Let’s face it, most lists of ‘easy things to make and sell for extra money online’ aren’t all that easy.
Many of them require significant investment, lots of technical know-how and oodles of time. This list is different.
Here are 24 truly easy things to make and sell from home that every beginner can tackle.
For ease of reference, I’ve also made sure to include the average start-up cost of each small business idea as well as the ease of setup and average monthly profit.
Why These Ideas in Particular?
Not only are these items in high demand based on Etsy best-selling trends, Pinterest Shopping Analytics and Google Trends data, but they’re incredibly lucrative once you have the technical know-how to scale these ideas.
And if you’ve ever been told ‘you can’t make money as a creative’, just take a look at these incredible handmade arts and crafts success stories:
- Brandon Bechtel a 17 year old with his own candle brand turns over close to $1 MILLION in revenue each year.
- Mike Pasley, who according to Printify, made $700k selling Print on Demand apparel and merchandise in the first year of business.
- Sam Davidson and his co-founder makes $1.9M a year by shipping Nashville themed subscription boxes out to subscribers.
- Caroline and Isabel, two teen sisters who make $20 million every year selling bath bombs.
According to research, the global handicraft market size is set to skyrocket to $125 billion in the next decade – you could literally be sitting on a goldmine with one of these simple ideas!
And who knows, what starts as a simple way to earn extra cash could become a highly profitable full time business.
Most Profitable and Easy Things to Make and Sell Online for Extra Money
1) Subscription Boxes
From crystals to pet themed to Tokyo tea, subscription boxes are a hit with customers all over the world.
Even better if you can dial into a niche or community market with a fanatic following!
The average profit margin on a subscription based business is 40-60%, and the great thing about this model? If the customer continues to like your products, money continues to flow in every month.
Real Success Stories:
Sarah Williams is the perfect example of this model!
In just 3 years, her subscription box business helping women look and feel their best crossed the $1M in revenue a year mark, taking home approximately $600,000.
Average Start-up Cost: $1,000
Ease of Start: 4/5
2) Curated Gift Boxes
Following the theme of boxes and easy start-up ideas, gifts are big business; people are always looking for quick, yet personalized gifts.
A gift box business is a great idea for those who are less crafty but have an eye for what looks good together.
In 2023, Google searches for self-care products rose by 350% percent since 2014.
Etsy also confirms this, listing curated gift boxes as a top best-seller based on 2023 data.
The most profitable gift boxes?
- Self-Care
- Treat/Candy Themed
- Pamper Focused
- Birthday/Celebrations
The good news? There’s always room for a new product in this field, and you don’t have to provide gift baskets just for humans either.
Searches for pet gift baskets are up by 17% this year according to Google.
Custom and bespoke gift baskets are considered a more premium and high-end product, and so naturally command much higher prices.
Some way into the $100+ price range; think wine, cheese, luxury beauty or make-up baskets.
Make sure to offer custom baskets or personalisation as a service if you decide to run with this idea to increase the average value of every order.
Average Start-Up Cost: $500-1,000+
Ease of Start: 4/5
3) Bath Bombs
Since 2016, bath bomb sales have increased 71%.
In 2023 alone, Lush sold 13 million of its handmade bath bombs.
To stand out in this market though, you’ll need to put a creative spin on the traditional bath bomb!
Bath bombs that are selling like crazy right now include:
- Natural herb bath bombs
- Essential oil bath bombs
- Bath bombs for sensitive skin
- Glitter/surprise inside bath bombs
And based on this Google Trends data, you’ll want to capitalize on the gifting seasons e.g. birthdays, Easter, Christmas etc.
Easy craft to create? Bath bombs are one of the most easy things to make and sell for amateur DIYers.
Once you have the bath bomb molds, it’s easy to mass produce dozens of bath bombs a day.
When you consider they resale for $7 and up each, it’s an attractive business idea.
Average Start-up Cost: $500-$1,000+ (depending on style, size etc).
Ease of Start: 4/5
4) Painted Worry Stones
Unusual idea, I know, but when I saw these listings I was surprised just how many were selling – in some shops they would sell 500+ of these a month!
When you think they can sell for $3-$5 each with very little effort, that quickly adds up.
Lots of children and young adults love to keep painted rocks as ‘worry stones’ to ward off anxiety and to ground them during moments of tension.
Many of these packs become best-sellers, especially if you personalize them by adding the child’s name as a special keepsake.
Average Start-up Cost: $100
Ease of Start: 5/5
5) Candles
In the US alone, the candle industry is worth a whopping $3.2 billion!
The average profit margin per candle can range from $5-$20+ depending on the type and quality you’re selling.
Easy craft to create? Absolutely.
Candles are one of the easiest handmade crafts to make as a beginner thanks to a wide variety of DIY tutorials on the internet.
Plus, the basic melt and pour methods require little to no previous craft skills.
Average Start-Up Cost: $750-$3,000+ (depending on style, size etc)
Ease of Start: 4/5
Related: Best Things to Sell on Etsy to Replace Your Day Job Income!
6) Candy Shipping
You’ve likely seen this one all over Tiktok. Think you can source and package sweets?
Then you could absolutely make a profit; the mark-ups on these products are insane!
Technically, this isn’t a handmade craft but it is a super simple idea to make and run with.
People love candy and sweet treats, so much so the global market is worth $12 billion, and set to rise to a whopping $15 billion by 2030.
Not sure there’s money to be made in this niche?
Sarah Lynn of Sweets in the City not only won the backing of Lord Alan Sugar, a famous business tycoon, and became his business partner on TV’s ‘The Apprentice’, but she’s making a killing with premium mark-ups on her retro sweet jars.
If you can cater for a specific market e.g. vegan, even better as this narrows your competition, and you can easily charge more for greener, plant-based food items!
Be sure to check out your country’s national laws on selling edibles.
Average start-up Cost: $500-$1,000+
Ease of Start: 5/5
Related: Small Business Ideas to Become Your Own Boss
7) Pressed Candle Holders
Don’t want to make the candles yourself? How about designing the holders for them instead?
People are forever looking for little ways to add a touch of warmth and personality to their home – most store bought candle holders just don’t do that.
Hand pressed candle holders like these here with flowers are flying off the shelves right now, and bonus, they’re fairly easy to make!
Holders can retail for anywhere between $25-$85+ depending on style, size and complexity of design.
Also, remember that many people will pay more for an item that has been lovingly handmade if the brand matches their own intrinsic values.
Average Start-up Cost: $750-$3,000+ (depending on style, size etc)
Ease of Start: 4/5
8) Handmade Jewellery
More and more people are turning to handmade items, and jewellery is absolutely no exception.
With a rise in popularity, gemstone crafting wholesalers offer tools, beads, wires and even crystals at an extremely affordable price, it’s never been easier to produce professional looking jewellery at home.
Fashion is fickle so it’s always best to validate your idea by following fashion influencers and blogs before investing in stock.
Again, community and niche based ideas work extremely well here e.g. for ocean lovers, some profits could even support an ocean charity etc.
Easy to make? Jewellery can be as complex or simple as you want it.
Remember your target audience at all times – are they more likely to purchase something small and dainty or large and showy?
That will help you think about how much time you need to create your one of a kind collection.
Average Start-up Cost: $1,000-$3,000+ (depending on style, size etc)
Ease of Start: 3/5
9) Ceramics
Ceramics are always a firm favourite!
Whilst they’re not the quickest product to make and they definitely require some patience to master in the beginning, the love and desire for them is undeniable.
Take a look at Sea Goat Ceramics. Her mugs have SOLD OUT and continue to sell out, and it’s easy to see why. She appeals to a spiritual audience, without being too over the top with it.
To stand out in this market, it’s best to come up with a unique design rather than a run of the mill pattern.
Think quirky quotes, hobby based mugs and keepsakes.
Easy craft to make? Not the quickest or the easiest on this list, but you don’t need a big crafting workshop to make ceramics.
For a low barrier to entry, consider working with air clay, polymer clay, or poured concrete. A work station works great in the beginning.
Average Start-up Cost: $1,500-$3,000+ (depending on style, size etc)
Ease of Start: 2/5 (but once mastered, this becomes a lot easier to handle)
10) Printed Merchandise
Don’t feel like physically making anything or housing inventory at your home? This is a solid business idea for the non-maker.
Believe it or not, there’s a thing called Print on Demand.
Print on demand allows you to create custom merchandise (think t-shirts, water bottles, mugs, home furnishings etc) without ever buying the stock or owning a printing machine.
Companies such as Printify create the product for you based on your design (which can be created in Photoshop or even Canva) and then they print and ship it for you.
It’s a very hands off process and still nets you an average 15-25% profit margin on each product. Pretty neat.
Only downside to this is when the companies raise their fees, your profit margin slides with it.
Easy to make? Yes! Printed merchandise can be one of the most easy things to make and sell.
All you need is some basic graphic design and digital skills. You’ll still need a good deal of creative ideas to make your designs stand out though as competition can be fierce – the more unique a design, the better.
Average Start-up Cost: $300 (depending on style, size etc)
Ease of Start: 5/5
Related: Tried and Tested Ways to Make $100 a Day
11) Cupcake & Cake Decorating
Fancy yourself a whizz in the kitchen? Sweeter edible items such as cookies, mini cakes and brownies are always a crowd-pleaser.
There are so many people who prefer to eat homemade items as these often contain less preservatives than factory produced products.
Tap into the niche markets; holidays, celebrations, novelty, catering and gift baskets and you’ve got yourself a targeted product.
One word of caution – this is one item that comes with some unique complications – shelf life, legalities, labelling etc.
Make sure to investigate the viability of selling your food item online, especially if it uses fresh ingredients that need refrigeration.
Also, check local regulations as to where you need to make food items if you’re going to sell them – these change state to state, country to country.
Better yet, use your baking skills to teach other amateur bakers how to create delicious goods right from their very own kitchen.
Host a course on an online teaching platform such as Teachable and offer gift cards during peak gifting seasons such as Christmas.
Related: 12 Digital Products that Have the Highest Profit Margins (& Are Still in Demand)
Average Start-up Cost: $750-$2,500+
Ease of Start: 4/5
12) Pet Accessories or Decorated Supplies
The global pet market is estimated to top $269 billion by 2025 according to a George Mason University case study.
Yes, you read that right. Snag a slice of that pie by crafting dog treats, catnip toys, and even pet collars, all items that can be easily made from home.
People all over the world are searching for new and unique ways to treat their canine chums and furry pets, and the market shows it.
With more and more pet owners turning to natural, raw and healthy pet treats, you’d do well to tackle this ever growing market.
As always, if you’re selling treats or toys—basically, anything that can be ingested—be sure to do your research and triple check the ingredients and materials you’re using are safe for pets.
Average Start-up Cost: $1,000-$3,000+ (depending on style, size etc)
Ease of Start: 4/5
Related: How to Start a Successful Dog Treat Business From Home ($4,000+ a Month Idea!)
13) Murals, Wall Art & Prints
Love creating your own murals or pieces of artwork? Are you a whizz at photoshop or digital design? You probably already have tons of products to sell.
Consider niching down or even blending two categories together to create your own unique collection of prints.
Not only can you sell directly to clients at art fairs, local gatherings and on platforms such as Etsy, but you can also sell your images as stock photos, card art and more.
Average Start-up Cost: $250-$1,000+ (depending on style, size etc)
Ease of Start: 4/5
14) Digital Products
Love graphic design? Have basic photoshop, Canva or even powerpoint skills?
Then you can absolutely make money selling digital printables.
Related: How I Make $10,000 a Month Selling Printables on Etsy (Even in 2024)
Think wedding invitations, children’s wall art, printable party games.
Added bonus? You don’t need any physical inventory, and once you’ve made them, you don’t need to keep making them.
If you already have a website, you can purchase a cheap and reliable software such as SendOwl to send your printables to your customers for you.
You can also list your products on Etsy or Shopify.
Psst – This can quickly become a passive income source meaning you can make money whilst you sleep (as long as you promote and market your digital products the right way!).
Average Start-up Cost: $150
Ease of Start: 4/5
15) Enamel Pins
Enamel Pins remain incredibly popular, especially amongst the millennial and Gen Z generation, and are surprisingly seeing a hefty upward trend in sales.
Creators usually work with a manufacturer to make enamel pins, but in terms of the design element – you can be as hands-on or hands-off as you want.
Design the art yourself or work with an illustrator on Fiverr to bring your vision to life.
When searching for manufacturers, be sure to ask some key questions before working with them:
- Can you send me physical samples?
- What are your material and clasp options?
- What is the minimum order spend?
Average Start-up Cost: $750-$3,000+ (depending on style, size etc)
Ease of Start: 4/5
16) Handmade Soap
Soap has always been a popular handmade product that sells extremely well.
Easy to batch make, handmade soaps (depending on the size and quality of the bar) can retail for between $10-$25+.
The best news? It’s a growing market!
According to Fortune Business Insights, the value of the worldwide soap industry is currently $34 billion, with a surge to $55 billion expected by the year 2027.
As with bath bombs, make sure to check out your raw ingredient sources to ensure they’re beauty grade and safe for skin.
Also, make sure your production facility (even if it’s your own kitchen) meets local government health standards.
Average Start-up Cost: $750-$1,500+ (depending on style, size etc)
Ease of Start: 3/5
17) Natural Cosmetics
With more and more chemicals and nasty preservatives being added to our high street cosmetic brands, more people are turning to natural, fewer ingredient brands.
Simple Skincare built their cosmetic empire on this ‘simple’ idea.
Making your own natural cosmetics and beauty products does take a little time as you will want to create your own beautifying recipes, but if people love what you offer, you can easily create a super loyal following.
Average Start-up Cost: $750-$3,000+ (depending on style, size etc)
Ease of Start: 3/5
18) Stickers
Discovering how to make stickers to sell can be an incredibly lucrative DIY side hustle for beginner crafters.
Not to mention, it’s a simple way to dip your feet into the world of paper crafting.
Often you’ll only need a cricut or cameo machine, sticker printing paper and a simple design software such as Canva or Cricut Design Space to get started.
Related: How to Make Stickers to Sell Online (Even if You Can’t Draw)
You only need to check Pinterest to see that searches for digital and cricut stickers in particular are on an upward trend.
People everywhere are looking for unique ways to decorate their laptops, notebooks and even water bottles with something meaningful to them.
Stickers are the perfect way to do that!
Average Start-up Cost: $550
Ease of Start: 4/5
19) Woodwork Items
Woodwork, whilst a more intensive form of craft, still holds strong in a buyer’s market.
Items such as coasters, woodworking kits for children and even small wooden Christmas trees often float to the top of the best-selling list on Etsy.
As woodworking is a time intensive skill, naturally, customers expect to pay more for unique gifts not found on the high street.
Average Start-up Cost: $750-$3,000+ (depending on style, size etc)
Ease of Start: 2/5
Related: Woodworking Projects That Sell: 19 Most Profitable Ideas
20) Resin Trays, Coasters or Art
Resin is an easy to work with material that beginners can use to make all sorts of items: coasters, trays, jewellery, the list is endless.
With a little patience and an eye for simple design, you can make and sell these crafts for anywhere between $25-$300+, depending on the product.
Opt for clear resin and you’ll even be able to offer personalized photo products, a ‘clear’ bestseller on marketplaces like Etsy.
Average Start-up Cost: $450
Ease of Start: 4/5
21) Keychains
The keychain has never gone out of fashion, and likely won’t for the foreseeable future.
Now used as fashion and style pieces, people use them as a way to express their identity.
Animal lovers, travellers, hikers, bikers, you’ll find a keychain suited to each.
Cater to both men and women to keep your market broad.
Add the option to personalize to persuade customers to add your item to their basket. Keychains can sell for around $5-$20 each.
Average Start-up Cost: $350-$1,000 (depending on style, size etc)
Ease of Start: 3/5
22) Holiday Ornaments & Tags
If you’re looking for a seasonal side hustle, this could be the perfect craft for you to make and sell.
Holiday spending goes off the charts, with the average American planning to spend $250 just in decorations alone.
Personalized ornaments really do the trick – you’ll see them quickly rise to bestseller status on Amazon and Etsy.
Don’t forget about other traditions too – Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving etc.
Average Start-up Cost: $750
Ease of Start: 4/5
23) Magnets
Extremely inexpensive to make, magnets can cost as little as $0.02-$0.05 each to make!
With some simple resin, magnets, images, drawings or photos, you can make hundreds of these easy to gift items in just a few hours.
Average Start-up Cost: $350
Ease of Start: 4/5
24) Teaching or Courses on Craft
I’ve left this idea for last.
Courses are an art form in themselves, and the E-learning industry is hot right now, with more and more people turning to online learning platforms to enhance their knowledge and skills.
If you can break into this market, you can make a fortune quite quickly, however, this is one market I will say is VERY saturated, and comes with a major trust tag; i.e. people have to trust you to buy your course.
It might take a little more time than the other ideas to establish a trustworthy, personal brand, but it definitely can be done.
Liesel from Mommy Labor Nurse helps new moms-to-be know what to expect during a natural birth and sells courses on Teachable.
According to Liesel, she made $13,000 during her first launch (after building trust for a full year mind!)
Again, I’m emphasizing this was not an overnight success story but rather months of steady building. Slow builds are often the more reliable sources of income.
Average Start-up Cost: $750 (course platform fees, hosting etc)
Ease of Start: 3/5
Related: Ways for Teachers to Make Money
What Things Can I Sell to Make Money Fast?
As with any business, it’s wise not to expect thousands of dollars hitting your bank account overnight!
That said, I wouldn’t listen to the negative Nancys online either who say ‘you’ll only make money 3-4 years in’.
Myself and thousands of other sellers started generating 4-5 figure months in profit within the first 6-8 months of operation.
There are 2 key things that lead to an at home side hustle making money fast:
- Choice of product (Is it quick to make? Can you bulk create? Do you actually like making it?)
- Pricing structure
Try to stay clear of items that will take you weeks to create, unless it’s priced to reflect the market or buyer (e.g. signature art catering to home staging or luxury real estate etc)!
The last thing you want to do as a growing business is to turn away customers because you physically can’t make your product quick enough.
In terms of pricing your products, it’s absolutely okay and encouraged to price higher than your competitors, especially if you offer something unique that your competitor doesn’t (i.e. personalization).
People WILL expect to pay a premium for this service.
How to Price Your Products Appropriately
Where I see most craft businesses go wrong with pricing?
They undercharge and burn themselves out creating those products with very little monetary reward.
Ideally, you’ll want to calculate how much it costs you to create each product (factoring in the cost of added extras such as website hosting, business licences, one off etc), and mark your profit margins from there.
The percentage you take home will be dependent on the item you create, but a good profit margin to shoot for would be in the 30-40% range.
If you can get that higher, even better.
This handy guide created by Crafty Base will help you to calculate the pricing mark-ups for your handmade products.
How to Start a Profitable Online Craft Shop
1) Pick Your Product
Take a look at your creative skills and see which product business idea suits you best.
Remember to think about what makes you happy too! This list is by no means exhaustive either.
The best product takes into consideration these things:
- Create a product your audience wants but are struggling to find elsewhere;
- OR create a product that they absolutely would fall in love with based on their interests (not necessarily solving a problem);
And make sure to:
- Do it in your own unique style;
- Create something you love to make;
= this is what makes a successful base product.
2) Choose a Creative, Catchy Name
Brainstorm a creative, catchy and memorable name for your business.
Don’t be afraid to choose something more distinct and outlandish. Often the weird and wacky names stand out!
3) Register Your Shop With a Selling Platform
When you’re just getting started, every penny counts.
Shopify, Etsy, Sendowl and of course your own self-hosted website all make excellent choices for selling your products.
With Shopify, it’s free to set-up your initial seller account and incredibly easy to use. When you’re ready to sell, only then do you need to start paying Shopify’s monthly fee.
Etsy charges around $0.20 per listing as well as additional VAT and taxes per item, but already has an existing audience of over 300 million people so once you’ve got Etsy SEO down to a T, you’ll start making sales quicker.
4) Start Selling
You’re ready to go!
Once you’ve picked your creative idea, set up your store, and started advertising, you’re ready to start selling your beautiful handmade creations.
Where to Sell Your Crafts & Handmade Items Online
1) Teachable – they are one of the best platforms for selling online courses. Very user friendly and intuitive.
2) Etsy – the go-to familiar for all things handmade and craft related.
3) Amazon Handmade – tap into Amazon’s existing customer base and list your products here to make extra cash online.
4) Hyena Cart – this platform has a focus on eco-friendly products.
5) Zibbet – a relatively new online marketplace, Zibbet is becoming the place to discover up and coming artworks, crafts and designs by creative sellers like you.
6) Aftcra – limited to US sellers only, Aftcra caters to handmade items.
7) Handmadeology Market – an online marketplace that features anything well, handmade.
8) ICraft Gifts – best suited for personalized items, crafts and gifts.
Where to Sell Your Crafts & Handmade Items Offline
Selling online is your best bet for reaching more engaged customers and expanding your audience size, but you may wish to flaunt your creations locally.
These are perhaps some of the best places to sell your crafts and items locally:
- Art Fairs
- Local Galleries
- Craft Fairs & Retailers
- Small Shops Looking to Stock Local Brands
Pros & Cons of Starting Your Own DIY Craft Business
Before you jump into starting your own crafts business, you should know that any form of entrepreneurship requires some serious dedication and effort (even if those ‘gurus’ make it look easy).
There are some incredible pros to running your own DIY business, but you should absolutely be prepared for the cons too.
Pros:
- You establish your own working hours.
- You don’t answer to anyone (except your customers).
- You have total control over your own brand and line of products.
- The amount of money you can make is unlimited, especially if you’re selling batch-make items.
- You can make extra money at home or even replace your full time income
- You get to be creative and come up with new ideas all the time.
- Owning your own business can be seriously rewarding and a self-esteem booster.
Cons:
- It can get a little lonely if you’re working by yourself.
- There will be some upfront investment (as with any business).
- It can be more time consuming and tedious than you think.
- Knowing tax-laws isn’t a nice to know, it’s an absolute must.
- The entire success of the business is down to you (some people don’t like that pressure).
- You will have to keep generating enough money to pay for labelling, website hosting, renewal fees, inventory etc.
- You will have to deal with unhappy customers or even scammers from time to time who always want a refund.
How Do I Make Things to Sell When I’m a Beginner?
Nowadays, you’ve got all the information you’ll ever need at the click of a button.
Before you select your products, I highly recommend heading to YouTube and checking out a few ‘how-to’ videos to see if your item is something you want to and more importantly, can make.
For example, if you absolutely HATE working with small, finicky details, any items that involve sewing probably aren’t the best fit for you as a creator.
But, if you LOVE graphic design, creating digital prints using Photoshop or even Canva might be just the business idea you’ve been looking for. Play to your skills!
What Handmade Items are in Demand?
To check what things you can build at home to sell that are popular and are in demand, check out Google Trends, Pinterest Trends as well as the best-sellers on platforms such as Etsy and Amazon Homemade.
Pinterest in particular has clear and accurate data graphs which you use to spot key buying trends within the year.
There you have it, the ultimate guide on what handmade items sell best online.
I hope this guide has helped you to determine what business idea will suit you as well as ruled out ones that definitely wouldn’t.
Remember, you’re absolutely not limited to choosing just one item.
Some of the most successful craft shops out there sell both a blend of digital and physical items to ensure they’re making money all year-round.