Journal Brand

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Journal Brand? (In 2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: July 21st, 2024

Looking to start a journal brand?

But curious about:

how much it costs to start a journal brand?
what are the typical journal brand startup costs?
or the actual cost of starting journal brands?

Well, we have the data to prove it, supported by real journal brands and how much they actually cost to start.

Let's go over it.

What is the average cost of starting a journal brand?

Based on our data reported by actual journal brand founders, the average cost of starting a journal brand is between $100 and $15,000.

Additionally, our data shows that the the median startup costs for a journal brand are around $5K.

Remember, though, not all journal brands are the same - and neither are people's budgets. It's important to distinguish between different levels or types of journal brands

Real World Examples: How much does it cost to start a journal brand?

We asked real journal brand founders and business owners how much it actually cost to get started?

Here is what they said:

Ollie Aplin

Founder of MindJournal ($150K/month)

"Our entire Kickstarter campaign cost us roughly £4k. Money well worth investing."

Ollie Aplin is the co-founder of MindJournal, a journaling brand focused on men's mental health that has helped over 3,000 men navigate the challenges of everyday life.

Read this case study

Read by 12,074 founders

Stefan Johnson

Founder of Stone ($100K/month)

"We were incredibly lean with our spending, with pretty much our entire budget spent on organic marketing."

Stefan Johnson is the co-founder of STONE, a business that creates specialized notebooks for chefs and launched its first product in 2018, achieving rapid success through Kickstarter.

Read this case study

Read by 7,094 founders

Laura Mulkerne

Founder of The Food Diary ($750/month)

"The start-up money for the diaries was coming out of my own savings, so it was important that we ensured everything would work as well as we could."

Laura is the founder of The Food Diary Co., a business that sells a leather-look food diary to help people track their diet, symptoms, and wellness.

Read this case study

Read by 7,214 founders

Jared Gold

Founder of PurposeCards ($300/month)

"We basically broke even on the first round of orders because low-run product costs were quite high, and then the website and branded email addresses ran us about $40/mo."

Jared Gold is the founder of PurposeCards, a daily micro-journaling cards business that helps individuals make every day successful.

Read this case study

Read by 6,505 founders

Elizabeth Russell

Founder of Dreamfruit ($1K/month)

"The first-level crowdfunding goal we set on IndieGoGo was based on an extreme minimum – $6500 allows me to pay for the minimum print run and pay for some of the additional supplies and professional help that goes into producing the book."

Elizabeth Russell is the founder of Dreamfruit Almanac for Earthlings, a self-published moon-based planner and guided journal launched in 2020.

Read this case study

Read by 2,401 founders

Cinquanta Cox-Smith

Founder of Cinquanta Cox-Smith ($10K/month)

"I started almost all of my businesses with less than $100. I started my Print On Demand business with $0."

Cinquanta Cox-Smith is the founder of Coins and Connections, a Print On Demand business known for its catchy and conversation-starting apparel.

Read this case study

Read by 11,636 founders

Jess Yasuda

Founder of Planner Peace ($22.5K/month)

"We invested very little financially into the business, to begin with. I went off to Officeworks with my husband and spent $200 on an inkjet printer and some paper."

Jess is the founder of Chasing Planner Peace, a custom planner business launched in 2015 that generates impressive monthly revenue.

Read this case study

Read by 63,558 founders

Sephora Thelismon

Founder of Seph Crafts ($200/month)

"I started with only $100.00 to buy products and tools so I can create a few designs."

Sephora is the founder of Seph Crafts, a handmade planner and journal business that she transitioned into a full-time venture during the pandemic in 2020.

Read this case study

Read by 4,597 founders

Tom and Alex

Founder of Saint Belford ($13.5K/month)

"In total, we invested $15,000 of our life savings into launching this business. We didn’t want to take out any loans or get ourselves into debt because we were simply testing an idea."

Tom and Alex are the co-founders of Saint Belford, a business that creates planners focused on self-care and personal growth.

Read this case study

Read by 31,713 founders

Enjoyed reading these real world examples?

Our platform is full of case studies of successful journal brands that you can learn from.

Starting a journal brand - what you should know:

When starting a journal brand, several factors can significantly impact your costs.

Initial Design and Development

Hiring a professional designer to create your journal's layout, typography, and cover design can cost between $500 to $2,500, depending on their expertise and the complexity of your design. Consider using freelance platforms like Fiverr or Upwork to find affordable options, potentially lowering costs to $200-$800.

Printing and Production Costs

Printing costs vary widely based on the quality of paper and binding options. For small batches (100-500 units), expect to spend around $3 to $10 per journal. Larger quantities (1000+ units) can reduce the cost to $1.50 to $5 per unit. Premium features like hardcovers, custom embossing, or specialty paper can add $2 to $10 per journal.

Marketing and Promotion

Effective marketing strategies such as social media advertising, influencer partnerships, and email campaigns are essential but can be pricey. Allocate a budget of at least $500 to $3,000 for initial marketing efforts. Utilizing organic marketing tactics such as social media engagement and content marketing can help reduce costs but may require more time and effort.

Shipping and Distribution

Shipping costs can also add up, especially if you're targeting an international market. Domestic shipping may range from $1 to $5 per journal, while international shipping can cost up to $15 or more per unit. Partnering with efficient distribution networks or considering fulfillment services like Amazon FBA could help manage these expenses effectively.

By being mindful of these factors, you can better navigate the financial landscape of starting your journal brand.

Potential Costs of Starting a Journal Brand

Starting a journal brand involves various costs that can range widely depending on the scale and specific needs of your business. Here is a detailed table outlining the potential costs:

Expense Category	Estimated Cost (USD)	Notes
Domain Registration	$10 - $50 per year	Cost varies by domain name and registrar service.
Web Hosting	$100 - $500 per year	Shared hosting is cheaper; dedicated servers or premium hosting cost more.
Website Development	$500 - $5,000	Depends on complexity; DIY templates are cheaper, custom designs are costly.
Content Management System	Free - $300 per year	WordPress is free; premium CMS or plugins can add to costs.
E-commerce Platform Fees	$30 - $300 per month	Platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce have varying fees.
SSL Certificate	$0 - $100 per year	Some hosts provide free SSL; premium SSL certificates cost more.
Copywriting and Content	$500 - $5,000	Depending on the amount and quality of content needed.
Graphic Design	$200 - $2,000	Logo, branding materials, website elements.
Printing and Production	$1,000 - $10,000	Initial print run costs; varies by quantity, quality, and supplier.
Inventory Storage	$50 - $500 per month	Cost of warehousing or using a fulfillment center.
Packaging Supplies	$100 - $1,000	Includes boxes, packing materials, labels.
Shipping Costs	$200 - $2,500+ per month	Depending on shipping volume and destinations.
Marketing and Advertising	$500 - $5,000+ per month	Social media ads, influencer partnerships, SEO, PPC campaigns.
Social Media Management	$100 - $1,000 per month	Paid services or in-house labor for managing social media accounts.
Email Marketing Tools	$20 - $200 per month	Platforms like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, etc.
Miscellaneous Software	$50 - $300 per month	Accounting software, project management tools, design tools (e.g., Adobe Suite).
Legal and Accounting Fees	$300 - $2,000	Setting up business structure, tax preparation, legal consultations.
Staff Salaries	$20,000 - $100,000+ per year per person	Varies by role; marketers, designers, writers, managers.
Office Space Rent	$200 - $2,000+ per month	Depending on location and size of the office.
Utilities and Misc. Overhead	$100 - $500+ per month	Electricity, internet, office supplies, etc.
Total Initial Investment	$5,950 - $141,650	Depends on various factors like scale, location, and specific business needs.