How To Make Your First $100 Using Canva — A Full Tutorial for Beginners
If you’ve ever thought “Can I really make money using Canva?” — the answer is a big YES! 💰
You don’t need to be a professional designer, and you don’t even need expensive software.
With Canva, anyone — even beginners — can design stunning graphics and start earning their first $100 (or more) online!
In this step-by-step guide, I’ll show you exactly how to earn money using Canva, including secret tips, hidden tricks, and the best tools to help you grow faster.
💡 Why Canva Is Perfect for Earning Money Online
Canva is one of the easiest design tools ever created — it’s free, beginner-friendly, and lets you design everything from social media posts to business cards, logos, and eBooks.
Here’s why it’s great for earning money:
- ✅ No design skills needed — just creativity.
- ✅ Ready-to-use templates for everything.
- ✅ Free version is powerful enough to start.
- ✅ Endless demand for Canva-based designs online.
So whether you’re a student, freelancer, homemaker, or content creator — Canva can become your first source of online income.
🚀 5 Proven Ways to Make Your First $100 Using Canva
Let’s go through the step-by-step methods that actually work in 2025 👇
1. Sell Digital Products on Etsy
One of the fastest ways to earn money with Canva is by selling digital designs on Etsy.
You can create and sell:
- Printable wall art 🎨
- Planner templates 📒
- Resume designs 📄
- Business card templates 💼
- Instagram post templates 📱
🪜 Step-by-Step Guide:
- Create an Etsy account (etsy.com).
- Go to Canva.com and design your product using templates.
- Export it in high quality (PDF/PNG).
- Upload it to Etsy with attractive product images and keywords.
- Price your product between $3–$15.
💎 Secret Tip:
Combine 3–5 related designs into one bundle — people love getting more value, and bundles sell faster!
🔧 Useful Tools:
- Canva Pro – For premium templates and fonts.
- EtsyHunt / eRank – To find trending design ideas.
- CreativeFabrica / Freepik – For graphic elements (ensure commercial use).
2. Offer Freelance Design Services
If you enjoy designing, start freelancing on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or Freelancer.
You can offer services like:
- Logo design
- YouTube thumbnails
- Instagram post design
- Flyer or poster creation
- Resume or presentation design
🪜 Step-by-Step Guide:
- Sign up on Fiverr or Upwork.
- Create an eye-catching gig titled “I will design unique social media posts using Canva.”
- Add your design samples (you can make them for free on Canva).
- Start with a low price ($10–$20) to attract your first clients.
- Deliver high-quality work fast — good reviews bring more clients!
💎 Secret Tip:
Offer “Canva editable templates” — clients love editable files they can reuse later. It sets you apart from competitors.
🔧 Useful Tools:
- Canva Brand Kit – Maintain consistent brand colors for clients.
- Google Drive / Dropbox – Deliver files easily.
- Fiverr Workspace – Manage invoices and clients professionally.
3. Create and Sell Canva Templates
Another passive income method is selling Canva templates.
You can sell:
- Social media templates
- Resume or CV templates
- Business cards
- eBook covers
- YouTube banner templates
🪜 Step-by-Step Guide:
- Choose a niche (e.g., fitness coaches, beauty brands, or small businesses).
- Design editable templates in Canva.
- Save your designs as “Share templates” (via Canva link).
- List your product on Etsy, Gumroad, or your own website.
- When someone buys, send them the editable Canva link.
💎 Secret Tip:
Add “Editable in Canva” in your product title — it ranks higher on Etsy and Google.
🔧 Useful Tools:
- Gumroad / Payhip – For selling digital products easily.
- Canva Pro – To unlock premium fonts and elements.
- Pinterest – To promote your designs for free.
4. Create YouTube Thumbnails and Social Media Graphics
Social media creators are always looking for attractive thumbnails, posts, and banners — and they’re willing to pay well for them.
🪜 Step-by-Step Guide:
- Learn how to design click-worthy thumbnails using Canva.
- Offer your services to YouTubers and influencers on:
- Fiverr / Upwork
- Facebook Groups
- Instagram DMs
- Charge $5–$15 per thumbnail (you can make 5–10 per day!).
- Deliver in PNG format with proper dimensions (1280×720 for thumbnails).
💎 Secret Tip:
Use bold colors + big faces + short text — it increases CTR (click-through rate).
🔧 Useful Tools:
- Canva Magic Resize – Resize designs for multiple platforms.
- Remove.bg – Instantly remove image backgrounds.
- Pixabay / Pexels – For free stock images.
5. Teach Canva Online (Create Courses or Tutorials)
If you’ve mastered Canva, why not teach others?
You can earn by creating Canva tutorials on YouTube, or selling short courses on Udemy, Skillshare, or Gumroad.
🪜 Step-by-Step Guide:
- Record simple screen tutorials (use OBS Studio or Loom).
- Create short, beginner-friendly lessons like:
- “How to design Instagram posts in Canva”
- “How to create eBooks using Canva”
- Upload on YouTube or course platforms.
- Monetize through ads, affiliate links, or course sales.
💎 Secret Tip:
Add free Canva templates as bonuses in your course — it increases student satisfaction and reviews.
🔧 Useful Tools:
- OBS Studio / Loom – Record your screen easily.
- Canva Presentations – For slide-based teaching.
- Udemy / Skillshare – Publish and sell your courses.
🔥 Secret Tricks to Earn More Money Using Canva
- Use trending keywords like “Editable Canva Template,” “Printable Planner,” “Social Media Bundle.”
- Repurpose designs — one Instagram post template can be turned into Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube versions.
- Build your personal brand on Pinterest — it’s perfect for showcasing Canva designs and driving sales.
- Collect emails using freebies (like free templates) — you can promote paid designs later.
- Join Canva’s affiliate program — earn up to $36 per user who signs up using your referral link!
- The “Bundle” Advantage – Don’t sell one item; sell a bundle. Customers perceive much higher value in a “50-Pack Instagram Template Bundle” for $15 than a single template for $5. Bundles boost your average order value (AOV) instantly, helping you hit $100 faster with fewer sales.
- The “Current Trend” Niche -Stop creating generic products. Use tools like Google Trends or look at top sellers on Etsy to see what’s trending right now. Example: If the latest social media craze is a specific type of ‘viral reel format’, create a Canva Reel Template Bundle for it immediately. Fast movers get the sales.
- Upsell the “Done-For-You” Service – Once you have a template, offer customization as a premium service. Pitch: “Love this template but don’t have time to fill it in? I can customize it with your brand colors and content for an extra $50!” This instantly turns a $10 passive income sale into a $60 active income sale.
💰 How Much Can You Earn Using Canva?
Your earnings depend on your consistency and creativity:
- Selling templates on Etsy: $100–$1,000/month
- Freelance services: $10–$50 per project
- YouTube tutorials: $100+ per month (after monetization)
- Affiliate program: $36 per referral
Even if you start small, you can easily make your first $100 in just a few weeks if you stay consistent!
⚙️ Best Tools for Canva Users
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Canva Pro | Access premium templates and fonts |
| EtsyHunt / eRank | Find trending Etsy products |
| Remove.bg | Background remover |
| Pixabay / Pexels | Free stock images |
| Gumroad / Payhip | Sell digital products |
| Pinterest Trends | Discover popular design ideas |
| ChatGPT | Generate creative content and descriptions |
| Creative Fabrica | Get unique, commercial-use fonts and graphics that make your designs look custom and stand out from generic Canva-only elements. |
| eRank / Sale Samurai | Helps you find the exact keywords and product gaps where people are already spending money, so you don’t waste time on low-demand designs. |
💬 Final Thoughts
Canva is not just a design tool — it’s a real money-making opportunity in 2025.
You can sell digital products, offer freelance services, or teach others — all from home, without any investment.
Remember:
“You don’t need to be an expert — you just need to start.”
Be creative, stay consistent, and your first $100 from Canva will soon turn into your first $1,000+ online. 💵✨
