Greeting Cards Business

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Greeting Cards Business? (In 2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 6th, 2024

Looking to start a Greeting Cards Business?

But curious about:

how much it costs to start a Greeting Cards Business?
what are the typical Greeting Cards Business startup costs?
or the actual cost of starting Greeting Cards Businesses?

Well, we have the data to prove it, supported by real Greeting Cards Businesses and how much they actually cost to start.

Let's go over it.

What is the average cost of starting a Greeting Cards Business?

Based on our data reported by actual Greeting Cards Business founders, the average cost of starting a Greeting Cards Business is between $1,000 and $30,000.

Additionally, our data shows that the the median startup costs for a Greeting Cards Business are around $8.75K.

Remember, though, not all Greeting Cards Businesses are the same - and neither are people's budgets. It's important to distinguish between different levels or types of Greeting Cards Businesses

Real World Examples: How much does it cost to start a Greeting Cards Business?

We asked real Greeting Cards Business founders and business owners how much it actually cost to get started?

Here is what they said:

Travis Peterson

Founder of Joker Greeting ($100K/month)

“I bought 1,000 units and received them about eight weeks later. We thought we could only sell about 750 units and we would use some for marketing and personal use.”

Travis Peterson is the founder of Joker Greeting, a prank greeting card company that launched its innovative musical cards on Kickstarter, raising $92,073 in 30 days.

Read this case study

Read by 16,285 founders

Candace McGinn

Founder of Periwinkle Greetings, LLC ($1K/month)

"I bought a special printer, special ink, special paper, and a heat press."

Candace McGinn is the founder of Periwinkle Greetings, LLC, a greeting card business that prints on recycled aluminum using dye-sublimation technology.

Read this case study

Read by 2,967 founders

Dayana Doncheva

Founder of EcardForest Ltd ($15K/month)

"With that our starting costs reached about 30,000 USD but luckily we could cover it all from personal savings."

Dayana Doncheva is the founder of EcardForest, an online digital greeting card business that started in 2021 and now generates over $15K in monthly revenue.

Read this case study

Read by 5,306 founders

Jordyn

Founder of Jordyn Alison Designs ($4K/month)

"The start-up costs for my business were very minimal. I started with what I had. Some money from babysitting was able to purchase paper and ink. I used my home printer to print cards at first."

Jordyn is the founder of Jordyn Alison Designs, an e-commerce business specializing in hand-lettered stationery products that started in 2018.

Read this case study

Read by 9,169 founders

Valentin Hinov

Founder of Thankbox ($35K/month)

Before starting Thankbox I had agreed with my wife that we’d be ok spending around $1500 a month on it to get it going but that we couldn’t do it for more than a year without proven traction.

Val Hinov is the founder of Thankbox, an online group card and gift collection service that launched in May 2020 and has grown to pull in around $25k in revenue per month.

Read this case study

Read by 6,500 founders

Enjoyed reading these real world examples?

Our platform is full of case studies of successful Greeting Cards Businesses that you can learn from.

Starting a Greeting Cards Business - what you should know:

When launching a greeting cards business, it's crucial to understand what factors can influence your costs.

Initial Design Costs

Design costs can vary significantly based on whom you hire and how many designs you're creating. Hiring a freelance graphic designer can cost between $25 to $75 per hour, and developing a single card design might take anywhere from 2 to 10 hours, which translates to $50 to $750 per design. Alternatively, using design software like Adobe Creative Cloud costs around $52.99 per month, which could be more affordable if you have design skills.

Printing and Supplies

Printing costs are another critical expense. For example, ordering 500 custom-printed cards typically ranges from $100 to $500, depending on the quality and complexity of the design. In comparison, purchasing a high-quality printer suitable for card printing can cost between $300 to $700, and supplies like cardstock and ink can add another $30 to $100 per month.

Marketing and Distribution

Your marketing budget will also impact your overall costs. Websites like Shopify or Etsy can help sell your cards online with subscription fees of around $29 to $79 per month, plus transaction fees of 2.9% + $0.30 per sale. Promotional activities such as social media advertising might cost anywhere from $50 to $500 per month, while joining craft fairs could require booth fees ranging from $50 to $300 per event.

Licensing and Legalities

Lastly, don’t forget about legalities and business setup costs, which include obtaining a business license (typically $50 to $400), registering a trademark (around $225 to $400 per class), and possible consultations with a small business attorney if needed (~$150 to $300 per hour). These initial legal costs can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

Understanding these key aspects will help you budget more accurately and efficiently as you start your greeting cards business.

Potential Costs of Starting a Greeting Cards Business

Starting a greeting cards business involves a variety of costs from initial setup expenses to recurring operational costs. Below, we outline the potential costs associated with starting a greeting cards business.

Item	Description	Cost Estimate (USD)
Design Software	Graphic design tools like Adobe Creative Cloud.	$20 - $52 per month
Computer and Equipment	A high-performance computer, drawing tablet, and printer.	$1,000 - $3,000 one-time
Printing Costs	Printing equipment or outsourcing printing services.	$0.10 - $1 per card
Paper and Materials	Specialty paper, envelopes, and other materials for card making.	$500 - $1,500 initial purchase
Website Development	Design and development of an e-commerce website.	$2,000 - $5,000 one-time
Hosting Fees	Web hosting services for your e-commerce website.	$10 - $50 per month
Domain Name	Cost for securing a domain name for your website.	$10 - $20 per year
E-commerce Platform	Subscription fees for using platforms like Shopify or Etsy.	$29 - $79 per month
Marketing and Advertising	Cost for online advertising, social media marketing, and promotional materials.	$500 - $2,000 per month
Legal Fees	Registration, business licenses, and consultation with legal advisors.	$500 - $1,500 one-time
Labor Costs	Wages for employees or freelancers assisting with design and production.	$15 - $25 per hour
Office Space	Rental cost for a small office or studio space.	$500 - $2,000 per month
Utilities	Electricity, internet, and other utility costs for your office space.	$100 - $300 per month
Inventory Storage	Cost for storage of finished products and materials.	$50 - $200 per month
Shipping Supplies	Boxes, labels, and postage for delivering products to customers.	$100 - $500 initial purchase
Miscellaneous Supplies	Scissors, tape, glue, cutting boards, and other office supplies.	$100 - $300 initial purchase

This table captures a comprehensive list of both initial and recurring expenses that you should consider when planning to start a greeting cards business. The actual costs can vary based on factors such as location, scale of the business, and specific business strategies.

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Starting A Greeting Cards Business: Everything You Need To Know

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