sheets. You can combine all of your best designs onto one sheet, so your customers will have a good assortment of stickers to choose from.
5. Transfer Stickers
Transfer Stickers are great options if you really want to level up your game. Your design is precisely cut from a piece of vinyl with the backing paper removed. Clear transfer tape is then added on top of the design. This tape keeps multiple sticker pieces together while you transfer them directly onto surfaces like cars, bikes, laptops, snowboards, and water bottles.
6. Custom Label Stickers
If you have products you want to brand or personalize or customers who want festive labels for gifts, Custom Label Stickers are the styles to get.
7. Paper Labels
Paper Labels are another fun way to personalize items and create professional branded packaging.
8. Holographic Stickers
Holographic Stickers play with transparency and negative space to produce a dazzling array of colors that can bring a lot of cool, hypnotic effects to your stickers and brand.
9. Screen Print Stickers
Screen printing is an old-school method of making stickers (today, most stickers are digitally printed). But because it uses thicker ink, screen printing produces rich colors that really show off the quality of your design or logo. At Diecutstickers.com, you have the option of adding Back Print to your sticker.
Where Will You Market Your Sticker Business?
Independent business owners can market their stickers on many online platforms, such as Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, and eBay. Many vendors also sell directly from their own websites or social media channels, like Instagram or TikTok.
Look closely at your choices and how they match up with places where your target audience would look for unique stickers like yours.
To help you make the right choice, here are a few things to consider before making your choices.
- Technical Skills: Do you have the skills, time, and funds available to build your own website, or would you prefer “click and go” content sites?
- Costs and Fees: Look carefully at how much each site will charge you for both listing items on their site and what percentage of your sale price they will also take as a commission. Run the numbers.
- Advertising Options: What are your options for catching people’s attention so they notice your brilliant sticker designs? Don’t forget to compare fees here as well.
- Flexibility and Customization: How much control will you have over how your products are displayed and represented? How will you be able to build a brand?
- Shipping Options: Does the platform have easy shipping options with discounted prices?
- Customer Service Availability: When you need to talk to a live human being with accurate answers, can you?
Customize Your Stickers with DCS
With a high level of customization and A+ customer support, Diecutstickers.com is ready to take on some of the heavy lifting that comes with managing your own sticker business. Our team proudly offers high-quality stickers that are ideal for promoting your business or added value items for retail sale.
FAQs
What do you need to start a sticker business?
You can start a sticker business with just a few things. First, you will need to legally set up your business. Then, you will need a computer, drawing and design software, a PO Box, and a way to accept payments. Everything else can be provided by suppliers until you are ready to add more options. Start with these and plan for growth!
Is a sticker business profitable?
Yes, because of the low costs, it is easier to begin making a profit even as you continue to work on and grow your business.
Is the sticker business saturated?
There is still room for growth and new opportunities in the sticker business, but it is a very competitive market. Bring your creativity and target research to the table, and show us your stuff!
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