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More people than ever are starting small businesses from home, curating easy things to make and sell for profit. The good news is, you don’t need a warehouse, employees, or even inventory to join them.
Thanks to print-on-demand platforms and online marketplaces, you can explore popular things to make and sell from home. What’s even better is that you can start with a small budget or limited experience.
This guide will show you 15 cheap things to make and sell for profit, with little to no risk. You’ll learn what makes a good product, and how to sell things online and make money without holding inventory.
How to Choose Things to Make and Sell
Here are some factors to consider when deciding on things to make and sell from home.
1. Time and Tools
If you’re juggling a full-time job or other commitments, go for easy things that don’t require hours of crafting. When considering things to make and sell for money, also think of the tools you’ll need.
Look for beginner-friendly options that match your skill level. For example, you can start an online store to sell print-on-demand (POD) items without managing inventory.
2. Profit Margins
If you're going to make and sell something, it should be worth it. Consider your profit margin after covering the costs of buying materials, tools, platform fees, labor, and shipping expenses.
For print-on-demand items, you can get solid margins because there’s no inventory or shipping involved. Start with cheap things to make and sell, but price them smartly.
3. Demand on Platforms like Etsy or TikTok
No matter how cool your product is, it won’t sell if no one’s looking for it. If you’re wondering how to sell things on Amazon and make money, or on any marketplace, demand is a major factor to consider.
Search for products in your niche that have positive reviews. You can use free tools like Etsy search autocomplete to have an idea of popular things to make and sell on Etsy.
15 Things to Make and Sell in 2025
There’s no shortage of creative, low-cost products you can make and sell online. Here are 15 trending, profitable part-time business ideas for beginners.
1. Custom Phone Cases
Custom phone cases are one of the easiest things to make and sell for money. You can use tools like Canva to create unique and cute phone case designs. Platforms like Podbase enable you to print and ship these designs directly to customers.
Tools to use: Canva, Podbase, Etsy
Where to sell: Podbase, Etsy, TikTok Shop, WooCommerce
2. Tote Bags
Tote bags are stylish, functional, and ideal for everyday use. They’re eco-friendly and one of the popular things to make and sell, especially when you use trending fonts and bold colors. Totes with empowering messages or relatable humor do well online.
Tools to use: Canva, Procreate, Placeit
Where to sell: Etsy, Shopify, and TikTok Shop
3. Digital Planners
Digital planners are high-profit, low-effort products. They are also one of the easiest things to make and sell for money. You can create a planner file with daily pages and goal trackers. You can also create mood boards and sell them as a downloadable product.
Tools to use: Canva, Adobe InDesign, PowerPoint, and PDF editors
Where to sell: Etsy, Gumroad, or your own Shopify store
4. Personalized Mugs
Personalized mugs are one of the popular things to make and sell from home. People love giving them as gifts. You can use AI tools to make money from personalized mugs. You can add names, quotes, or funny phrases to make your mug stand out.
Tools to use: Canva or Photoshop for designs, Placeit for product mockups
Where to sell: Etsy, Amazon, Print-on-demand platforms, Shopify stores
5. Wall Art
People want their homes to feel cozy or inspiring, and art helps them do that. You can design digital prints or create physical canvas art. Depending on your skills and tools, digital art will always be one of the lucrative things to make and sell for profit.
Tools to use: Procreate or Adobe Illustrator for digital designs, Canva for quote-based art
Where to sell: Podbase, Etsy, Redbubble (for printed art), Society6
6. Stickers
Stickers are fun, colorful, and are one of the simplest things to make and sell. You can create sticker packs with inspirational quotes or trendy designs. You can leverage print-on-demand services to handle the printing and shipping of your stickers.
Tools to use: Procreate, Canva, Cricut Design Space (for DIY sellers)
Where to sell: Etsy, Redbubble, Shopify, TikTok Shop
7. T-Shirts
T-shirts are one of the top items to make and sell. They allow people to express their personality or interests. However, you don’t need to sew or print them yourself if you use a print-on-demand service. You can use mockup generators to preview what your shirt will look like before you sell it.
Tools to use: Placeit for shirt mockups and lifestyle photos, Canva or Adobe Illustrator for t-shirt designs
Where to sell: Etsy, Shopify, Amazon Merch, Redbubble, Printful, Printify, or Teespring for fulfillment
8. Printable Templates
Since they don’t require shipping or inventory, printable templates are one of the easiest things to make and sell for profit. Printables are digital files people can download and use right away.
You can use AI tools to create templates and sell them as editable PDFs or Google Sheets links. You can even bundle related templates to increase your product value.
Tools to use: Canva, Adobe InDesign, Google Sheets or Excel, and Smallpdf for editing and exporting
Where to sell: Etsy, Gumroad
9. Embroidery Kits
Many people want to learn embroidery but don’t know where to start. So, if you know how to stitch, you can create DIY embroidery kits for beginners or those looking for relaxing hobbies. This can include fabric, thread, needles, and step-by-step instructions.
Tools to use: Canva, Adobe Illustrator, PDF pattern sellers like Payhip or Gumroad
Where to sell: Shopify store, Etsy, Gumroad
10. Candles
Candles sell well as gifts, especially around the holidays. You can create unique blends with essential oils, dried flowers, or even crystals. You can also sell candles that offer stress relief, mood-boosting scents, or stylish decor.
Tools to use: Canva for designing labels, Placeit for product mockups, POD platforms like Printify for fulfilment
Where to sell: Etsy, Amazon, Shopify store
11. Pet Accessories
Pet accessories are a growing trend and a smart thing to make and sell in 2025. Pet owners love handmade items, like bandanas, bow ties, toys, and collars. Accessories are some of the easiest things to make and sell because they are ideal gifts.
Tools to use: Sticker printer or label maker, Heat transfer vinyl & iron (or Cricut)
Where to sell: Etsy, Amazon, Shopify store, Chewy Marketplace (for approved sellers)
12. Beaded Jewelry
Beaded jewelry is one of the classic things to make and sell that always stays in style. You can create bracelets, earrings, or personalized name charms. Handmade jewelry appeals to different people and is perfect for everyday wear or as a thoughtful gift.
Tools to use: Bead design software like BeadTool or Beadographer, Canva for branding and product cards, Placeit for jewelry packaging mockups
Where to sell: Etsy, Amazon, Shopify, Facebook Marketplace
13. Journals or Notebooks
When considering things to make and sell, journals are ideal. You can sell custom journals, like gratitude journals, fitness logs, or creative writing prompts. You can opt for digital (PDF) or print-on-demand services to ship physical copies to customers.
Tools to use: Canva, Lulu, Book Bolt
Where to sell: Amazon KDP, Etsy, Shopify, Your website Amazon KDP, Etsy, Shopify
14. Wooden Decor
If you're looking for things to make and sell, and have access to woodcraft tools, then you are good to go. Rustic wall signs, personalized trays, or name boards are always in demand. You can make unique wedding pieces, nursery decor, or kitchen signs.
Tools to use: Laser cutter, wood stain, vinyl
Where to sell: Etsy, Shopify, Faire
15. Greeting Cards
If you're exploring things to make and sell, greeting cards are a great option. You can offer printable or physical greeting cards for birthdays, holidays, weddings, and more. This creative outlet can be fully digital or handcrafted depending on your style.
Tools to use: Canva, Procreate, Cricut
Where to sell: Etsy, Redbubble, Gumroad
Where to Sell the Things You Make
Different marketplaces have their strengths, depending on whether you're targeting individual customers, selling wholesale, or using print-on-demand. Here's where to start:
Etsy
Etsy is ideal for handmade, vintage, or creative digital products. It's a trusted marketplace with a loyal customer base looking for unique, personal items. Since it has traffic and built-in search tools, beginners can showcase and sell their products globally.
TikTok Shop
TikTok Shop is perfect for creators who can engage and sell through video content. It allows direct product listings and seamless in-app purchases. You can leverage viral trends and short-form content to drive massive attention and convert views into sales.
Shopify with POD Integration
Using Shopify with print-on-demand (POD) services like Podbase lets you sell custom products without holding inventory. Decide on your POD niche, create your designs, and the POD service will print and ship for you. It’s ideal for scalable, low-risk online selling.
Faire for Wholesale Buyers
Faire connects small brands with boutique and retail buyers looking for unique products in bulk. If you create items that can be sold wholesale, such as candles or art prints, Faire provides access to professional retailers and larger volume sales opportunities.
Saulius Meilutis is the CEO of Podbase, helping creators and entrepreneurs monetize their ideas with print-on-demand. He shares insights on eCommerce, growth, and building lean online businesses.
