In the digital age, resumes are more than just a formality — they’re a key part of professional branding. With the job market becoming increasingly competitive, job seekers are looking for ways to stand out, and professionally designed resume templates are in high demand.
If you’re a designer, freelancer, or creative entrepreneur, selling resume templates online can be a profitable and sustainable income stream. The best part? You can create these templates once and sell them repeatedly, making it an ideal form of passive income.
In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to design and sell resume templates online — from tools and design tips to platforms for selling and marketing strategies.
Why Sell Resume Templates?
Before we jump into the how-to, let’s look at why resume templates are a great product to sell:
- High demand: Millions of people search for resume templates every month.
- Low overhead: All you need is a design tool and time.
- Scalable: Sell the same digital file unlimited times.
- Flexible pricing: You can sell individual templates or bundles.
- Beginner-friendly: Even simple, clean designs can sell well.
Step 1: Understand the Market
Before designing anything, it’s important to understand your target audience and what types of resume templates are trending.
Common Resume Template Styles:
- Modern: Clean lines, bold headers, icons, and minimal color.
- Professional: Conservative design ideal for corporate roles.
- Creative: Artistic, colorful, great for designers and media jobs.
- ATS-friendly: Simple text-focused layouts that pass resume scanners.
- Infographic-style: Visual-heavy resumes (less common but niche appeal).
Pro Tip: Visit marketplaces like Etsy, Creative Market, and Gumroad to see bestsellers, pricing, and design trends.
Step 2: Choose the Right Tools for Designing
You don’t need expensive software to design resumes. Here are a few popular options:
1. Canva
- Free and easy to use
- Beginner-friendly
- Can be shared with customers using a template link
2. Adobe InDesign or Illustrator
- Professional-grade tools
- Best for print-ready and layered designs
- Steeper learning curve
3. Microsoft Word
- Still in demand, as many job seekers prefer editable Word documents
- Ideal for creating ATS-friendly resumes
4. Google Docs or Apple Pages
- Web-based and easily shareable
- Good for simple, accessible templates
📌 Tip: Offer templates in multiple formats (Word + Canva + PDF) to reach a wider audience.
Step 3: Design Your Resume Templates
Now the fun part — creating your resume templates.
Key Design Elements:
- Header Section – Name, job title, contact info, and links (LinkedIn, portfolio).
- Professional Summary – A brief paragraph that highlights key skills and achievements.
- Experience – List of past roles with job descriptions.
- Education – Degrees, institutions, and years.
- Skills – Both technical and soft skills.
- Optional Sections – Certifications, awards, languages, interests, etc.
Design Tips:
- Use a readable font (Helvetica, Lato, Calibri, etc.).
- Leave enough white space for clarity.
- Ensure alignment is consistent.
- Stick to 1–2 accent colors max.
- Always make sure the template looks good when printed.
BONUS: Include a matching cover letter or reference page to add value and charge more.
Step 4: Create a Package for Selling
Don’t just sell a single file — make it a polished resume kit.
What to Include in Your Package:
- Editable resume file (Word, Canva, etc.)
- PDF instructions or user guide
- Font files or links to free fonts used
- Bonus items: cover letter, references sheet, icons
Package all files in a ZIP folder to make downloading easier.
Step 5: Decide Where to Sell Your Templates
There are multiple platforms to list your templates. Each has its pros and cons:
1. Etsy
- Popular for digital products
- Built-in audience searching for resume templates
- Fees: $0.20 per listing + 6.5% transaction fee
2. Creative Market
- Focused on design assets
- Higher-quality audience, higher price points
- Application process to become a seller
3. Gumroad
- Great for selling directly to your audience
- Clean checkout, customizable sales pages
- Charges 10% on free plan, less with upgrades
4. Your Own Website
- Full control over branding and pricing
- Best if you have an email list or blog traffic
- Use platforms like Shopify, Wix, or WordPress with WooCommerce
Step 6: Price Your Templates Strategically
Resume templates are usually priced between $5 and $25, depending on quality and extras.
Pricing Ideas:
- Single resume template: $6–$12
- Resume + Cover Letter: $10–$15
- Full bundle (multiple styles): $20–$30+
- Canva + Word + PDF + Google Docs bundle: $15+
Start with competitive pricing, then raise your prices as you build reviews and credibility.
Step 7: Write a Winning Product Description
Your product listing should sell the benefits, not just the features.
Must-have elements:
- Catchy title with keywords (e.g., “Modern Resume Template for Word and Canva – ATS Friendly”)
- Short introduction explaining what it is and who it’s for
- List of features (editable, printable, fonts included, etc.)
- What’s included in the download
- How to use the template
- Call-to-action (e.g., “Instant download – start applying today!”)
✅ Add real screenshots or mockups of your resume in use.
Step 8: Market Your Resume Templates
You don’t need to be a marketing expert — but you do need to get eyes on your listings.
Free Marketing Strategies:
- Pinterest: Share pins linking to your Etsy or Gumroad store.
- Instagram: Use reels or carousels to show before/after resume designs.
- LinkedIn: Share content about resume tips and promote your templates.
- Facebook Groups: Join career-focused groups and offer value (but don’t spam).
- Blogging/SEO: Write blog posts like “Top 5 Resume Templates for Teachers” and link to your shop.
Paid Marketing (optional):
- Etsy ads (as low as $1/day)
- Pinterest or Facebook ads targeting job seekers
- Promote through career coaches or resume writers
Step 9: Provide Great Customer Experience
Happy customers = more reviews + word-of-mouth sales.
Tips:
- Include clear instructions in your download.
- Respond to buyer questions promptly.
- Offer a troubleshooting guide.
- Encourage satisfied customers to leave a review.
You can even follow up with a freebie (like a job interview checklist) to build brand loyalty.
Step 10: Scale and Grow Your Business
Once you’ve created a few bestsellers, scale your business by:
- Creating niche-specific templates (teachers, nurses, tech jobs, etc.)
- Offering bundles for a higher ticket sale
- Adding upsells like a matching business card or LinkedIn banner
- Building an email list of buyers to promote new products
- Hiring a VA to help with customer support or pinning on Pinterest
FAQs About Selling Resume Templates Online
1. Do I need to be a graphic designer to sell resume templates?
No. With tools like Canva and Word, even beginners can create beautiful templates.
2. How long does it take to create a template?
It depends on your skill level — but most templates can be created in 1–3 hours.
3. Is selling resume templates legal?
Yes, as long as you’re creating original designs and not using copyrighted material.
4. Can I make passive income from resume templates?
Absolutely! Once created, templates can be sold repeatedly with minimal upkeep.
5. What makes a resume template sell well?
Clean design, ease of editing, good instructions, and a professional look tailored to job seekers.
Final Thoughts
Designing and selling resume templates online is a creative, low-barrier way to start earning passive income. With demand for polished, professional resumes growing every day, there’s no better time to get started.
Just remember: success comes from understanding your audience, creating quality designs, and promoting them consistently. Whether you sell on Etsy, Gumroad, or your own site, there’s massive potential waiting.
Start today — and let your creativity pay off!
Would you like a sample Canva resume template or mockup images to go with this blog? I can help you create those too!