How to Start a Bag Business and Make Real Money in 2026

Here’s the truth.

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Selling bags can make you good money.

Some people earn $500 a month.

Others make $5,000 or more.

It depends on what you sell and how hard you work.

The bag market is huge.

People buy bags every single day.

For school. For work. For travel. For fun.

This means buyers are always out there.

And you can reach them.

Let me show you how.

Can You Really Make Money Selling Bags?

Yes. You can.

But let me be real with you.

It takes effort.

It takes time.

And it takes smart choices.

The good news?

Bags have great profit margins.

You can make 30% to 60% profit on each sale.

That’s pretty solid.

Here’s a real example.

Jenny started making simple tote bags in her kitchen.

She spent $8 on each bag.

She sold them for $28.

That’s $20 profit per bag.

She sold 50 bags her first month on Etsy.

That’s $1,000 in her pocket.

Not bad for a side hustle, right?

Why bags sell so well:

Everyone needs them
They’re easy to ship
You can start small
People buy them as gifts
You can sell year-round

The bag world keeps growing.

Statista says it grows about 5% every year.

That means more buyers for you.

How to Make Your First Bag

Let’s keep this simple.

You don’t need fancy skills.

You just need to start.

Here’s how to make a basic canvas tote bag.

What you need:

Canvas fabric (about 2 yards)
Strong thread
A sewing machine
Sharp scissors
A measuring tape
An iron

Step 1: Cut your fabric

Cut two big rectangles.

Make them 16 inches tall and 14 inches wide.

Then cut two long strips for handles.

Make them 24 inches long and 3 inches wide.

Step 2: Sew the body

Put the rectangles together.

Make sure the pretty sides face each other.

Sew along three sides.

Leave the top open.

Step 3: Make a flat bottom

Pinch each bottom corner.

Sew across it.

This helps your bag stand up.

Step 4: Add the handles

Fold each strip in half the long way.

Sew along the edge.

Pin them to the bag opening.

Sew them on tight.

Step 5: Finish the top

Fold the top edge down about one inch.

Iron it flat.

Sew around the whole top.

Flip your bag right side out.

Done!

Mistakes beginners make:

Using weak thread that breaks
Crooked stitching
Handles in wrong spots
Fabric that’s too thin
Rushing the process

Take your time.

Your first bag won’t be perfect.

That’s totally okay.

Each one gets better.

For more sewing help for beginners, check our easy tutorials.

Starting Your Bag Business

Good news.

You don’t need lots of money to start.

Many sellers begin with $500 or less.

Here’s what things cost:

What You Need	How Much
Register your business	$50 to $500
First batch of materials	$500 to $1,000
Basic equipment	$500 to $1,500
Simple website	$200 to $500
Logo design	$100 to $300
Some marketing	$300 to $700
Product photos	$200 to $500
Total	$1,850 to $5,000

Is $5,000 enough to start?

Yes!

That’s more than enough.

Many people start with way less.

Is $100 okay for a logo?

Totally fine.

Sites like Fiverr have good designers at this price.

You can always upgrade later.

Steps to get going:

Pick what kind of bags you’ll make
Register your business name
Buy your first materials
Make some sample bags
Take nice photos
Open an online shop
Tell people about it

What bags make the most money?

Custom bags.

Personalized bags.

Bags with names or special designs.

A plain tote might sell for $15.

Add someone’s name?

Now it’s $35.

Same work. More money.

For help setting up your business, see our simple guide.

Designing Bags People Actually Want

Here’s a secret.

Good bag design isn’t about being fancy.

It’s about being useful.

Think about your buyer.

What do they need to carry?

Where will they take this bag?

How heavy will it get?

Answer these questions first.

Then design around them.

What makes a bag design work:

Right size for the purpose
Comfortable handles
Pockets in smart places
Colors people like
Easy to clean
Looks good with outfits

Free tools to design bags:

Canva is perfect for beginners.

It’s free.

It’s easy.

You can make designs in minutes.

Want something fancier?

Try Adobe Illustrator.

It costs money but does more.

Skills that help:

Basic sewing
Knowing fabrics
Understanding colors
Seeing what’s popular
Listening to customers

Can you protect your bag design?

Yes!

Your original design gets copyright protection.

This stops others from copying you.

What’s the 7-7-7 branding rule?

Make your brand:

Known in 7 seconds
Remembered after 7 days
Same across 7 places

Your logo. Your colors. Your website.

Your social media. Your packaging.

All should match.

For design ideas and tips, browse our collection.

Selling Bags on Amazon

Can you make $1,000 a month on Amazon?

Yes.

Many sellers do.

But it takes a few months to build up.

What you need to know:

Amazon has rules about brands.

You cannot sell Gucci bags.

You cannot sell Louis Vuitton.

Not unless you have their permission.

And you won’t get it.

So sell your own brand instead.

Tips to do well on Amazon:

Take really good photos
Write clear descriptions
Price fairly
Ask happy buyers for reviews
Use Amazon’s ads

Jungle Scout says most new sellers make about $1,000 a month after their first year.

Some make way more.

Some make less.

It depends on your effort.

Start small.

List 10 to 20 bags.

See what sells.

Make more of the winners.

Drop the losers.

For Amazon selling tips, read our full breakdown.

Luxury Bags and Big Money

Are bags a good investment?

Some are.

Most aren’t.

Regular bags lose value over time.

But certain luxury bags?

They go UP in value.

Which bags keep their value best?

Hermès Birkin
Hermès Kelly
Chanel Classic Flap
Louis Vuitton Speedy
Dior Lady Dior

These are the gold standard.

How much can you make selling a Birkin?

A lot.

Birkin bags often sell for 50% to 300% more than store price.

Buy one for $10,000.

Sell it for $25,000.

Rare colors?

Even more.

Some pink crocodile Birkins sold for over $300,000.

What’s the most expensive bag ever sold?

A Hermès Himalaya Birkin.

It went for $379,261 at auction.

Crazy, right?

How much do Louis Vuitton bags cost?

Starter bags: $1,200 to $2,000

Middle range: $2,000 to $4,000

Fancy ones: $4,000 to $10,000 and up

What’s the number one bag brand?

Louis Vuitton.

Forbes calls it the most valuable luxury brand.

For pure handbag status, Hermès is king.

What’s a mid-luxury brand?

Brands like:

Coach
Kate Spade
Michael Kors
Tory Burch

They cost more than mall brands.

But less than true luxury.

Great middle ground.

What does Kate Middleton carry?

She loves Aspinal of London.

Also Mulberry and Strathberry.

For tips on luxury bag investing, see our detailed guide.

Pricing Your Bags Right

Pricing feels scary.

But there’s a simple way.

Add up these things:

Materials + Your Time + Other Costs + Your Profit = Price

Let’s do an example:

Materials: $15
Your time (2 hours at $20/hour): $40
Other costs (shipping supplies, fees): $10
Profit you want (30%): $19.50

Total: $84.50

Round up to $85 or $89.

Don’t underprice your work.

Your time matters.

What profit margins are normal?

Regular bags: 30% to 40%

Mid-range bags: 40% to 50%

Fancy bags: 50% to 70%

Handmade bags: 40% to 60%

How do you put your brand on bags?

Stamp it on leather
Sew in a label
Add a metal tag
Embroider it
Screen print it

Labels should look nice.

Cheap labels make your bags look cheap.

For pricing strategies, check our easy calculator.

All About Canvas Bags

Everyone loves canvas bags right now.

Why?

They’re tough.

They last forever.

They’re earth-friendly.

They’re cheap to make.

Remember when Trader Joe’s released their canvas tote?

People waited in line for hours.

Some sold on eBay for $500.

All for a simple canvas bag.

That’s the power of good design and smart marketing.

What is canvas made of?

Cotton or linen.

Woven tight and thick.

Very strong stuff.

Is making tote bags profitable?

Super profitable.

Cost to make: $3 to $8

Selling price: $15 to $45

That’s up to 80% profit.

Problems with canvas bags:

They stain easy
Water soaks in
Colors can fade
Thick ones get heavy
They wrinkle

What if your canvas bag gets wet?

Dry it right away.

Hang it up.

Let air flow through.

If you don’t, it might get moldy.

How to keep canvas bags nice:

Wipe dirt off quickly
Store in a dry place
Keep away from sun
Stuff with paper when storing
Clean spots right away

Can you waterproof canvas bags?

Yes!

Spray them with:

Scotchgard
Thompson’s Water Seal
Nikwax
Beeswax spray

Apply thin layers.

Let each layer dry.

For canvas bag care tips, see our full article.

Putting Pictures on Bags

Want to add images to your bags?

Here’s how.

Heat transfer method:

Print your image on transfer paper
Flip the image backward first
Cut around it
Heat your bag with an iron
Put the transfer face down
Press hard for 30 seconds
Let it cool
Peel off the paper

Does Mod Podge transfer last?

Yes!

If you do it right.

Let it dry completely.

Wait about a month before washing.

Then it’s permanent.

Will paint stick to fabric bags?

Yes.

Use acrylic paint.

Mix in fabric medium.

After it dries, iron it.

The heat sets the paint.

It won’t crack or peel.

Photo transfer to canvas bags:

Print your picture on plain paper
Brush Mod Podge on the bag
Lay picture face down
Smooth out all bubbles
Wait overnight
Wet the paper with a damp sponge
Rub the paper off gently
Add more Mod Podge on top

The image stays on the bag.

Pretty cool, right?

For crafting and DIY ideas, explore our creative section.

Getting People to Buy Your Bags

Making bags is one thing.

Selling them is another.

You need buyers.

Here’s how to find them.

What buyers look for in bags:

Good quality stuff
Nice stitching
Works for their life
Fair price
Looks different from others
Easy to take care of
Lasts a long time

Show these things in your posts.

Simple ways to get customers:

Post on Instagram every day
Make Pinterest boards
Run small Facebook ads
Work with influencers
Sell at local markets
Give discounts for referrals
Build an email list

Real story:

Mike sold 8 bags his first month.

Then he started making short videos.

He showed how he made each bag.

People loved watching.

Month two: 34 bags sold.

Month three: 67 bags.

Showing your process works.

People connect with the maker.

For marketing help, read our simple guide.

Packaging That Wows

Your packaging matters.

A lot.

It’s the first thing buyers touch.

Make it special.

The 5 P’s of packaging:

Protection – Keep bags safe in shipping
Preservation – Keep them looking new
Presentation – Make it pretty
Promotion – Show off your brand
Practicality – Make it easy to open

Simple packaging ideas:

Wrap in tissue paper
Add a thank you card
Include care instructions
Use nice boxes or mailers
Put a sticker with your logo

People remember good unboxing.

They share it on social media.

Free advertising for you.

7 steps to design packaging:

Know why you need it
Look at what others do
Pick your materials
Design how it looks
Make a test version
Check if it’s strong enough
Order in bulk

Good packaging makes people feel special.

They’ll come back for more.

Careers in Bag Design

Can anyone start a luxury brand?

Technically yes.

But it’s really hard.

You need:

Amazing quality
Something special
Great branding
Lots of patience
Money to wait it out

Most people start with regular bags.

Build a name.

Then move up over time.

Is Gucci considered entry-level?

No way.

Gucci is full luxury.

Entry-level designer means brands like Coach or Kate Spade.

Is fashion design easy?

Honestly?

No.

It takes years to get good.

But bag design is more doable.

Start basic.

Get better with practice.

Jobs in design you might like:

Bag designer
Fashion designer
Product designer
Pattern maker
Textile designer
Brand designer
Graphic designer
Packaging designer
Web designer
Jewelry designer

Bag design mixes many skills.

You learn a lot doing it.

For design career info, see what’s out there.

What to Do Right Now

You’ve read a lot.

Now it’s time to act.

Starting a bag business in 2026 makes sense.

The market is growing.

You don’t need much money.

Selling online is easier than ever.

Your action steps:

Decide what bags you’ll make
Learn basic sewing this week
Make 3 to 5 sample bags
Take good photos
Open a shop on Etsy or Shopify
Set fair prices
Post about your bags daily
Get your first sale
Ask for feedback
Keep improving

Don’t overthink it.

Don’t wait for perfect.

Just start.

Your first bag might be rough.

That’s fine.

Every pro started somewhere.

Make something today.

Put it out there.

Learn what works.

Do more of that.

Your bag business is waiting.

Go make it happen.