This guide presents three methods of how to make money with a Cricut machine and provides detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to implement them.
Let’s turn your Cricut into a money-making machine!
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On the fence about buying a Cricut?
If you have been unsure about buying one, weighing the pros and cons in your head, this is so relatable! The Cricut line up of machines do come with a hefty price tag (at full price anywhere from $179-$429 USD). Plus the cost of materials, additional tools, accessories, cutting mats, etc. Jumping into the world of Cricut is an investment!
With our uncertain economy and rising inflation, we are all tightening up our budgets and making wiser purchases. It brings peace of mind when we take the time to do due diligence and research larger purchases.
Is investing in a Cricut machine a worthwhile decision?
Crafters who have bit the bullet and purchased a Cricut will tell you they are worth every penny.
If you’re searching for ways to generate income with your Cricut machine to make it a self-sustaining investment, you have arrived at the right place. Let’s dive in!
So, can you really make money with a Cricut craft machine?
Short answer, Yes!
Here’s the long answer:
If you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford the Cricut machine for your craft hobby, you’ll be happy to know there are numerous ways to make money with it. *Be sure to download this guide’s workbook that includes a list of 50 things to make and sell with your Cricut below:
You can create a profitable business that both pays off the machine and funds your craft hobby, while potentially earning even more if you so desire.
Achieving your financial aspirations such as providing your family with vacations, giving back to your community through hospitality or other means, is possible by starting a business you’re passionate about using a Cricut craft machine.
Three ways to make money with Cricut
There are three overarching categories in which you can start a Cricut business and earn income, they are:
- Physical products
- Services
- Digital products (passive income)
Physical products
Selling Physical Products Made with Your Cricut
Physical products are crafts that you make, keep an inventory of, and sell.
Physical products are ideal if you love to craft in your own time, when your kids are sleeping or as your dinner simmers.
*Tip: Consider your values prior to choosing your Cricut business
Physical products are the perfect choice for an artist. Artists value their creative expression above money and people (see my notes on evaluating what type of business owner you’d thrive as below under the tile “Building a Cricut Business that Works for You” below).
Consider opening a digital Etsy shop or Shopify store to sell premade items such as:
Party decor
Wooden signs
Water bottles
Jewelry
Art
Wall decor
T-shirts
And so much more!
You can also connect with brick-and-mortar shops to see if they will keep an inventory of your crafts.
Service
Creating a service business with your Cricut
A service business with your Cricut is typically going to look like designing and making custom goods.
*Tip: Consider your values prior to choosing your Cricut business
If you value connection with people, providing a service with your Cricut machine will be perfect for you as it involves interacting with clients. The con of a service based business is that it is less flexible on your schedule, when someone needs an item it is important to provide it in a timely matter. The pro is that you can typically charge more for custom items then you could for physical premade items. This means if you value money a service business would work well for you also.
Service Business Ideas:
Custom items
Branded Business Items
stickers
Scrapbooking
signage – shop – wedding
wedding invitations
While using platforms such as Etsy or Shopify (find a list below for the pros and cons of each) to offer your services is an option, having your own website or presence on social media like Instagram can allow you to build a following and keep your services top-of-mind for potential customers. For example, someone following you may not currently need a custom wedding sign, but they may in the future or refer you to someone who does.
Digital Products
Creating passive income with your Cricut Machine
What is passive income and what does it look like with a Cricut machine?
Passive income is income that generates income with minimal ongoing work. You create a product once and can sell it many times over.
*Tip: Consider your values prior to choosing your Cricut business
Digital goods are the perfect route to go for those who value freedom and flexibility of time:
Types of Digital Products
SVG designs: SVGs are a file format used for cutting Cricut projucts. Create an SVG design once, make it, photograph it, and sell the file for others to make themselves. You will need to learn Adobe illustrator or another design software to go this route.
Learn an easy way to create SVG designs with Adobe Illustrator here.
Teaching: Create a digital course teaching how to use Cricut or tutorials on specific Cricut projects.
Blogging: Earn money through affiliate links and ads. Earn when someone purchases a Cricut or Cricut materials through affiliate links and ads. You can earn approximately 12% of the purchase price from Cricut.
Building a Cricut Business that Works for You (while having loads of fun)!
If you’re searching for quick and simple ways to earn income with your Cricut machine, keep in mind that easy money is not always a sustainable long-term solution. We’ve all heard money doesn’t grow on trees! Instead of asking “What are the easiest ways to make money with my Cricut,” consider asking “What are the ways I can most enjoy making money with my Cricut?” after all, you’ve got the machine to have fun with it.
Here is something I’ve learned throughout my years in the creative field as a designer while also trying multiple side hustles – looking for a way to earn income doing what I love.
What you value most will determine what business you enjoy owning and running.
Do you value your artistic expression? Don’t build a business where you have to listen to what others want you to make.
Do you value freedom of time? Don’t restrict yourself to tight deadlines
Do you value people?
Do you value money and what it can give you?
Etc. Asking what you value and what you don’t, will help you figure out your “why”.
This lesson was my biggest takeaway from the business course The Blueprint model. So many lightbulbs went off in my head of why I hadn’t been able to create a business that was sustainable. Who wants to do the work to build a business you don’t enjoy working in?
Now that you’ve determined what Cricut business is best for you and your values, let us get down to the nitty-gritty of how to get started:
Getting Started
First Things First, Your Business Tools
This is where having already evaluated which of the three business models your values align with, will help you determine which Cricut machine you will need to purchase based on what they can cut and what they can make.
Here’s an overview of what the three machines can do:
- Capable of cutting over 50 materials including iron-on, cardstock, vinyl, paper, and more, with a maximum size of 4.5″ x 6.5″.
- Can cut over 100 materials, including cardstock, vinyl, iron-on, glitter paper, and bonded fabric.
- Compatible with 6 tools for cutting, writing, foiling, and more (sold separately).
- Able to cut more than 300 materials, from delicate paper to thick materials like leather and basswood.
- Expandable suite of tools like the Knife Blade for denser materials, Rotary Blade for backed and unbacked fabrics, and the QuickSwap family of tools for scoring, engraving, debossing, foiling, and adding decorative effects. The Cricut Maker family is able to take on a wide range of projects.
Learn more about each machine on the Cricut website here.
My Machine Recommendation
For starting a business, if budget allows, I recommend going for the Explore or Maker, as the ability of what you can cut and size you can cut is much larger than the Joy.
If your budget doesn’t allow for it, you will be able to get away with a Cricut Joy for selling handmade cards or small vinyl projects such as custom baby onesies.
What extras will you need? Materials and Accessories
A note on the other accessories Cricut Sells. You may have seen heat presses, sublimation tools, and more. Cricut is constantly adding new accessories to serve crafters and business owners. But remember, these are accessories and not necessary for starting out. Don’t let these accessories overwhelm you. Start with the basics tools and what you can make with those, then if you grow interested in branching out, you can consider the pros and cons of adding one of these accessories. All machines come with a basic kit of the knife and one or two mats. You can get started making money with the basic kit.
If you know for sure you would like to run a service-based business doing custom engraving or making wooden signs for example, go ahead and purchase these additional tools.
How to Price Your Handmade Cricut Crafts to Sell
There is a general rule of thumb in business that the cost to make something be kept to a minimum of 20% of the total purchase price. So that 80% is profit. You also need to take in account the time it took you to produce the item. Will the 80% profit be enough to cover your time invested? For example, if you want to make $30 dollars per hour. Is the 80% covering that hourly wage?
Please don’t underprice your work so that you’re making below minimum wage (might as well go flip burgers to pay for your Cricut).
Keeping Material Cost Low
To keep material costs low (ideally 20% or less of the purchase price) you first need to validate your idea and be sure there are willing buyers. Don’t go buy in bulk a thousand t-shirts and then find no one wants your “I love burrito” t-shirt for example. Buy a few off Amazon or from the dollar store to test your idea. When your product is validated, you can then go purchase larger quantities.
Where and how to sell your Cricut crafts, services, or digital products
If you decide to go the digital route for selling your crafts, opening an e-commerce store is your next step! You’ll soon find out there are many different platform options on which you can open a shop. The top two of those options are Etsy and Shopify.
Etsy or Shopify?
Etsy:
Pros:
- Established marketplace with a built-in customer base
- No need to create and maintain your own website
- Lower fees compared to Shopify
- Has a focus on handmade and vintage goods
Cons:
- Limited customization options for your shop
- Higher competition among sellers
- Limited control over SEO and marketing
- Limited control over the checkout process
Shopify:
Pros:
- Greater control over the design and functionality of your online store
- More control over SEO and marketing
- More payment options available
- Ability to use various plugins and apps to enhance the store
Cons:
- Higher fees compared to Etsy
- Requires more effort to drive traffic to your store
- More responsibility for maintaining and updating your own website
- No built-in customer base like Etsy
Ultimately, the choice between Etsy and Shopify depends on your specific needs and goals as a seller. Both platforms have their own strengths and weaknesses, and the right choice for you will depend on your budget, the type of products you sell, and your overall business strategy.
Interested in selling on Etsy? Get your first 40 listings free when you use this link.
Tips for Marketing Your Cricut Business
Become the go to shop or person for a specific thing. This is called niching down. Don’t try to be everything to everyone. If you enjoy making cards, sell cards and be the shop that people go to for celebrating lifes moments. If you try to serve everyone you serve no one.
Own your audience with an email list. Don’t build everything on rented land (AKA Social Media). Flodesk is the email list building tool I use – It’s so easy (get 50% off Flodesk with this link)!
When purchasing from a small business, buyers love to see extra care put into the buying experience. Consider getting creative with the packaging, or include a note on a (Cricut cut!) note card or tag.
Recommended Books and Resources for Building Your Cricut Business
Books
Grow Your Handmade Business: How to Envision, Develop, and Sustain a Successful Creative Business
The Handmade Marketplace, 2nd Edition: How to Sell Your Crafts Locally, Globally, and Online
Online Platforms and Tools
Etsy: Get your first 40 listings free when you use this link.
Name Hero: Website hosting and domain name
Flodesk: Email list building and marketing (get 50% off with this link)
