How to Start Selling Resume and Cover Letter Templates: A Profitable Side Hustle Guide

With a rise in digital job applications, resumes and cover letters are increasingly important, and custom-designed templates make a world of difference in getting noticed. By creating appealing, functional resume and cover letter templates, you can help job seekers and generate passive income from template sales. Here’s how to start, plus tips for succeeding in this side hustle.

Step 1: Define Your Target Audience and Niche

Before creating templates, decide on a niche market. Are you targeting recent graduates, creatives, or corporate professionals? Knowing your audience allows you to design templates tailored to specific needs and styles. For example:

• Recent Graduates might prefer clean, simple layouts.

• Creative Professionals might enjoy more visually striking, unique templates.

• Corporate Professionals typically prefer a classic, formal design.

Once you’ve identified your target group, study the types of resumes and cover letters they might need. Researching job boards like LinkedIn and Indeed can provide insight into trends for various industries.

Step 2: Research Design Trends and Elements

Stay up-to-date with resume trends, as the best layouts often evolve based on recruiter preferences. Some trends to consider include:

• Minimalist Layouts: Less clutter, more white space.

• Use of Icons: Icons for contact information or skill sections.

• Creative Fonts: Sans-serif fonts for a modern look, but avoid overly decorative fonts.

• Strategic Color Use: Light, neutral colors are best for professional settings, while creative fields may allow for a pop of color.

Your templates should be professional but flexible enough for customization. By offering editable templates, you’re giving customers the option to adapt the layout to their own taste.

Step 3: Choose Your Design Software

For template creation, pick a design platform that is accessible and popular among users. Common choices include:

• Canva: This user-friendly tool is popular for easy drag-and-drop designs.

• Adobe InDesign: A professional choice for designers looking to create sophisticated layouts.

• Microsoft Word: Though basic, it’s highly accessible, making it a good choice for templates intended for non-designers.

Offer your templates in formats like PDF, DOCX, or Canva links so buyers can customize them without advanced design knowledge.

Step 4: Build a Template Portfolio

To attract customers, create a portfolio showcasing your template variety. Include samples for different job fields and experience levels, such as entry-level, mid-career, and executive roles. Your portfolio should demonstrate versatility in styles to appeal to a wide customer base.

For instance, create:

• Simple Resumes for fresh graduates.

• Creative Templates for designers or marketers.

• Traditional Layouts for corporate job seekers.

If possible, create bundle options (e.g., resume + cover letter + LinkedIn banner) to increase your product’s value.

Step 5: Set Competitive Pricing and Bundle Options

Pricing your templates involves balancing value and affordability. Many side hustlers start with a low price to build their customer base, then gradually increase prices as they gain positive reviews and testimonials. You could price templates individually, but offering bundles (e.g., a resume and cover letter pair) adds value and attracts buyers looking for complete solutions.

• Basic Template: $10 - $15

• Resume and Cover Letter Bundle: $20 - $30

• Premium Template Bundle: $40 - $50

Some sellers even offer customizations as an add-on service. For example, for an additional fee, you could adjust the design to include the customer’s name and information.

Step 6: List Your Templates on Online Marketplaces

Listing your templates on popular digital marketplaces allows for broader reach and built-in audiences. Consider these platforms:

• Etsy: A popular platform for selling digital products, Etsy allows you to reach a wide audience of buyers.

• Creative Market: A design-focused marketplace where users seek creative templates.

• Your Own Website: By building your own site, you can sell directly to customers, retain more revenue, and have full control over branding.

To maximize visibility, use SEO-friendly descriptions, high-quality visuals, and searchable keywords like “modern resume template” or “editable cover letter design.”

Step 7: Market and Promote Your Templates

Promoting your templates ensures they reach potential customers. Focus on these marketing strategies to boost sales:

• Social Media Marketing: Platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn are ideal for showcasing resume templates. Instagram Stories or Reels can show a “before and after” of a completed resume, while Pinterest is effective for sharing visually appealing, clickable posts.

• Use Hashtags: Use relevant hashtags on social platforms, such as #resumetemplate, #jobsearch, or #digitalproducts.

• Email Marketing: Build a small mailing list to announce new template releases, seasonal discounts, or promotions.

• SEO Content on Your Website: If you’re selling from a website, write blog posts related to career advice, job search tips, and resume-building tips. This will attract organic traffic and give potential customers more reasons to visit your site.

Success Stories: How Others Found Success Selling Resume Templates

1. Etsy Seller with Six-Figure Success

One well-known story in this niche is of an Etsy seller who turned a modest side hustle into a six-figure business by focusing on resume and cover letter templates for young professionals. They started with only a few designs but grew their portfolio to include multiple styles and bundles. By continually optimizing for customer feedback and adding new templates, their store gained traction, attracting more than 10,000 sales.

2. Creative Market Designer’s Steady Growth

A designer on Creative Market found success by providing resume templates tailored to various industries. They focused on creating professional templates that are both ATS-friendly (Applicant Tracking System) and visually appealing. Their growth was gradual, but by maintaining quality, they steadily built a loyal customer base, allowing them to transition from freelance gigs to a full-time business.

3. Instagram Entrepreneur Using Organic Growth

One entrepreneur used Instagram to build an audience by sharing career tips and visually showcasing resume templates. By positioning themselves as a career expert, they grew an organic following that led directly to sales. Their posts included career-related advice, resume design tips, and testimonials from satisfied customers. This approach attracted clients without the need for paid ads, demonstrating the power of organic social media engagement.

Additional Tips for Scaling Your Resume Template Business

• Update Designs Regularly: Keep up with trends in resume design to ensure your templates stay relevant.

• Offer Seasonal Discounts: Sales periods like graduation season or New Year’s are excellent times for promotions.

• Encourage Customer Reviews: Positive reviews build credibility, especially on marketplaces like Etsy and Creative Market.

• Expand Offerings: Consider additional products like cover letter templates, portfolio pages, or LinkedIn banners to attract more buyers.

Final Thoughts: Start Small, Think Big

Selling resume and cover letter templates is a rewarding side hustle with low startup costs and the potential for passive income. It offers a way to help job seekers stand out while building your own business from a creative, low-risk venture. As demonstrated by others, a little creativity, strategic marketing, and attention to customer needs can lead to substantial success in this niche.

So, if you’re looking to start a profitable side hustle that combines creativity with career support, selling resume templates is a great choice. With the right approach, this business could grow from a small side project to a reliable income source—and, who knows, maybe even a full-time career.