The Badge Archive

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Creating printable digital products is a flexible and creative side hustle that teens can explore at home. You don’t need professional tools or advanced design experience, just a sense of organization, a helpful idea, and a free online design platform.

Perfect for teens who enjoy journaling, school tips, or organizing. Great starter products include planners, habit trackers, study guides, or daily checklists.

1. What Printable Products Teens Can Make

Start simple with tools and layouts you’re already familiar with. Focus on one-page printables that are easy to understand and visually clean.

Popular beginner options:

• Daily, weekly, or monthly planners
• Homework or reading logs
• Habit trackers or goal charts
• Study schedule or test prep checklists
• Budget sheets or packing lists

Pick one idea you’d personally use and start from there.

2. Free Tools to Create Your Printables

You don’t need expensive design software. These free tools work well:

• Canva (free version) – Drag-and-drop layout editor with templates
• Google Slides or Docs – Good for simple charts and lists
• Microsoft Word or PowerPoint – Familiar tools with easy formatting

Stick to simple layouts, readable fonts, and clean headers. Leave space for users to write in their own information.

3. Save and Export as a PDF

When your design is finished:

• Download or export it as a PDF
• Double check that all content fits the page
• Print a test copy if possible to preview layout

A well-formatted PDF is the standard format for printable product listings.

4. Where and How to Sell Your Printable

Use platforms that support digital downloads, but understand how each one works. See a list of suggestions below.

Your listing should include:

• Product name and what’s included (“Student Planner – PDF Download”)
• Clear sample images or mockups
• A short description explaining how it works
• A realistic, beginner-friendly price

Sample listing message:

“This one-page planner helps busy students organize tasks and goals. Includes space for daily to-dos, top priorities, and notes. Download and print from home. Great for middle and high school use!”

5. Suggested Beginner Pricing

Product Type	Starter Price Range
Single-page printable	$1–$3
3–5 page product bundle	$4–$6
Editable template	$3–$5
Study aid or themed set	$5–$8

Start low to attract early buyers and build reviews. Once you’ve made several products or earned consistent sales, you can begin increasing prices.

6. Realistic Expectations and Why This Hustle Matters

Selling digital products is flexible, but success takes patience. Just because you design a printable doesn’t mean it will sell, and that’s okay. As a teen, it’s the perfect time to experiment with your style and discover what people want. You’re learning creative skills, trying new tools, and building digital confidence without the pressure of rent or bills.

Explore, test ideas, and enjoy the creative process, whether you make sales or not. Every product teaches you something useful.

Online Sites Suggestions

Here’s a breakdown of platforms that can be beginner-friendly and used by teen creators:

1. Etsy

• Teens 13–17 can sell with parental permission and supervision
• Great for planners, printables, study guides, and art
• Requires a bank account and tax info (usually handled by a parent)

2. Gumroad

• No minimum age listed, but Stripe integration requires users to be 18+
• Teens can use it with a parent’s Stripe account
• Simple setup for selling PDFs, templates, and digital art
• Not a marketplace — you’ll need to promote your product yourself

3. Payhip

• Teens can use it with parental help
• Allows selling digital downloads, memberships, and courses
• Offers coupon codes and email collection
• Like Gumroad, it’s not a discovery platform — you’ll need to share your link

4. Creative Market

• Must be 18+ to open a shop
• Teens can browse for inspiration but can’t sell directly

5. Stan Store

• Designed for creators with social media followings
• Teens can use it with adult support
• Combines product sales, booking links, and email collection
• Best for those already active on TikTok or Instagram

6. Notion (via Gumroad or Ko-fi)

• Teens can create and sell Notion templates
• Use Gumroad or Payhip to host the files
• Popular among students and productivity fans

7. Ko-fi

• Teens can share free downloads or accept donations
• Not a marketplace — works best with direct promotion
• Selling features are limited unless paired with another platform

Important Notes for Teens Selling Online:

• Most platforms require users to be 18+ to receive payments, so teens often need a parent or guardian to help set up the account and manage payouts.
• Teens should never share personal info like home address or school name in listings.
• Starting with free products or low-cost bundles is a great way to test what people want.

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For More Fun Ideas and Plans

for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Scouts

This is a supportive Facebook community for Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Girl Scout leaders. Whether you’re seeking advice, fresh ideas, or meeting plans, you’re in the right place! Let’s inspire each other, share our experiences, and make every troop meeting a memorable adventure.

for Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Scouts

This is a supportive community for Cadette, Senior, and Ambassador Girl Scout leaders. This group offers solutions to keep older scouts engaged in scouting amidst their busy lives. Share strategies, tackle challenges, and exchange ideas for fun, meaningful activities that resonate with teens and build lasting connections.

Find out how you can support The Badge Archive!

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• Return to the Side Hustle page.

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