You don’t need fancy tools or a huge following to make money online. All you need is Canva and a simple email platform like Beehiiv, ActiveCampaign, or Flodesk. These tools can help you create products, automate sales, and start earning income with minimal setup. Here are five profitable side hustles you can start today using just Canva.
1. Sell a Digital Wellness or Lifestyle Guide
One of the easiest ways to make money online is by selling digital guides. People love quick, actionable PDFs that help them solve one problem or reach a goal faster.
What it is:
A short, helpful guide that walks someone through a result you’ve already achieved. For example, a “7-Day Gut Health Reset,” “30-Minute Productivity Plan,” or “Daily Fitness Tracker.”
How to start:
Open Canva and use their built-in templates for ebooks, checklists, or planners. Focus on clarity, not perfection. A clean design with useful content always wins.
Monetization:
You can sell your guide for $15 to $30 on platforms like Etsy, Gumroad, or Thrivecart. Or offer it for $0.99 to build your email list and gain new customers for future products.
2. Host a Paid Challenge or Workshop Series
This model combines community, accountability, and transformation in a simple way. People love short-term challenges because they provide structure and fast results.
What it is:
A 3 to 7-day challenge delivered through daily emails and Canva-made PDFs. For example, “5 Days to Declutter Your Mind” or “7-Day Morning Routine Reset.”
How to start:
Pick one small transformation you can teach. Create a daily workbook or checklist in Canva, then write short, motivational emails to go with it. Use a simple email tool like Flodesk or Beehiiv to send the content automatically.
Monetization:
Price your challenge between $19 and $47. You can even upsell extra sessions or one-on-one support for higher ticket offers later.
3. Sell Template Packs
Canva templates are digital gold. Business owners, coaches, and creators are always looking for pre-designed templates to save time and look professional.
What it is:
A bundle of customizable templates like Instagram carousels, habit trackers, pitch decks, or client forms.
How to start:
Use Canva to create 5 to 10 editable templates with a consistent theme. Save them as shareable Canva links, package them together, and sell them as a digital download.
Monetization:
You can sell template packs for $10 to $50, depending on complexity. Upload them to marketplaces like Etsy or Gumroad, or promote them directly through your email list.
4. Offer a Paid Email Series That Solves One Problem
This is one of the most scalable side hustles. You don’t need video content, calls, or a website. Just valuable emails that deliver a clear transformation.
What it is:
A paid email course that delivers bite-sized lessons daily for a set period, like “14 Days to Build a Morning Routine” or “7 Days to Declutter Your Finances.”
How to start:
Pick one problem you’ve solved and outline the steps. Write each email like a mini blog with an action step. You can attach Canva worksheets for added value.
Monetization:
Charge $10 to $50 for the full series. It’s 100% automated and can run while you sleep. Tools like ActiveCampaign or Flodesk make it easy to deliver each email automatically.
5. Combine Content and Email to Make Affiliate Sales
If you don’t want to sell your own product, you can still earn passive income by promoting tools, apps, or products you already love.
What it is:
You create free Canva guides or checklists that include affiliate links to your favorite resources. For example, a “Creator Toolkit” that links to your top 3 tools.
How to start:
Design a simple, value-packed PDF in Canva. Add 2 to 3 affiliate links to tools or products you use and trust. Deliver it through your email list. You can also send weekly emails that share tips and naturally mention those same affiliate tools.
Monetization:
Each time someone buys through your link, you earn a commission. This model scales easily over time as your audience and email list grow.
Tips for Getting Started
- You don’t need to be an expert.
You only need to be a few steps ahead of your audience. Share what’s worked for you.
- Match the model to your energy.
If you love design, create templates. If you love writing, start an email series.
- Keep it simple.
One product, one list, one offer. Consistency beats complexity.
- Use simple tools.
Use Canva for design, ActiveCampaign, Beehiiv, or Flodesk for email delivery, and Thrivecart to sell or collect payments.
Starting from $15/month
Start a free trial with Canva!
Key Features
Extensive library of design templates and elements
Easy drag-and-drop interface
Collaboration tools for teams
Why We Recommend It
Allows for quick and professional designs with minimal effort
Facilitates teamwork on design projects with real-time collaboration
Suitable for users of all skill levels
Pros & Cons
- Highly user-friendly
- Wide range of templates and design options
- Free tier available with extensive features.
- Advanced features require a paid subscription
- Limited customization compared to professional design tools
Starting at $15/mo
14 day trial
Key Features
Advanced email marketing automation
CRM and sales automation tools
Detailed reporting and analytics
Why We Recommend It
Provides powerful automation features allowing businesses to create personalized customer journeys, nurture leads, and drive conversions
Provides email, SMS, and cross-channel tools to power relevant experience
Pros & Cons
- Powerful automation features
- Integrates well with other tools and platforms
- Scalable for businesses of all sizes
- Can be complex for beginners
- Pricing may be high for small businesses with limited budgets
Starting at $43/month (billed annually)
Get 30-day free trial and save 20% for the first 3 months
Key Features
User-friendly interface for project management
Collaborative workspace for team members
Time tracking and invoicing capabilities
Why We Recommend It
Streamlines project management processes up to 10,000 subscribers
Facilitates effective collaboration among team members
Helps track project progress and billable hours accurately
Pros & Cons
- Intuitive interface
- Great for small to medium-sized teams
- Offers invoicing features
- It may need more advanced project management functionalities
- Not suitable for large enterprises with complex project needs
Key Features
Easy‑to‑use email builder with beautiful templates and full brand customization (fonts, colors, layouts)
Unlimited subscribers and emails with flat‑rate pricing no extra costs as your list grows
Built‑in forms, landing pages, workflows and automation for list growth and email sequence creation
Why We Recommend It
Flodesk is ideal for creators and small businesses who want stunning, professional emails without technical hassle or rising costs as their audience grows.
Pros & Cons
- Visually appealing templates and branding tools that make emails look polished
- Simple, flat pricing that won’t jump just because your subscriber count increases
- Automation, landing pages, and forms built‑in, making it a full email‑marketing suite
- Fewer advanced automation features and split‑testing options compared to enterprise platforms
- Not optimized for deep e‑commerce segmentation and triggers found in more specialized tools
- Flat pricing model may change for new users in the future
$495 one time payment
Special offer: Lifetime account, one time payment
Key Features
Shopping cart and checkout solution for digital products
Integrated affiliate management system
Customizable checkout pages and payment options
Why We Recommend It
Provides a robust platform for selling digital products, memberships, and subscriptions
Includes built-in affiliate marketing tools to help boost sales
Offers easy customization of checkout pages for better conversion rates
Pros & Cons
- Easy to use with seamless payment integration
- Built-in affiliate management system
- High customization options for checkout pages
- Limited to digital product sales, with fewer features for physical products
- Some advanced features require additional setup or higher-tier plans
Final Thoughts
Canva is more than a design tool. It’s a complete business starter kit if you use it strategically. You can create digital products, email courses, and affiliate assets without hiring a designer or building a website.
Start small. Pick one of the five models above and launch it this week. Once you make your first few sales, you’ll see how easy it is to grow from there.The key is to stay consistent, keep improving your designs, and focus on helping people. That’s how you turn Canva from a free tool into a real source of inco