Starting a planner shop takes less than most people expect. This is the full list of materials and equipment worth having — what's essential, what's optional, and what you can skip until you're selling regularly.
If you want the business side rather than the kit list, start with our complete startup guide or the breakdown of what it actually costs.
Some links below are Amazon affiliate links. They cost you nothing extra and help support the work here.
The essentials
If you're only buying a few things, buy these first.
 Chipboard / Book Board |  Cinch Binding Machine |  Binding Wires |
 Guillotine Paper Cutter |  Sticker Paper |  Cardstock Paper |
Chipboard at 1.2mm suits most covers. Wires at 20mm cover a standard planner; go to 30mm for thicker books. Cardstock at 220gsm works for covers, 100–120gsm for inserts.
Printers
A supertank printer pays for itself quickly if you're printing regularly.
 Canon PIXMA G6020 |  HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e |
For a full comparison including the Epson EcoTank, see our guide to the best printers for planner making.
Binding and finishing tools
 Bone Folder |  Bookbinding Glue |  Book Press |
 Hole Puncher |  Rotary Punch Kit |  Screws & Rivets Kit |
 Coil Binding Machine |  Spiral Binding Coils |  Coil Crimping Pliers |
 32mm Binding Spines |  Bookbinding Starter Kit |
Extras worth having
 Restickable Glue Stick |  Scotch Repositionable Glue |  Gold Binder Clips |
 Divider & Tab Punch |  Circle Cutter |  Magnetic Sheets |
 Foam Craft Sheets |  Perforating Cutter |  Corner Rounder Punch |
 Spray Gloss Sealer |
What you don't need
- Expensive design software — Planify Pro covers the design side
- Photography equipment — mockups do the job for listing images
- Your own website — Etsy handles storefront and payments
- A large budget — you can start for well under $50 with digital products only
- Design experience
Tutorials to start with
Once you have the kit, these walk you through actual projects:
- How to make a planner book
- How to make notepads
- DIY half-hidden wire notebook
- DIY lay-flat sketchbook
- Book binding methods compared
- All DIY tutorials
Next steps
Ready to sell? Read how to sell planners on Etsy, browse 20 profitable planner niches, and check the mistakes worth avoiding.
You can also follow along on Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.
