Making Money with a Printer

Making money with a printer can be a creative and a low-starting cost way to earn extra income or even start your own business, it’s even better value if you can utilise free or discounted print packages, e.g. HP offer 9 months of free printing (700 A4 pages per month) when you buy a printer or you can top up your account to buy months worth. Here are a few ways you can use your printer to make money:

1. Print and Sell Photos: You can print your (or someone else’s with their permission) photos and sell them as art prints, for instance on Etsy, someone has sold 6,500 copies of Mona Lisa Reprint by Leonardo da Vinci for £38+ each, now these prints are much larger than A4, if we look at A4 versions someone has sold 6,850 copies of the Mona Lisa on A4 paper (albeit using professional grade EPSON photo printer and heavy paper) but it gives you an example of what could be possible! Of course you need to check copyright laws here, the Mona Lisa is copyright free hence why people can and do get away with selling copies.
2. Print and Sell Documents: If you’re a writer or graphic designer, you can print and sell your work as printables (think yearly calendars / planning guides etc) that you could package and ship out and sell digitally. This can be done through online marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon FBA. Failing that, you could offer document printing in your local area (e.g. if you live near student halls put a few posters offering cheap A4 printing and you might gather some decent sales per month).
3. Print Business Cards and Flyers: Offer business card or flyer printing for local businesses, with the right paper and a decent cutting tool you could easily design these yourself as well using something like Canva Pro and make a tidy profit, especially if you’re utilising free ink printing.
4. Print and Sell Crafts: You can also use your printer to create unique crafts, such as scrapbooking embellishments, decals, and stickers, and sell them online through sites like Etsy.
   
   
5. Print Customised Items: you can use your printer to print customised items such as gift wrapping paper, labels, t-shirts, hats, and bags, you can offer these items as personalised gifts for customers, or sell them in bulk for events such as weddings or baby showers. Although you may find buying a Cricut machine will give better and faster results. You can also offer a service where customers can design their own apparel, and you will print and ship it to them.
6. Print and Sell Customised Stationery: You can use your printer to create custom invitations, thank you cards, and other stationery items for special events such as weddings, birthdays, and baby showers. You can also offer a service where customers can design their own stationery, and you will print and ship it to them.
7. Print and Sell Customised Merchandise for events: You can work with event organisers, schools, and sports teams to create custom merchandise with the event name, logo, or mascot printed on them. This can be a great way to earn money from a one-time or recurring event.
8. Print and Sell Educational Materials: If you have a background in education or a particular subject matter, you can use your printer to create and sell educational materials such as flashcards, worksheets, and activity books. This can be a great way to make money while also helping others learn.
9. Or you could use Print on Demand (POD) Services: If you’re an artist or designer, you can use a POD service like Redbubble or Teespring to create and sell custom merchandise, such as t-shirts, mugs, and phone cases, without having to worry about inventory or fulfilment. All you need to do is upload your designs, and the POD service will handle the rest.
   
   
   
   

Overall, making money with a printer can be a good way to earn extra income by using your creativity and skills to create unique products or services that stand out from the competition. Be sure to research the market and your target audience before starting any venture to make sure that there is a demand for the products or services you want to offer. And don’t forget to consider your costs and pricing accordingly.

It’s important to keep in mind that as with any business, you will want to take into account the costs of materials, your time and any additional expenses before pricing your products.

Also, be sure to check the legal and copyright laws regarding the reproduction and resale of certain images and designs before starting any such business, e.g. using Canva’s Pro Elements isn’t allowed if reselling the work.