Small Business Packaging Ideas With Printable Paper

Small business packaging does not need a big print run. With printable paper you can make branded tissue wraps, belly bands, thank-you cards, stickers and box liners at home, in small batches, and change the look every season. This guide covers small business packaging ideas with printable paper and, just as important, which license you need when the paper goes out with products you sell.

Which license covers packaging?

Packaging you hand to customers is part of a commercial activity, so read this first:

• Personal license: covers up to 500 physical items per design, including handmade items you sell. For a hobby seller wrapping a few hundred orders a year with a pack, that is usually enough.
• Commercial license: unlimited physical items, print on demand, and the paper as a background inside digital products. Choose this if you ship more than 500 orders with one design, print packaging through a print service, or use the patterns on printed products themselves.
• Resell (PLR): only needed if you want to sell the paper files themselves.

Full details and examples are in personal vs commercial use digital paper and can you sell crafts made with digital paper. If unsure, email us before you buy.

1. Belly bands and wraps

A 2 to 3 inch printed strip around a box, a bundle of cards or a folded garment looks finished and costs a few cents. Print several bands per Letter sheet, wrap, and close with a round sticker or your logo stamp.

2. Thank-you and care cards

Print a patterned back on 80 lb cardstock and your thank-you note or care instructions on the front. A4 or Letter sheets fit four postcard-size cards. Card techniques are in our card guide.

3. Box and mailer liners

Cut a printed sheet to the inside lid of a mailer box so customers see the pattern when they open it. It is the cheapest way to make a plain kraft box feel special.

4. Stickers and labels

Print on sticker paper and cut circles and rectangles with a punch or a cutting machine for seals, flavor labels or product labels. See digital paper with Cricut Print Then Cut.

5. Hang tags

Shipping-tag shapes on 80 lb cardstock with your shop name and price on the back. Sizes and steps are in gift tags, envelopes and bookmarks.

6. Seasonal packaging

Switch to holiday papers in November and December so returning customers notice. Our Christmas paper ideas and winter craft ideas work for gift-wrapped orders, and DIY gift wrap covers wrapping techniques.

Packs that suit packaging

Small, repeating patterns read well at small sizes. Stripes, plaids and ditsy florals in a calm palette rarely clash with products.

Make it match your brand

If you need your exact brand colors, our studio can recolor a pack or design one for you. Collections give one license for every pack in the set, which is the most economical way to cover a year of seasonal packaging: see digital paper bundles.