Stationery Business

How Much Money Do Stationery Businesses Make? (2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: June 23rd, 2024

TL;DR:

Based on our data, stationery businesses can make between $200-$260,000 per month.
The average revenue for a successful stationery business is $28.3K per month.
The highest grossing stationery business in our records makes over $3,120,000 per year.
Stationery business owners salaries can vary wildly depending on industry, niche, and size of the business

So you're thinking about starting a stationery business?

And now you're wondering how much stationery business owners actually make...

Well, let’s dive in!

Here are example of real stationery businesses and how much money they make - as reported by the founders themselves:

1. Bookblock ($3.12M/year)

Tom Strickland, co-founder of Bookblock, came up with the idea for his gifting business while manufacturing notebooks. He saw the success of Moleskine and decided to launch a real leather notebook brand, Monsieur Notebook, at a similar price point. While the notebook business ultimately failed, it led Tom to discover a market for corporate notebooks, which eventually paved the way for Bookblock's growth and expansion into the consumer market.

How much money it makes: $3.12M/year

2. Sheedo Paper ($480K/year)

Gonzalo and Gala, founders of Sheedo, came up with the idea for their sustainable paper business while researching plantable tags for an espadrilles brand. They realized that no one was producing printable plantable paper in Spain, so they took it upon themselves to create it. Now, Sheedo has grown into a successful business, generating around 40K€ per month and working with big brands like Coca-Cola and Sony.

How much money it makes: $480K/year

3. Raghaus ($300K/year)

Markus Hartel, the founder of Raghaus Studios, came up with the idea for his business after moving to a new town and wanting to get back into the printing industry. He purchased vintage letterpress machines and started creating unique stationery products, such as custom wedding invitations and artist's books. Through word-of-mouth and organic growth, his business has steadily grown, allowing him to expand his product line and attract new customers.

How much money it makes: $300K/year

4. Planner Peace ($270K/year)

Jess, the founder of Chasing Planner Peace, initially started her business on Etsy, selling planner inserts. As an avid planner user herself, she saw a gap in the market for colorful inserts, great quality paper, and a wide range of options in Australia. Over time, she expanded her product range to include dividers, notepads, and her own brand of planners. Through word of mouth and good reviews, she has been able to attract and retain a loyal customer base, with a 39.9% return customer rate.

How much money it makes: $270K/year

5. Ferrotype Ltd ($240K/year)

Dominic and his sister Jo launched Ferrotype after being asked to start again by one of their suppliers. With a ready-made customer base and a focus on premium stationery, the company has worked with major tech companies like Google and Microsoft. In their first year, they have achieved flexibility, a solid base with $150,000 in revenue, and are now focusing on attracting new customers through PPC advertising.

How much money it makes: $240K/year

6. Seniman Calligraphy ($156K/year)

Ruth had a passion for creating things with her hands, especially during the holidays when she loved to give gifts. She picked up modern calligraphy as a hobby and soon discovered that making bespoke custom wedding invitations allowed her to combine all the things she loved. After three months of regular practice, she decided that her skills were good enough to do calligraphy work for others, so she started the business.

How much money it makes: $156K/year

7. Fernaco ($120K/year)

Ricardo Fernandez, the founder of Fernaco, came up with the idea for his business after realizing there was a market for improved, stylish, and highly durable office accessories. He specifically focused on designing and manufacturing Grade A silicone pen/pencil holders that could be used for multiple purposes. Since launching in 2017, Fernaco has consistently brought in between 9 to 11 thousand dollars per month in revenue and plans to expand into other office-supply categories in the future.

How much money it makes: $120K/year

8. Cinquanta Cox-Smith ($120K/year)

Cinquanta Cox-Smith, a Multipreneur from South Carolina, stumbled upon the Print On Demand industry 12 years ago when she wanted to create a unique shirt and discovered Spreadshirt.com. Through her creativity and networking skills, she found success in designing and selling catchy, conversation-starting shirts. This eventually led her to create multiple POD brands on various platforms, generating an impressive $120k per year in revenue.

How much money it makes: $120K/year

9. Paper Saver ($72K/year)

Jon Yong, an architect, came up with the idea for the Paper Saver after constantly printing off draft designs that became obsolete moments later. He devised a handmade "Paper Saver" out of cardboard with a pocket inside, which allowed him to insert used paper and access the blank sides as pages of a notebook. Intrigued by the interest it generated from colleagues and clients, Jon and his partner launched the Paper Saver in 2015, and it has since grown year-on-year by an average of 20%.

How much money it makes: $72K/year

10. Jordyn Alison Designs ($48K/year)

Jordyn came up with the idea for her business after making hand-lettered greeting cards during her boyfriend's boot camp. With a background in graphic design, she started Jordyn Alison Designs in 2016, but it wasn't until three years later that she saw significant growth and began expanding her product offerings. Now averaging $3,000 a month, Jordyn focuses on wholesale and the digital side of her business, with plans to get her products into over 100 stores nationwide and start licensing her artwork.

How much money it makes: $48K/year