35 Paper Business Ideas You Can Start Today [2024]
Interested in starting a paper business in 2024?
We put together 35 of the best paper businesses you can start in today.
For each business idea, we’ll show you real-world examples of other paper businesses to help you see what it really takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start a Greeting Cards Business
People use greeting cards to mark births, deaths, graduations, anniversaries, and other parties or events.
If you love helping people celebrate special occasions, starting a greeting card business can be a great business opportunity.
When starting a greeting card business, choose a potential niche and write a business plan.
Then, find an ideal spot to sell the greeting cards.
For instance, you can offer greeting card design and posting services, so customers can choose the best designs and post greeting cards online.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $100,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 65 days (?)
Joker Greeting sells unique prank gifts, including a non-stop musical birthday card, an idea raised by the founders visiting their mom's house, having no website or marketing and yet raising $92,073 on Kickstarter in 30 days due to being picked up by media, enabling them to sell 15,000 units in the first year, owned SEO for their niche, selling almost 40,000 units in 2017 and expected to reach 50,000 to 60,000 in 2018 with a small team, using Shopify and various social media channels with lots of organic traffic.
2. Start a stationery business
A stationery business sells stationery products such as paper goods, notebooks, greeting cards, and envelopes.
The best part about starting a stationery business is that it's relatively easy and inexpensive to get started.
Since there are so many different types of products available in this industry, there are endless opportunities for creativity, customization, and expansion.
You could even start out small by selling your products on Etsy or eBay before opening up an actual storefront.
How much you can make: $200 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 52 days (?)
Chasing Planner Peace is a planner company that has expanded from selling planner inserts on Etsy, to offering a one-stop shop customizable planner experience with over 300 inserts, a planner line, and various other related products, gaining a monthly revenue of around $25,000 at its busiest time of year.
3. Start a banana paper making business
4. Start a paper exports business
5. Start a paper bags business
6. Become a newspaper publisher
A newspaper publisher manages the design, editing, and production process with the help of proofreaders, printers, and editors.
In small newspapers, the publication owner is usually the publisher.
To become a newspaper publisher, there aren’t any formal learning requirements, but you may consider undertaking a bachelor’s degree in journalism, communications, writing, or business.
7. Start a paper crafts designing business
A paper crafts designing business involves creating handmade items such as greeting cards, invitations, scrapbook layouts, and other decorative items using paper and other materials. It is a business that allows creativity and imagination to flow as entrepreneurs design and create unique and personalized items for their clients.
To start a paper craft designing business, entrepreneurs must have a good eye for aesthetics and a solid attention to detail. They will also need to be proficient in various crafting tools such as scissors, glue, and punches.
To run a successful paper craft designing business, entrepreneurs should focus on building a solid brand and marketing their products effectively. This can be done through social media, online marketplaces, and participating in local craft fairs and events. It is also essential to continuously learn new techniques and stay updated on the latest trends in the industry.
In addition, good customer service, working efficiently, and meeting deadlines are crucial for the success of paper crafts designing business. It is also essential to price products somewhat and offers a variety of options for clients.
Overall, a paper craft designing business allows entrepreneurs to express their creativity and turn their passion for crafting into a successful business.
8. Start a book store
Starting a bookstore is a great way to start a small business.
Bookstores are found anywhere, from the smallest towns to the largest cities. Perhaps you have thought of running your bookstore . People need to read and buy books, and that’s been true for thousands of years. A bookstore is also a great central location where people can browse and purchase books.
Listed are the steps to start a bookstore business.
- Register your business
- Get all required permits and licenses.
- Organize your business operational flow
- Promote your business
9. Start a paper business
10. Start an exercise notebook making business
How much you can make: $6,000/month
The Paper Saver is a sustainable notebook that reduces paper waste by utilizing used paper as pages, and has grown YOY on an average of 20% since its 2015 launch, with an expanded range including the Leather Paper Saver and the Sparkle Paper Saver for Kids.
11. Start a wall paper fixing business
This is of course another construction related business for civil engineers. With wallpapers that are produced in 3D format, apartments are made more beautiful and highly presentable. This business remains one of the simple, easy to go into and lucrative business in the construction related businesses. Successful business people in this line are good marketers of their services, and they have strong networking skills.
12. Start a mobile paper shredding business
13. Start an egg tray making business
14. Start an envelopes and files business
15. Start a paper and stationary distribution business
How much you can make: $1,000,000/month
The Goulet Pen Company grew from a hobby to a global retailing firm providing high-quality items with exceptional customer service, all via an internet platform which had never been done before in the writing industry.
16. Start a paper cup making business
17. Start a paper recycling business
According to statistics, the demand for recycled paper is increasing at a CAGR of more than 7% in developing counties.
The high machinery cost and inefficient collection of waste paper are reasons behind the growing demand.
As a result, the primary focus of the local paper recyclers is the establishment of proper collection and segregation systems to facilitate waste paper collection. Therefore, starting a paper recycling business can be profitable.
How much you can make: $16,000/month
How long does it take to build: 100 days (?)
Bagitan Packaging in China started out as a thermography paper roll business and has since expanded to become leaders in the packaging industry with annual net revenue of $200,000 and over 50 employees, thanks to digital marketing and a focus on SEO.
18. Start a paper manufacturer
Numerous businesses mesh well with the typical small business model of low overhead, low inventory, and low to moderate output. A paper manufacturing business is one such type of enterprise. There is a built-in marketplace for your product with little work involved in marketing. Paper is one of the most widely used materials with a wide range of applications in our day-to-day life. It also finds applications across industries such as packaging, publishing, etc.
Some popular paper products manufacturing business ideas include tissue paper manufacturing, kraft paper manufacturing, stone paper manufacturing, thermal paper manufacturing, butter paper manufacturing, art paper manufacturing, seed paper manufacturing, notebook manufacturing, and many more.
19. Start a packaging box making business
20. Start a plate making business
21. Start a paper jewelry making business
22. Start a paper miling business
23. Start a paper soap making business
24. Start a paper items wholesaling business
25. Start a napkins business
How much does it cost to start: $630 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
26. Start a bookbinding and repair service
Bookbinding and repair service is a business idea that involves providing customers with services to repair their damaged books or bind new ones. To start this business, you will need a space, such as a workshop or a studio, and the necessary tools and materials, including adhesives, fabrics, and paper. You will also need to have some knowledge of bookbinding techniques and be able to work with different types of materials, such as leather, cloth, and paper.
To operate the business successfully, you will need to market your services to potential customers and be able to handle a variety of repair and binding projects. You will also need to be able to handle customer inquiries and orders promptly and professionally. It may be helpful to offer additional services, such as custom bookbinding or restoration of antique books, to expand your customer base and increase your profits.
For a bookbinding and repair service business success, it is essential to have strong attention to detail and a passion for books. With dedication and hard work, you can build a thriving business that helps preserve and restore valuable books for customers.
27. Start a tissue paper making business
28. Start a paper name tag business
29. Start a paper prototyping business
30. Start a paper flowers production business
31. Start a model kit business
32. Start a paper straws business
33. Start a cartoon box recycling business
34. Start an architecture firm
An architecture firm offers designing, preparation of construction documents, and administration. Architects also offer feasibility studies, architectural programming, and project management on behalf of their clients.
If you are an architect and wish to start an architecture firm, then you would have to research the market and identify a potential niche based on your unique selling points. Then, determine the most suitable business structure and lay the foundations with a good business plan. Determine what competitors could be doing wrong and how you can stand out from the crowd.
35. Start a paper modeling business
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
