Notion templates are one of the easiest digital products to create and sell. Some creators are making $5K-50K per month selling templates they built in a weekend.
The barrier to entry is low. The market is growing. And if you’re already a Notion user, you have a head start.
Here’s the complete guide to building a Notion template business.
Why Notion Templates Sell
Notion is massive and growing. Millions of users, and most don’t want to build systems from scratch. They’ll pay for a head start.
Templates solve real problems. A good template saves hours of setup time and delivers a proven system. Clear value proposition.
Zero marginal cost. Create once, sell unlimited times. Pure profit after creation.
Low competition relative to market size. Compared to other digital products, Notion templates are still relatively uncrowded.
Multiple sales channels. Gumroad, Notion’s marketplace, your own site, social media - multiple ways to reach customers.
What Types of Templates Sell Best
Not all templates are created equal. Some categories consistently outperform.
Productivity and Organization
Examples:
- Second brain/personal knowledge management
- Weekly planning and review systems
- Goal tracking and habit systems
- Life dashboards
Why they sell: Everyone wants to be more organized. These templates promise transformation.
Price range: $15-49 for basic, $49-149 for comprehensive systems
Business and Work
Examples:
- Project management for freelancers
- Client CRM and pipeline tracking
- SOPs and documentation hubs
- Meeting notes and decision logs
- OKR and goal-setting frameworks
Why they sell: Businesses pay more than individuals. These templates have clear ROI.
Price range: $29-99 for individuals, $99-299 for team versions
Finance and Budgeting
Examples:
- Personal budget trackers
- Net worth dashboards
- Investment portfolio trackers
- Subscription management
- Financial planning systems
Why they sell: Money is a universal concern. People will pay to manage it better.
Price range: $19-79
Content and Creation
Examples:
- Content calendars
- YouTube video planning
- Newsletter management
- Social media scheduling
- Writing project trackers
Why they sell: Creators are already in Notion. They’ll buy templates that help them create more.
Price range: $19-69
Niche-Specific
Examples:
- Real estate investor tracking
- Job application management
- Wedding planning
- Travel itineraries
- Academic research organization
Why they sell: Niche templates face less competition and can charge premium prices.
Price range: Varies widely, often higher than general templates
Creating Your First Template
Step 1: Find a Validated Idea
Don’t build what you think is cool. Build what people want to buy.
Research methods:
Study existing templates: Look at Gumroad, Notion template marketplaces, and Etsy. What has reviews? What sells well? What are people requesting?
Check communities: Reddit’s r/Notion, Notion Facebook groups, Twitter. What problems do people ask about? What templates do they wish existed?
Analyze your own Notion: What systems have you built that others might want? Your solutions to your problems often solve others’ problems too.
Keyword research: What Notion-related terms are people searching for? “Notion budget template,” “Notion CRM template,” etc.
Step 2: Design for Usability
A beautiful template that’s hard to use won’t get good reviews. Prioritize usability.
Design principles:
Start simple: Begin with core functionality. Add features based on demand.
Clear navigation: Users should understand the structure immediately. Use consistent naming and organization.
Instructions included: Create a “Getting Started” page that explains how to use everything.
Mobile-friendly: Many users access Notion on mobile. Test your templates on different devices.
Flexible structure: Users will customize. Make it easy for them to adapt your template to their needs.
Step 3: Polish the Presentation
First impressions matter. Make your template look professional.
Visual polish:
- Consistent color scheme (Notion’s built-in colors work fine)
- Clear typography hierarchy
- Strategic use of icons (don’t overdo it)
- Good use of dividers and spacing
Cover images: Create attractive covers for each database and main page. Canva works well for this.
Demo content: Pre-populate with realistic sample data so buyers can see how it works before they clear it out.
Step 4: Create Supporting Materials
The template itself is only part of the product.
Must-have additions:
Setup guide: Step-by-step instructions, ideally with screenshots or video
Template walkthrough video: 5-10 minute video showing how everything works. Reduces support requests and increases perceived value.
FAQ section: Anticipate common questions and answer them upfront.
Nice-to-have additions:
- Use case examples
- Customization suggestions
- Community access
- Future update promises
Pricing Your Templates
Pricing is where most creators leave money on the table. They price too low.
The Pricing Framework
Consider these factors:
Time saved: If your template saves 10 hours of setup, and your buyer’s time is worth $50/hour, the template creates $500 of value. Charging $50-100 is reasonable.
Problem solved: Templates that solve painful problems command higher prices than nice-to-have organization tools.
Target audience: Businesses and professionals pay more than college students. Know who you’re selling to.
Competitive landscape: What do similar templates cost? You can be higher if quality justifies it.
Pricing Tiers That Work
Entry tier ($9-29):
- Simple, single-purpose templates
- Minimal support
- Good for building initial sales and reviews
Standard tier ($29-79):
- Comprehensive systems
- Video walkthrough included
- Email support
Premium tier ($79-199):
- Complete solutions with multiple integrated templates
- Video tutorials
- Community access
- Update guarantees
- Direct support
Bundles and Upsells
Increase average order value:
Template bundles: Package related templates together at a discount. The “Productivity Bundle” at $79 instead of $120 if bought separately.
Upsells: After purchase, offer related products at a discount.
Updates: Sell “lifetime updates” access for premium versions.
Where to Sell Your Templates
Multiple channels means more sales.
Gumroad
The default choice for many creators.
Pros:
- Simple setup
- Handles payments and delivery
- Discoverability through Gumroad Discover
- Built-in analytics
Cons:
- 10% fee on sales
- Limited customization
Best for: Getting started quickly, testing ideas
Notion’s Official Template Gallery
Notion now has an official marketplace for templates.
Pros:
- Built-in audience of Notion users
- Trust factor (official platform)
- Easy discovery
Cons:
- Competitive
- Revenue share with Notion
Best for: Templates targeting broad Notion audiences
Your Own Website
Full control, no revenue share.
Pros:
- Keep all revenue
- Full branding control
- Build email list directly
- Create your own customer experience
Cons:
- Need to drive all traffic yourself
- More technical setup
- Payment processing to manage
Best for: Established sellers with existing audiences
Etsy
Often overlooked, but significant sales happen here.
Pros:
- Built-in search audience
- People come to Etsy to buy
- Good for visual presentation
Cons:
- Fees add up
- Competition from other digital products
Best for: Lifestyle and personal templates, reaching non-typical-tech audiences
Social Media Direct Sales
Sell directly to your followers.
Pros:
- Direct relationship
- No platform fees
- Can go viral
Cons:
- Need an audience first
- Inconsistent
Best for: Creators with established social presence
Marketing Your Templates
Building is half the battle. Selling is the other half.
Content Marketing
Create content that leads people to your templates.
YouTube tutorials: “How I organize my life in Notion” with your template as the system you use.
Twitter threads: Break down your productivity system. Link to template for those who want it done for them.
Blog posts: SEO-friendly content targeting “best Notion templates for [use case].”
TikTok/Reels: Quick template showcases work surprisingly well.
Community Presence
Be where Notion users hang out.
Reddit r/Notion: Help people, share advice, occasionally mention your templates (don’t spam).
Notion Discord servers: Build relationships, become known as an expert.
Facebook groups: Share value, answer questions, soft-promote when relevant.
Partnerships and Affiliates
Leverage other people’s audiences.
Affiliate program: Offer 30-50% commission to people who promote your templates.
Creator collaborations: Partner with YouTubers or bloggers who review Notion templates.
Cross-promotions: Bundle with complementary products from other creators.
Paid Advertising
Once you have a proven product, scale with ads.
Twitter/X ads: Target Notion users and productivity enthusiasts.
Meta ads: Surprisingly effective for digital products.
YouTube ads: Pre-roll on Notion tutorial videos.
Start small, test creatives, scale what works.
Using AI to Speed Up Template Creation
AI can accelerate your template business significantly.
Content Creation
Use Claude or GPT for:
- Database descriptions and field explanations
- Getting started guide content
- Marketing copy and social media posts
- Email sequences for buyers
Design Assistance
AI can help with:
- Generating icon suggestions for pages
- Creating cover image prompts for Midjourney
- Brainstorming feature sets based on user needs
- Analyzing competitor templates for gaps
Customer Support
Automate common support:
- Create FAQ documents based on common questions
- Generate response templates for support inquiries
- Build a knowledge base for your products
Idea Validation
AI as brainstorming partner:
- Generate template ideas for niches
- Analyze market gaps
- Research pricing of competitors
- Create product differentiation strategies
Scaling to a Real Business
Once you have proven templates, scale.
Product Line Expansion
Build a portfolio of templates:
- Different niches
- Different complexity levels
- Templates that work together (ecosystem lock-in)
Many successful sellers have 10-20+ templates generating passive income.
Team Building
As revenue grows, hire help:
- Virtual assistant for customer support
- Designer for better visuals
- Marketer for content and promotion
Automation
Reduce your involvement:
- Automated email sequences for buyers
- Self-service support documentation
- Zapier workflows for operations
Diversification
Expand beyond templates:
- Notion courses teaching your systems
- Consulting for custom implementations
- Community for template buyers
Real Numbers and Expectations
Here’s what realistic success looks like:
Month 1-3:
- Launch 2-3 templates
- $100-500 in sales
- Learning what works, getting feedback
Month 4-6:
- Iterate on winners, create more
- $500-2,000/month
- Building social presence and reviews
Month 7-12:
- 5-10 templates in portfolio
- $2,000-5,000/month
- Starting to feel like a real business
Year 2:
- Established portfolio with proven sellers
- $5,000-15,000/month possible
- May be hiring help
Top sellers make $20K-50K+ monthly, but they’ve been at it for years with large catalogs and strong brands.
Getting Started This Week
Day 1-2:
- Research: What templates are selling? What gaps exist?
- Pick one idea to start with
Day 3-4:
- Build the core template
- Focus on functionality first
Day 5:
- Polish visuals
- Create getting started guide
Day 6:
- Set up Gumroad or chosen platform
- Write sales page
- Create promotional graphics
Day 7:
- Launch
- Share everywhere you have presence
- Gather feedback
One template in one week. That’s the goal. From there, iterate based on what you learn.
The Notion template market is real and growing. The products are quick to create. The distribution channels exist. The only question is whether you’ll start.