Case Study: How One Creator Earned ₹1 Lakh from Printables
Case Study: How One Creator Earned ₹1 Lakh from Printables
A Real-Life Journey of Turning Simple PDF Templates into Profitable Digital Products — Without a Team, Ads, or Coding
In today’s world of flashy apps and complicated funnels, it’s easy to believe that online income requires a massive following or heavy investment.
But what if we told you that a single person — with zero tech background — earned over ₹1,00,000 just by selling digital printables made in Canva?
This isn’t theory. This is a real-life case study of how a solo creator from India built a small but powerful digital product business from home — starting with just 5 printable templates and a weekend of free time.
🎯 Meet the Creator: Riya (Freelancer, No Design Background)
Riya is a 27-year-old freelance content writer based in Pune. In 2023, she was looking for a side income stream that didn’t rely on clients, calls, or chasing payments.
She stumbled across the world of printable planners and templates on Instagram and Etsy. Inspired by what others were selling, she decided to give it a shot — with no prior design experience and a basic Canva account.
🛠️ What She Created
Her first 5 digital products:
Minimal Daily Planner (A4 PDF)
Weekly Meal Planner
Monthly Budget Tracker (Editable in Canva)
Gratitude Journal Pages
Self-Care Checklist Bundle
All made in Canva using free templates + custom tweaks. Each file was saved as a high-resolution PDF and packaged in ZIP folders.
Total time to create: 3 days
Total initial cost: ₹0 (excluding internet and laptop)
🛍️ How She Sold Them
Instead of setting up a fancy store, Riya used a simple sales funnel:
Instagram Page with 150 followers
UPI Payments via WhatsApp
Free Google Drive for Delivery
Later upgraded to Payhip Store for automation
She posted daily: mockups, testimonials, planner previews, and “How I Use This” Reels. Her audience began to grow — not in huge numbers, but in loyalty.
💸 The Earnings Breakdown
First Month (July 2023):
– 17 orders × ₹99 → ₹1,683
By Month 4:
– She launched 10 more templates, offered bundles
– Added a ₹399 “Ultimate Wellness Bundle” (5-in-1 pack)
– Started running ₹99 weekend flash sales
– Created a highlight FAQ section and pinned buyer reviews
By Month 7:
– Cumulative sales: ₹1,12,680
– Total products: 20 printables
– Bestsellers: Daily Routine Sheet & Financial Tracker
– 80% of buyers came via Instagram, rest via word-of-mouth and WhatsApp groups
✅ What Worked (Lessons Learned)
1. Start Simple
She didn’t try to build a full eCommerce site on Day 1. She started with UPI and a Google Drive link — and upgraded only after validating her idea.
2. Bundle for Bigger Orders
Her ₹399 bundles outsold single ₹99 templates by 3x. Buyers love value packs.
3. Consistency Beat Virality
She never went viral. But she showed up daily with relatable, honest content:
“Here’s what I use to plan my week.” → That sold.
4. Solve Real Problems
All her products focused on helping people organize life — not just pretty pages.
5. Leverage Instagram Stories
She used polls, countdowns, behind-the-scenes, and DMs to sell — no ads, no funnels.
📈 Could You Do This Too?
Absolutely.
If you have:
A laptop
Canva (free is enough)
1–2 hours/day
A few basic ideas (budgeting, self-care, planning, productivity)
…you already have everything you need to start.
“The goal isn't to get rich fast. It's to build a small income engine that runs even when you’re offline.”
💼 Get Started with These Free Resources:
Meta Description :
Discover how one Indian creator earned ₹1 Lakh selling printables online. Real case study with step-by-step insights for building income from digital downloads.