Sell templates, printables and other digital products

Use this guide if you want to sell downloadable products such as templates, printables, planners, spreadsheets, photo presets or short guides, through a marketplace or your own website. Have an idea or two, examples of what already sells, and a list of every font, image or tool you would use to make the product. This is general information, not legal or tax advice; check VAT questions with an accountant.

Step by step

1. Find a product with proven demand and a clear gap

   Start from a problem a specific group has, not from what you like making: for example a meal planner for shift workers, a seating plan template for weddings, a budget spreadsheet set up for UK self-employed people, or presets for photos taken in dim winter light. Search marketplaces and search engines for the problem, note products that clearly sell, and read their one- to three-star reviews, which tell you exactly what buyers wish were different. Decision rule: go ahead only if paid products already sell (proof of demand) and you can name one specific improvement, such as UK date formats, A4 sizing, editable fields or clearer instructions; avoid ideas where everything available is free. Check seasonality: planners and calendars for the coming year sell from autumn, so a 2027 planner needs to be listed by October or November. Before building the full product, test interest with a free mini version that collects email addresses, or by asking a group of likely buyers which of two versions they would pay for.