12 Profitable Desktop Publishing Business Ideas
If you are looking for desktop publishing business ideas to begin your path to entrepreneurship, you are in the right place.
With starting a desktop publishing business, there are plenty of opportunities that can help you follow your dreams and build a successful career.
In this post, you will discover profitable business ideas, perfect for those who want to have a flexible job, capable of multiplying the average income, while becoming your own boss.
Check out the full list below to help you find your next idea!
Here they are:
1. Start a niche web design business ($300K/year)
Scott Bishop from Boston, Massachusetts, USA started Up And Social almost 9 years ago, a niche web design business.
- Revenue: $25,000/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 1
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
I began my business career with the family in-store sampling business, C.A. Courtesy, in the 1990s, while at the same time attending college at Johnson and Wales University, where I pursued a degree in Web Management & Internet Commerce.
I’ve always had a knack for marketing and technology, and when I left C.A. Courtesy, I was the Vice President of Marketing and Technology.
People don’t remember what you say as much as they remember how they felt when you said it.
2. Start a custom prints business ($300K/year)
Zach Katz from Amsterdam, Netherlands started Framed Tweets almost 6 years ago, a custom prints business.
- Revenue: $25,000/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 0
- Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
I dreamed up the idea for Framed Tweets a year prior to starting it.
It was December 2015, and I was holed up in my room, avoiding the New Year’s party my parents were hosting downstairs. I was scrolling through Twitter, when suddenly, I thought, “what if you could frame a tweet?” (Honestly, that’s how most ideas come about, at least for me. They just randomly happen.)
That night, I tweeted the link to some random people who I found by searching Twitter. The next morning, I woke up to find Framed Tweets featured on Product Hunt, Mashable, Uncrate, and a few other websites.
3. Start a branding agency ($120K/year)
Elva Li from Melbourne Victoria, Australia started Elva Li Luxury Branding almost 7 years ago, a branding agency.
- Revenue: $10,000/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 1
- Location: Melbourne Victoria, Australia
There’s a song on repeat in my world and whenever I play it, it reminds me of the time I started my own business and finally left my corporate job.
“I spend too much time thinking about who I'm supposed to be I play by everybody's rules that don't seem right to me
Should I even care? They're all sitting there and everyone's staring at me If I step out in the spotlight maybe I'll be set free
4. Start a print communication business
Examples of a successful print communication business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a print communication business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Business Communication: In Person, In Print, Online
- Screen Printing: A Practical Guide to Starting Your Own T-Shirt Business
Learn more about starting a print communication business ➜
5. Become a graphic designer ($360K/year)
Examples of a successful graphic designer:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a graphic designer:
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting a graphic designer ➜
Hi, I’m Mike Moloney, the founder of FilterGrade. FilterGrade is a marketplace for creators where you can find digital assets such as presets, LUTs, video templates, and much more.
Today thousands of creators from all around the world buy and sell digital products on FilterGrade and more than 450,000 users visit the site every month.
6. Start a souvenir shop
Examples of a successful souvenir shop:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a souvenir shop:
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting a souvenir shop ➜

7. Start a large prints design business
Examples of a successful large prints design business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a large prints design business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Create Your Own Photo Book: Design A Stunning Portfolio, Make a Bookstore-Quality Book
- A Field Guide To Fabric Design: Design, Print & Sell Your Own Fabric; Traditional & Digital Techniques; For Quilting, Home Dec & Apparel
Learn more about starting a large prints design business ➜
8. Start an ebook formatting business
Examples of a successful ebook formatting business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a ebook formatting business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How to start your own business: The first 5 steps (Business Coaching Book 1)
- How to Start a Business - Jason Nazar
Learn more about starting an ebook formatting business ➜
In the year 2016, we had negligible revenue from the blog but the blog has grown substantially since then. Our average revenue is about $17K per month. Our gross profit margin is about 80% since we maintain a very small team and there are no physical products. Our target is to achieve 100% revenue growth by the end of next year.
9. Become a painter/decorator business
Examples of a successful painter/decorator business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a painter/decorator business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How to Start a Painting Business for $50 and Make 100k: Start Your Own Painting Business Fast: Josh Shelton
- How to Start a Home-based House Painting Business (Home-Based Business Series): Deborah Bouziden
Learn more about starting a painter/decorator business ➜
10. Start a cartoonist business
Examples of a successful cartoonist business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a cartoonist business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Cartooning: The Art And The Business: Mort Gerberg
- How to Start a Business: Startup Essentials-The Simple, Step-by-Step Guide to Successfully Start Your Own Business (Online Business, Small Business, Work ... (Business Startup for Newbies Book 2)
Learn more about starting a cartoonist business ➜
I’m Zoltán, together with my two colleagues Arnold and Gergő, we founded Avatoon.net
We are selling custom hand-drawn avatars, drawn by professional illustrators through our website.
11. Start an office supplies business
Examples of a successful office supplies business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a office supplies business:
- How To Start An Office Supply Business - Starting Online
- Business Tips: How Much Capital Is Needed For Office Supplies Business?
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Start Your Own Office And Administrative Support Service (Entrepreneur Magazine's Startup)
- Starting A Business All-In-One For Dummies
Learn more about starting an office supplies business ➜
Hi, my name is Greg Hayes. I’m the CEO and co-founder of Branch Office Furniture, but you can just call us “Branch.” We’re taking a new approach to the office furniture industry, selling our line of desks, chairs, and other essentials directly to businesses and saving them thousands of dollars along the way.
With Branch, we’ve brought together the best of both worlds. We saw an opportunity to produce high-end office furniture and sell it directly to our clients, applying D2C principles to an antiquated B2B industry littered with middlemen. The result is a series of desks, ergonomic chairs, storage products, and conference furniture sold at between one-third and one-half of the price of comparable quality products, with space design, delivery and installation included. We also offer a trade-in program, so you can add and exchange furniture as your team grows and needs change. Since launching our first products in Q1 of 2019, we’ve done over $1M in sales, including nearly $400k last month!
12. Start a desktop publishing tutorials business
Examples of a successful desktop publishing tutorials business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a desktop publishing tutorials business:
- How To Start A Desktop Publishing Business
- How To Build A 6-Figure Book Publishing Business (Kindle Ebooks, Createspace & Audiobooks)
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting a desktop publishing tutorials business ➜
Hey! 👋 I'm Pat Walls, the founder of Starter Story.
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