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How to Make Money With Your Cricut

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Are you looking to start your own business with your Cricut? Get tips and ideas about How to Make Money With Your Cricut by making professional projects at home. You can make some extra money with a side hustle or even make it your full time job!

how to make money with a cricut with dollar signs

Can you make money making DIY projects with your Cricut? The answer is Yes! You definitely can! It’s a lot of work, you will have ups and downs, just like any business! You will also learn a lot along the way. It is definitely possible to make money selling items that you make with your Cricut. A huge part of my business is based on Cricut projects, and it’s something I love to do!

Even if you are a beginner, you can make money with your Cricut! There are a lot of projects that are incredibly easy to perfect and make in bulk. Just remember, every crafter or vendor at a craft show started somewhere! And that includes me!

Just like any business, there are some dos and don’ts of making a Cricut business work for you. Some of these tips will work for you, and some might work better for someone else. The most important thing is that you start off on the right foot with as much information as you can so that you can make educated decisions.

What Cricut Machine Should I Buy to Start a Business?

Have you been comparing the Cricut Maker vs. the Cricut Explore Air 2? Want to know what makes the Cricut Maker different than earlier models? Check out my detailed comparison of the two machines for more information. Here’s the details, though: I am going to tell you to buy the Maker, and here’s why.

Plus, I have a whole post that goes into details about the Cricut Maker vs. Cricut Maker 3 – which one do you REALLY need?

If you can afford it, buy a Cricut Maker. Cricut Explore Series machines are GREAT machines, but they have limited functions. If the only thing you ever want to sell is shirts that you make with your Cricut, then go with an Explore Air 2 or 3.

But, if you have ever considered making home decor, wood projects with your Cricut, or any projects with thick materials, the Maker is the way to go.

Cricut Maker is an incredibly powerful machine – it cuts over 300 different materials from fabric to paper to chipboard. It also has an adaptive tool system that includes a variety of tools and blades, so you can make just about any DIY project that you might want to sell.

If you’re just getting started, don’t miss this post on Cricut Projects you can Sell:

Depending on the type of projects you want to start with, you’ll need to grab different tools, too.

What Do I Need to Get Started – and How Expensive Will It Be?

Keep in mind that you will not need everything to start your business. Even if you don’t have limited funds, it is a great idea to start with the basics (maybe one or two crafts), get the materials, and see how it goes. As you grow and develop your business, you can reinvest your earnings into more supplies or tools. But let’s start with the basics for a Cricut business.

First, you are obviously going to need a machine. I am going to focus on the Cricut Maker for a moment. It comes standard with: the machine and a fine point blade (actual package contents depend on the Maker model and bundle that you choose). The fine point blade will get you started with a TON of material options and projects to choose from.

The base price for the standard package is NOW $249 (was $399 before the release of the Maker 3). In my opinion, you don’t NEED the Cricut Maker 3. The original Maker is still a very valuable machine and it’s now even more affordable to make money with a Cricut Maker! But, if you want the latest model or the vinyl roll holder (for long designs) interests you, you will absolutely love the Maker 3.

SEE CURRENT CRICUT SALES

With a standard machine purchase of EITHER the Maker or Explore machine, you’ll be able to cut vinyl, iron on, Infusible Ink transfer sheets, felt, thin leather, and more just with the fine point blade.

For fabric, you will need the Rotary Blade. That is Maker specific. If you’re interested in cutting thicker leather or materials up to 2.4mm in thickness (like matboard, chipboard, or thin wood), engraving, or using specialty blade features, you’ll need to purchase additional Maker add-on tools for a separate price.

SEE CURRENT CRICUT TOOLS & PRICES

Cricut Explore Tools and Blades:

Cricut Maker tools and blades include the above, plus these:

Cricut Maker Tools and Blades at Pineapple Paper Co.

In addition, you may want to expand your Cricut products with a Cricut EasyPress. Of course, there’s the brand new Cricut AutoPress, but that’s quite an investment. I would not start out with an AutoPress.

The EasyPress comes in 4 different sizes starting at $69.99 for the EasyPress Mini (regularly on sale for $49.99) I have seen some GREAT deals on the larger EasyPress 2 machines. You can’t go wrong with a big one at a price around $100-150.

I do not personally own a standing heat press. I don’t have enough room for it in my craft room, so i find the EasyPress much easier to store. Plus, I can take my EasyPress with me if I want to craft somewhere else. (And I’m known to use it for ironing as well. HA!)

There are a lot of crafters that use large heat presses for their businesses, and they swear by them. If you have the budget, space, and have started out growing your EasyPress, then definitely look at the AutoPress.

*Note: When you purchase just the machine, enough materials are included only to make a sample project. Consider purchasing a Machine Bundle to get a starter supply of materials!

What Kind of Projects Can I Make With a Cricut Maker?

The short answer to this question is: anything you want! But the long answer is a little bit harder. If you’re looking to sell your DIY crafts, my personal recommendation is to pick one or two things that you already LOVE to make (or maybe that people are already asking you to sell!)

Think about how you can use a Cricut to enhance your current projects. Do you love to make DIY home decor? Maybe personalize your projects with a monogram (I absolutely adore monograms!) or make custom wall art.

If you love to plan parties, DIY party supplies for kids would be a great idea! If you loved making all of the wedding supplies and decor for your own wedding, maybe you should share your talent with others!

Here are some Ideas for Projects You Can Sell to Make Money

Make sure you don’t miss all 50+ Cricut Maker Project Ideas I have gathered!

What Materials Will I Need to Get Started?

As I mentioned, the machine comes only with a small amount of materials to make a test project. You will need to decide what project(s) you are going to start with and purchase materials separately.

*NOTE: There are Cricut Maker Machine BUNDLES that are sometimes available and are a great way to get additional materials for a good price.

Here are some of my favorite Cricut materials that I use regularly:

Cricut Maker Materials

I recommend watching for bundle deals, or buying your supplies in bulk, especially vinyl. Cricut offers great deals on bulk supplies, and with a Cricut Access subscription, you’ll save even more on supplies in the Cricut online store (click to read more about Cricut Access perks over at Cricut and read below for more details).

In addition, Cricut offers a wide variety of high quality material “blanks” to make your projects. Depending on the type of project you’d like to make (especially if you’re looking into Infusible Ink projects), the Cricut material compatible blanks are a great place to start!

Cricut Blanks (all are Infusible Ink compatible):

  • Totes
  • Coasters
  • T Shirts
  • Baby Bodysuits
Cricut Maker Blanks

A little more about Cricut Access – a Cricut Access subscription is a GREAT way to save extra money if you plan on buying a lot of materials via the Cricut website. With an Access subscription (available monthly or yearly) you get an EXTRA 10% on product purchases, plus there are occasionally Access-exclusive sales on the Cricut website. PLUS, you get a discount on licensed designs and fonts and unlimited access to THOUSANDS of designs.

Is the Cricut Software Easy to Learn?

Yes! Cricut Design Space is designed to be perfect for beginners! It is easy to start with and then learn grow into designing and importing your own designs. With the 100,000+ images and hundreds of fonts in the Design Space library, plus a helpful community of content creators (there are a TON of FREE Cricut tutorials available – which means no additional investment except educating yourself!), you’ll be a pro in no time. PLUS, you can use Cricut Design Space with whatever device you have available – a computer, phone, or tablet.

Where Can I Get Designs to Make Cricut Maker Projects?

So, I’m not going to lie, this is the most difficult part for some people to understand when making Cricut Projects to Sell. I could write an entire post on this subject (maybe I will write one!) There are rules when it comes to using designs. Lots of rules. And I’m not a lawyer. So, if you have specific copyright and licensing questions, I’m not the right person to ask. BUT, in my opinion, you have a few options:

  1. Use Cricut Design Space designs available for free or with a Cricut Access subscription. This is by far the easiest method for beginners. A TON of designs qualify for commercial use under Cricut’s “Angel Policy.” You can read more about the Angel Policy on the Cricut website, but the big takeaway is that not EVERY design within Design Space is eligible for commercial use (i.e. Disney, Marvel, other licensed work).
  2. Create Your Own Designs – if you have the ability and programs, create all of your own designs. If you create unique designs, it is the safest way to protect your business from copyright violations. Plus, all of your designs represent your business!
  3. Download Designs from other sources – this is the option that requires the most amount of work, knowledge, and/or investment for commercial use, and can be confusing if you’re just getting started. Lots of websites offer Free SVG Files to use with your Cricut, including myself – but read carefully because a lot of files are for PERSONAL use only.

If you don’t read anything else about copyright, know this: if you plan on pulling images from Google, cutting them with your Cricut, then selling the item you make – you are likely 100% of the time infringing on a copyright. Do not do this for your own protection.

Is a Cricut Worth the Price?

In short, absolutely! But the amount of money you make selling your projects is not guaranteed, obviously. The more research, knowledge, and expertise you have in your craft and selling your project will definitely help!

The main advantage to owning a Cricut machine to help start a small business is the versatility of the machine – you could start with a initial investment then expand your tools, materials, and projects as you gain experience (and hopefully make a little money!) And as time goes on, the Maker adaptive tool system may expand to include options that will just make your projects more unique.

If I were starting today, I would definitely consider the Cricut Maker a good investment and it would be my choice of cutting machine. If you dream of owning a DIY craft business, I think it’s a great machine to kick off your inspiration and make your dream a reality.

Tips on How to Start a Cricut Business

About the business end of things – there are SO many ways to make money with your Cricut, and not every person will succeed with the same items.

Here are my favorite tips when you are thinking about what products/crafts you would like to sell:

What crafts do you ENJOY making?

If you plan to have a hugely successful business, that includes growth and making a LOT of items. You don’t want to make crafts that you really don’t enjoy day in and day out. Just because something might sell doesn’t mean that you LIKE it. Save yourself a lot of stress and decide at the beginning what you would like to make. If that’s shirts, great. If it’s wooden signs, great. Cards, paper crafts, jewelry, whatever it is – make sure it makes you happy.

A lot of people start their businesses with a customer asking them to make a particular item they want or have seen. EVERYONE makes this mistake, but try not to make the same mistake over and over. If you don’t want to make it or it’s not feasible in the customer’s budget, say NO. Say nope, no thank you, I’m sorry, whatever gets the job done. It’s just not a good idea to make whatever your customers want at your own expense.

Where can you source materials?

Where you buy materials for your Cricut business applies to physical or online locations or to specific vendors. If you live in a rural area, your options of where to buy craft supplies may be different than someone that lives in a metropolitan area. Or if you live in another country than the US, like Canada, some options just won’t be available to you.

When you think about what you want to sell, consider everything you need to make the item, including materials like vinyl, paper, or glitter, and blanks like shirts, mugs, or tumblers. At the very beginning of your business venture, shopping at a craft store like Michaels, Joann, or Hobby Lobby might be all that works for you, and that’s ok! Just make sure you use those coupons! Just consider that those retailers may be more expensive and adjust your prices accordingly.

As your business grows, one of the best pieces of advice that I have is to buy in bulk. You can buy nearly everything at a discount if you buy in bulk. Plus, if you’re making a lot of items you will want to have a lot of supplies on hand at one time. Especially since shipping times and systems are so backed up right now, you don’t want to promise an item and then the customer have to wait months before they receive it because you’re ordering a few materials at a time.

Where do you plan on selling your items?

Do you plan on selling your crafts at a physical location like a consignment store or craft show? Are you going to set up an online shop? Can you make money by selling items on Facebook Marketplace to local customers? All of these options are viable and depend on what you want to do! Consider things like shipping materials, the size of your craft, and the cost of shipping if you plan on starting your business online. And, keep in mind the holiday themes of many craft shows. Personally, I have always sold my crafts online so that I could reach a wider audience, but shipping is never a fun part of the job.

What makes my crafts unique?

Imagine this scenario: you’re on Facebook and you see a shirt that EVERYONE is buying. You think, “Wow! That’s so easy! I’m going to make that shirt, too!” and you proceed to sell your own version of the shirt (you were a smart crafter and didn’t copy the original shirt!) You sell a few shirts, but then all of the customers move on to the next best thing.

This happens all of the time, and I especially feel like a ton of business owners in the craft industry fall into this trap. You will constantly be changing your products to suit the customers’ whims, which is less than ideal.

You are SO much better off to create a brand (or your very own niche) that speaks to your taste, style, and interest, and then make crafts that are unique to you. Make something that stands out from the crowd and put it out there so people can discover it. If you make a quality product and customers can’t walk to the next craft vendor or jump to another Facebook page to buy it, you will be better off!

Growth within your brand or niche is important (as in adding Infusible Ink to your vinyl shirt business), but you don’t want to always change up your style just to match the newest trend.

How Much Should You Charge for your Cricut Crafts?

This has always been my hardest challenge, and I think that’s true for a lot of people. It’s really easy to undersell yourself. You will want to calculate the cost of your materials PLUS the cost of your time. If it costs you 2 hours and $20 in materials to make your item to sell, you can’t sell it for $25.

Start with the cost of your materials – if it’s a shirt with vinyl iron on, consider the cost of the design you’re using (or the cost of the programs you use to design your own), the blank shirt, how much iron on material you will use, and how often you will need to replace your Cricut mat and Cricut blade, just to start.

If you add a custom label or tag, or need shipping materials, add that in too. Then figure out how much you want to charge for your time. For example, if you can make 4 shirts in an hour and want to make $20 an hour, add that cost to your materials and see where you end up.

I have always heard that you should “take the cost of your materials and double it” to calculate the price of your item. But that doesn’t factor in your time. I will tell you from experience that your time is usually more valuable.

Of course, you need to compare your costs to other vendors that are selling similar items. Do some market research! If you figure a cost of $60 for your item and all of the others are $25, then it’s possible you have missed something in your calculation. Maybe you can find less expensive materials in bulk, or there is a way to streamline your assembly process.

It really is a lot to consider! If you have any questions or anything you would like me to share, make sure you leave a comment and I will answer it to the best of my knowledge!

Additional Resources for Starting a DIY Cricut Business

Get more information about starting a business with your Cricut Maker including where to sell your items, how much you should charge, and more tips to have a successful business! There’s always something to learn about making money if you’re creative!

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about charynn

ABOUT CHARYNN

Hi, y’all! I’m Charynn, the owner and designer of Pineapple Paper Co. I’m a mom of four kids (two girls and two boys) living in Pittsburgh. I love hand lettering, anything southern, cocktails, and of course, pineapples! I am excited to share my SVG files, printables, and craft projects with you! The pineapple is a symbol of hospitality, and I welcome y’all to my little corner of the internet. Read more…

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