How Much Money Can You Make Selling Handmade Journals? A Realistic Breakdown

Welcome to Selling Your Journals, a new video series dedicated to guiding you through the world of selling handmade journals. In this episode, we’ll uncover the realities of how much money you can realistically make in this business, sharing insights from my own experience to help set your expectations.

Before we dive in, let me quickly address something: you might notice that I tend to move around a bit while talking—I’m sitting on a swivel stool, and it helps calm my nerves. I’m trying to minimize the movement so it doesn’t distract you!


Now, let’s get into the heart of this video: understanding the financial realities of selling handmade journals.

Setting Realistic Expectations

I wanted to create this video early in the series because it’s crucial to start with a clear picture of what you can expect when turning your passion into a business. Many online marketing programs and business coaches out there promise extraordinary results, but honesty and integrity are values I prioritize in my work—and that’s exactly how I approach this series.

A recent realization hit me hard: the online marketing space often lacks transparency. Many coaches and programs exaggerate potential earnings, leaving creators like you disheartened when reality doesn’t match the hype. I’ve made it my mission to be a part of the solution, providing you with honest insights into the challenges and opportunities of selling handmade journals.

So, let’s talk numbers.

My Earnings Breakdown

To give you a clear sense of what’s possible, I’ll share my own earnings from last year:

  • Revenue (Total Sales): $33,000
  • Expenses: $14,000
  • Taxes: $5,000
  • Take-Home Income: $14,000

I worked 50–60 hours a week, which breaks down to roughly $5.38 an hour—far from a lucrative wage. While I am incredibly grateful for my loyal followers and quick sales, the financial side is more complex than it may appear.

This is why it’s so important to distinguish between revenue (total sales) and profit (what you actually take home). Many people in the handmade space discuss revenue without clarifying how much they keep after expenses and taxes.

Challenges of Selling Handmade Journals

Creating handmade journals is labor-intensive. Every journal is unique, which means you’re not just spending time crafting—it’s also about photographing, listing, and sometimes even filming videos for each product. This time investment limits how much you can produce and, consequently, how much you can earn.

For comparison:

  • Handmade Jewelry: Often more profitable because items are small, easier to replicate, and require fewer photos or videos.
  • Handmade Journals: Each piece is unique, requiring individualized attention and making the process far more time-consuming.

If you’re solely focused on creating one-of-a-kind journals, you’ll hit a ceiling on your earnings due to the sheer labor involved.

Hobby Business vs. Real Business

To move forward, you need to decide: are you running a hobby business or a real business?

  • Hobby Business: Covers material costs but doesn’t aim to make a significant profit.
  • Real Business: Aims to generate profit after covering all expenses, including taxes, and provides you with a paycheck.

Setting clear goals from the start is critical. Even if you’re happy with earning “extra money,” having a target income in mind will help you plan effectively.

Understanding the Creative Energy Factor

When you start making journals in larger quantities, you’ll quickly realize how mentally and creatively draining it can be. It’s like exercising—your body and mind need rest to function at their best. Constantly pushing your creativity to its limits can lead to burnout, which is something I personally experienced when I started producing journals with the goal of selling them.

Strategies to Improve Profitability

If your goal is to make a sustainable income from handmade journals, consider these approaches:

  1. Simplify Your Products: Create a line of simpler, reproducible journals that require less time and effort. These can be your “bread and butter” items, while your more elaborate one-of-a-kind journals serve as premium offerings.

  2. Diversify Income Streams: Explore additional revenue sources like selling journaling supplies, creating online courses, or monetizing platforms like YouTube. Keep in mind, however, that some of these take significant time to yield results.

  3. Focus on Pricing: Proper pricing is essential to covering costs and making a profit. In an upcoming video, I’ll dive deeper into how to price your handmade items effectively.

The Reality of Handmade Success

Building a business around handmade items is not impossible, but it requires strategic thinking and a willingness to adapt. The coaches you see online often suggest that one-of-a-kind products can’t support a full-time income—and while that’s true to some extent, there are ways to make it work if you’re clear about your goals.

Remember, success looks different for everyone. Whether you’re aiming for extra income or building a full-fledged business, the key is to stay realistic, focus on your strengths, and make informed decisions.

What’s Next?

In future videos, I’ll cover topics like pricing strategies, time management, and marketing tips to help you navigate the world of selling handmade journals. If you’re ready to take the next step, make sure to subscribe and join me on this journey.

Selling handmade journals is a labor of love, but with the right approach, it can also be a rewarding experience. Stay tuned for more insights, and as always, I’m here to help guide you with honesty and integrity.

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