The global greeting cards market is estimated at $15.9 billion in 2022. Christmas is the largest card-sending holiday in the United States with approximately 1.3 billion cards sent annually.
The top-selling everyday card is the birthday card. This is followed by wedding, get well, sympathy, and friendship cards. Top selling seasonal cards are Christmas and holiday cards.
Small homemade card businesses can earn from a few dollars to over $45,000 per year. Large companies like Hallmark make billions on holidays. Sites such as Etsy, eBay, and Zazzle allow selling handmade cards.
How much money greeting card writers make depends on factors like quantity and complexity. Wholesale card prices are typically half the retail price. The average retail card price is $2.50. Cards with special materials like glitter sell for more.
The steps to start a homemade card business include:
- Creating unique card designs
- Establishing distribution channels
- Marketing the cards
- Managing finances and inventory
- Providing good customer service
It takes time to build a successful card business but many people do it successfully.