Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please be aware that this blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through such links will result in a small commission for me (at no extra cost for you).
If you love using your Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker, you can easily turn your passion into a money-making business in just a few simple steps! Keep reading to learn how to start a business with your Cricut machine in 7 steps!
1. Start with an Idea
What Products Will I Make?
Before you start your business, you need an idea! What types of products are you going to make? You can start by thinking about what your favorite projects to create are, or check out Etsy and Pinterest to see what types of products are trending. You can also check out Cricut’s Inspiration Page for more ideas. To help get the wheels spinning, I created a list of popular product ideas:
Popular Product Ideas
- T-Shirts
- Baby Bodysuits
- Signs
- Tote Bags
- Tea Towels
- Pillows
- Mugs
- Tumblers
- Wine Glasses
- Earrings
- Cards
- Decals
Where Can I Find Products to Sell?
Blank products, or “blanks” as we call them in the crafting and printing industry, can be found through wholesalers or on Amazon.
Blank T-Shirts
My favorite shirts to use are the Bella + Canvas brand tees. My customers consistently rave about the softness and high quality of these shirts. Bella + Canvas 3001 is a comfy unisex shirt that is perfect for male and female customers. You can find them on Amazon if you are starting out with only a few. Jiffy Shirts is also a popular wholesaler choice. Gildan Softstyle tees come in a close second, and are a more cost effective option. These are unisex styled tees as well, so they’re perfect for both men and women.
Baby Bodysuits
Amazon has baby bodysuits available for great prices! As in, 5 bodysuits for around $10 prices. You can get a pretty sweet profit margin on those!
Other Blanks
You can find other blanks on Amazon with great prices. Check out the products I found below:
What Types of Designs Should I Use?
Now that you’ve decided on the products you’re going to sell, what types of designs are you going to put on them? Here’s another list of trending products to get those creative juices flowing:
Trending Designs
- Personalized Gifts
- Birthday Party Decor
- Bachelorette Party Shirts & Gifts
- Wedding Decor
- Holiday Signs & Gifts
- Farmhouse Decor
- Maternity Shirts
- Mom & Baby Outfits
- Baby Shower Decor
Where Can I Find Designs?
Etsy is a fantastic place to look for SVG files. Not to toot my own horn, but I have tons of SVG files available on my Etsy shop that you can use. Just add on a separate commercial use license if you’re using the files to sell products. You can also shop the SVG store on my website here. Wherever you buy from, just make sure that you are allowed to use the file for commercial use. Otherwise, you can find yourself in hot (legal) water later.
If you have a membership to Cricut Access, you can also find SVGs for your products there. In most cases, you can use SVGs found on Design Space for commercial use, as long as your products aren’t being mass produced (more than 10,000 sales). However, keep in mind that you cannot sell any products with licensed content on them (i.e. Disney, Hello Kitty, etc.). This is stated in their Angel Policy:
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Walt Disney Company (Disney Consumer Products, Inc.), Sesame Workshop, Hello Kitty (Sanrio, Inc.), Warner Bros. (DC Comics, c/o Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Inc.), Martha Stewart, Kirstie Allsopp (BBC Worldwide Limited), Entertainment One UK Limited, Nickelodeon (Viacom International, Inc.), and Boys Scouts of America characters and images MAY NOT be reproduced and sold.
Cricut Angel Policy
While we’re at it, let me just remind you that you cannot sell any products with licensed content or characters on them, regardless of where you buy your SVGs. For example, Disney characters are owned by Disney and selling their images on your products can result in hefty fines, legal battles, and Etsy shop suspension.
What is Commercial Use?
You’ll start seeing the terms “commercial use” and “personal use” once you start looking for SVGs, fonts, and photos for your business. The terms of these licenses are usually set by the designers. Each designer will let you know how you are allowed to use their product. On Etsy, you can usually see the terms of use within the listing’s product description. Some designers, like myself, make a commercial use license available for an additional cost if you would like to use the design for commercial use.
Personal Use
Some SVG designers only want their SVGs to be used for personal use. This means that you cannot use their design for profit or commercial gain. A.K.A, you can’t sell anything with it. While you would be able to make a shirt for yourself or as a gift for a friend (as long as they don’t pay you for it), you are not allowed to make a shirt and sell it.
Commercial Use
If you want to be able to sell products with the SVG design, you will need to purchase an SVG for commercial use. Commercial use includes the sale of products and the marketing or promotion of a business. In a nutshell, if you are using an SVG design to help make you money, you need a commercial use license for it.
2. Come Up with a Business Name
You’ve got your product and design ideas, now you’ll need a business name! When thinking of a business name, try to keep it easy to spell and simple enough for people to remember. You can try incorporating your first name or the theme of your products into your business name as well (for example, Becky’s Bridal Boutique).
If you’re thinking of getting a website or Etsy shop for your business, I would recommend checking to make sure that your domain name or shop name is available as well.
3. Get the Legal Stuff Out of the Way
Now that you have your business name, you’ll need to check with your state to see if you need to register for a DBA (doing business as) or assumed name license. Your name may be Becky Jones, but if you’re doing business as Becky’s Bridal Boutique, you might need to get a business license. Laws on DBAs vary based on what city or county you live in. Most of this information is available on your local government’s website. You can also try Googling ‘(Your City or County) DBA’ to read up on your county’s small business laws.
If you’re going to be selling products, you will also need to apply for a sales tax permit or license. Again, you can find guideline’s for your county’s sales tax laws with a quick Google search. In many states, you can apply for a sales tax permit online and have it mailed to you.
4. Gather Supplies
Now that all of the hard stuff is out of the way, it’s time to start crafting! Here’s a list of supplies you’ll need to get started:
Craft Supplies
- Cricut Machine
- Cutting Blades
- Cutting Mats
- Premium Vinyl or Heat Transfer Vinyl (for fabric projects)
- Weeding Tools
- SVG Files
- Product Blanks (t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, etc)
- If you are going to be making fabric products (t-shirts, tote bags, pillows, etc.) you will need either a Cricut EasyPress (preferred) or a household iron and an EasyPress Mat
Packaging Materials
- Clear Bags – I package my shirts, mugs, and cards in these for a clean, professional look.
- Tissue Paper or Crinkle Cut Shred Filler – Add a personal and colorful touch to your packages!
- Business Cards – Make sure customers have something to remember you by! I use VistaPrint because I love their quality and prices!
Shipping Materials
- Shipping Boxes or Bubble Mailers
- Packing/Shipping Tape
- Bubble Wrap and Fragile Stickers (if you’re shipping fragile items)
- Shipping Labels for Printer – these will make your life a lot easier!
- Thank You Stickers (optional)
5. Figure Out What to Charge
Once you know the cost of materials and roughly how much time each product takes to make, you can figure out how much to sell your products for. My biggest tip here is don’t undervalue yourself! Your talent and your time are worth more than you think. If you’re struggling with how much to charge, check out my article on ‘How to Price Your Items on Etsy‘. I even include a free product pricing calculator so you can easily calculate how much to sell your items for!
6. Decide Where to Sell
The last step in starting a business with your Cricut machine is deciding where you’re going to sell your products. You may want to start small by creating a Facebook page for your business to sell to friends and family. You can try selling in local boutiques or at craft fairs. In my opinion, the best place to get sales coming in is to open an Etsy shop. This way you can reach potential buyers across the country, and even throughout the entire world if you want! If you need help getting your Etsy shop set up, head on over to my articles on ‘What Do I Need to Open an Etsy Shop?‘ and ‘How to Open an Etsy Shop and List Your First Product‘.
7. Open for Business!
Now you’re ready to open for business! Get ready to craft and start making that money, honey!