How to make custom phone cases to start an online business

For better or worse, few things are more ubiquitous than smartphones - except, perhaps, cell phone cases. 

While some smartphone owners are willing to go caseless, most (especially those who’ve had to repair a screen cracked by a phone drop) see a cell phone case as an important way to protect their mobile phones. Phone cases are also a common way for people to express their individuality. 

Phone cases’ durability and popularity make selling them an excellent option for an online business you can run from your home.

Main takeaways from this article:

• Starting your own phone case business can be a great way to make money online.

• Elements to consider before starting a custom phone case business.

• Explore tips for designing phone cases. 

• With the print on demand business model, you can create and sell custom phone cases while minimizing your up-front costs and the risk of unsold inventory.

• Learn how to create and launch a customized phone case business with our step-by-step guide. We’ll cover everything from identifying your target market and developing your brand to choosing a print on demand provider and designing your phone cases.

Is a phone case business profitable?

Absolutely! It’s one of our top product categories for 2023.

Running a custom phone case business from home allows you to sidestep many startup costs associated with a traditional storefront, helping your online store become profitable quickly. 

Increasing smartphone adoption worldwide is expected to grow the $10.91 billion phone case industry to a size of $35.5 billion by 2025 - a 7.5% annual growth rate. Owners’ desire to avoid cracked or otherwise damaged phone screens drives much of this demand, as repairs and replacements can be prohibitively expensive. Many buyers will pay a premium for tough cases with advanced protective features, especially if they’ve recently purchased a new phone model.

Owners also consider phone cases a reflection of themselves, opting for custom phone cases that feature favorite movies, television and streaming series, quotes, music, and more. Aligning your own phone case designs with entertainment and social media trends will keep your buyers engaged, as people will often impulse-buy an appealing new phone case even if the old one doesn’t need replacing.

Understanding the types of phone cases

Just as no particular design of cell phone cases speaks to everyone, no singular phone case style appeals to every buyer. Your customers will each prioritize style and protection differently, so it’s essential to be familiar with the most common types of phone cases and what they offer buyers.

Flexi cases

Lightweight Flexi cases feature a frosty transparent TPU shell with an eye-catching design that’s wireless-charging compatible and impact-resistant.

Clear cases

This slim, transparent case makes a fashion statement and is impact-resistant, scratch-proof, and wireless-charging compatible.

Biodegradable cases

Made of at least 70% organic, recycled, or biodegradable material, bio cases help eco-conscious consumers protect their phone’s design and the planet.

Slim cases

Durable slim cases feature a wraparound fashion statement design with an opaque, shock-and-scratch-resistant white polycarbonate base and a glossy finish.

Tough cases

The double-layered security of tough cases provides serious impact resistance and shock absorption for different models in a glossy wraparound shell.

Things to consider before starting a custom phone case business

Before diving into the custom phone case business, there are several vital factors to consider: 

• Market research: Understand your potential customers and what they seek in a phone case. Are they looking for protection, style, or both? Knowing your audience helps tailor your products to meet their needs, whether they desire sleek, minimalist designs or bold, artistic statements. 

• Design originality: Your designs should stand out. Whether creating an eye-catching iPhone case design or catering to different models, uniqueness will set you apart. Keep up with the latest trends, but also add your creative touch. Offer custom designs that match personal styles and make a bold fashion statement. 

• Quality and durability: Your phone cases must be top-notch. They should effectively protect a phone while maintaining its aesthetic value. Select materials and printing methods that ensure durability, as a well-made case can enhance your brand’s reputation and customer satisfaction. 

• Online store optimization: Your online store is your primary sales platform. Ensure it is easy to use, set up to boost sales, and attractively displays your phone cases. Use clear, great-quality pictures and write engaging descriptions for your products.

How to make phone cases for an online business: 10 easy steps

There’s no one right way to start your own phone case business, but following these steps will give your online phone case store a solid grounding and a strong chance of success. 

1. Research the phone case market

A savvy business owner of cell phone cases starts with a few hours of market research. Get to know the phone case business and industry by browsing competing phone case businesses and brands on Amazon, Etsy, and Shopify. Is there a way to improve their phone case designs and material choices? How can you break out from the pack?

Google Trends is another great tool. It analyzes your query and serves up stats on search volume, regional popularity, and related Google search terms to help you figure out what people are talking about and whether there’s a market gap your own custom phone case brand can fill.

2. Determine your niche

To find your specific niche, think about your interests and passions. Do they overlap with the market gap you identified in the last step?

You can also differentiate your custom products with a unique value proposition, like battery cases with distinctive design elements, bumper cases with a focus on sustainability, or personalized phone case options. If your phone case designs revolve around popular causes, you could pledge to give a certain amount from your sales proceeds to benefit the cause.

3. Identify your target audience

Social media research

Social media is a great place to solicit feedback from potential customers. Simple surveys can help you understand peoples’ wants, pain points, and needs around cell phone cases. For example: is wireless charging connectivity important, or do most people still prefer cords? 

Buyer personas and segmentation

Segmenting your target market with detailed buyer personas will help zero in on branding and design choices. Use broad-but-useful segments like:

• Age

• Gender

• Marital status

• Education level

• Employment status

• Income

You should also visit competitors’ social media pages and read the comments. Who’s engaging with their brand? What are they talking about? How can you get their attention?

4. Develop your brand

Once you’ve identified your niche and target audience, it’s time to think about how you’ll differentiate your own phone case brand from a sea of other phone case companies selling in brick-and-mortar stores and online marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon. 

Your customized phone cases need a strong, well-defined identity to stand out. Good questions to ask yourself include:

• What is your brand’s mission? Do you align with any specific causes?

• What do you value? Maybe it’s hard work, determination, originality, or creativity. 

• What’s your brand’s personality? Are you buttoned-up and professional, chill, or disruptive and mischievous?

Your answers will inform key choices around your color scheme, typography, logo, and brand name. Successfully tying everything together will create a brand identity that’s memorable and instantly recognizable.

Your choices will also help you develop your brand's voice for interacting with customers and followers across channels.

5. Choose your sales channel

Locking down your brand identity is a big step toward choosing the right channel (or combination of channels) for selling your own phone cases. Some of the most common choices include:

• Running your own website. This is the path to take if you want total control over your store’s design and functionality. If you plan to incorporate additional content like videos or a blog, this is a great way to build a space that really comes to define your brand. You’ll need technical skills and strong marketing strategies to make it work, though. 

• Selling on social media. Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram let you leverage naturally-segmented audiences to build a community around your brand. However, these platforms offer little room for customization, and native selling tools will be limited.

• Using an ecommerce platform. Opening a store on marketplaces like Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, eBay, WooCommerce, and others gives you instant access to a broad audience of potential customers already primed for buying phone cases. But these platforms often limit store customization options, which can mute your brand identity. Online marketplaces also charge hosting and transaction fees.

6. Set up your storefront

If you’re selling from your custom products business website, you’ll need to procure a domain name that aligns with your own business name and is easy to remember, type, and share.

Ensure your site and storefront match your brand identity, with your logo and color scheme incorporated meaningfully. Create an aesthetically pleasing layout that naturally guides users toward shopping options.

If you’ve opted to open your store on an ecommerce platform, you may not have access to many customization options, but it’s essential to pull whatever levers you can. If possible, create variations of your logo or a custom banner you can incorporate into your storefront in a way that fits within platform guidelines.

7. Select a print on demand service

Most people don't know how to make phone cases, and even if they did, fabricating your own custom phone case often requires sophisticated printing equipment. Working with a print on demand (POD) partner like Gelato for your custom phone case business is essential. It also saves you inventory management headaches: your partner will only print the cases you sell, so you’re never saddled with unsold units.

When searching for potential print on demand suppliers, consider their business structure, pricing, product range and quality, shipping locations, and platform integrations.

Gelato is a premier POD partner offering high-quality phone cases in a variety of styles. Their hyper-local production and delivery business model keeps shipping costs manageable no matter your customer's location. Gelato’s expansive integration options allow them to work seamlessly behind the scenes to fulfill your orders, regardless of your chosen platform.

8. Design your custom phone cases

9. Add your phone cases to your store

If everything looks good with your samples, it’s time to start prepping your digital inventory. 

Take photos and create product descriptions

Use your samples to take some photos for your online store, but don’t settle for blurry, potato-quality shots! These pictures will be one of the most significant factors in whether your phone cases sell online, so hire a professional if you need to. 

Your product descriptions should be no less impressive. Good, search-optimized product descriptions include relevant keywords about the durability of your cases, their production materials, dimensions, compatible phone models, and more. 

Set pricing and configure payment and shipping options

Finding the right retail price balance for phone cases can be a challenge, so turn once again to your competition. What’s their price point? Can you justify charging more?

Depending on how you built your online store, you’ll find many tools available to help you configure multiple payment options and set shipping rates.

Define your return policy

Your return policy should offer your customers basic protection and be clearly communicated throughout your ecommerce website.

10. Promote your custom phone case business

Optimizing your site for search engines and establishing pay-per-click ads are two important steps you should take right away.

Leverage your social media accounts on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Twitter to show off your own phone cases. An influencer collab can drive massive traffic, but a steady mix of genuine, organic content and paid ads will help you avoid seeming too sales-y. 

Whether through your site or social media, get engaged followers to sign up for emails, then send out updates on discounts, promotions, and new designs.

Key tips for designing phone cases

Designing phone cases that stand out requires a blend of creativity and strategy. Begin by seeking inspiration from the latest trends, art pieces, or the beauty of nature to kickstart your design journey. Choosing suitable colors is vital - they must connect with your audience and match the phone’s style. Add distinctive fonts and crisp, clear images to turn the phone case into a trendy accessory.  

Get inspirational ideas

Fuel your phone case designs with a burst of inspiration from the worlds of fashion, technology, and art to spark creativity. Explore online galleries, stay up-to-date with social media trends, or find inspiration in the natural beauty surrounding you. Attend design exhibitions or browse design idea platforms to see what resonates with the market. Mixing these influences can lead to innovative, eye-catching designs. The most original ideas often come from blending different inspirations, creating something uniquely appealing to your target audience.  

Choose the right colors

Choosing the perfect colors is crucial for phone case designs. The right shades can stir emotions, evoke feelings, and immensely impact how attractive your product is. Understand color psychology and what’s popular with your audience. Consider how different colors go well or stand out against popular phone models. Pick colors that fit your brand’s vibe and connect with your customers. Whether you choose bright, bold colors or understated, elegant ones, your choices should make the design pop, turning each case into a piece of art. 

Play with fonts

Playing with different fonts can make your phone case designs pop, turning them from plain to stunning. The perfect font does more than share your message; it boosts the whole look of your design. Think about the feel you’re going for - classy scripts for a touch of elegance, robust Roboto for a contemporary edge, or whimsical hand-drawn fonts for a playful vibe. Ensure readability from a distance and compatibility with the case’s visual elements. Matching the font style with the design theme can enhance the case, making it a personalized accessory.

Use good-quality pictures

Incorporating high-quality pictures is crucial for crafting standout phone cases. A sharp, clear image ensures your design looks professional and appeals to customers. When enlarged, the picture must stay sharp and clear to fit the case without getting blurry or pixelated. Choose high-resolution images representing your brand and connecting with your audience, turning each case into a visual treat. The quality of your image dramatically shapes how customers view your product. 

Keep It simple

Embracing simplicity in phone case designs can have a powerful impact. A sleek, tidy design usually hits the mark, bringing a classic charm. Such designs bring out your creative core without overwhelming the viewer, keeping the spotlight on your work’s quality and flair. Simple doesn’t have to be boring - stick to the essentials and let your design talk.

Sell custom phone cases online with Gelato

There’s never been a better time (except yesterday) to sell your own phone cases online. Following the steps above will help you create a successful phone case business and tap into growing customer demand for high-quality cases that look great and keep their devices safe. 

To help fast-track your sales, start your own phone case business with Gelato today. Our API and ecommerce integrations with Etsy, Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, and BigCommerce make designing, proofing, and producing your phone cases simple.

We can produce cases for the following phone models: 

• iPhone 7

• iPhone 7 Plus

• iPhone 8

• iPhone 8 Plus

• iPhone X

• iPhone XS

• iPhone XS Max

• iPhone XR

• iPhone 11

• iPhone 11 Pro

• iPhone 11 Pro Max

• iPhone SE

• iPhone 12 Mini

• iPhone 12

• iPhone 12 Pro

• iPhone 12 Pro Max

• iPhone 13

• iPhone 13 Mini

• iPhone 13 Pro

• iPhone 13 Pro Max

• iPhone 14

• iPhone 14 Plus

• iPhone 14 Pro

• iPhone 14 Pro Max

• Galaxy S20

• Galaxy S20 Plus

• Galaxy S20 Ultra

• Galaxy S21

• Galaxy S21 Plus

• Galaxy S21 Ultra

Plus, our network of 130+ local production partners in 32 countries enables creators and ecommerce sellers to scale their businesses quickly and reach new markets faster while reducing waste, costs, and carbon emissions. 

It's a win-win for business owners and the planet.

Custom phone cases FAQs

Starting a phone case business begins with defining your niche and understanding your target market. Create one-of-a-kind, striking designs, or gather a collection that mirrors the latest trends and individual styles. Launch an online shop on a dependable platform that fits your business approach, whether you’re focusing on print on demand or keeping stock of your designs. Put effort into marketing to enhance your brand’s visibility and engage with prospective customers, highlighting the distinct features of your custom phone cases and their standout appeal.

Starting a phone case business can vary in cost depending on your business model. If you’re using a print on demand service, initial costs can be low, mainly covering design and online store setup. With Gelato, the upfront cost is almost negligible in the context of setting up a business.

Phone cases are excellent for dropshipping due to their high demand and lightweight nature. Dropshipping phone cases means you can offer many designs that appeal to anyone’s unique style without much risk. With Gelato, you don’t need to buy stock in advance, so it’s an excellent way for entrepreneurs to enter the booming smartphone accessory world. Plus, it helps keep costs down because you’re not stuck with unsold inventory.

Picking a suitable material for your phone case is all about what matters to you: keeping your phone safe or looking stylish. Thermoplastic polyurethane is fantastic for a soft feel and firm grip, while rigid plastics like polycarbonate protect well against falls. If you’re thinking green, PBAT and PLA are the way to go.

The profit you earn from selling phone cases can vary, typically between 50% and 200%. This variation depends on production costs, branding strategy, and market positioning. High-quality, unique designs or branded cases often fetch higher prices, enhancing profitability. Efficient production, intelligent pricing strategies, and targeted marketing can significantly boost margins, making phone cases lucrative for online businesses.