If you’ve ever found yourself diving into a rabbit hole of “side hustle ideas” on YouTube, you’ve probably come across videos claiming that people are making thousands of dollars a month by selling digital colouring books. Naturally, I thought, “Why not give it a shot?” I love drawing, so why not put my skills to work and generate some extra income?

The process sounds simple:

• Find an AI tool to generate black-and-white outlines of your described theme.
• Import the designs into Canva for formatting.
• Upload your finished pages to Etsy or Amazon.
• Sit back and watch thousands of dollars flow into your bank account.

But is it really that simple?

The Start: Easy on Paper, Not So Much in Practice

I kicked things off by researching different AI tools and downloading Canva, but I hit an immediate ethical roadblock. Do I really want to jump on the AI bandwagon and churn out colouring books created by an algorithm? What if I was unknowingly using parts of someone else’s artwork? And how would the talented illustrators who painstakingly hand-draw their designs feel about AI creations taking over the market? These ethical questions weighed heavily on me.

I changed my gameplan. While I used an AI tool for some inspiration and ideas, I opted to create my designs manually using Inkscape, a free open-source vector design software.

Here’s a tip: Vector software is fantastic for scaling images but awful when you have no idea what you’re doing.

The learning curve was steeper than I expected. After watching what felt like 87 hours of YouTube tutorials, I was still left asking, “Why are my lines in the wrong place?” and “Why isn’t this as easy as Microsoft Paint?”

The promise of thousands of dollars kept me motivated though. I figured, “Hey, how hard can it be to make a cute unicorn?” (Much harder than you’d think.) I read that Adobe Illustrator is a bit more user friendly, but I couldn’t justify the NZD$44.51 + GST subscription cost on a side gig I wasn’t sure would succeed.

Creating the Colouring Pages: A Test of Patience

Designing my colouring books was painstakingly slow. I settled on kawaii (cute) designs, a popular niche for colouring book fans, and managed to finish six books with themes like Christmas, space, food, and cozy vibes. Each design took far longer than I’d anticipated—hours and hours, not minutes—but I was proud of the final results. Surely, my effort would translate into a flood of sales.

The next step was the expensive and time-consuming process of setting up an Etsy shop and creating the listings. Establishing the shop required a one-time setup fee of NZD $24, with each listing costing USD $0.20 (NZD $0.36), in addition to a success fee for every sale made. However, the end was finally in sight.

Etsy listings required creating appealing product images, writing descriptions, and researching keywords to optimise for SEO. With the books priced between $2 and $5 (and frequent sales dropping them lower), I thought I was ready to conquer the world of selling digital colouring books. Who wouldn’t want my cute creations for just $1?

The Harsh Reality: A Saturated Market

Once my books were listed, reality hit hard. Etsy is overflowing with colouring books. Mine were lost in a sea of thousands of similar listings, many of which were AI-generated and featured bizarre, low-quality images (think dinosaurs with extra arms). I thought I had something unique, but it just felt like a drop in the ocean (to match the ocean theme of one of my books- ha).

So I did what any sensible person would do in the face of competition: I spent money on ads.

I spent a max of $1 per day (that’s the highest they would let me spend). This brought my views up from a humble four per day to several hundred per week. Yet, despite the traffic, sales were non-existent. After a month of this, I decided to turn off the ads and save my dignity. It was costing me more than I was making, and I was beginning to wonder if I had accidentally created an Etsy graveyard for digital colouring books.

A Bitter End

Eventually, Etsy suspended my listings because I hadn’t verified my bank account. What was the point in verifying my bank account when I hadn’t made any money? At that point, I was too disheartened to bother with the verification or to relist my books. It was like the universe had just thrown up its hands and said, “You tried.” Could I have done better? Possibly.

On reflection I could have:

• Uploaded my books to Amazon for additional exposure (although costing me even more time).
• Created more designs to gain favour with Etsy’s algorithm.
• Created a video for my listings- apparently that creates more views for listings.
• Spent more time perfecting my SEO strategy.

But let’s be real, the YouTubers promised quick, easy money with minimal effort. My experience was more like a slap in the face.

In Summary –

Pros

1. Creative Learning Opportunity: Developed new skills in design tools like Canva and Inkscape.
2. Low Initial Investment: Minimal startup cost with just the purchase of software and Etsy fees.
3. Endless Creative Possibilities: Opportunity to experiment with different themes and designs for colouring books.
4. Exposure to the Market: Listing on Etsy and Amazon gives your work a chance to be seen by a large audience.

Cons

1. Highly Saturated Market: Tough competition with countless similar products, often leading to poor visibility.
2. Time-Consuming: The process of designing and setting up a shop took far more time than anticipated.
3. Minimal Profits: Despite effort and spending on ads, sales were non-existent and failed to cover expenses.
4. Unpredictable Results: The hustle didn’t match expectations, leading to disappointment and wasted effort.
5. Platform Challenges: Etsy’s algorithm and issues like account verification were roadblocks that hindered success.

Rating Breakdown for Selling Digital Coloring Books:

• Start-Up Cost (7/10): The initial investment is relatively low, involving software like Canva and Inkscape, along with Etsy setup fees. However, additional costs for ads and ongoing Etsy fees can add up quickly.
• Time Commitment (5/10): Designing and setting up the store required far more time than expected, and the learning curve for design tools was steep. Listing and promoting books also demanded significant time and effort.
• Income Potential (2/10): The income potential is low, as the digital coloring book market is saturated, and despite spending on ads, sales didn’t meet expectations. It’s a slow-moving hustle with uncertain returns.
• Fun Factor (6/10): While the process of creating designs was enjoyable, it quickly became tedious due to the lack of immediate financial rewards. The creative satisfaction didn’t outweigh the lack of sales.
• Flexibility (8/10): You can work on the books at your own pace and from home, giving you a lot of flexibility. However, you need to be prepared to invest significant time and effort to make it work.

Final Rating: 4/10

Thinking of selling digital colouring books as your next side hustle? Well, hold onto your crayons because the reality isn’t quite the colourful dream it’s painted to be. Sure, it’s a creative journey and a chance to learn tools like Canva and Inkscape, but the financial returns? Let’s just say they’re more “gray-scale doodle” than “vibrant masterpiece.” Plus, with a market already swamped with competition, making a splash isn’t easy. If you’re chasing passive income, this might not be the pot of gold at the end of your rainbow.

That said, from a creative angle, I’d give it a solid 6/10. I learned some handy new design skills, and I’ve got a neat stack of PDFs that can double as last-minute gifts for kids.

But if you’re still itching to dive into the world of digital colouring books, here’s the truth: it’s not the golden ticket those “side hustle guru” videos promised. Success might be possible, but it takes strategy, grit, and way more effort than your average YouTube tutorial lets on. So, don’t quit your day job just yet, and be prepared to colour outside the lines if you want to stand out in this overcrowded niche!