Everything you need to start your own sticker shop... and how much it will cost!

If I am being honest, I did NOT plan to start a sticker shop when I started this crafty small business. LOL! But somehow, here we are. I have learned a LOT since I opened my teeny, tiny Etsy shop in July 2024. I am not an expert by any means and I do not claim to be... but if this list can help at least one person, I will be happy. Here is everything I had or purchased to start my sticker shop selling cute, crafty or bookish themed stickers. All the stickers I draw are lighthearted and primarily making fun of ME! It's such a nice feeling when others find them relatable :) Okay... let's get started:

(There's a TL;DR at the end of the post)

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1. A Way to Make Art

First things first: you need designs! There are a few different ways to create artwork for your stickers:

• iPad + Procreate – A favorite among artists, the iPad (CAD $400–$1,500) paired with Procreate ($17 CAD one-time fee) gives you an intuitive, hand-drawn feel with tons of brush options.

• Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator – If you prefer a computer-based workflow, Adobe’s Creative Cloud subscription starts at $29.99 CAD/month for Photoshop or $79.99 CAD/month for the full suite.

• Canva (Free/Paid) – For a more budget-friendly option, Canva’s free version works, but the Pro version ($16.99 CAD/month) gives you access to better tools, fonts, and graphics.

  
  

💡 Tip: If you’re new to digital art, Procreate is the easier to learn than Photoshop (in my opinion). If you already know Adobe, Illustrator is great for vector-based stickers.

2. A Sticker Cutter

Unless you plan on cutting everything by hand (which, trust me, gets old fast), you’ll need a cutting machine:

• Cricut Explore 3 – CAD $349

• Cricut Maker 3 – CAD $529 (good for cutting more materials)

• Silhouette Cameo 4 – CAD $379

• Budget Alternative: Hand-cut with an X-Acto knife or scissors ($5–$20), but this is only feasible for small batches.

  
  

💡 Tip: Cricut is beginner-friendly, while Silhouette gives more customization for advanced users. I personally use a Silhouette CAMEO 4!

3. A Printer

A good printer is one of the most important parts of a sticker shop. Here are some of the best options:

• Epson EcoTank ET-2800 – CAD $280 (refillable ink, lower long-term cost)

• Canon PIXMA G3270 – CAD $300 (great color accuracy, refillable ink)

• HP OfficeJet 9015e – CAD $250 (solid for beginners but ink costs add up)

💡 Tip: Avoid laser printers for sticker-making—most sticker papers don’t work well with them. An inkjet printer with pigment-based ink gives the best waterproof and fade-resistant results.

4. Sticker Paper & Laminating Sheets

Your sticker quality depends on the materials you use. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Matte or Glossy Sticker Paper – CAD $15–$40 per pack of 50 sheets

• Waterproof Vinyl Sticker Paper – CAD $30–$50 per pack

• Laminating Sheets (if making waterproof stickers) – CAD $20–$40 for a pack of 100

  
  

💡 Tip: If you want ultra-durable stickers, use waterproof printable vinyl + a laminate sheet. If you don’t need waterproofing, regular sticker paper works fine.

I find COLD laminating to be easier to work with than HOT lamination. Although the application for cold laminating can be intimidating, I find hot lamination introduces other complications like curling or insufficient adhesion onto the sticker sheet!

5. Packaging Supplies

Once your stickers are ready, you’ll need to ship them! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Glassine Bags or Clear Sleeves – CAD $10–$30 per pack

• Rigid Mailers – CAD $15–$50 for a pack of 50

• Shipping Labels – CAD $10–$25

• Thank You Cards / Freebies – CAD $15+ (optional but great for branding)

  
  

💡 Tip: Canada Post’s letter mail is the cheapest way to ship stickers within Canada, but always weigh your packages to avoid surprise postage costs! Also, international shipping (like to the USA etc) does NOT allow you send stickers via lettermail, so account for this cost too! (Due to customs etc. However, I know many artists who risk it for the biscuit.)

6. Etsy Shop & Selling Fees

If you’re selling on Etsy, here’s what it costs:

• Etsy Shop Setup Fee – CAD $20 (optional ad credit for new shops)

• Listing Fee – CAD $0.20 per listing

• Transaction Fees – 6.5% of each sale

• Payment Processing Fees – CAD $0.25 + 3% per transaction

  
  

💡 Tip: If you’re serious about selling, consider a Shopify store ($39 CAD/month) once you grow, but Etsy is the easiest starting point. I personally also have a Starter Shopify account ($7 CAD/month but it does not have very many customization options for your listings!)

7. Miscellaneous Tools

These are the little things that make sticker production easier:

• Felt Edge Squeegee – CAD $10 (for applying laminate smoothly)

• Good Scissors – CAD $5–$20

• X-Acto Knife + Cutting Mat – CAD $15

• Weeding Tool – CAD $10 (for peeling off excess vinyl)

• Ruler – CAD $5

  
  

💡 Tip: A squeegee is a must if you’re laminating stickers - it prevents bubbles and makes the stickers look professional! I tried making stickers without this for a long time.... I do not want to talk about how much waste I created. I wish I had "invested" (it's not even that expensive... I am just frugal) in this sooner.

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Here is a summary and my Amazon Storefront links (I get a kickback if you purchase through my link but you pay the exact same price otherwise!) for each of the items I personally use. I keep testing new sticker papers and laminates... but these have been working for me as of the publishing of this blog post:

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Sticker Shop?

Let’s total it up for a basic vs. fully-equipped setup:

Item	Basic Setup (CAD)	Upgraded Setup (CAD)
Digital Art Software and Pencil/Stylus	Free (Canva)	500+ (iPad + Procreate)
Printer - Get one with TANKS of ink NOT cartridges!	250	300+
Sticker Cutter	5 (Hand Cutting)	349–529 (Cricut/Silhouette)
Sticker Paper	15–30	30–50
Laminating Sheets	0	20–40
Packaging Supplies	30	50+
Etsy Fees	20	20+
Miscellaneous Tools - GET THAT SQUEEGEE	20	40+
Total Estimated Cost	$90–$200	$1,000+

If you already have an iPad or drawing software, you can start on the lower end. If you go all in with a high-end cutter and waterproof materials, expect a higher upfront cost.

Anyways... Please do not hesitate to ask me any questions!!