Let’s be real—most online money-making ideas sound a bit sketchy. You’ve probably seen those wild stories about people earning thousands overnight. It’s normal to feel a bit suspicious.
I’ve tried a bunch of side hustles myself, and honestly, selling Notion templates isn’t some magic ticket. But if you go about it thoughtfully, it’s a practical way to bring in extra cash.
You can actually make anywhere from a couple of hundred bucks a month to well into the six-figure range each year selling Notion templates, depending on your skills, effort, and how you market yourself. The range is huge because it really comes down to how well your templates solve problems and if you can get them in front of the right people.
I’ve built digital products before, and Notion templates have a few things going for them: they’re quick to make, simple to update, and people genuinely use them. If you’ve ever thought about turning your own Notion setups into products, this is a side hustle that actually makes sense.
Key Takeaways
Your income from Notion templates really depends on your audience, your marketing, and the quality of your work. Some folks pull in six figures, while lots of others see a few hundred a month. The difference? Reach, pricing, and whether you treat it as a hobby or a real business.
Some creators have shown just how profitable this can get if you build an audience and a brand. For example, Thomas Frank made over $1 million from two templates, “Creator’s Companion” and “Ultimate Brain.” He started around $15,000 per month, then scaled up by packaging and pricing smartly.
Easlo, another big name, has pulled in more than $500,000 in sales. He consistently made about $20,000 a month by focusing on productivity templates and tapping into his online following.
Even smaller creators like Nick Lafferty have made around $80,000 in a year selling templates. If you’ve got an engaged audience—or you’re willing to build one—you can bring in real money.
If you’re just getting started, expect more modest results. Most new sellers report earning between $100 and $500 a month in the first few months. That’s enough to cover some bills, but not a full-time income.
As you add more templates and get better at marketing, it’s possible to reach $1,000 to $3,000 a month. For a lot of people, that’s the sweet spot for a side hustle.
You probably won’t hit six figures right out of the gate. The good news is you don’t need to invest much upfront. You just need your time, a Gumroad or Etsy account, and some patience.
Several things will affect your income, and it’s not just about making a pretty template. The biggest factor is audience reach. If you already have followers on YouTube, Twitter, or TikTok, you’ve got a head start.
Template quality matters, too. People pay for tools that actually solve problems. Clear instructions, easy customization, and a clean look can make the difference between a one-off sale and steady growth.
If you treat your Notion template business like a real digital product business—with marketing, updates, and customer care—you’ll have a much better shot at turning it into a steady income.
Selling Notion templates works because you don’t need much money to get started, you keep earning after you’re done building, and you can reach buyers anywhere. These things make templates one of the simplest and most flexible digital products out there.
You don’t need fancy software or pricey tools to make a Notion template. A free Notion account, some time, and a good idea are enough. Compare that to physical products—inventory, packaging, shipping—it’s a totally different ballgame.
Delivering a template costs basically nothing. Once you’ve built it, you can sell it over and over without paying more. Platforms like Gumroad or Etsy handle payments and downloads for a small fee, so you skip the tech headaches.
I’ve started other online businesses, and overhead always sneaks up—hosting, storage, shipping, support. With templates, you dodge all that. Your profit margin is about as close to 100% as you’ll ever see.
The best part about digital products like Notion templates? Build once, sell forever. You put in the work up front, and the template can keep making sales while you sleep. It’s not totally “set it and forget it,” but it’s close enough.
You might have to tweak a template or answer a quick customer question, but that’s nothing compared to packing boxes. A good template can sell hundreds of times without you doing more work.
I’ve had templates I made in a weekend keep selling for months with zero extra effort. That’s the kind of leverage you want in a side hustle—building something that works for you long after you’re done.
Selling Notion templates means you’re not stuck selling to just your city or even your country. Anyone with internet and a Notion account can buy from you. Your audience is huge, so you can niche down without worrying about running out of buyers.
Digital products scale in a way physical ones just can’t. If 10 people buy your template in a day, awesome.
If 1,000 people buy, you don’t need to print or ship anything. Delivery is instant, and your costs don’t change.
I’ve seen creators go super niche—like student planners, freelancer CRMs, or content calendars for small businesses—and still reach thousands of buyers worldwide. That’s what makes templates so appealing: solve a specific problem, and the internet helps the right people find you.
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When you make Notion templates, success usually comes down to three things: picking the right niche, keeping your design clean and functional, and making sure people actually want what you’ve built. Nail those, and you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches.
The biggest mistake I see? People try to sell templates nobody needs. Maybe you love building a “daily mood tracker,” but if no one’s searching for it, sales will be slow. Start by looking at where people already spend their money and time.
Popular categories: student planners, content calendars, freelance client trackers, small business dashboards. These solve real problems for folks juggling busy lives. Check out marketplaces like Etsy or Gumroad, read reviews, and see what keeps selling.
Think about your own skills, too. If you’re a freelancer, you already know what makes client work easier. That insight helps you create something genuinely useful instead of just copying trends.
A template that sells isn’t just functional—it looks good and feels easy to use. When you’re making Notion templates, keep layouts simple.
Too many pages or databases will overwhelm people. Go for clarity over complexity.
Use consistent colors, icons, and headings so everything feels put-together. Little touches—like emoji dividers or clean fonts—can make your template look way more professional.
But don’t forget usability. A gorgeous template that’s confusing won’t get good reviews.
Ask a friend to try it out. If they get stuck, simplify it. Think of your template as a tool first, design second.
Before you spend weeks building something massive, test the idea. Make a smaller version—call it a “minimum viable template.” Instead of a full student dashboard, try a simple assignment tracker first.
Share it for free in online communities like Reddit’s r/Notion or on Twitter. See how people react. If downloads are high or folks ask for more features, you’re onto something.
Once you get interest, refine the template, add features, and set a fair price. Platforms like Notion Marketplace or Gumroad make it easy to update your product after launch, so don’t stress about perfection on day one.
You’ve got a few options for selling your Notion templates. Some platforms give you instant access to buyers, while others let you control pricing, branding, and customer relationships. The best fit depends on how much effort you want to put into marketing versus just listing your product and seeing what happens.
The Notion Marketplace is the most direct route since it’s built into Notion itself. Buyers already using Notion can find, preview, and buy your templates without leaving the app. That built-in audience is a big plus if you don’t want to spend all your time on marketing.
To sell here, set up payments through Stripe and list your template with a clear description, screenshots, and pricing. The marketplace lets you offer both free and paid templates, so you can use freebies to upsell premium versions.
The biggest advantage? Trust. People browsing the marketplace already use Notion, so you’re not convincing them to try a whole new tool—just to buy something that saves them time. If you’re new, this is a low-barrier way to get your first sales.
Gumroad is a flexible platform if you want to sell digital products without building a website. Upload your template, set a price, and Gumroad handles delivery. It’s simple—no subscription fees, just a small cut per sale.
I like that you can create bundles. Maybe you sell a habit tracker, a budget planner, and a project dashboard together at a discount. Gumroad even has email tools to help you market to buyers after their first purchase.
The storefront is customizable enough for your branding, but not so complex that it’s overwhelming. For a lot of creators, Gumroad hits the sweet spot between easy and flexible. If you’re just testing the waters, it’s often the fastest way to start selling.
Etsy isn’t just for crafts and handmade goods anymore. Digital downloads like Notion templates have carved out a space there, and the platform’s huge audience means your products can get discovered even if you don’t have a following.
Each listing costs a small fee, and Etsy takes a percentage of sales, but you get access to its search-driven marketplace in return. Keywords matter—a lot. People type in “Notion budget template” or “student planner,” and if your listing’s optimized, you show up.
You can add multiple images or a quick video to show off your template’s features. Some sellers do well by offering bundles or customizations for a higher price. The catch? Competition. It’s crowded, so good branding and solid reviews really help you stand out.
Selling through your own website gives you the most control. You pick the pricing, design, and customer experience. You’re not fighting for attention on a crowded page, and you can actually build relationships with your audience through email lists, blogs, or even a little online community.
The downside: you have to drive your own traffic. That means content marketing, social media, or maybe ads. It’s more work, but it builds a brand that isn’t tied to any single marketplace.
I like using a website as a hub, even if I also list templates elsewhere. You can embed Gumroad or Payhip links, or use a platform like Kajabi if you want fancy tools like sales funnels and email automation. Over time, having your own site just looks more professional and helps you make more profit.
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You can’t just upload a Notion template and hope people stumble onto it. You’ve got to put it in front of the right audience, build trust, and make it easy to find. The best strategies mix free content, smart launches, partnerships, and a bit of optimization.
If you want people to trust your paid templates, show them value first. The easiest way? Give away free stuff. Maybe it’s a stripped-down template, a quick-start guide, or even a short YouTube tutorial.
I’ve noticed that free resources work like a handshake. People get to test your style and decide if they want more. If they do, they’re much more likely to pay for the full version.
Try using Twitter, TikTok, or a blog to share quick tips. Pair those with a free template download. Every download grows your email list, which is basically a direct line to future customers.
Consistency is what matters here. Keep showing up with helpful content, and you’ll slowly build a group of people who trust you enough to buy.
A launch on Product Hunt can give your Notion template a real boost. Early adopters hang out there looking for new digital tools, and submitting your product is free.
But don’t just toss up a listing and cross your fingers. Timing matters.
Launch on a day when you can actually respond to comments and answer questions. People want to see you’re active and engaged.
A good Product Hunt page usually has:
If you can, get your audience to support the launch. Even a small wave of early votes can push your template into view. Once you’re visible, you’ll attract users who never would’ve found you otherwise.
Affiliate marketing’s great if you want to scale without dumping money into ads. Set up an affiliate program and give other creators a cut of each sale they bring in.
For example, offer 20–30% commission to bloggers or YouTubers whose audience already loves tools like Notion. They promote your template, and everyone wins.
The trick is picking affiliates who really fit your niche. Don’t just chase big numbers. Sometimes, a small creator with a loyal audience beats a bigger one with no real trust.
Make things easy for affiliates—give them graphics, copy, and unique links. The less work they have to do, the better your results.
The best template in the world won’t sell if no one finds it. That’s why you need to optimize your listings. Think about how people search: they type in problems, not product names.
If your template helps with “goal tracking,” put those words right up front in your title and description. Don’t bury the lead.
Use clear screenshots to show what the template actually looks like. Add bullet points that highlight the main benefits. Keep your pricing simple—confusing offers turn buyers away.
Platforms like Gumroad, Etsy, or the Notion Template Gallery reward clarity. The clearer your listing explains the value, the more likely someone click “buy.”
Update your listings as you improve your templates. Refresh descriptions and visuals so they always stay accurate and appealing.
Building a Notion template business isn’t just about a few quick sales. You want systems that keep customers coming back, increase the value of each purchase, and open doors for other digital products down the road.
One of the easiest ways to boost revenue is by bundling related templates. Instead of selling a project tracker by itself, package it with a content calendar or budgeting tool. Customers usually see more value when they can solve several problems at once.
Upselling works too. If someone buys your basic planner, offer a premium version with extra layouts or advanced features. Even a small price bump adds up if you sell consistently.
Here’s a simple framework:
This approach not only raises your average order value but gives buyers choices. They pick what fits their needs and budget.
You can’t grow a digital product business if you ignore your users. Feedback helps you spot bugs, confusing layouts, or features people wish you’d add. Honestly, some of the best product ideas come straight from buyers.
Make it easy for people to share their thoughts. A quick Google Form, a survey link inside the template, or just a follow-up email works. Don’t overthink it.
What matters most is actually acting on feedback. If several customers ask for a weekly view in your planner, add it.
If people get stuck on setup, make a short video walkthrough. Small improvements build trust and turn one-time buyers into repeat customers.
Once you’ve got steady sales, the next step is expanding beyond templates. Your audience already cares about productivity and organization—why not offer more ways for them to learn and grow?
Maybe you create mini-courses, PDF guides, or even workshops teaching people how to get the most from Notion. Some creators offer coaching or consulting for businesses that want custom setups.
By diversifying, you reduce your risk. If template sales drop one month, your other products help balance it out. Plus, you increase the lifetime value of each customer since they can buy from you more than once.
The trick is alignment. Don’t just throw out random products. Stick to what complements your templates and strengthens your brand. That way, you’re not just selling tools—you’re building a whole ecosystem around your digital products.
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When you’re trying to make money with Notion templates, the details really matter. Pricing, where you sell, how you design, and even how you handle customer service can mean the difference between a few sales and something that actually lasts. Let’s dig into some of the most common questions people run into.
Start simple: don’t underprice just to get sales. If your template actually saves time or solves a real problem, people will pay for it.
I’ve found that mixing lower-priced single templates with higher-priced bundles works well. Bundles let you raise the average order value without scaring off beginners. And honestly, test different price points—what seems “too high” to you might be totally fine for your buyers.
You’ve got options. The easiest way to get started is with marketplaces like Etsy or Gumroad. They already have buyers looking for digital products, so you’re not starting from zero traffic.
If you want more control over branding and pricing, your own website is worth the extra effort. Some creators also list on the Notion Template Gallery, which puts you in front of Notion’s own users.
The best sellers don’t just slap together a page—they polish the design, make it simple to use, and include clear instructions. Think of it like selling furniture: you wouldn’t hand someone a pile of wood without any assembly guide.
Some add short demo videos or screenshots showing the template in action. They also update templates when Notion adds new features, which keeps customers happy and coming back.
You can, but it doesn’t happen overnight. Some creators make a few hundred bucks a month, others make thousands. Usually, it comes down to how many templates you offer, how well you market them, and if you treat it like a real business.
If you’re consistent and diversify your products, you can build up to a full-time income. It’s not passive at the start—you’ll spend a lot of time creating, testing, and promoting before it feels steady.
Copying what’s already out there? That’s a fast track to getting ignored. If your template blends in with the crowd, people probably won’t notice it. Try to carve out a niche or put your own spin on things.
It’s easy to overlook customer support, but don’t. Folks will have questions, and if you’re nowhere to be found, they’ll move on. And let’s be real—just uploading your template isn’t going to cut it. You’ve got to actually show people why it matters and why they should spend money on it.
Last updated: September 23, 2025
