phone case business plan

We earn commissions if you shop through the links below.  Read more

Phone Case Business

Back to All Business Ideas

How to Make and Sell Phone Cases – A Step by Step Guide

Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on November 25, 2021 Updated on July 2, 2024

Investment range

$4,650 - $30,100

Revenue potential

$30,000 - $150,000 p.a.

Time to build

0 – 3 months

Profit potential

$25,000 - $75,000 p.a.

Industry trend

Some 6.5 billion of the world’s 8 billion people, or 80 percent of humanity, use mobile phones as of 2022, according to research firm Statista.(( https://www.statista.com/statistics/330695/number-of-smartphone-users-worldwide/ )) That number is growing steadily, along with the average cost of a phone. As a result, the smartphone accessories market, which is led by protective cases, is ripe with opportunity. If you have a creative touch and a gung-ho attitude, a custom phone case business could be your entrepreneurial avenue to success.

Of course, starting a successful phone case business will have its challenges and require hard work. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place, as this step-by-step guide will provide all the information you need to develop and launch your new business.

Looking to register your business? A limited liability company (LLC) is the best legal structure for new businesses because it is fast and simple.

Form your business immediately using ZenBusiness LLC formation service or hire one of the Best LLC Services .

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

Pros and cons.

All businesses, including a phone case business, have pros and cons that you need to consider thoroughly to decide if the business is right for you.

• Creativity – case design offers endless possibility
• Demand – everybody has a phone that needs protecting
• Simplicity — uncomplicated business model
• Profit potential – high margins mean good income
• Competition – saturated market, not easy to stand out
• Production – finding a good inexpensive manufacturer could be tough
• Choosing market – which phones will you make cases for?

Phone case industry trends

Because smartphones are today such a significant investment, costing up to $1,000 or more, consumers feel the need to protect them, thus driving sharp growth in the phone case market.

The expansion is led by increased smartphone use, which is expected to grow a further 30% by 2026, according to research firm Market Data Forecast.(( https://www.marketdataforecast.com/market-reports/smartphone-market ))

Industry size and growth

• Industry size and past growth – Industry analyst Verified Market Research valued the global mobile phone protective cases market at over $21 billion in 2020.(( https://www.verifiedmarketresearch.com/product/mobile-phone-protective-cases-market/ ))
• Growth forecast – The global market is predicted to grow further by around 7% annually through 2028.

Trends and challenges

Phone case trends are:

• Steady demand for accessories to protect mobile phones
• Consumers pick phone cases to make a statement
• Growing preference for cases with a slot for credit cards and ID and colorful abstract designs that pop

Challenges in the phone case industry include:

• Lack of universal standards in manufacturing phone cases
• Product defects and wrong measurements
• High level of competition

Popular smartphones

Cases for the most popular smartphones are experiencing strong growth. Market analyst IDC lists the top mobile phone companies worldwide in the first quarter of 2022(( https://www.idc.com/promo/smartphone-market-share )):

• Samsung (24%)
• Apple (18%)
• Xiaomi (13%)

How much does it cost to start a phone case business?

Startup costs for a phone case business range from around $4,500 to $30,000 with an average of around $17,000. At the low end, you can start with a phone case making kit to make your own cases and sell via an online marketplace like Amazon or Etsy to avoid the cost of creating your own website. The high-end option would include hiring a manufacturer to make your first batch of cases.

You’ll need a phone case making starter kit and a case design software to successfully launch your phone case business.

How much can you earn from a phone case business?

Making a phone case can cost as little as $2, while that case can then be sold at a retail price of $15, resulting in an approximately 85% profit margin.

If you’re a solopreneur, you could work from home and sell 2,000 units in a year, bringing in $30,000 in annual revenue and at least $25,000 in profit. As your brand gains recognition, sales could climb to 10,000 units a year. At this stage, you might rent an office and hire staff, reducing your margin to 50%. With expected annual revenue of $150,000, you’d make about $75,000.

What barriers to entry are there?

There are a few barriers to entry for a phone case business. Your biggest challenges will be:

• Competition – It’s a very saturated market
• Manufacturing – Finding a reliable and inexpensive producer can be tough

Related Business Ideas

The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Phone Repair Business

A Beginner’s Guide to Starting a Custom Sticker Business

How to Start a Business With Your Cricut Machine

Step 2: hone your idea.

Now that you know what’s involved in starting a phone case business, it’s a good idea to hone your idea in preparation to enter a competitive market.

Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.

Why? Identify an opportunity

Examine the latest phone case designs and themes, and particularly those seeing strong sales, to come up with a concept for your own designs.

Try to find a unique approach or design to differentiate your products and stand out in a crowded market.

What? Determine your products

You’ll not only need to choose a list of designs that you want to make, but also determine your materials and which phones you’ll make cases for. You could choose the most common models, or choose less common models to create a niche market.

How much should you charge for phone cases?

The average price for a phone case in a marketplace like Amazon is between $10 – $20, but prices are often much higher. You should start at the low end at first until you start to gain traction with your business. 

Once you know your costs, you can use this Step By Step profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify your target market

Your target market will depend on your designs. If your designs are fun and trendy, you may wish to target a younger audience found on sites like Instagram and TikTok.

Where? Choose your business premises

In the early stages, you may want to operate your business from home to keep costs low. But as your business grows, you’ll likely need to hire workers for various roles. You may need to rent out a storefront or office for your operations. You can find commercial space to rent in your area on sites such as Craigslist , Crexi , and Instant Offices .

When choosing a commercial space, you may want to follow these rules of thumb:

• Central location accessible via public transport
• Ventilated and spacious, with good natural light
• Flexible lease that can be extended as your business grows
• Ready-to-use space with no major renovations or repairs needed

Step 3: Brainstorm a Phone Case Business Name

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

• Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
• Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better
• The name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
• Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
• Including keywords, such as “phone case” or “phone protector”, boosts SEO
• Choose a name that allows for expansion: “The Phone Armor Company” over “Luxury Phone Cases Company”
• A location-based name can help establish a strong connection with your local community and help with the SEO but might hinder future expansion

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

Find a Domain

Powered by GoDaddy.com

Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that set your business apart. Once you pick your company name, and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.

Step 4: Create a Phone Case Business Plan

Here are the key components of a business plan:

• Executive Summary: A concise summary outlining the business’s mission, goals, and key achievements, providing a quick overview for potential investors or stakeholders.
• Business Overview: A detailed description of the phone case business, including its mission, vision, values, and the problem it aims to solve in the market.
• Product and Services: Clear details about the specific phone cases offered, including features, design options, and any additional services such as customization or warranty.
• Market Analysis: An in-depth examination of the target market, identifying customer needs, trends, and the business’s positioning within the industry.
• Competitive Analysis: Evaluation of key competitors in the phone case market, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and strategies to gain a competitive edge.
• Sales and Marketing: A comprehensive plan outlining how the business will promote and sell its phone cases, encompassing online and offline marketing strategies, pricing, and distribution channels.
• Management Team: Introduction to the individuals responsible for running the business, including their qualifications and roles in ensuring the company’s success.
• Operations Plan: A detailed overview of the day-to-day operations, covering production, supply chain management, and logistics to ensure efficient and effective business processes.
• Financial Plan: A projection of the business’s financial performance, including revenue forecasts, expenses, and profit margins, providing a clear picture of the company’s financial health and viability.
• Appendix: Supplementary materials, such as additional market research, legal documents, or any other relevant information that supports and enhances the business plan.

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business!

Choose where to register your company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you are planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to phone case manufacturing. 

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state.

Choose your business structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your phone case business will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely.

Here are the main options:

• Sole Proprietorship – The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
• General Partnership – Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) – Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.
• C Corp – Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation.
• S Corp – An S-Corporation refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. An S-Corp can be either a corporation or an LLC , which just need to elect to be an S-Corp for tax status. In an S-Corp, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization , and answer any questions you might have. 

Form Your LLC

Choose Your State

We recommend ZenBusiness as the Best LLC Service for 2024

Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identif i cation Number , or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN. 

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist , and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you are completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund your Phone Case Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

• Bank loans: This is the most common method but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and strong credit history.
• SBA-guaranteed loans: The Small Business Administration can act as guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan .
• Government grants: A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
• Venture capital: Venture capital investors take an ownership stake in exchange for funds, so keep in mind that you’d be sacrificing some control over your business. This is generally only available for businesses with high growth potential.
• Friends and Family: Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
• Crowdfunding: Websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like Fundable and WeFunder enable multiple investors to fund your business.
• Personal: Self-fund your business via your savings or the sale of property or other assets.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best options, other than friends and family, for funding a phone case business. You might also try crowdfunding if you have an innovative concept.

Step 8: Apply for Licenses and Permits

Starting a phone case business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.

Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits. 

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more. 

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package . They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money, you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account .

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your phone case business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account.

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

• General liability : The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
• Business Property : Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
• Equipment Breakdown Insurance : Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
• Worker’s compensation : Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
• Property : Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
• Commercial auto : Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
• Professional liability : Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
• Business owner’s policy (BOP) : This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of any of the above insurance types.

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business.

Essential software and tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks. 

Design software, such as HAVIpropel , PhotoCenter3D , and PRINTFUL , can help turn you into a brilliant designer of phone cases.

• Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks , Freshbooks , and Xero . 
• If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences for filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial.

Develop your website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.

You can create your own website using services like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace . This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

They are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization ( SEO ) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google. 

Here are some powerful marketing strategies for your future business:

• Professional Branding : Develop a visual identity that reflects style and reliability, including logo design, product packaging, and online store aesthetics.
• Direct Outreach : Connect with tech bloggers, influencers, and accessory retailers to explore partnership and feature opportunities.
• Website and SEO : Create an engaging online storefront showcasing your range, with customer reviews, and optimize it with SEO best practices for better search visibility.
• Social Media Engagement : Utilize platforms like Instagram for visual storytelling and Facebook for community building, highlighting product features and customer experiences.
• Blog on Phone Case Trends : Publish posts on design trends, protection technology, and customization options to educate and engage your audience.
• Email Newsletters : Send updates on new collections, exclusive offers, and behind-the-scenes content to keep your brand top-of-mind.
• Pop-Up Shops and Tech Events : Showcase your cases at tech expos, pop-up shops, or local markets to directly engage with customers.
• Collaborations with Tech Brands : Partner with smartphone companies or tech accessory brands for co-marketing campaigns.
• Partnerships with Designers : Collaborate with artists or designers for limited edition cases, enhancing brand uniqueness.
• Community Support Projects : Participate in or sponsor tech education events to build brand goodwill and awareness.
• Referral Programs : Encourage word-of-mouth marketing with rewards for referrals from satisfied customers.
• Targeted Online Advertising : Use social media and Google Ads to target tech enthusiasts and smartphone users with visually appealing ads.

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that sets it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your phone cases meet their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire. 

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your phone case business could be:

• Phone cases for the biggest or smallest phones only
• The wildest and most unique case designs
• Custom-made designs according to your vision!

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain. But your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running a phone case business, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been making phone cases for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections. 

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in phone cases. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership. Online businesses might also consider affiliate marketing as a way to build relationships with potential partners and boost business.

Step 12: Build Your Team

If you’re starting out small from a home office, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for a phone case business would include:

• Designers – design new unique cases
• Customer Service – handle customer calls
• General Manager – scheduling, hiring and firing, inventory
• Marketing Lead – SEO optimization, social media strategies

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need. 

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed , Glassdoor , or ZipRecruiter . Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent. 

Step 13: Run a Phone Case Business – Start Making Money!

Much like global phone usage, the phone case industry is growing by leaps and bounds. Think about it: every time you upgrade to a new phone you need a new case. The market is expected to grow further through 2028. 

You might want to focus on a niche market, such as making cases only for the most popular smartphones. You might also consider doing creative and unique designs. People like to make a statement with their cases, so feel free to use your creative juices as you launch your new business. You’re now ready to start making phone cases, and good money!

• Phone Case Business FAQs

Yes, you can. You can purchase design software and a phone case making kit with 100 blank cases for about $4,000. It’s not a difficult process – you just need creative designs.

There are no industry-specific permits required to manufacture cases, but your state or town may require certain licenses and permits. Check with your state and local government offices for requirements.

Profit margins on phone cases are high. When you start by yourself from home, your margin can be up to 80%. Even after you grow your company, your profit margin can still be around 50%. The sky’s the limit when it comes to sales since the market for phone cases is expected to be $35 billion by 2028.

To differentiate your phone cases from competitors, focus on unique designs, customization options, high-quality materials, and durability. Target niche markets, build a compelling brand story, and provide exceptional customer service.

Online, consider establishing your own e-commerce website, selling through popular online marketplaces like Amazon or eBay, and utilizing social media platforms to showcase and sell your products. Offline, explore opportunities to partner with retail stores, set up kiosks or booths at local events or trade shows, and consider consignment arrangements with relevant brick-and-mortar stores.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Decide if the Business Is Right for You
• Hone Your Idea
• Brainstorm a Phone Case Business Name
• Create a Phone Case Business Plan
• Register Your Business
• Register for Taxes
• Fund your Phone Case Business
• Apply for Licenses and Permits
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get Business Insurance
• Prepare to Launch
• Build Your Team
• Run a Phone Case Business - Start Making Money!

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Featured resources.

15 Profitable Manufacturing Business Opportunities You Can Launch

Carolyn Young

Published on December 1, 2022

If you’re thinking of starting a business, manufacturing may not be at the top of your list. It sounds daunting, and getting started is likely tor ...

Explore Top 9 Trading Business Ideas

Esther Strauss

Published on August 12, 2022

Are you a born trader? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Countless businesses involve trade, from import-export to stock trading, from online ...

10 Profitable Electronic Business Ideas

Published on July 29, 2022

In this digital age, businesses related to electronics hold great potential. So if you’re looking for a business opportunity, look no further than ...

No thanks, I don't want to stay up to date on industry trends and news.

• Build your business

Business Tools

• Profit Margin Calculator
• Business Name Generator
• Slogan Generator
• Traffic Calculator
• Ecommerce Statistics
• Ecommerce Wiki

Free business tools

Start a business and design the life you want – all in one place.

• © 2015-2024 Oberlo

How To Make Phone Cases To Sell Online in 11 Easy Steps

In a market flooded with generic phone cases, have you ever felt the pull to create something unique? With the US phone accessory market gearing up to reach  $75.62 billion by 2026 , there’s a vast audience seeking more than just the ordinary. That’s your cue to make your own phone cases—ones that resonate with individual style and still provide top-notch protection .

Why start your own phone case business?

Starting a custom phone case business has undeniable perks:

• Flexibility to sell phone cases online or from a physical kiosk.
• Their compact nature makes inventory and shipping a breeze.
• Production costs are typically low.
• You can opt for print on demand for minimal risk or buy in bulk to boost profit margins.
• Each new phone model opens doors, especially since 44% of smartphone users upgrade every 2.5 years.

What do you need to start a phone case business?

The main thing any business owner needs when starting a phone case business is a good plan of action. There are many different kinds of cases out there for various types of phones. Make sure you know your options before diving into phone case design. Take a look at:

• Gel cases: Slim gel cases are easy to customize with a range of designs. They come with additional grip sections, so it’s easier to keep hold of your phone. Gel cases are affordable and versatile—perfect for a range of designs. 
• Bumper cases: Bumper cases usually come with extra protection for the edges and sides of your phone. They may have a full gel section for covering the back of the device or simply wrap around the phone in certain spaces to prevent damage.
• Wallet cases: For sophisticated customers looking to protect their phone and screen simultaneously, wallet cases cover every part of the phone and defend against scratches. Most come in leather-style materials, which can be customized.
• Hard cases: Hard cases snap onto the phone and help to protect against damage. They’re great for keeping your phone in good condition, and they can last longer than some gel and rubber options. Hard cases can also be customized. 
• Battery cases: Battery cases include built-in power sources that extend your phone’s battery life. These cases are bulkier but ideal for customers who need extra power on the go. They combine protection with functionality, making them perfect for heavy phone users or frequent travelers.
• Waterproof cases: Waterproof cases seal your phone entirely, protecting it from water, dust, and even snow. They’re ideal for outdoor enthusiasts or those who use their phones near water. These cases may also include additional features like floating mechanisms or underwater photo capabilities.
• Special cases: Special cases have unique features, like extra shock protection, built-in charging systems, and even hand-carved wood designs. Most of these cases cost a little more, but they can be very appealing to customers.

Tools like  Keywords Everywhere can help you track the search volume for specific kinds of phones so you know where to begin.

Devices to make custom cases for

When starting your phone case business, another crucial decision is determining which phone models you’ll support. By targeting specific models or perhaps underserved smartphone niches, you open doors to unique market opportunities. For instance, spotting a demand for cases for an upcoming phone can position you ahead of the competition.

As you embark on your custom phone case journey, here are some key devices to consider:

iPhone models:

• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 mini
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Plus
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max

Samsung Galaxy models:

Xiaomi models:

How to make a phone case business: 11 steps to launch

Once you know what kind of cases you’re going to be designing and which phone types you’ll be targeting, it’s time to start mapping your path to launch. Though  starting your own business can seem daunting at first, the evolving digital world makes it much easier to jump in than you’d think. Here’s what you need to make a phone case business:

1. Find a gap in the market

The best businesses come from discovering a market gap and building a strategy to fill that space. There are tons of phone case companies out there. Finding a specific niche to cater to will help you to build a memorable and competitive brand. 

Remember, a specific niche means that you’ll have fewer companies to fight against when it comes to making your company stand out. Focusing on a niche like “eco-friendly” customers will also direct your business processes, determining which kinds of materials you’re going to use and which suppliers you can work with. For instance, you could consider making phone cases using sustainable or recycled materials.

Focusing on a single niche will even help you rank higher with Google, because you can target specific terms that make the most sense to your audience. So, how do you find a gap?

Look at Google Trends

Tools like Google Trends will help you  find trending products in your industry, like “wooden” phone cases or “personalized” phone cases. You can also use this tool to determine which phones your customers are most interested in.

Conduct competitor analysis

Checking out your competition will help you see which audiences are already being targeted and which groups still need more options. For instance, you might notice that none of your competitors are offering phone cases specifically for moms, teachers, or professionals.

Speak to your customers

Try speaking to people in your potential target audience. Running surveys on forums and social media groups might help you collect valuable information about your potential niche.

Check out influencers

Visit social media and see what kinds of cases are getting the most attention. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are great places to find phone cases trending amongst audiences.

2. Determine your target audience

Determining your target audience is crucial for online sales. The right phone case design demands the right buyer. For instance, if you design a case inspired by various shades of nail polish, understanding who’s drawn to such designs becomes paramount.

Dig deep into data like:

• Daily routines
• Spending habits

Methods to gather this information vary between businesses. Many businesses tap into social media. Facebook Audience Insights can shed light on your potential customers. Others prefer a direct approach, reaching out and surveying their current customer base.

Different demographics have unique preferences. Younger audiences might gravitate toward designs inspired by trending nail polish colors. They might also, however, have budget constraints. Middle-aged buyers might invest in more durable cases, focusing less on design and more on function.

3. Create a business plan

Creating a business plan is essential for your journey to selling phone cases online. It helps outline your strategy, anticipate challenges, and determine the resources you’ll need to make your idea a reality.

Think about your goals for your phone case business. Do you envision your designs being featured in major retailers like Target? Or do you want to build a luxury brand found in exclusive boutiques? Perhaps you’re focused on running an online store with a loyal customer base.

As the business owner, you get to choose your direction. Once done, define your objectives clearly and let them guide your decisions as you build your brand.

4. Design some phone cases

With your business plan ready, it’s time to create those eye-catching phone cases. Here’s where you can get creative and experiment with different designs. Try  making your own mockups in Photoshop , or use  mockup tools from print-on-demand (POD) companies . These tools show your designs on various phone models, making it easier to visualize your creations.

Before printing, verify each option. Some companies only use specific techniques or cover limited areas of the case. Here’s how you can design your phone cases:

• Collaborate with designers: Connect with designers on platforms like Dribbble . You might find someone interested in a long-term partnership or designing full collections for you.
• Hire freelancers: There are plenty of affordable freelance artists who can create unique designs for your phone cases, tailored to various tastes.
• Let your audience contribute: Engage your social media followers to submit their own photos or designs for you to print on custom phone cases.

To sell custom phone cases successfully, offer a good selection of options. Don’t launch with just a couple of cases. A wide range appeals more to smartphone users.

5. Create a unique online brand

A brand refers to your identity or personality as a business. You can convey this through unique logos and color choices for your company, as well as a well-designed website, packaging strategy, and more.  Branding makes your company more memorable to your target audience and helps to set you apart from the competition. Make sure you have:

• A  unique logo to set your brand apart from the competition
• Attractive visuals like  brand photography , animations, videos, and illustrations
• A color pallet to convey a specific identity and personality for your company—make sure you understand the psychology of colors before  creating a palette  
• Content and copywriting to showcase your unique tone of voice 
• A brand name and  mission statement that customers can remember
• A mission or set of brand values to help identify you to customers

It helps to research some of your competitors to see the kind of branding they’ve been trying to build. Make notes of what you like and dislike about similar brands and use the available resources online to start creating. Shopify, for instance, has its own video and  logo maker . 

6. Source your phone cases

Now it’s time to find a source to supply inventory to your business. There are a few options available here, such as:

Working with a manufacturer

It’s easy enough to find an affordable wholesale manufacturer with platforms like Alibaba and other online marketplaces. Here, you can search for all kinds of phone case types for different devices. You will need to buy in bulk, which means storing hundreds of cases at once, but you can save a lot of cash this way. 

Using print on demand

Print-on-demand companies are ideal if you want to easily add your own designs to products and send them straight to customers. With print on demand, you choose a supplier to add your designs to your chosen phone cases, and those companies will create the pieces for you. 

Dropshipping

Dropshipping is one of the most affordable ways to source phone cases for your business. You choose a manufacturer who makes the kind of product you want, and they’ll ship your phone cases directly to your customers for you. Dropshipping tools like  DSers give you countless phone accessories to choose from, and you can avoid having to look after your own stock.

Confused between the last two? Learn how  print on demand compares to dropshipping to pick the right sourcing strategy for your business.

7. Decide your brand name and logo

If it looks like you can manufacture custom phone cases at a reasonable cost, it’s time to shape your public image. Start by picking a catchy business name and designing a unique logo.

Use tools like Shopify’s free logo maker to create your logo and brand assets. After answering a few questions about your business, the tool will suggest logos from hundreds of templates.

The best part? You can also create visual assets for your social media profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok. This helps you maintain a consistent look across all your channels.

People are drawn to brands with compelling stories. So, weave your story into your brand name, logo, and website. This is especially crucial if you’re manufacturing phone cases. Get these elements ready before your first batch is done so you can start selling to mobile phone users immediately.

8. Price your cases

Choosing the right price point for a product can be one of the toughest parts of building your phone case business. If your price is too high, it will drive customers to your competitors. However, an extremely low price can indicate that you’re using lower-quality materials. 

The pricing you choose needs to convey the high quality of your designs while still being affordable for your  target market . Look at your competitors for an initial starting point to see what kind of prices they’re charging. Then, think about the factors that might affect your pricing, such as how long it takes to make the items you want to sell and how many resources you’ll need to hire. 

Once you recoup the costs of making the product with your pricing, you’ll need to think about how much of a profit you want to make. Check out these  pricing strategy options for more guidance. 

9. Build your online store

Outside of designing your phone cases, building your online store is one of the most exciting things you’ll do when creating a new business. There are tons of great ways to start selling online, but it makes sense to start with a store builder that’s well-known and easy to use, like  Shopify . 

As you’re working on your mobile phones site, make sure to put up all the things that impact people’s perceptions of your business. Write  engaging product descriptions , upload  beautiful product images , and create  noteworthy landing pages . Other things to consider include:

• About and Contact Us pages to build site credibility
• Checkout pages with multiple payment options
• Legal information like privacy policies and terms and conditions
• A blog or news page for content marketing 
• Pop-ups and slide-ins for sharing offers with customers

Shopify comes with a range of excellent features so you can dive straight into your site development process. You can even choose from a set of  beautiful ecommerce themes to apply, so you know your site is going to look great.

10. Choose your sales channels

Once you’ve set up an online store, the next step is choosing the right sales channels for your phone cases. Your choice affects how your brand is perceived and the resources you’ll need. Here are some common options:

Opening a store on an ecommerce platform. Platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce provide access to ready-made audiences but may limit your customization options. Expect transaction and hosting fees, though the trade-off is a broad, ready-to-buy customer base.

Running your own website. For full control over design and content, creating your own site is ideal. It allows you to integrate blogs, videos, and other content that can define your brand. However, it requires technical know-how and effective marketing strategies.

Selling on social media. Platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok help you reach segmented audiences and build a community around your brand. These channels are less customizable and may offer limited native selling tools, but they’re great for engaging directly with potential customers.

Choosing the right channel will shape your business’s identity and how you connect with your audience.

11. Promote your phone case brand

Finally, it’s time to start bringing people to your business. 

Marketing your phone case brand is the key to collecting as many loyal customers as possible. Some promotional strategies can cost a fortune, while others are more affordable. Here are some tips to keep it lean and mean:

Leverage social media

Share vibrant phone case designs that resonate with trending topics or pop culture. A case themed on a recent blockbuster movie, for instance, can draw a lot of organic interest.

Engage through email

Craft  engaging newsletters showcasing your newest designs. Send out a monthly “Phone Case Spotlight” or special offers, ensuring subscribers eagerly await your emails.

Collaborate with influencers

Find a YouTuber or TikToker in the tech or fashion space. A single review or unboxing video of your unique phone case can bring thousands to your storefront.

Strategize social media advertising

Target specific groups like comic book fans with ads for cases that carry their favorite characters. Facebook or Instagram are ideal platforms for such targeted campaigns.

Invest in paid ad campaigns

Consider running  Google Ads with compelling taglines such as, “Your Phone’s New Best Friend.” A well-placed ad can significantly boost visibility and sales.

Is a phone case business profitable?

Starting a phone case business can be a lucrative venture in the online space. Personalized phone cases, in particular, maintain an enduring appeal.

Data from Technavio highlights the growing demand: with a 6.86% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), the phone case market’s value is projected to increase by $13.33 billion between 2023 and 2027. Such a trend underscores the abundant opportunities awaiting ecommerce entrepreneurs.

From an operational standpoint, phone cases present fewer headaches. They’re durable, leading to fewer returns. Their lightweight nature ensures affordable shipping, and the profit margins can be appealing. Consider sourcing a phone case for $5 and selling it for over $10, achieving a neat 50% profit.

And the icing on the cake? Launching a phone case business requires minimal upfront costs. Set up an online store, integrate a dropshipping application, and you’re all set to begin in just a few hours.

How much does it cost to start a phone case business?

Launching a phone case business doesn’t always require a huge budget. Setting up your business name and getting the necessary permits might set you back about $400. Insurance, often overlooked, is vital; a basic policy can cost around $190.

Branding, even on a budget, makes a difference. With around $230, you can get professional-looking business cards and brochures. For your online presence, affordable or even  free website platforms can help you start, costing approximately $500.

If you’re considering a dropshipping model, you eliminate inventory costs. However, you’ll want good design software. Open-source options or cost-effective subscriptions can come in at about $600. Overall, with strategic decisions, you might be launching your business for around $1,720.

Examples of successful phone case businesses

Burga is a highly popular phone case brand with a global reach. It’s known for leveraging visual appeal to drive engagement.

Burga’s homepage features an Instagram feed that showcases real customer photos. You’ll also find high-quality images of its stylish cases. These visual elements combine to create an engaging experience that draws in potential customers and strengthens brand loyalty.

Spigen is a South Korean Shopify store that sells highly durable and resilient phone cases. Its homepage features dramatic displays of product strength—cases being stepped on, dropped from forklifts, and even launched from a plane with a parachute jumper.

Spigen’s strategy underscores the importance of visual storytelling. For anyone building a phone case store, it’s a great example of how to make your product’s strength and reliability clear. Consider incorporating powerful demonstrations into your marketing to highlight how your products handle real-world challenges.

Pela specializes in eco-friendly phone cases. Its range includes compostable options for phones and AirPods.

Pela’s website features intuitive filters that make it easy for visitors to find cases by device type, style, or color. Using such filters can simplify navigation and improve the shopping experience.

Take a cue from Pela’s approach and consider adding user-friendly filters to your own store to help customers quickly find what they need.

Launching a phone case brand in 2024

Launching a profitable phone case business takes effort and time. While typical phone case margins are thin, you can price yours higher by customizing them to fit your audience’s tastes.

Here’s a quick recap of the steps to launch your custom phone case business:

• Identify a market opportunity.
• Design custom phone cases.
• Develop your brand.
• Pick a way to source your cases.
• Choose a price point.
• Build your online phone case store.
• Promote your business.

Now that you know the steps, an exciting journey of building a phone case brand awaits. Take that first step and start creating something unique. 

Phone case business FAQ

How much is the phone case industry worth.

The phone case market is set to grow significantly. It’s projected to increase from $6.57 billion in 2020 to $9.93 billion by 2026. This growth reflects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4%, according to MarketWatch.

What makes a successful phone case business?

• Unique designs. Offer phone cases with eye-catching and original designs. Customizable options or limited editions can appeal to customers looking for something unique.
• Quality and durability. Your phone cases must offer solid protection while looking great. Choose high-quality materials like TPU or polycarbonate for durability and longevity.
• Competitive pricing. Set prices that reflect both quality and uniqueness without being too high. Balancing cost and value makes your cases appealing while ensuring profit.
• Effective marketing. Use social media, influencers, and ads to target your audience. Emphasize your brand’s unique selling points and engage with potential buyers to drive sales.

Are phone cases good for dropshipping?

Yes, phone cases make a great choice for dropshipping. They are light and easy to stock. You can easily find various styles from suppliers on platforms like AliExpress or Alibaba. Then sell them through your online store without keeping any inventory.

Want to learn more?

• How To Start A Successful Online T-Shirt Business
• How To Start an Online Jewelry Business in 10 Steps
• How To Start a Dropshipping Business in 202 4
• How To Start an Online Boutique in 7 Easy Steps

How to Start a Phone Case Business (With No Prior Experience)

Learn the quickly launch a phone case business with shopify and printful..

If you subscribe to a service from a link on this page, Reeves and Sons Limited may earn a commission. See our ethics statement .

Phone cases are everywhere. And the demand for phone cases is constantly rising because of new phone version releases, old phones, broken cases, an increase in population, and new customers getting into the market (like teenagers with their first phones). If you're interested in learning how to start a phone case business, now is the right time. In fact, there has never really been a bad time to sell phone cases. So, for those phone case entrepreneurs out there, we encourage you to bookmark this page, read it through step-by-step, and use each step to guide you on your way to success with a phone case business.

Keep reading to learn how to start a phone case business with no prior experience!

Advantages of Starting a Phone Case Business

Selling something like a phone case has several unique benefits because of its very nature. They're complementary products that work to protect phones, make them prettier, and allow for additional features like credit card storage. We understand that launching any business comes with questions and concerns about the product's viability. But outside of the usual day-to-day obstacles, phone case businesses don't encounter many significant hurdles, especially when it comes to penetrating the market.

To encourage you to keep exploring how to start a phone case business, here are some advantages of selling phone cases as your main product:

• Phone case lifecycles get attached to the lifecycles of phones. New iPhones and Androids come out every year, so you not only get a new wave of potential customers on a regular basis, but the large phone companies are often marketing for you.
• Phones and phone cases break. This introduces an additional flock of buyers who replace their cases or upgrade to a new phone (and therefore need a new case) every few years. This also opens up the potential for repeat sales not long after a customer made a purchase (maybe they broke their phone a few days after buying it). If you learn how to start a phone case business, it's tough to run out of potential customers.
• You can source from high-quality, print-on-demand dropshipping services like Printful . These services offer design tools, printing services, packaging, and direct shipping to your ecommerce customers. There's no reason to store or print anything from your own home or office.
• The upfront cost is low, and so is the initial risk. Printing phones on demand requires a tiny upfront investment. Most of the small fees get covered as you make sales.
• It's possible to sell online, through marketplaces, and in-person. You can run an online store, list on places like Amazon/eBay/Etsy/social media, and visit trade shows or craft fairs. All of these are opportunities to make more sales. It's also common to run an outdoor or indoor mall kiosk to sell your phone case designs.
• The profit margins are higher than other types of dropshippable products. Some items like home goods, decor, and even some apparel items have slim margins. That's not the case for phone cases.
• Phone cases have simpler designs that you can make on your own or by using online templates. You can hire a designer, buy templates, or use online marketplaces for premium designs. Learning how to start a phone case business also involves learning a bit about design.
• It's easier to target one niche with mobile devices. Think dog owners, bowling afficionados, cooking hobbyists, travelers, or even just targeting a certain location, like phone cases dedicated to neighborhoods in Chicago. These are the target markets that tend to sell.
• It's easier to hold some inventory, process returns, and absorb sunk costs. Some startups struggle with bulky, expensive items, but phone cases are relatively cheap, and they're super small.
• It's a great market for custom designs. You can offer custom phone cases in your business model, allowing customers to print their names or special dates on the phones.

Initial Things to Think About Before Learning How To Start a Phone Case Business

Before developing a marketing strategy, building an online store, and conquering the phone case market, it's important to understand the market and walk through some initial questions.

Is It Profitable to Start a Phone Case Business?

That depends on your approach, marketing efforts, and the appeal of your designs; but it's definitely easier to achieve profitability with phone cases than other types of products.

One metric that shows continuing market growth is the interest in phone cases from online searches. There's a wide variety of terms we could search to figure out these trends, but we'll stick to the basic “phone case” keyword.

According to Google Trends, online search interest in the keyword “phone case” has risen steadily over the past ten years. You'll notice that interest has peaks and valleys because of the holidays, new phone releases, and customer demand, but the average interest in this market continues to grow.

Another way to analyze the popularity and growth of the phone case industry is by looking at relevant keywords, and not only taking into account their search volume but also the competition required to successfully advertise for those keywords.

And there's no doubt that hundreds of phone case keywords have far too high of competition. However, there are still thousands of relevant keywords with low and medium competition levels, allowing new companies to target those keywords and see results.

Not to mention, those keywords also have impressive monthly search volume, starting at 100 searches per month and going up to 100k, For instance, the “iphone 8 case” keyword looks promising (many of the older but still available phones have low competition), as does the “leather mobile phone cases” keyword.

We can also look at potential profitability based on recommended phone case margins from Printful . Most phone cases on Printful cost anywhere from $10.95 to $12.28. That's a little high, but you minimize your risk with dropshipping through Printful (instead of purchasing and storing thousands of cases and hoping you sell them).

Printful suggests sellers start at a retail price of $15.50 per phone case, rendering up to $4.55 in profit for each sale. That's not bad!

And just a slight increase in the retail price makes for an incredible boost in profit margins. Many cell phone cases sell for $20 or $30 per case (some go to $100 if they're really heavy duty). At a $20 retail price, your profit margin sits at 36% per sale, producing up to $9.05 in profit per phone.

Finally, the growth of your business generally means that you can afford to purchase in bulk, shifting away from the dropshipping model or at least running some sort of hybrid. Buying wholesale makes for even stronger profit margins. There are plenty of suppliers for bulk phone cases, but Printful drops the price to $8.21 per case when you buy 200 items. That's more than an extra $2 per sale added to your margins. So, we think it's safe to say that learning how to start a phone case business is rather profitable if done right.

Types of Phone Cases and Phone Models to Consider

The first choice you must make is to decide to sell:

• iPhone cases or…
• Samsung cases

Or sell them both!

Phone cases are rather simple products, but there are so many device types and versions, potentially requiring you to sell dozens of case variations with the same design. Luckily, this doesn't take much work with Printful. Yet, you should still know the phone case options available.

Let's start with iPhones. As of this article, Printful offers printing and shipping for 17 different iPhone case sizes, from the iPhone 7 to the iPhone 13 Pro Max. You can choose to just sell some of them, but we recommend listing them all as product variants. Printful is doing the sourcing and fulfillment for you, so multiple variants don't cost you anything extra.

Printful provides a large collection of Samsung Galaxy phone cases as well, with options like the S10, S20 FE, and the S21 Ultra. As of right now, you can pick from 10 different Samsung Galaxy phone cases in Printful.

Some regional sellers have the option to list biodegradable iPhone cases in their ecommerce shops. You should check to see if your region has a Printful location nearby, but we just wanted to also mention this as an option.

Additionally, the phone case market is more than just iPhone and Samsung Galaxy cases. You could explore outside of Printful to source cases for:

• Google Pixel phones
• Microsoft phones
• Sony phones
• Oppo phones
• Honor phones
• Xiaomi phones
• Nokia phones
• Doro phones
• Emporia phones
• Alcatel phones
• Acer phones
• Asus phones
• Blackview phones
• Cubot phones
• Tablet devices

There also comes to decision on what type of phone cases to list in your store. Phone case manufacturers have grown creative over the years, so we're starting to see improved durability, styles, materials, and storage features.

Printful offers classic BPA-free hybrid Thermoplastic Polyurethane and Polycarbonate (PC) material phone cases that offer a sleek design, durable build, and grippy finish.

Here are the main phone types to consider when learning how to start a phone case business:

• Polycarbonate/polyurethane shell cases (a happy medium with decent durability, increased style, and excellent comfort)
• Rubber bumper cases that protect the sides of the phone
• Wallet or purse phone cases with storage for keys, cash, and cards
• Extra durable cases (the kind OtterBox sells—meant for extreme environments)
• Battery cases (stores an extra hidden battery pack within the case)
• Silicone/gel cases (inexpensive, flexible, and stylish, but usually the lowest amount of protection)

All of these options leave much to think about when learning how to start a phone case business. But it's best to start with the classic polycarbonate cases since they're readily available for dropshipping/printing through Printful, and they offer an affordable, durable, stylish solution. After that, you can explore sources like AliExpress and Oberlo to locate unique phone cases for extremely low prices.

How to Start a Phone Case Business

It all starts with an idea, but every step has its purpose. In this section, we'll outline the actions you should take to find success when learning how to start a phone case business.

• Finding a gap in the market
• Creating a business plan
• Figuring out your target market
• Designing the phone cases
• Finding a supplier, printer, and shipper
• Creating an online store
• Adding pricing, mockups, and product details
• Accepting phone case orders and marketing your business

Find a Gap in the Market

You've already decided to sell phone cases, but do you have to get any more specific than that? We discussed that you should know all about the different phone case models, versions, and sizes, but there's also the next step is figuring out a niche within the phone case market.

Can you find success by just designing hundreds of random iPhone and Samsung cases? Sure, but it's significantly harder to grab market share, and you're far less likely to establish a memorable brand name . A business that sells phone cases with outdoorsy designs, sporting designs, movie designs, and quotes from books isn't likely to end up in the minds of anyone. It's too broad.

Luckily, there are plenty of gaps in the custom phone case market; you simply have to complete some research to figure out which ones have enough demand, while also showing less competition.

You can read our guide on how to find a niche business here . We also have thoughts to consider as you go through potential niches:

• Is there a hobby or interest that people would love to show off on their phones? Think bikers, athletes, pet owners, book worms, gardeners, or anything else people consume their time with.
• What about professions? Doctors, lawyers, writers, actors, teachers, and every profession has their own inside jokes, quirks, and designs that you could highlight on phone cases.
• Think about locational designs such as countries, neighborhoods, cities, and landmarks that represent all of these.
• Humor is a great category that fits in with just about every niche.
• Consider quotes from classic movies, books, TV shows, or songs.
• Nostalgia is a powerful emotion, so think about aspects of pop culture that may make people jump for the Buy button when seeing your phones.
• With movies, books, pop culture, and sports, you always have to look into licensing and copyright law. Don't sell a design for Star Wars or the New York Yankees if you haven't gained licensing rights.
• Can you establish a niche that isn't focused on the design content but rather where the phone cases come from? Like a phone case market made solely by local, independent artists; or an eco-friendly phone case company; or phones with nifty features like secret storage or extreme durability.
• Is there a way to incorporate custom phone designs where the niche focuses on events, moments, or people from their lives? Options include weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations, or job advancement.

Create a Business Plan

Too many entrepreneurs try to launch their dreams without a business plan. There's a misguided perception that business plans are only used as some way to visualize what you want to achieve. That's partially true, but it's really a written contract with yourself and stakeholders, along with a real plan to guide you to your goals. Not to mention, if you ever need partners, investors, or employees, those people often want to see a business plan.

It's one of the smartest decisions you can make when constructing a business from scratch, and the lack of a business plan is taking one step towards failure.

Read our guide on how to write a business plan and use its tips to formulate the plan around a phone case company. Our guide shows you how to outline the following in your business plan:

• Market research
• Financial planning
• Sales channels
• Your business model

Figure Out the Target Audience for Your Phone Case Business Idea

Lacking a true understanding of your target audience, or not having a target audience at all, eliminates your ability to craft products, make marketing materials, and communicate properly with your customers. It's as simple as sending en email marketing message that caters to men, but not realizing that the majority of your target market is women. Another example is creating phone cases for RV owners, but not understanding that 20% of your target market is people who don't own RVs (yet they dream of owning).

You can collect this target market information before you launch and while you run the business, using tools like:

• Surveys and questionarres
• Google Analytics
• Facebook Audience Insights
• Just about any insights program on social media
• Competitor analysis software

With a target audience in mind, you then have the ability to generate a customer persona, or an outline of your average customer. A customer persona usually includes details like:

• Spending habits
• Lifestyle choices
• Life habits
• Internet browsing habits

After that, weigh the benefits and downsides of targeting specific sections of your customer base. You may find that some 30 to 45-year-olds are far more likely to purchase phone cases, so you shouldn't put as much effort into marketing to younger people with less money. That's just an example, but it's absolutely something you could discover during your market research.

Design the Phone Cases

It's easier to design phone cases when compared to items like clothing or pillows. Why? Because a phone case only needs a small, simple design that goes on a flat surface. You don't have to worry about strange garment materials, embroidery, or making sure your design has a super high resolution to fit across a large object.

But how should you design your phone cases in the first place? There are several methods to consider:

• Design the phone cases yourself. Use tools like Photoshop, Procreate, or Photopea if you have experience with professional design software. Many of them, like Canva or Pixlr, work well for less experienced designers. You can also use the Printful design tools, which are fairly basic, but get the job done for simple designs.
• Purchase pre-made designs online. There are subscription sites like Vexels, or sites like Vecteezy to purchase completed vector art. Buytshirtdesigns.net and Thefancydeal.com sell pre-made shirt designs that work on phones as well. Another option is to buy from designers on Etsy, Fiverr, or Guru.com.
• Hire a designer to make all the phone case designs. Search for quality designers on sites like Dribbble, DeviantArt, and 99Designs. These marketplaces allow artists to display their work, after which you reach out to them based on what you like. Some may end up too expensive, but there's a plethora of designers out there willing to work for varying budgets.

Find a Phone Case Supplier, Printer, and Shipper (There's a Service That Provides All of These)

Establishing a phone case business requires you to figure out:

• Fulfillment

You could start with a wholesale manufacture partnership for the widest profit margin. For that, we recommend going to Alibaba to source from a Chinese manufacturer. However, that leaves you to store all the inventory and fulfill orders with packaging and shipping.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with fulfilling your own orders, but the lowest risk fulfillment method for phone cases is through a supplier/printer/fulfillment company like Printful.

Printful powers a significant portion of the printing business, as it provides access to hundreds of blank products that merchants can use to print, package, and ship to customers. Another benefit is that Printful acts as a dropshipper , storing all of your items in their own warehouses, and only pulling and printing products when a customer makes a purchase from your website.

Now, that means your profit margins end up smaller, but that's an incredible trade off considering you take on minimal risk as a startup.

To get started, go to the Printful website and create an account. Search through the product collection and learn all about the types of phone cases offered by the supplier. You can even make product designs prior to having an online store.

Create an account using your email or social login information. Walk through the steps to make an account, like filling in business information and requirements.

Go to the Printful product library and open the Phone Cases section.

Here, you get a taste of what's available, and you can even start designing a phone case for testing purposes.

Create an Online Store to Sell Your Phone Cases

Creating an online store requires a few things:

• A business name
• Products to sell
• A platform to add ecommerce functionality

We already have the products. And we encourage you to spend a significant amount of time developing a quality business name .

But what about actually finding an ecommerce platform, a system for making a website, listing products, and processing transactions? That's where Shopify comes into the picture.

Not only does Shopify provide a simple, affordable website builder, but it includes features for SEO, product listing, payment processing, integrated paid advertising, and more.

To get started, go to the Shopify website and click one of the Start Free Trial buttons.

Walk through the steps to launch an account (like adding your store name and business information). There's no need to type in any credit card information. You receive a 14-day free trial, allowing you to test features, build a complete online store, and even display products prior to signing up for a paid account. Learn about Shopify pricing to give you an idea of which premium plans you should consider in the future.

Once you have a Shopify account, it sends you to the Shopify dashboard where you create your ecommerce shop. The left side menu offers options to manage orders, products, customers, finances, and marketing, while the Get Started guide in the center of the dashboard shares steps to take to launch your store the most efficient way.

We recommend customizing the look of your store first. This way, you can upload a logo, change around the design of the homepage, and add categories to organize the phone cases you plan on selling.

To customize the store (or swap out the default theme for a new one), go to Sales Channels > Online Store > Themes > Customize .

The Shopify Customizer provides a visual look at your current theme and overall website. The left side panel offers settings to adjust what appears on the website. For instance, you can remove the announcement bar, add a header image, and rearrange the building blocks to ensure you have the cleanest possible homepage. Most themes already have a homepage product showcase, but make sure that's included just in case; this way, your phone cases appear on the homepage when you add them to the Homepage category from Printful.

Next up, you need to integrate Printful with Shopify to create products and sync them with your online store. Go to the Printful dashboard and click on the Stores menu item.

Scroll down to locate the section to “Choose your store's platform.” Click Choose Platform.

Select the Connect button under Shopify. There are also many other platforms you can use, like WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, and Bigcommerce. Read our comparison between the top ecommerce platforms to help guide your decision.

This sends you back to Shopify where it asks you to install the Printful app. Click the Add App button to proceed.

Shopify has a large App Store, and Printful is one of the apps in that store. So, it provides a seemless integration with the click of a button. This is all done in Shopify, where you can read through the information about the integration.

Scroll to the bottom of the page to click the Install App button.

You've successfully integrated Printful and Shopify , allowing you to add phone case designs to Printful and sync the product pages with Shopify. The end result should send you to Printful, where you can add your first product.

Add Your Design, Pricing, Mockups, and Details to Your Product Pages

It's possible to add products in Shopify, but it makes the most sense to create products in Printful when selling phone cases. This way, you're able to sync the products to Shopify, while still getting the benefits of automated product fulfillment from Printful.

Click on the Add Product button to get started.

Browse through the product options and go to Accessories > Phone Cases . Choose iPhone Case, Samsung Case, or Biodegradable iPhone Case based on what you plan on selling. You can always go back to add multiple styles of cases. It's best to create separate product pages if you plan on selling both iPhone and Samsung cases.

This sends you to the Printful product designer. Mark the check boxes for each phone case model you plan on selling; these get added to your store as product variants for the customer to choose. Click the Drop Your Design Here button to upload a design from your computer or other storage service.

After uploading, the design appears in the mockup preview. It's also possible to change the Print Area Background to incorporate a unique color background if that's not already included in your design file.

That's the main way to add a design to a Printful product, but we encourage you to test the entire editor just in case something else allows you to get more creative with your designs. For instance, the Printful designer has options to:

• Choose files
• Add clipart
• Add a quick design
• Choose from premium images
• Position your image
• Add patterns
• Adjust the sizing or transform the image

When you're done designing, click on the Proceed To Media button.

Note: Printful always displays the current cost of the product in the bottom right corner. There's no extra fee to add one design to a phone case, but some products get more expensive as you print on multiple parts of the item.

The next section prompts you to select a mockup style for your product pages. This is one of the wonderful parts about Printful, since you don't have to pay for product photos or take them yourself. Printful puts your design on several default and lifestyle product photos that you can use for free.

For this example, we'll go with a creative lifestyle product photo for every variant.

Click on the Proceed To Details button.

This section asks you to fill in information that appears on the product page in Shopify. As with all ecommerce products, you should create a catchy (and SEO-friendly) Product Title and Description. Printful inserts default information from the manufacturer; we recommend using some of this for product specifications, but it's wise to rewrite it all for SEO purposes.

Also, feel free to add Tags and Product Collections. We suggest using a Homepage collection so you can instantly place items for purchase on the homepage. It's also important to mark the checkbox for Product Visibility; otherwise, it won't show up in your store.

Select the Proceed to Pricing button.

The Product Pricing page has options to set a percentage or dollar-based revenue increase. View the Printful Price (your cost per phone case), the Revenue (your profit per phone case sale), and the Retail Price (how much your customers spend on each phone case) to make the perfect profit margin for your store. Printful already recommends pricing, but you should adjust the pricing based on what your customers are willing to pay.

When you're all done, click on the Submit To Store button.

Within a few seconds, Printful adds the item to your dashboard, where you can view the synced variants and click to View In Shopify or Edit In Shopify.

Note: Make sure you complete most edits in Printful, since they're the ones making and fulfilling your phone case.

Going over to Shopify, we can now see that the product successfully synced from Printful.

And we recommend going to the frontend view of your Shopify store to see if everything looks right. As you can see, our product appears in the Homepage category showcase.

It's also a good idea to look at the actual product page. Check that you have all the right product variants, pricing, descriptions, and images. Feel free to use the Shopify Customizer to adjust the overall layout of all product pages.

Accept Mobile Phone Case Orders and Market Your New Business

Now it's time to start selling your phone cases!

There are many ways to market your products in Shopify, most of which are stored under the Marketing menu item. You can click on the Create Campaign button to see marketing options and launch a campaign.

Options for marketing in Shopify include:

• Shopify Email marketing
• Facebooks Ads
• Pinterest Ads
• Snapchat Ads
• Microsoft Smart Shopping
• SMS Test marketing

When it comes to selling custom phone cases, we find that a few forms of marketing work best:

• Social advertising: You can do this on Facebook, Snapchat, and Pinterest through the Shopify dashboard. Other social networks offer advertising tools as well.
• Search engine advertising: Google has its own advertising panel (so you must do this outside of Shopify). Otherwise, Shopify has advertising features through Microsoft.
• Email marketing: Use Shopify Email or one of the many integrations like Mailchimp or Constant Contact.
• Influencer marketing: This is one of the most powerful marketing strategies when dropshipping custom designs. Shopify doesn't have a feature for this, but you can easily reach out to relevant social influencers and bloggers and create an agreement for them to market your phone case. Think Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Snapchat.

Summary on How to Start a Phone Case Business

All online business owners want to start with low costs, minimal storage requirements, and decreased risk. In reality, that's not always possible, unless you consider a small business like one that sells cell phone cases. These phone accessories allow for an incredible amount of flexibility; you can sell from a physical storefront, at a kiosk, or learn how to start a phone case business with an online store.

With a little market research on demographics, some of your own designs, and an efficient fulfillment system through Shopify and Printful, we believe that any dedicated business person has the potential to make a considerable amount of money with a custom phone case business. Simply pair all of that with some Facebook Ads and influencer marketing and you're well on your way to finding your place in the world of iPhone cases and Android cases.

If you have any questions about how to start a phone case business with a Shopify ecommerce website and Printful , let us know in the comments section below. Also, share your tips if you've already found success with a phone case ecommerce business!

Compare the best ecommerce platforms

Joe Warnimont

Joe Warnimont is a Chicago-based writer who focuses on eCommerce tools, WordPress, and social media. When not fishing or practicing yoga, he's collecting stamps at national parks (even though that's mainly for children). Check out Joe's portfolio to contact him and view past work.

Comments 0 Responses

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Post Comment

Sign up for our free Newsletter

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Business Ideas
• Registered Agents

How to Start a Phone Case Business in 14 Steps (In-Depth Guide)

Updated:   February 26, 2024

BusinessGuru.co is reader-supported. When you buy through links on my site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

The global phone case market value reached $21.89 billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 8.3% from 2023 to 2030. The market is being driven by increasing demand for protective and fashionable phone cases as consumers invest more in premium smartphones. In addition, the growing trend of personalization has led to consumers purchasing custom phone cases to showcase their unique style.

Launching a phone case startup allows entrepreneurs to tap into this high-growth market. Focusing your offerings on a specific target demographic and investing in quality, stylish designs can help you stand out. As more consumers upgrade devices, there will be increased opportunities for recurring and add-on sales.

This guide will walk you through how to start a phone case business. Topics include market research, competitive analysis, customer focus, registering an EIN, obtaining business research, and forming a legal business entity.

1. Conduct Phone Case Market Research

Market research is important to any new phone case business. Research offers insight into your target market, local market saturation, and trends in products and services. If you’re wondering how to start phone case business planning, market research is the first step.

Some details you’ll learn through market research on the custom phone case business market include:

• There is strong potential to target female consumers, who tend to replace phone cases more frequently than males.
• Over 50% of the market’s revenue comes from the 15-25 age demographic. Parents often buy their kids a mobile phone and present it as a gift for the holidays or birthdays.
• Partnering with influencers and using social media helps reach this engaged, style-conscious audience.
• The most lucrative product segments are designer, fashion, slim, rugged, and functional phone cases.
• Consumers are willing to pay premium prices for cases that make a style statement or offer maximum protection. Popular brands can charge over $60 per case.
• E-commerce presents an immense sales opportunity as more shopping moves online.
• Selling via your e-commerce site or third-party marketplaces helps maximize reach.

With strong industry growth projections, various product and pricing opportunities, high online demand, and a style-focused target demographic, your own phone case business has immense potential in this multi-billion dollar global market.

2. Analyze the Competition

When launching a phone case startup, it’s crucial to analyze your competitive landscape across both brick-and-mortar and online retailers. This involves identifying market leaders and sales data to see what other businesses sell phone cases in the area.

For physical retailers, visit competitors in your target region to analyze product selection, pricing, promotions, and overall branding. Document insights across factors like store design, staff knowledge, and upselling opportunities. Assess foot traffic numbers to estimate sales potential.

To gauge online competitors, install e-commerce tracking tools like Jungle Scout. Search Amazon Best Sellers and Google Shopping to see top phone case products and customer reviews. Examine competitors’ social media followings, online promotions, and influencer partnerships for benchmarks.

Analyzing cost structures helps you price competitively and run scenarios on profit potential. Factor in costs like materials (plastic, vinyl , etc.), labor, shipping, and platform fees.

By researching physical and digital competitors in-depth, you gain crucial intelligence to position your differentiation and carve out a niche in the growing phone case industry. A successful phone case business will grow more by understanding the competition.

3. Costs to Start a Phone Case Business

Starting a phone case business requires a significant upfront investment. Even selling phone cases online requires some expenses to get up and running before generating revenue. Key start-up costs include:

Start-up Costs

Product Design & Sourcing

• Hiring a product designer to create original case designs or licensing popular branded cases costs $2,000-$5,000 upfront.
• Producing an initial inventory batch overseas requires a 30-50% deposit to manufacturers, around $5,000 for 1,000 units.

E-commerce Platform Fees

• Building an independent online store through Shopify costs $29-$299 per month for software, domain, and payment processing.
• Selling on Amazon Marketplace requires a $40 monthly subscription plus 15% sales commissions.

Equipment & Supply Costs

• Packaging materials like bubble mailers ($250) and shipping labels ($75) are needed upfront.
• A label printer ($200), cameras ($400) and photo editing software ($10/month) help create professional product images.
• A laptop ($1,000) and phone ($500) support daily business operations.

Legal & Administration

• Business license and incorporation fees cost around $100-$500 depending on location.
• Accounting services can be up to $5,000 a year but less with software like QuickBooks ($10/month).
• Trademark registration ensures other sellers can’t copy original case designs ($275 per mark).

With an estimated $15,000 in start-up costs, it’s vital to secure business financing through sources like small business loans, crowdfunding platforms, and personal savings.

Ongoing Costs

Every month, key costs include:

• Ordering new phone case inventory in bulk every 2-3 months will require 30-50% deposits of around $5,000. Full production payments are made once goods ship from overseas.
• Software subscriptions for e-commerce, accounting/POS, and design tools average $100/month.
• Digital advertising budgets average $500/month for platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads to drive site traffic and sales. Influencers may also require up to $1,000 per sponsored post.
• An in-house designer to create new case designs costs approximately $4,000/month. Outsourcing custom designs is cheaper at around $100 per case design.
• 1-2 part-time customer service reps to manage online orders, returns/exchanges cost $15/hr or $2,000-$4,000 per month.
• Merchant processing fees on credit card transactions range from 2-4% of total online sales revenue.

Annually, expenses like taxes, insurance, and regulatory fees should also be accounted for:

• General business insurance costs around $1,000 per year. Product liability insurance helps cover design defects lawsuits.
• State sales tax needs to be filed quarterly if over the revenue threshold. Federal corporate taxes are also due yearly.
• Maintaining business licenses and legal compliance requires help from professionals charging around $5,000 per year.

I’m happy to clarify or provide additional cost estimates related to launching a successful phone case e-commerce business. Please let me know if you need any other details!

4. Form a Legal Business Entity

When starting a phone case business, the legal structure you choose impacts taxes, liability protection, and ease of expansion over time. The main options—sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, and corporation—all have pros and cons to weigh.

Sole Proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is the simplest and most affordable option, requiring little paperwork. However, the business owner is personally liable for all debts and legal claims. Any phone case product defects or injuries would directly impact your assets.

Partnership

Partnerships allow multiple owners to share control and split profits. But similar to sole proprietors, partners have unlimited personal liability for business activities. Disagreements between partners can also jeopardize operations.

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Forming a limited liability company (LLC) helps shield personal assets from any legal claims or business debts. Only the finances of the LLC itself are at risk. LLCs allow entrepreneurs flexibility in structuring ownership stakes and expansion opportunities to potentially attract investors. The operating agreement outlines each member’s rights and responsibilities.

Corporation

Corporations also limit owner liability and permit the sale of company shares through stocks. However, incorporating requires extensive legal paperwork, shareholder meetings, company bylaws, and formal boards of directors. The ongoing legal and tax compliance for corporations is complex and costly for small businesses like phone case startups.

5. Register Your Business For Taxes

Whether structured as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or LLC, a phone case business needs to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS for tax and banking purposes.

An EIN serves as a business’s social security number used to open business bank accounts, apply for licenses and permits, file tax returns, and hire employees later on. Sole proprietors can use their SSN but should still consider getting an EIN to keep personal and business finances separate.

Apply for an EIN with the IRS . It only takes minutes and there is no fee to obtain one. The online application will request basic information about your business structure, ownership, and responsible parties. An EIN is typically provided immediately upon completing all required fields.

In addition to a federal EIN, phone case entrepreneurs must research their state and local requirements around sales tax permits, reseller certificates, and business licenses to legally operate. Fees range from $10 to over $100+ depending on location. Failing to register can result in penalties down the road.

Proper legal and tax registration ensures your phone case business complies with key regulations right from the start. Confirming these technical details may seem tedious but helps legitimize your company and prevents issues when trying to open business accounts.

6. Setup Your Accounting

Carefully managing finances is critical to make your phone case business profitable. Without organized record keeping, it’s impossible to accurately track profitability or make data-driven decisions. The right accounting processes also ensure full legal compliance.

Open a Business Bank Account

Begin by establishing dedicated business banking and credit card accounts to separate all company transactions from personal finances. Any revenue, inventory orders, advertising, or other expenses should flow through these accounts.

Accounting Software

QuickBooks accounting software easily connects to financial accounts to automatically import and categorize transactions. This eliminates manual data entry and the risk of errors. QuickBooks plans start at $7/month.

Hire an Accountant

Hiring an accountant provides expert guidance on setting up your financial workflows and tax strategy. Typical monthly services like bookkeeping, payroll, monthly reporting, and reconciling accounts cost around $200-$500 depending on complexity. Come tax season, accountants also prepare and file annual tax returns for approximately $700-$2,000.

Apply for a Business Credit Card

Get approved for a small business credit card to simplify tracking certain expenses without impacting cash flow. Business cards don’t use your credit score but banks will review your business plan and revenue potential. Credit limits usually start around $1,000 for new businesses.

7. Obtain Licenses and Permits

Beyond forming a proper legal business structure, phone case entrepreneurs must obtain certain licenses and permits. Find federal license information through the U.S. Small Business Administration . The SBA also offers a local search tool for state and city requirements.

With customized apparel, trademark registration is vital to protect original case designs from copycats. Federal trademarks legally prevent other sellers from using identical logos or graphics that could confuse customers. The process normally costs $225-$400 per trademark filing. Prior search ensures the mark is unique.

Phone case inventory is primarily manufactured abroad and imported. Sellers must obtain an Importer ID number from U.S. Customs via the automated system. There is no fee or lengthy application process to receive the number used on customs forms to ship products into the country legally.

State or county business licenses demonstrate legal compliance across all operations from finances to employment. Basic requirements for wholesalers/retailers include zoning permits ensuring a commercial location (if applicable), Board of Equalization registration for collecting sales tax, and a seller’s permit verifying reseller status rather than manufacturing.

8. Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is crucial protection for phone case companies against unexpected disasters, lawsuits, or other losses that could devastate small business finances. Being underinsured opens the door to massive out-of-pocket costs.

Without adequate coverage, just a few scenarios could force a phone case business to shut down:

• A defective charger cable causes a customer’s phone to explode, resulting in severe burns. The victim sues for $500k in medical damages.
• A pipe bursts in your small warehouse, destroying $100k of custom phone case inventory.
• Hackers access business software containing thousands of customer payment details. You must pay regulatory fines and legal expenses.

The right insurance helps hedge against scenarios that threaten business continuity. Core recommended policies include:

• General Liability – Protects against bodily injury, property damage, and personal injury claims up to policy limits, around $1M typically. Covers legal defense costs.
• Product Liability – Vital for any retail business selling physical goods. Provides coverage if a product directly causes bodily injury or property damage.
• Cyber Liability – Shields against hacks and data breaches. Includes legal defense, settlements, and regulatory fines.

To get insured, clearly document your business model, products, location, and other key details that insurers will request. Next, connect with an insurance broker who will shop plans from multiple providers to find the optimal coverage and pricing package for your phone case operations.

The broker simplifies applying for and managing business insurance plans annually as your needs evolve. Investing in robust protection gives added peace of mind to focus on daily sales and marketing rather than worrying about enterprise risk scenarios.

9. Create an Office Space

Securing workspace helps new phone case entrepreneurs collaborate with team members, hold inventory, and conduct daily operations. The optimal real estate depends on budget, location needs, and growth plans.

Home Office

A dedicated home office works initially for solopreneurs. Expect costs of $100-$200 for basic office furniture like desks, chairs, filing cabinets, and shelves from IKEA or thrift stores. Converting a spare bedroom or basement keeps things low-cost as you validate the business. However, limited space restricts inventory storage and team meetings.

Coworking Office

Coworking spaces like WeWork provide affordable, flexible office rentals with month-to-month agreements rather than lengthy leases. Gain access to conference rooms, printing, wifi, and other amenities helpful for meetings and administration needs. Hot desk passes start at around $300 monthly. Private offices cost over $500 per month but allow 24/7 access and room for some inventory storage.

Commercial Office

In the long term, securing dedicated commercial space may suit phone case owners aiming for steady growth. Expect to pay a security deposit equal to 2 months rent, then ongoing monthly rents of $1,000 depending on location and square footage needs. This facilitates buying inventory in larger bulk batches and hiring more staff without space constraints. However, the longer lease commitment increases financial risk.

10. Source Your Equipment

A phone case entrepreneur’s essential materials include product design software, inventory, packaging supplies, and office equipment for operations. Strategic sourcing saves money as you launch.

When buying new, take advantage of tax deductions on eligible purchases for your small business. Ergonomic office furniture, laptops, printers, and other equipment can be claimed annually. Shop end-of-year sales for deals on cases for a new phone model. Expect costs of $1,000+ outfitting a basic office or workspace.

Alternatively, used equipment from individuals and wholesale liquidators cuts costs. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist connect with local sellers offloading quality refurbished electronics and office furniture around 50% cheaper than new ones.

Renting equipment enables accessing higher-end gear like production machinery and design software without huge upfront payments. Online rental markets allow browsing inventory from multiple national rental companies starting around $50/week. No long-term commitments.

Leasing commits to using gear for 1-5 years in exchange for predictable monthly payments. Essential items like delivery vehicles, warehouses, and specialized equipment can be leased to conserve cash flow for inventory and marketing if you lack the capital to buy outright.

11. Establish Your Brand Assets

Strategically developing a distinct brand identity helps phone case companies cut through the cluttered mobile accessory space and connect with target buyers. A polished logo, web presence, and marketing collateral command credibility during those critical first impressions.

Get a Business Phone Number

A unique business phone line presents a professional impression for answering customer queries and fulfillment calls. Cloud-based systems like RingCentral make customizable toll-free and local numbers affordable starting at $30/month with easy call routing.

Design a Logo

Crafting an eye-catching logo encapsulates the personality of your phone case venture. Looka ’s AI logo maker generates custom icons, monograms, and other stylized options to fit your vision ranging from $20-$65 to download final high-res files. Display the logo proudly on branded packaging, social channels, and storefronts.

Print Business Cards

Pair logo concepts with complementary business cards, letterheads, and signage available from convenient online print shops like Vistaprint . Keep cards on hand for in-person networking, tradeshows, and client meetings to spur referrals. Window and interior displays advertise store locations to pass foot traffic.

Get a Domain Name

Secure a domain name that easily comes to mind for customers searching for your emerging brand online. Check availability with Namecheap starting around $9/year for .com registrations and bundled private registration. Brainstorm short memorable dot coms with your core offerings and location if selling locally.

Design a Website

To sell phone cases online, you’ll need to design a user-friendly site, geared toward your target audience. Wix lets you build your site, featuring cases for all the top phone models you carry. Those less tech-savvy can utilize premade templates and then customize copy and images starting with free plans. Or hire skilled web developers from marketplaces like Fiverr to handle coding more complex custom designs.

12. Join Associations and Groups

Joining relevant local organizations and online communities facilitates networking opportunities for phone case entrepreneurs to gain insider knowledge, collaborators, and potential customers.

Local Associations

Local chambers of commerce like the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce host workshops, mixers, and conferences centered around trends impacting LA startups and small businesses. Attending events puts you in the room with established local leaders, mentors, and vendors essential for expanding local visibility. Expect annual dues of around $500.

Local Meetups

Meetup conveniently aggregates professional gatherings, seminars, happy hours, and other networking events searchable by region and interest like small business ownership. Browse upcoming marketing, fashion, and e-commerce-focused meetups happening in your area to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs. Expect free or paid entry fees of up to $20 per Meetup.

Facebook Groups

Facebook communities create space for ongoing advice on the ups and downs of running an accessory e-commerce brand. Join groups like the Cell Phone Case group to browse extensive discussions around product ideas, manufacturing, and digital marketing tactics relevant to phone case sellers.

13. How to Market a Phone Case Business

Implementing an omnichannel marketing strategy is crucial for increasing awareness and sales as a new phone case brand. Your network and customer base represent the most powerful growth tools when starting.

Referral Marketing

Leveraging referrals incentivizes happy buyers to endorse products to friends for additional discounts or freebies. For example, offer a 20% off coupon code for every new customer referred. Feature testimonials across digital channels.

Digital Marketing

A targeted digital approach then amplifies reach and conversions online:

• Run Google Search and Facebook ads optimized to engage phone case shoppers in your region. Expect to invest at least $500 monthly in testing different creatives and demographics.
• Create Instagram and TikTok accounts showcasing products. Pay influencers in fashion and tech to promote offerings to their aligned followers.
• Upload phone case unboxings to YouTube along with video tutorials flaunting customization options.

Content Marketing

• Publish blog articles highlighting use cases, personalization tips, and pairing options tailored around your designs and key audiences.
• Optimize website copy focused on common buyer questions and objections around materials, custom options, and durability.

Community Building

• Interact regularly with new website visitors and past purchasers via chat, email, and text. Prioritize excellent customer service pre and post-purchase.
• Monitor conversations using relevant hashtags and branded keywords on social listening tools to jump into related conversations.

Traditional Marketing

Traditional approaches better support hyperlocal branding:

• Print brochures distributed at local fairs, retailers, and small businesses raise visibility around custom offerings.
• Sponsor booths at community and industry events or host pop-up shops to show products IRL.
• Invest in radio spots on popular regional stations describing the latest exclusive designs.

Experiment with a variety of digital and traditional channels to determine the optimal activities and messaging that deliver qualified traffic, leads, and sales over time. Reach out with any other phone case marketing questions!

14. Focus on the Customer

Providing exceptional service shapes positive brand perceptions and drives referral sales over time. Phone case buyers value convenient, personalized experiences when customizing and troubleshooting cases.

Respond promptly to pre-purchase questions on sizing, imagery options, and processing times through chat and email. Follow up with tracking info once orders ship.

Address defects or damage requests swiftly by sending replacement items at no charge to reassure customers. Include handwritten notes with shipments apologizing for inconveniences while solving issues.

Exceed expectations by surprising loyal repeat purchasers with discounts, freebies, and exclusive early access to new case launches.

Finally, listen closely to feedback and reviews. Use insights to improve website navigation, showcase top sellers upfront, and refine policies around exchanges to facilitate seamless experiences.

When customers feel genuinely appreciated and supported as individuals rather than transactions, this cultivates meaningful connections and brand affinity. Satisfied buyers actively endorse phone case companies they trust to friends interested in similar offerings via word-of-mouth and social shares.

There are no shortcuts when aiming to provide five-star experiences at every touchpoint throughout the buyer’s journey. The personal delicacy and responsiveness defined by living up to your customer service commitment compounds over time into invaluable goodwill and revenues.

You Might Also Like

April 9, 2024

0  comments

How to Start a Dog Clothing Business in 14 Steps (In-Depth Guide)

Have you ever considered turning your love for canine couture into a thriving business? ...

How to Start a Vintage Clothing Business in 14 Steps (In-Depth Guide)

The vintage apparel and second hand clothing industry reached an evaluation of $152.5 billion ...

How to Start a Bamboo Clothing Business in 14 Steps (In-Depth Guide)

The global bamboo fiber market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth ...

How to Start a Garage Cleaning Business in 14 Steps (In-Depth Guide)

Starting a garage cleaning business could be the perfect solution! The U.S. garage and ...

Check Out Our Latest Articles

How to Start a Custom Phone Case Business

If trends hold steady, there will be an estimated 6 billion smartphones in the world by 2020. This is an incredible opportunity for those who want to break into this market, as there will be increased demand for products to protect these expensive investments from dents, scratches, and breaks. The majority of phone cases are sold online to decrease overhead costs. However, retail storefronts can be a good investment for entrepreneurs depending on the target customers.

Learn how to start your own Custom Phone Case Business and whether it is the right fit for you.

Ready to form your LLC? Check out the Top LLC Formation Services .

Start a custom phone case business by following these 10 steps:

• Plan your Custom Phone Case Business
• Form your Custom Phone Case Business into a Legal Entity
• Register your Custom Phone Case Business for Taxes
• Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
• Set up Accounting for your Custom Phone Case Business
• Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Custom Phone Case Business
• Get Custom Phone Case Business Insurance
• Define your Custom Phone Case Business Brand
• Create your Custom Phone Case Business Website
• Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your custom phone case business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas .

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

What will you name your business?

• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?

How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Custom Phone Case Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship , you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name , we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability .

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

Want some help naming your custom phone case business?

Business name generator, what are the costs involved in opening a custom phone case business.

Some states may require a license to start a custom phone case business, with fees varying per state. If you’re looking to just get your foot in the door, you can purchase a start-up kit for around $3,500. These kits come with heating presses (about the size of a regular printer) that can imprint the design you want from a photo or a drawing. Otherwise, you’ll need around $30,000 or so if you’re planning to perform large-scale penetration of the market. You may use that money to partner with a major factory, or to put a down payment on a storefront.

What are the ongoing expenses for a custom phone case business?

If the cases are dependent on designs you created yourself, your expenses can be kept fairly low. Regardless, you should budget for the following:

• Upkeep and maintenance of machinery
• Market research
• Online sales fees (e.g., Ebay’s cut)
• Design production
• Booth/storefront supplies and fees

Who is the target market?

Your ideal customer is a person looking to invest in a product that will protect their device against damage. Those who just want a flashy design may not be willing to pay as much, making the profit margins more difficult to manage. From there, you can start identifying your demographics. For example, if you want to make superhero cases, then your ideal customers may be in high school or college. If you’re making more practical, standard cases, your ideal customer will be older professionals. Luxury cases, like those encrusted with genuine sapphires or rubies, will only be sold to those with enough disposable income. There are lucrative opportunities in every demographic, so long as the customer understands the value of their phone.

How does a custom phone case business make money?

Custom phone cases make money by selling phone cases to customers for a profit. Maximizing profit involves reframing how customers see cases. It’s not unreasonable to ask a customer to pay $40 to protect their $700 iPhone. High quality cases can command a premium profit margin (up to 600%).

The market has made it easy for you to charge large profit margins, but it will depend on the type of materials you use and the phone cases you manufacture. Battery cases will cost a lot more to produce than a slim case. As mentioned though, in-demand custom designs can be sold at 600% profit margin. The perceived market value of phone cases is high due to the high cost of the devices these cases are protecting. If a phone case can save a customer from an expensive replacement, then it’s generally worth it to pay the premium for a durable case.

How much profit can a custom phone case business make?

This is one of the most lucrative fields you can currently get into, so profits can be extremely high. If you can sell 1,000 cases a year at $60 at a 400% markup, then you’d have around $45,000 leftover to keep or reinvest in the business.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Custom phone case companies can expand to make laptop or tablet cases, gaming skins, or general phone accessories. For example, you can take generic phone chargers and put your own creative spin on them by providing custom wrapping.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship , partnership , limited liability company (LLC) , and corporation .

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your custom phone case business is sued.

Form Your LLC

Read our Guide to Form Your Own LLC

Have a Professional Service Form your LLC for You

Two such reliable services:

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services . You can choose to hire a registered agent or act as your own.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website . If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil .

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history , which can be useful to raise money later on.

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a custom phone case business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits .

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses .

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance . This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance . If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

FInd out what types of insurance your Custom Phone Case Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Custom Phone Case Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners , we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended : Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker .

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator . Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a custom phone case business

Identify who you want to buy your phones before you do anything else. Find a way to distinguish yourself from your direct competitors, either by price, designs, or accessibility. For example, if your company does custom photos of different couples, then focus on this feature and start building up your brand this way. Or show examples in a variety of categories to showcase your ability to handle any request your customers have.

How to keep customers coming back

Attracting customers will be based on the quality of your cases and the quality of the designs you offer. Be diligent about new trends in your industry, and listen to customer feedback about what images they’d like to see next. If you focus on pop culture for example, then you’ll need to have phone cases ready right when blockbusters are announced as opposed to after the movie has been out for weeks.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business .

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

• All legitimate businesses have websites - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
• Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
• Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended : Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders .

Other popular website builders are: WordPress , WIX , Weebly , Squarespace , and Shopify .

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2023 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

This business is good for people who are both creative and practical. There are an infinite amount of design options for phone cases, but some will be more popular (and profitable) than others. A good business owner can both narrow down the choices, and predict trends to gain a market edge. Owners will also need some customer service and advertising experience as well.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a custom phone case business?

Business owners will need to oversee the manufacturing process, which may or may not include other employees.

• Conducting market research on what’s popular
• Developing relationships with retail owners
• Managing online listings
• Advertising and marketing cases either online or in person
• Attending events to promote custom designs
• Providing or creating new artwork to supply to a manufacturer

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful custom phone case business?

Highly artistic people will do well in this business, but you’ll also need some people skills and sales skills to service customers effectively — even if you only work online. Owners need to build relationships through the sites they choose to work with, as well as a reputation for quality designs at a fair price amongst the public.  

What is the growth potential for a custom phone case business?

Custom phone cases will always be needed as new phone sizes are debuted, and as old cases start to wear out. However, you will face some saturation in the market as there are many different manufacturers in the phone case industry.

TRUiC's YouTube Channel

For fun informative videos about starting a business visit the TRUiC YouTube Channel or subscribe to view later.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor.

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a custom phone case business?

First, explore the many types of cases that are already on the market. Folio and bumper cases protect the phone screen from scratches, while tough cases protect the whole phone from practically any major force. Slim cases cover only the back of the phone, but appeal to those who don’t want their phone to seem bulky. There are also battery cases that can give the battery a little more juice when the user needs it most.

Offer your best designs upfront: you’ll want to really impress customers right off the bat. Decide on the proper sales channels based on design and case type. You can sell anywhere from Etsy to bridal expos to renaissance fairs to a regular storefront in a shopping plaza. While it’s more convenient to sell online, the profit margins are generally higher when you sell in person.

Owners and entrepreneurs may want to start with virtual sales only, while establishing a local presence at community events or exploring local vendor opportunities. Because phone cases are so portable, it only takes a few minutes to set up a basic booth to display your inventory.

How and when to build a team

You won’t necessarily need to build a team right away, especially if you outsource your manufacturing or choose to run the machinery you purchased. If you experience a huge influx in orders though, you should be ready to hire someone to assist in customer service and order fulfillment. This can be done on a temporary basis if need be, but ultimately you should have all the mechanisms in place (even if you don’t use them) if you’re planning to expand your business.

Useful Links

Industry opportunities.

• Case Escape Franchise opportunity

Real World Examples

• Skin It- An Online business
• My Custom Case - An Online business
• NYC business

Further Reading

• Background Reading on Making Phone Cases
• Tips for Starting A Phone Case Business

Entrepreneur Interviews

Read Interview

Have a Question? Leave a Comment!

How To Make Phone Cases In 2024

Updated: Feb 16, 2024, 2:00pm

Table of Contents

Why start a phone case business, is a phone case business profitable, types of phone cases, how to start a phone case business, bottom line, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Chances are almost everyone you know has a phone case. If you’re looking for a creative way to make money online, you might want to take advantage of the popularity of phone cases and sell them online. By customizing phone cases to meet various consumer needs, you can satisfy others and enjoy a fulfilling online business. Keep reading to learn how to make phone cases and launch a successful phone case venture.

There are a number of reasons you may want to sell phone cases online. First and foremost, phone cases are relatively inexpensive to produce and ship, due to their small size and light weight. They’re also very versatile, meaning you can easily cater to a wide range of consumers who are in the market for something other than a generic phone case.

In addition, phone cases are popular, so you won’t have to inform people of what they are and why they’re worth buying. Lastly, they encourage repeat purchases as consumers often upgrade their phones every few years or any time a new model comes out.

Research shows that by 2030, the global mobile phone accessory market is projected to reach $413.2 billion. When you consider this figure and the fact that many consumers view phone cases as everyday essentials, it’s clear that an online phone case business has the potential to become very profitable. As long as you offer high-quality, unique phone cases and come up with a solid business strategy and marketing plan, you can make excellent money through a phone case business.

Not all phone cases are created equal. In fact, there are a number of phone cases you may choose to sell, such as:

• Standard cases: Standard cases can be made of silicone, leather and a variety of other materials. They cover the back and sides of your phone, offering optimal protection and ease of use.
• Tough cases: Compared to standard cases, tough cases are more durable and designed to protect your phone from direct impacts. Typically composed of hard plastic and resin, they’re a great option if you lead an active lifestyle, have young children or would like some extra protection for your phone.
• Flip cases: Also known as wallet cases or folio cases, flip cases resemble book covers and usually feature slots so you can store your cards and money. Since they completely cover your screen, they shield against nicks and scratches.
• Slim cases: Slim cases are exactly what they sound like: phone cases that are slim. They are intended to preserve the original design of your phone and, in many cases, fit into your pocket.
• Biodegradable phone cases: Biodegradable phone cases are typically made from bamboo fibers, plant polymer and other eco-friendly materials. These types of cases can help you protect your phone while reducing your carbon footprint.

As with any business, it takes a great deal of time and effort to launch a thriving phone case business. If you’re interested in pursuing this venture, these steps will steer you in the right direction.

1. Identify Your Niche and Target Audience

There’s no denying that the phone case industry is highly competitive. That’s why it’s up to you to figure out how you’ll stand out among the other individuals and businesses who are also selling phone cases online.

Do some research to determine what types of phone cases are out there and how you can differentiate your products and appeal to a specific target market. You can use social media, conduct focus groups and visit competitor websites.

2. Write a Business Plan

A business plan is a road map that outlines how you’ll structure, manage and scale your business. It can help you understand your strategy, uncover potential roadblocks and pinpoint resources. Typically, a business plan contains the following main components:

• Executive summary: This is an outline of your business idea and an overview of your plan. It should explain what you plan to sell, who you plan to sell it to and what you hope to accomplish. Check out our Business Plan Executive Summary template to help you get started.
• Market analysis: Your market analysis should describe your target audience and competition. Don’t forget to include details on the phone case industry, including the trends, size and growth projections.
• Product analysis: The product analysis is all about your phone cases. It should answer questions such as “What will they look like,” and “Will you make them from scratch or sell already made phone cases.”
• Financial plan: It’s a good idea to work with an accountant or other financial professional to help you create certain financial documents. These may be a balance sheet, income statement and cash-flow statement.

To learn more, read our How To Write a Business Plan guide and view our downloadable Simple Business Plan Template .

3. Register Your Business

Once you nail down the ins and outs of your business through your business plan, it’s time to register it. First, choose a business structure, such as a sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company or limited liability partnership. Then, obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN), and register for taxes based on the federal and state regulations that apply to you. Also, apply for any permits you may need.

4. Source Your Phone Cases

Now the fun part begins! Determine if you’d like to design your own phone cases or partner with a designer to help you out. Another option is to dropship phone cases that already exist. If you go the dropshipping route, you’ll sell a company’s phone cases on your website and act as an intermediary.

After a customer places an order, the company will ship the goods directly to them and you’ll keep the profits from the higher sale price. While dropshipping is convenient, it gives you less control of your phone cases and may lead to lower profit margins. Weigh the pros and cons of creating your own cases vs. dropshipping to determine the best option for you.

Learn more: How To Start A Dropshipping Business In 6 Simple Steps

5. Brand Your Business

You can think of your brand as your company’s identity. It will affect how others perceive you and usually includes elements, such as your business name, slogan, logo, colors, fonts and packaging. Once you zero in on your brand and create your elements, make sure you apply them consistently across all aspects of your business.

This means your brand should tell the same story on your website as it does on your social media channels and emails. Also, remember that your brand isn’t in stone and will likely change as your business evolves.

6. Price Your Phone Cases

Before you can go ahead and actually sell your phone cases, you’ll need to price them. To come up with a price point, consider your target audience, manufacturing costs, shipping costs and competitor costs. While you want to ensure that your price point allows you to earn a profit, overpricing your phone cases will likely deter some customers. Pricing is typically a trial-and-error process. You can try one price point and change it as necessary.

Featured Partners

$17 per month

On Wix's Website

$1.95 per month

Customizable templates, easy grag-and-drop technology, SSL certificate

On Web.com's Website

Squarespace

$23 per month

On Squarespace's Website

7. Set Up Your Online Store

Your online store will serve as a place for you to attract customers and finalize sales. You can build an online store using a top-rated e-commerce platform . Most platforms come with pre-designed templates that can allow you to easily customize your online store and open it up for business. Do your research and compare platforms to hone in on the right one for your particular budget and business goals. You may also sell your phone cases on popular marketplaces, including Etsy, Amazon and eBay.

8. Market Your Business

You’ll need to bring people to your online store and eventually convert them into paying customers. Fortunately, there are a variety of digital marketing strategies that can help you do just that. These include search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, paid search, influencer marketing and content marketing. If you’re unfamiliar with digital marketing, you may want to outsource it to a professional.

If you’d like to earn a full-time income or some extra spending money, an online phone case business may be worthwhile. It can give you the chance to express your creativity and sell a high-demand product. By following the steps listed above, you can launch and run a profitable venture. Best of luck!

Is it worth starting a phone case business?

A phone case business can be worth it. This is particularly true if you can find a way to differentiate your phone cases in the highly competitive market.

What materials are a phone case made from?

Plastic, leather and silicone are a few of the most common phone case materials. Each material comes with its own pros and cons, so it’s important to thoroughly explore all your options.

How profitable is a phone case business?

As long as you find your niche and target audience, you can enjoy great profits from a phone case business. The amount you may earn depends on a variety of factors, such as who you’re selling to, how you’re selling your cases and what it costs to make and ship them.

• Best Online Printing Services
• Best Print On Demand Companies
• Best Etsy Print On Demand Companies
• Best Print On Demand Book Companies
• Best Promotional Products Companies
• Best Business Card Printing
• Gelato Review
• Printify Review
• Zazzle Review
• Redbubble Review
• VistaPrint Review
• Printful Review
• TeePublic Review
• Printful vs. Printify
• How To Start A Print On Demand Business
• How To Make Merch
• How To Make Stickers
• How To Make A Brochure
• Best Business Card Designs
• Business Card Ideas

Next Up In Business

• Best VPN Services
• Best Project Management Software
• Best Web Hosting Services
• Best Antivirus Software
• Best LLC Services
• Best POS Systems For Small Business

What Is A Double VPN?

BigCommerce Vs. Magento (Adobe Commerce): 2024 Comparison

What Is Black Hat SEO?

Strikingly Review 2024: Features, Pros & Cons

Traqq Review 2024: Features, Pros And Cons

How To Become A Landlord In 2024

Anna Baluch is a freelance writer from Cleveland, Ohio. She enjoys writing about a variety of health and personal finance topics. When she's away from her laptop, she can be found working out, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her family. Connect to her on LinkedIn.

How to Start a Phone Case Business

Starting a phone case business can be very profitable. With proper planning, execution and hard work, you can enjoy great success. Below you will learn the keys to launching a successful phone case business.

Importantly, a critical step in starting a phone case business is to complete your business plan. To help you out, you should download Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template here .

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here

14 Steps To Start a Phone Case Business :

• Choose the Name for Your Phone Case Business
• Develop Your Phone Case Business Plan
• Choose the Legal Structure for Your Phone Case Business
• Secure Startup Funding for Your Phone Case Business (If Needed)
• Secure a Location for Your Business
• Register Your Phone Case Business with the IRS
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get a Business Credit Card
• Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits
• Get Business Insurance for Your Phone Case Business
• Buy or Lease the Right Phone Case Business Equipment
• Develop Your Phone Case Business Marketing Materials
• Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Phone Case Business
• Open for Business

1. Choose the Name for Your Phone Case Business

The first step to starting a phone case business is to choose your business’ name.  

This is a very important choice since your company name is your brand and will last for the lifetime of your business. Ideally you choose a name that is meaningful and memorable. Here are some tips for choosing a name for your phone case business:

• Make sure the name is available . Check your desired name against trademark databases and your state’s list of registered business names to see if it’s available. Also check to see if a suitable domain name is available.
• Keep it simple . The best names are usually ones that are easy to remember, pronounce and spell.
• Think about marketing . Come up with a name that reflects the desired brand and/or focus of your own phone case business.

2. Develop Your Phone Case Business Plan

One of the most important steps in starting a phone case business is to develop your business plan. The process of creating your plan ensures that you fully understand your phone case market and your business strategy. The plan also provides you with a roadmap to follow and if needed, to present to funding sources to raise capital for your business.

Your business plan should include the following sections:

• Executive Summary – this section should summarize your entire business plan so readers can quickly understand the key details of your new business.
• Company Overview – this section tells the reader about the history of your phone case brand and what type of phone case business you operate. For example, are you a custom phone case business, phone case retailer, phone case manufacturer, or a phone case recycler.
• Industry Analysis – here you will document key information about the phone case industry. Conduct market research and document how big the industry is and what trends are affecting it.
• Customer Analysis – in this section, you will document who your ideal or target audience are and their demographics. For example, how old are they? Where do they live? What do they find important when purchasing products like the ones you will offer?
• Competitive Analysis – here you will document the key direct and indirect competitors you will face and how you will build competitive advantage.
• Marketing Plan – your marketing plan should address the 4Ps: Product, Price, Promotions and Place.
• Product : Determine and document what products/services you will offer 
• Prices : Document the prices of your products/services
• Place : Where will your business be located and how will that location help you increase sales?
• Promotions : What promotional methods will you use to attract customers to your phone case business? For example, you might decide to use paid advertising, public relations, search engine optimization and/or social media marketing.
• Operations Plan – here you will determine the key processes you will need to run your day-to-day operations. You will also determine your staffing needs. Finally, in this section of your plan, you will create a projected growth timeline showing the milestones you hope to achieve in the coming years.
• Management Team – this section details the background of your company’s management team.
• Financial Plan – finally, the financial plan answers questions including the following:
• What startup costs will you incur?
• How will your phone case business make money?
• What are your projected sales and expenses for the next five years?
• Do you need to raise funding to launch your business?

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

3. choose the legal structure for your phone case business.

Next you need to choose a legal business structure for your phone case business and register it and your business name with the Secretary of State in each state where you operate your business.

Below are the five most common legal structures:

1) Sole proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is a business entity in which the owner of the phone case business and the business are the same legal person. The owner of a sole proprietorship is responsible for all debts and obligations of the business. There are no formalities required to establish a sole proprietorship, and it is easy to set up and operate. The main advantage of a sole proprietorship is that it is simple and inexpensive to establish. The main disadvantage is that the owner is liable for all debts and obligations of the business.

2) Partnerships

A partnership is a legal structure that is popular among small businesses. It is an agreement between two or more people who want to start a phone case business together. The partners share in the profits and losses of the business. 

The advantages of a partnership are that it is easy to set up, and the partners share in the profits and losses of the business. The disadvantages of a partnership are that the partners are jointly liable for the debts of the business, and disagreements between partners can be difficult to resolve.

3) Limited Liability Company (LLC)

A limited liability company, or LLC, is a type of business entity that provides limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners of an LLC are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The advantages of an LLC for a phone case business include flexibility in management, pass-through taxation (avoids double taxation as explained below), and limited personal liability. The disadvantages of an LLC include lack of availability in some states and self-employment taxes.

4) C Corporation

A C Corporation is a business entity that is separate from its owners. It has its own tax ID and can have shareholders. The main advantage of a C Corporation for a phone case business is that it offers limited liability to its owners. This means that the owners are not personally responsible for the debts and liabilities of the business. The disadvantage is that C Corporations are subject to double taxation. This means that the corporation pays taxes on its profits, and the shareholders also pay taxes on their dividends.

5) S Corporation

An S Corporation is a type of corporation that provides its owners with limited liability protection and allows them to pass their business income through to their personal income tax returns, thus avoiding double taxation. There are several limitations on S Corporations including the number of shareholders they can have among others.

Once you register your phone case business, your state will send you your official “Articles of Incorporation.” You will need this among other documentation when establishing your banking account (see below). We recommend that you consult an attorney in determining which legal structure is best suited for your company.

Incorporate Your Business at the Guaranteed Lowest Price

We are proud to have partnered with Business Rocket to help you incorporate your business at the lowest price, guaranteed.

Not only does BusinessRocket have a 4.9 out of 5 rating on TrustPilot (with over 1,000 reviews) because of their amazing quality…but they also guarantee the most affordable incorporation packages and the fastest processing time in the industry.

4. Secure Startup Funding for Your Phone Case Business (If Needed)

In developing your phone case business plan, you might have determined that you need to raise funding to launch your business. 

If so, the main sources of funding for a phone case business to consider are personal savings, family and friends, credit card financing, bank loans, crowdfunding and angel investors. Angel investors are individuals who provide capital to early-stage businesses. Angel investors typically will invest in a phone case business that they believe has high potential for growth.

5. Secure a Location for Your Business

The best way to find a location for your phone case business is to identify a spot that is frequented by a lot of people. This will ensure that your business is seen by as many people as possible and will help increase your sales. You’ll also want to find a space that is affordable and meets the zoning regulations in the area. You can also start your own online store where you can sell phone cases online.

6. Register Your Phone Case Business with the IRS

Next, you need to register your business with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) which will result in the IRS issuing you an Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Most banks will require you to have an EIN in order to open up an account. In addition, in order to hire employees, you will need an EIN since that is how the IRS tracks your payroll tax payments.

Note that if you are a sole proprietor without employees, you generally do not need to get an EIN. Rather, you would use your social security number (instead of your EIN) as your taxpayer identification number.

7. Open a Business Bank Account

It is important to establish a bank account in your phone case business’ name. This process is fairly simple and involves the following steps:

• Identify and contact the bank you want to use
• Gather and present the required documents (generally include your company’s Articles of Incorporation, driver’s license or passport, and proof of address)
• Complete the bank’s application form and provide all relevant information
• Meet with a banker to discuss your business needs and establish a relationship with them

8. Get a Business Credit Card

You should get a business credit card for your phone case business to help you separate personal and business expenses.

You can either apply for a business credit card through your bank or apply for one through a credit card company.

When you’re applying for a business credit card, you’ll need to provide some information about your business. This includes the name of your business, the address of your business, and the type of business you’re running. You’ll also need to provide some information about yourself, including your name, Social Security number, and date of birth.

Once you’ve been approved for a business credit card, you’ll be able to use it to make purchases for your business. You can also use it to build your credit history which could be very important in securing loans and getting credit lines for your business in the future.

9. Get the Required Business Licenses and Permits

To start a phone case business, you’ll need a business license and a permit to operate. You may also need a seller’s permit if you plan to sell your products wholesale or retail. Check with your local government to confirm what licenses and permits are required.

10. Get Business Insurance for Your Phone Case Business

The type of insurance you need to operate a phone case business depends on the type of business. 

Some business insurance policies you should consider for your phone case business include:

• General liability insurance : This covers accidents and injuries that occur on your property. It also covers damages caused by your employees or products.
• Workers’ compensation insurance : If you have employees, this type of policy works with your general liability policy to protect against workplace injuries and accidents. It also covers medical expenses and lost wages.
• Commercial property insurance : This covers damage to your property caused by fire, theft, or vandalism.
• Business interruption insurance : This covers lost income and expenses if your business is forced to close due to a covered event.
• Professional liability insurance : This protects your business against claims of professional negligence.

Find an insurance agent, tell them about your business and its needs, and they will recommend policies that fit those needs. 

11. Buy or Lease the Right Phone Case Business Equipment

To start a phone case business, you will need a few essential pieces of equipment. You will need a computer with a design program to create your designs, a printer to print the designs, and a heat press to apply the designs to the cases. You may also want to invest in a case cutter to help you cut the cases to size.

12. Develop Your Phone Case Business Marketing Materials

Marketing materials will be required to attract and retain customers to your phone case business.

The key marketing materials you will need are as follows:

• Logo : Spend some time developing a good logo for your phone case business. Your logo will be printed on company stationery, business cards, marketing materials and so forth. The right logo can increase customer trust and awareness of your brand.
• Website : Likewise, a professional phone case business website provides potential customers with information about the products you offer, your company’s history, and contact information. Importantly, remember that the look and feel of your own website will affect how customers perceive you.
• Social Media Accounts : establish social media accounts in your company’s name. Accounts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and/or other social media networks will help customers and others find and interact with your phone case business.

13. Purchase and Setup the Software Needed to Run Your Phone Case Business

The software you need to run a phone case business is a point of sale (POS) system that allows you to track sales and inventory, and design software to create different designs for your cases. You also need an inventory management system that keeps track of how many cases you have in stock and helps you order more when necessary.

14. Open for Business

You are now ready to open your phone case business. If you followed the steps above, you should be in a great position to build a successful business. Below are answers to frequently asked questions that might further help you.

How to Finish Your Ultimate Business Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your phone case business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

How to Start a Phone Case Business FAQs

Is it hard to start a phone case business.

No, it is not difficult to start a phone case business. All you need is some basic knowledge about the production process and how to market your products.

How can I start a phone case business with no experience?

There are a few things you can do to get started in the phone case business with no experience. First, research what materials and designs are popular. You can also look for companies that sell phone cases and contact them to see if they're interested in working with you. Finally, post about your phone case business online to advertise your cases to potential customers.

What type of phone case business is most profitable?

The type of phone case business that is most profitable is one that offers print on demand services and manufactures custom phone cases. These businesses are able to charge a higher price for their cases because they are custom made and not available in stores. These businesses also have a higher profit margin, as the cost of the materials is relatively low.

How much does it cost to start a phone case business?

It can cost around $10,000 to start a phone case business. This includes the costs of getting a proper business license, setting up a website and online store, and purchasing the necessary inventory.

What are the ongoing expenses for a phone case business?

There are a few ongoing expenses for a profitable phone case business. One of the main expenses is the cost of the materials used to make the phone cases. Another expense is the cost of marketing and advertising the business. Additionally, there are costs associated with running the business, such as office supplies and utilities.

How does a phone case business make money?

A phone case business can make money by selling phone cases to customers, either through a physical store or an online shop. The business can also make money by licensing its designs to other companies that manufacture and sell phone cases.

Is owning a phone case business profitable?

Yes, owning a phone case store can be profitable because there is a high demand for new phone cases all the time. People want to protect their phones from damage, and they also want to express their personal style through their cases. Many people are willing to pay a premium for designer cases.

Why do phone case businesses fail?

The most common reason phone case businesses fail is because they do not have a unique selling proposition. In other words, they are not offering anything that is different or better than what is already available on the market. Additionally, other business owners fail because they do not have a well-defined target market. Without knowing who their ideal customer is, it is difficult to create marketing and sales strategies that will reach those customers. Finally, they do not have a solid business plan in place. This includes having a clear vision for the business, as well as detailed plans for marketing, sales, and operations. Without a solid business plan, it is difficult to make smart decisions that will help the business grow.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

How to Start a Phone Case Business 9 Attainable Steps to Building a Profitable Phone Case Business in 2021

If you want to learn how to start a phone case business and jump in on making money selling phone cases, then you’re in the right place—because I’ve done it, myself. And based on the immense growth in smartphones, there’s never been a better time to get in on building your own business in this space.

In this guide we’re breaking down how to start a phone case business . Do you know that old tale about keeping all your eggs in one basket?

In today’s world, working a single job is pretty much akin to having that basket loaded to the top (while walking across a tightrope. Blindfolded.) With the uncertainty facing us every single day, there’s never been a better, or more prudent time to become an entrepreneur.

But making the transition from working a job to becoming an entrepreneur is hard. I know. I’ve been there. Jumping into the deep end with the pressures of everyday life still weighing you down can feel like an impossible task. That’s why I recommend taking it one step at a time . Find a business you can start and grow while you continue to work or go to school.

In my mind, (and from my experience co-founding Case Escape ) one of the best ways to test out the entrepreneurial lifestyle is trying your hand at starting a phone case business .

Wait, what? Sure, this might seem a bit out of left field but stay with me here.

In the past 14 years alone, global smartphone sales have gone from 122 million in 2007 to over 1.5 billion in 2022 alone.

And last year alone, the smartphone accessory market was worth $66 billion dollars with 36% of that being protective cases . For those of you not up on your math skills (or if you don’t want to open your calculator) that works out to a mind-boggling $23.7 billion spent on phone cases in 2016 , with no signs of the market slowing down anytime soon.

The size of this growing opportunity is why today, I’m teaming up with my former business partner and the owner of Case Escape , Matt Feldman, to talk about how we started our own phone case business and grew it to $160,000 in less than 1 year on the side of our day jobs back in 2013.

Learn More About Starting a Phone Case Business Today

Download Case Escape’s  free startup kit guide and get all the details about what it takes to launch a phone case business right now.

Back to business now… here’s a picture of Matt & I at one of the first trade shows we did. That’s me on the left, Matt on the right:

Since starting our phone case business, Case Escape, back in 2013 together, Matt’s gone on to help more than 100+ other people get set up with the equipment they need in order to start a phone case business of their own.

Many of them are earning well into the four and five-figures each month selling phone cases on sites like Etsy, through other eCommerce channels (like using your own eCommerce website builder to sell from your own site), at in-person events, and otherwise—which we’re talking ALL about in this post. But first…

The Psychology of the Phone Case Business (as a Long-Term Investment)

With new phones being released yearly, users are constantly on the hunt for a new case—either because they’ve upgraded their phone and their old one doesn’t fit, or they’re simply looking for a unique and interesting design to give their old phone an upgrade.

With every new phone model, you have a new product.

Not to mention the perceived value of a phone case. With smartphones costing between $500 – $1000 (or more), customers have no problem shelling out a measly $20 – $80 on a case that will protect their substantial investment.

So, we’ve got a huge market opportunity coupled with a high perceived value and low overhead for getting started.

Now, I’m sure you’re thinking  “Yes Ryan, this all sounds good. But I don’t want to have to find a factory overseas that might flake out on me or deal with hundreds of boxes full of phone cases in my apartment.”

I feel you. I don’t either. And luckily for us both, you don’t have to .

In this post, I’m going to break down exactly how to start a phone case business that leverages your creativity and entrepreneurial passion, without dealing with the headache of order logistics, flakey factories, or massive ‘minimum’ orders.

And to get this party started, I want to share a video interview with Case Escape’s co-founder, Matt Feldman and I, where we talk all about how we grew our phone case business up to more than $160,000 in our first year on the side of our day jobs.

Then, later on in this guide, you’ll find video interviews with a few of Matt’s clients who’ve also started their own phone case businesses.

Now, let’s dive into today’s post about how to start a phone case business.

9 Steps How to Start a Phone Case Business While Working a Full-Time Job

Because… you don’t need to give up the security of your full-time pay before earning a healthy side income selling phone cases. Take it from me, I’ve done it 😊

And give Case Escape’s quick how-to video a watch right here:

Step 1: Discover a Profitable Niche (For You)

Whenever I start a new business , I get excited and start running at full speed, coming up with marketing ideas and growth hacks, potential partnerships, thinking about sales funnels and customer support and how this could change my life, and… whoa there.

Yes, it’s all very exciting and you’ve got a million ideas. That’s amazing.

But first, let’s take a massive step back and answer one key question: Why?

So, why do you want to start a phone case business? Ask yourself questions like…

• What’s really motivating you to start this phone case business (hopefully more than just a motivational quote you saw on Gary Vee’s Instagram)?
• Who are the customers you want to sell to? Why?
• What’s your connection to them?
• Why should they care about what you’re making?

The easiest way to answer all these questions at once is to define your niche.

What’s a niche? Essentially, it’s what your business specializes in.

But it goes deeper than that. A niche is the space your business occupies, not just with your products, but with your content, your company culture, your branding, and your message. It’s how people identify with you and seek you out over the competition.

Now, we know we want to start a phone case company, but with the amount of competition out there, you need to be more than be just another case . You need to speak directly to a group of people.

Do you care passionately about animals? You could create cases using wildlife photography and give a portion of your proceeds towards a charity that protects endangered species .

Or, do you specialize in a certain type of design or illustration? You could use your personal designs to create beautiful phone cases and show behind-the-scenes videos of your artistic process on social media .

Whatever you do, it’s up to you, but the thread that runs through all this is that your niche needs to be about more than just how the case looks. What do you actually care about? What do you love? What can you speak passionately about so that others will stand up and take notice?

Start by listing out your own interests and topics you care about. If this business is going to be a success, you need to have a story behind it. And there’s no easier story to tell than your own.

Step 2: Develop a Visual Style for Your Brand

Now that you have your niche nailed, it’s time to translate that niche into the visual style of your brand.

Start by hitting Google and seeing what’s out there currently. Gather your images into a vision or mood board using something like Pinterest , Go Moodboard , or even Evernote .

Your boards don’t need to just be pictures of phone cases either.

Think broader about your brand and your message and put together examples of different:

• Color combinations
• Visual styles
• Illustrations

As you build out your board, a visual style will gradually start to emerge. From here, you have two choices: Design your cases yourself (if you’re artistically inclined) or bring on a designer to help you.

If you’re going to design your case yourself go for it! Otherwise, it’s time to hunt out a designer that works in the style you like and can bring your brand to life.

Finding a designer doesn’t have to be difficult or overly expensive.

Here’s a few ideas to get you started:

Check out portfolios on sites like dribbble

Dribbble is a cornucopia of designers showing off their latest work. You can browse and even hire directly on the platform by upgrading to a Pro account ($20 a year). And because of the platform’s appeal in the design community, you’ll be hiring an experienced designer who knows how to work with new clients.

Hire through a freelance marketplace

I have strong feelings about which are the best freelance jobs sites , but at the end of the day you can find pretty good design talent on sites like  Upwork , Fiverr , and Freelancer.com  that are all loaded with freelance graphic designers ready to work with you on a project. However, in many of these ‘hired gun’ situations, you’ll need a pretty clear idea of exactly what you’re after rather than expect to be working with a collaborator. If this is your first time working with a designer, it might be more effort than it’s worth.  

Reach out on Twitter, Facebook, or your personal network

Chances are you know a designer, or someone you know knows a designer. Sometimes looking through your own network is the best place to start as you already have a warm intro and (hopefully) don’t have to worry about the potential issues that come with working with a complete stranger.

Step 3: Leverage Your Community

Before we get into the specifics of making, marketing, and distributing your new phone case business, there’s one last step we need to take. I call it the Friends and Family test.

When you’re starting out with any new business, your personal network is the best place to get honest feedback, advice, and even your first few sales—this is called validating your business idea .

Talk to your friends, family, and co-workers about what you’re doing.

Is this something they’d be interested in? If not, why? What would they be more interested in? You can even grab a sample pack of custom phone cases from a company like Case Escape to show off your designs and product quality in the flesh.

Remember to stay objective during this entire process. You’re just trying to get a clear idea of what people think about your idea. Your network might not necessarily be in the same demographic as your niche.

On the other hand, if you get an overwhelmingly positive response, then you know you’re onto something. Go deeper at this point and ask questions like:

• How often do they buy a phone case?
• What are they willing to spend on a case?
• What are the qualities they look for in a case? Is it purely aesthetic or functional?
• What phone do they have now? Are they going to upgrade in the next few months or year?

Starting your research off in a supportive environment is a great way to get initial feedback about your idea and help steer you in the right direction. Just remember to not weigh this information too heavily if your target audience sample is mostly friends and family—step outside of your personal network if possible and send a few cold emails to people who’ve left reviews for phone cases on sites like Amazon or Etsy.

The bottom line is that you need to make sure you’re making decisions based on your own gut and what the broader market is telling you, not just what your closest network tells you is a good idea.

Step 4: Decide How You’re Going to Sell

At this point you should have a pretty clear idea of what you’re going to create and who your audience is.

It’s now time to make a decision about how you’re going to actually start your phone case business (and get a few quick wins).

There are a few different types of business models you can choose, each with their own pros and cons.

Do-it-yourself

If you’re ready and excited to dive headfirst into your business, grabbing a phone case startup kit   is one of the best ways to go.

Most startup kits come with everything you need to start making custom cases yourself, including printers, heat presses, templates, and blank cases—everything you need to start making your own cases.

Case Escape startup kit clients and high school entrepreneurs, Hunter Conklin and Luke Updyke from ProTechtIt Cases, have been selling phone cases on the side of their coursework since they started their phone case business last year.

As Hunter and Luke did with their side hustle, ProTechtIt Cases , when you grab a startup kit to start your phone case business, you’ll be making a bit of an upfront investment (from $3,000 – $5,000 depending upon the package you order).

Case Escape has partnered with Paramount Financial to offer  equipment financing  on their start up kits. Unlike other small business loans, Paramount doesn’t require your business to be in existence for any length of time. They instead will check that your credit is in good standing with a score above 650. This is an ideal way to get started and pay over time with profits from your new business.

But the good thing is, your margins will be higher than any other production process, and you’ll be able to recoup those costs quickly once you start selling cases (which we’ll get into later in the post).

Dropshipping

What is dropshipping? Simply put, dropshipping is where a 3rd party company handles all the logistics of creating and distributing your phone case, while you’re responsible for design and marketing (like putting together a content marketing strategy ). You keep no inventory and deal with no shipping woes. Orders are printed on-demand as they come in and delivered on your behalf. You can even create an AliExpress dropshipping business selling phone cases (or a wide range of other products) using a done-for-you tool like AliDropship to get a store up and running super quickly.

Case Escape order fulfillment client, Alisa Zukova of 25 Hour Day Prints , has been selling her art on Etsy for well over a year—clearing more than $5,000 from her side hustle this year (so far).

Earlier this year, Alisa added phone cases to her product lineup (using order fulfillment) and her sales have been skyrocketing…

In this interview, Alisa and I talk about her decision to add phone cases to her Etsy shop, how much she’s been earning from selling phone cases, and her personal design process.

Clearly, going with order fulfillment is a fantastic option for people with established selling channels—or a network that they can reach out to already (like Alisa has), or even for artists and more creative entrepreneurs who want to skip some of the headaches involved in starting a product-based company. 

Of course, nothing this good comes cheap though. What you save in time, you’ll make up in additional per-case costs when you choose to go with the order fulfillment route. But, the point of this phone case business model is low effort—and validation.

Bulk orders

If you get a line on a ton of orders off the bat or would rather have more control over your operation, you can also go the other route of ordering your stock and handling shipping and customer service yourself (or through your selling channel, which we’ll get into next!)

While this is much more labor intensive and requires more capital upfront, the per-case savings make it an exciting option for those who dream big. With Case Escape , ordering in bulk can save you up to two-thirds of the cost of paying per-case with dropshipping ($6 per case in bulk vs. up to $18 for dropshipping).

You need to decide what’s more important to you off the start…

Is it being set up for the long-term (making cases yourself with startup kits)? Or do you want the ease of selling to test your idea in the market (dropshipping/order fulfillment)? Or should you go for maximum profit potential on very large corporate orders (bulk)?

All paths lead to starting your own phone case business, it’s just up to what you feel comfortable with.

Step 5: Choose Your Selling Channels

Now it’s time for us to start looking at the specifics of selling your new phone cases.

Let’s start with the most obvious question: Where do you sell phone cases?

There are more online and offline marketplaces than we could list where you could potentially sell your cases. And where you choose to sell your case will depend on a number of factors, including:

• Your niche (who are your target customers and where do they hang out?)
• Your style (are there communities that would be more interested in how your cases look?)
• Your positioning (Are you positioning your case as a luxury item? Or something utilitarian?)

Based on your answers, here are a few ideas of places to sell your phone cases:

Etsy is an online marketplace that specializes in vintage, handmade, and custom goods.

With its 54+ million monthly users and slogan of “Shop for anything from creative people everywhere”, Etsy is a great choice if your phone case business is design-focused and fits the ‘Etsy style’ (just spend a few minutes on the site and you’ll know what I mean!)

Setting up an Etsy shop is easy to do and selling fees come in at a modest USD $0.20 + 3.5% per sale.

Here’s the Case Escape Etsy Shop that you can get some inspiration from, and I recommend reading this story of 4 Etsy sellers earning more than $100,000/yr from selling phone cases on their shops.

Amazon/Handmade at Amazon

It’s hard to think about selling anything online without at least considering Amazon.

With more than 310 million active users and sales of $136 billion on the platform in 2020, it’s easily the largest e-retailer in the US. However, bigger isn’t always better, and just as Amazon is a great place to be found, it’s also just as easy to get lost in the seas of competition.

Handmade at Amazon , however, is an interesting idea for most phone case businesses. Launched in 2015, Amazon’s ‘Handmade’ section is an invite-only marketplace, which still offers you access to Amazon’s massive amount of monthly buyers, but in an experience curated for designers and artisans. The downside? Your product must meet Amazon’s specifications of what’s ‘handmade’ as well as a whopping 15% ‘referral’ fee for every sale.

Check out Case Escape’s guide to selling on Amazon right here for even more.

Shopify, or your own online store

Want total control of how you sell your phone cases and skip out on marketplace selling fees? Services like Shopify , Squarespace , or BigCommerce let you set up your own online storefront in minutes. However, what you gain in flexibility, you lose in traffic.

Case Escape has a team of web developers and graphic designers who can build your Shopify website custom to your specifications and designs. They’ve built numerous sites designed specifically to sell phone cases in order to help you verticalize your business

Without a built-in or monthly audience, you’ll be responsible for attracting all your own customers (we’ll get into how once Case Escape customer, Boss Case , has done this later.)

Though one benefit to selling cases on your own platform, is that you can (over time) learn how to optimize your product feed so that your cases appear in the growing Google Shopping Feed , where popular product results often appear above other search results.

Local craft fairs, trade shows, and events

You don’t only have to sell your phone cases online. There are plenty of opportunities to sell your beautifully designed cases locally and in person. Check local event listings to see what sort of fairs are coming up where you might be able to sell.

Are there weekly or monthly markets where you can rent a simple stall? Not only will you get a chance to show off and sell your goods, but you’ll be able to talk to real customers and find out what they like (to help you design future cases!)

Mall Kiosks

There’s a reason you see so many kiosks selling phone accessories. High traffic and moderate overhead makes a mall kiosk a great option for starting your business. Find a good location and set yourself up for passive income by hiring and training someone to run the stand for you.

Corporate promotional products or brand partnerships

Connecting with companies and brands is also a great way to make significant sales for your new business. Lots of larger companies buy bulk gifts for employees or giveaways for conferences and events. Partnering with an event organizer or reaching out to a brand marketing or partnerships manager at a company you think might be interested in working with you is a great way to build relationships and hopefully land some big sales.

Step 6: Perfect Your Production Process

However and wherever you choose to sell your phone cases, you’re going to want a dialed in production chain to make sure there are no issues fulfilling orders.

This is the crux of your operation and getting production right is the difference between creating a business that brings in extra income month after month, and one that only brings you headaches.

Ok. I’m being a bit dramatic here. But it’s hard to understate the importance of having a solid production process in place. Just look at Kickstarter, where over 80% of larger projects are significantly delayed on their release (or never even make it!) due to production issues.

If you want to make custom cases or just have control over your full production process, one of the best options out there is the Startup Kit from Case Escape . Each Startup Kit comes with everything you need to make a custom phone case in less than 5 minutes, including a Case Escape Custom 3D Sublimation Heat Press, Photoshop templates, blank cases, a speciality sublimation printer, custom packaging, and training videos.

There’s a small learning curve when creating your own cases, but being in control of the entire process from start to finish will cut down on customer support issues and streamline your entire business. Just be sure you have a good handle of the entire process before taking on too many orders!

Step 7: Create Your Listings

Now that you’ve figured out your niche, marketplace, and production process, it’s time to get into the specifics of selling phone cases online (if that’s a channel you’re going for).

If you’re selling your phone cases online, you’re going to want to take some time now to set up your listing and some basic advertising to help put your business on autopilot. A good listing will do the heavy lifting for you—attracting customers, selling them on your brand vision and unique selling proposition, and even closing the sale.

Here’s the anatomy of a phone case listing that sells (based on the more than 12,000+ sales on the Case Escape Etsy shop):

Take great product photos

When was the last time you bought a product sight unseen? Yeah, I can’t remember either.

Because most phone cases are bought for purely aesthetic reasons, your photo plays a huge part in attracting customers. Use a simple white backdrop to put the focus on the product. For an even more professional look, you can buy a simple lighting kit on Amazon otherwise try to use indirect natural lighting by setting up near a window (as long as there aren’t any shadows being cast).

You’ll want to do some basic photo editing or hire a graphic designer to edit your photos to bring out the best coloring before posting. Again, check out our list of places to hire a designer above if you need help with this.

Create a virtual mockup  

You can also create a mockup of what your phone case will look like using a template in Photoshop. This is a more intense process but can yield you a cleaner look if your photos don’t turn out well.

Grab this set of  phone case Photoshop templates from Case Escape and give them a try with your designs.

Optimize your listing

With a good photo or mockup ready, let’s move onto the rest of what you’ll need to list your phone case.

Start with the basics: Title (much like writing a blog headline ), description, and learn how to do keyword research to include important terms (from your research earlier).

Use My Free Keyword Research Tool

Try my free AI-Powered Keyword Tool to get dozens of research-backed ideas for keywords & topics to write about on your blog today.

When writing about your case, be descriptive without getting overly lengthy. There’s a good chance your potential customer knows what a phone case is, just tell them what they need to know (phone model, key information) and a line or two about your style and any features specific to your brand or niche.

Next, you’ll want to go through your listings and pick which one you feel will sell the best and ‘feature it’ on your marketplace. That is, place it at the top so that it comes up higher in searches or shows up as your profile pic.

Lastly, it’s a good idea to set aside a small advertising budget for advertising directly through the selling channel you’re using. For example, Etsy allows you to promote your listing and advertise against certain tag words related to your business. You can even use this as a chance to see what styles resonate the most with your niche. Experiment a little. People vote with their wallets and what you think is your best offering might not be what actually sells best.

Down the road, you can do more to optimize your listing like adding product videos, testimonials, or reviews, but for now, this should be more than enough to get you started.

Step 8: Drive Traffic to Your Online Store

Ok, we’re almost there!

We talked briefly about setting up a small ad budget for your listings, but there are lots of other free ways to drive traffic to your shop. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t at least experiment with some paid advertising, but that you should complement that advertising with some organic methods.

Promote on Pinterest

Did you use Pinterest during your research phase? If you did, there’s a good chance you clicked through on some of the photos. With the right kind of strategy, you can get people to do that on your case as well!

Start with your own boards targeting your niche target audience .

Then, look for group boards that match your style and work your way in there.

Lastly, if you have some traction going for you, reach out to influencers (people with large followings who are members of high-traffic boards) and see if you can work out a deal for them to promote your phone case images.

Get on Instagram

As a visual platform, Instagram is a great way to get your cases seen by millions of people.

Take interesting photos and use hashtags that relate to your niche to get in front of as many people as possible.

You can also pay to promote your posts or use targeted advertising to gain a following fast. And just like Pinterest, courting influencers on Instagram with a high-following is a great way to drive traffic to your shop.

Buy targeted Facebook Ads

If you’re targeting a specific group with your phone case designs (like your niche!) Facebook ads can help you target them to people who fit that profile. Here’s an example of a recent Case Escape ad campaign that converted into dozens of new sales. By using Facebook Ad Library , you can also gain insights into your competitors’ ad campaigns and their targeting strategies, allowing you to optimize your own campaigns and reach your target audience more effectively

While this campaign spent only $50 over the course of a couple days, these Facebook Ad campaigns can get expensive quickly, so be sure to keep track of your sales and make sure it’s worth it for you.

Blog or contribute to relevant sites

If there’s a message or a higher purpose behind your business, you can look for relevant blogs or publications and pitch them your story.

Why are you making your phone case business that donates part of its profits to the SPCA? There are tons of sites, both local and global who might want to hear your story.

Run contests and giveaways

With low overhead, starting a phone case business is the perfect candidate for giveaways and contests.

Run them on your social networks, asking your followers to share or sign up for your newsletter for a chance to win. Or why not run a design contest, asking fans to submit their own creations? You pick the best and sell it in your store, with a portion of profits or a prize-pack going to the winning designer.

Step 9: Fulfilling Orders and Getting Repeat Customers

The last thing we need to cover is how to ship all those sales you’ll be making from your phone case business.

As we went over before, you have a few options when setting up your phone case business: DIY, drop shipping, or bulk orders.

If you opt to drop ship, then congratulations! You’re all set up.

On the other hand, if you’re going the DIY or bulk ordering route, you need to think about how you’re going to take care of shipping and order fulfillment. Here’s a few ideas:

Work with a fulfillment partner or shipping facility

This is a company that for a small fee will handle all of your shipping and returns.

You simply link your online store to their system and they handle the rest. Again, Case Escape is a great partner for this, and you can even have them create custom window boxes with your business logo, color scheme, tagline, etc…

Use an online shipping service

If you want to go full DIY, you can just use Stamps.com or another online shipping service to print shipping labels and personalize your packaging with stickers, business cards, or handwritten notes to your customers. It may seem like a small gesture, but including these simple ‘bonus items’ can go a long way in building word-of-mouth hype and attracting repeat customers.

Should you be building an email list?

Yes, I’m so glad you asked! During this entire process you should absolutely be building a list of contact information for all of your customers or people who sign up on your site. Having direct access to their inbox is an incredibly useful tool for telling them about upcoming deals, special offers, or new designs and products.

Imagine this: The new iPhone is coming out and you send an email to all your past customers who bought iPhone cases telling them you’ve got cases for the latest model. With 51% of iPhone users reporting that they upgrade their phone at least every 2 years , you’re opening yourself up to a whole bunch of business, just with one email.

As with any marketing campaigns, be conscientious of how you use email. Be honest and only send emails that are actually valuable to your customers. Getting marked as spam can harm your list and make all your emails end up in spam filters.  

Concluding Thoughts on How to Start a Phone Case Business:

So what do you think? Is starting a phone case business right for you?

It was for me, and has turned into six-figure businesses for hundreds of people I’ve met and worked with through Case Escape .

With an ever expanding user base needing regular upgrades, a high perceived value, and a strong psychological connection to your customers, running a phone case business is the perfect way to start down the path to entrepreneurship, whether you’re a creative or not (yet).

And, with partners like Case Escape making it easier than ever to start a phone case business and get up and running the way you want, you can get your own side hustle up and going in no time, with little overhead.

Hi I'm Ryan Robinson

I'm a blogger, but I'm not my blog. I am not my business either. Occasional podcaster and very-much-recovering side project addict. Co-Founder at RightBlogger . Join me here, on ryrob.com to learn how to start a blog and build a purpose-connected business. Be sure to take my free blogging tools for a spin... especially my wildly popular free keyword research tool & AI article writer . They rule. Somehow, I also find time to write for publications like Fast Company , Forbes , Entrepreneur , The Next Web , Business Insider , and more. Let’s chat on Twitter (X?) and YouTube about our feelings (and business, of course).

Leave a Reply: Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

98 replies to “9 Steps to Start a Phone Case Business While Working a Full-Time Job”

What happened to Case Escape?

Hey Brian! My buddy Matt’s occasionally still doing some small deals with peeps for Case Escape, but he’s mostly moved on to working with other projects these days. I’ll get to updating this post soon! I’ll actually be hangin with Matt in a couple months, we’ll shoot a video talking about the Case Escape story so stay tuned on my email list if you wanna hear all the deets of that 10-year saga ☺️

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Additional menu

A Better Lemonade Stand

Insights, trends, tools, & opportunities to build a better online business.

How to Make Custom Phone Cases to Sell Online: The Complete Guide

posted on August 20, 2021

If you want to sell phone cases online, this guide is for you. In this article, you’ll learn how to start your own phone case business from scratch in just a couple of hours.

These days, the phone case market is enormous. It’s estimated that there will be almost 2.53 billion smartphone users in 2018 . That is, over a third of the world’s population will own a smartphone by the end of this year.

Not only is the number of smartphone users growing, but stats also show that people upgrade their phones regularly. Users buy new smartphones every 20-22 months, and with a new phone – there comes a new phone case.

Selling a product people would buy repeatedly is always a smart idea. Why? Because for small businesses, repeat customers can make up as much as 50% of their total revenue . Besides, the phone case business is rather easy to handle since they:

• Don’t break easily, so there will be fewer returns and hassles to deal with
• Are lightweight and therefore cheap to ship, so customers won’t get repelled by high shipping costs
• Have a decent profit margin – you can dropship high-quality phone cases for around $11, then sell them easily with a 50% profit.

The best part?

You can launch your own custom phone case business with almost no investment. In this guide, we’ll show you how to do that step by step, using Shopify as your ecommerce platform, and Printful as your dropshipper.

Table of Contents

• Do the Market Research & Find Your Niche

How to Make Your Own Phone Case Designs Even if You’re Not a Designer

How to register your phone case business.

• How to Buy Your Phone Case Store’s Domain Through Shopify
• How to Add Products to Your Shopify Phone Case Store Using Printful
• How to Customize Your Phone Case Store on Shopify
• Start with Personal Connections
• Advertise Your Phone Case Business on Facebook
• Collaborate with Influencers in Your Niche
• How to Get Influencers to Promote Your Phone Case Business

Phone Case Business 101: Pick Your Niche, Designs & Business Structure

There are some things you should do prior to setting up your online store:

• Create Designs
• Register Your Phone Case Business (If Necessary)

Let’s go through each of these to-dos!

DO THE MARKET RESEARCH & FIND YOUR NICHE

The truth is, you’ll be far from being the only merchant selling phone cases online. So, before you get to designing and setting up your store, you should have a clear answer to the question: WHO is going to buy your phone cases?

Finding your niche is more than defining your audience’s gender, age and location. A niche is something people stand for and are proudly a part of. Meanwhile, from a business perspective, a niche is a specific segment of the market for which your product is created.

Why is finding a niche important?

• A specific niche means fewer and smaller direct competitors: If you target “everyone,” then your competitors are also everyone, including the big players like Amazon, eBay, etc. If the niche for your phone case business is “English teachers,” then your direct competitors are online shops that sell phone cases designed specifically for English teachers.
• Focusing on one niche makes it easier to define your customers, and then design products specifically for them: Imagine designing a phone case for a ”25-year-old woman,” versus designing a product for a “25-year-old woman who owns a pet rat.” Get the difference? Products that are designed for everyone often lack personality, while niche products are usually much more unique and therefore stand out.
• Targeting a niche may help you rank better on Google: Ranking for the search term “phone cases” is close to impossible, while ranking for something more specific, like “kangaroo phone cases,” is more doable because the competition is much lower. Besides, when someone Googles “kangaroo phone cases” he or she already knows what they’re looking for, and thus are a step closer to making a purchase.

How to Find a Niche to Target for Your Phone Case Business

The best way to find a niche to target for your phone case business is to take it personally and try to choose a niche you belong to. Think of your own interests and groups you’re a member of – that will help you better understand your customer, and that’s the best recipe for designing products other members of the niche will love.

If you need a little extra help with finding your niche, check out this article that includes 115 niche market ideas !

Another way to come up with a niche for your store is to look at Google Trends and see what people are interested in and searching for. This way, you can often find trendy niches, then jump on the bandwagon.

To find niches in Google Trends, go to the ☰ menu then → Trending searches, and see what people are searching for in your target location. For example, by exploring search topics we found that ”Sauces” are one of the most searched types of foods on Google. There are phone cases with pizza slices, donuts, cupcakes, and even ketchup, but are there cases that would help sauce-loving people show their (bizarre) love for teriyaki?

Now, once you’ve found your niche idea, jump on to the next step.

When you’ve found your target audience, it’s time to create designs for your phone cases.

It’s great if you have design skills, time and all the necessary programs and tools to make designs for your phone case business, however, even if you’re missing any of these things, you can still get your designs ready – here are some ideas and tools you can use:

• Use Your Photos (Average price range: $0): If you’re good at capturing moments, this is a way to sell your photos. You don’t need to learn graphic design skills or hire someone to create designs for you if you already have beautiful images to print on your phone cases. Just scroll through your phone or camera memory and choose the best ones that fit your niche.
• Dribbble (Average price range: $80-$200/ hour): Dribbble is like a social media platform for designers where they create online portfolios to showcase their work. All you need to do is spend some time browsing through portfolios on Dribbble until you find a designer whose style you like. Then, reach out and offer to work together – simple as that.
• 99designs (Average price range: contests start at $299 while hiring a designer for 1-on-1 projects starts at $150 per design): 99designs is like a design crowdsourcing platform; you describe your idea, set your budget and launch a contest. Then, designers submit their ideas and in the end, you choose the winning design (or several designs), and the author gets the prize. The good thing about contests is that if you don’t like any of the design ideas submitted, you can always get your money back. You can also hire a designer through 99designs, which is a good option if you have a clear idea of how you’d like your design to look. Many designers, in fact, prefer working on 1-on-1 projects instead of participating in contests. Besides, if you’re aiming for one specific design, this option may also be cheaper.
• Fiverr (Average price range: $5-$50 per design): Fiver is probably the quickest and cheapest way to get designs – you can have your designs ready in 24 hours paying as low as $5 per design. But you know what they say: You get what you pay for. However, the cheap price tag doesn’t change the fact that there are many talented and skilled designers on Fiverr that you can hire. Find a designer whose style you like, pay attention to his/her reviews, and you may end up with a great design for the cost of a sandwich.
• Find a Freelancer (Average price range: Varies depending on the platform): Upwork , Freelancer , Guru and PeoplePerHour , these are just a few platforms you can use to find and hire a freelancer for your design works. Submit your project and let designers apply for the job, or browse until you find a designer you’d like to work with.
• Reach Out to a Designer Whose Work You Like (Average price range: $150-$300 per design): If you have a designer whose work you admire, don’t be shy and reach out. Usually, designers are happy to take up freelance work, especially from people who like their work. The best part? The designer might be so happy with the result of your collaboration that he or she would help you spread the word when your phone cases are available for purchase.

There are different requirements in different countries. In some countries, you’re not allowed to do any business activities if you don’t have a legally registered company. In the US, on the other hand, you can do business as a sole proprietor . This structure doesn’t require registering as a business and you can use your social security number as your tax ID .

The sole proprietorship business structure works well for low-risk businesses. That is, if you’re planning to sell phone cases using a dropshipping service, that’s a relatively low-risk business since it doesn’t require large investments.

However, sole proprietorship only works if your business is a one person ownership only. So, if you’re launching your business together with someone else, you’ll need to register your company.

For more information on different types of structures and how to register your business in the US, click here .

Now that you’ve done your preparation, move on to the next step.

How to Set Up Your Online Phone Case Business with Shopify & Printful

Shopify is without a doubt one of the most popular ecommerce platforms today, which allows anyone to build their online shops in a few hours. If you’ve never heard of Shopify or want to learn more about what features and services they offer, check out our Shopify Review . To start, go to Shopify , enter the email address you want to use for your shop, and click “Get started.”

Next, enter your password and choose your store name. If you don’t have a store name yet, don’t worry! Enter a temporary one – you can change it later. If you need help choosing a store name for your phone case business, check out our How to Name a Business article. When that’s done, click “Create your store.”

After filling out a quick questionnaire by Shopify and adding your address, your shop will be created. We’ll show you how to customize it later and start with buying a domain and adding products – in this case, phone cases – to sell.

HOW TO BUY YOUR PHONE CASE STORE’S DOMAIN THROUGH SHOPIFY

You can buy your domain through third-party sellers, such as Namecheap , and if you have already purchased one, you can connect it with Shopify by going to Online Store → Domains → Connect existing domain, and then following the instructions.

If you haven’t bought a domain yet, we recommend that you do it directly through Shopify. That way, your shop will also be hosted on their servers, and having everything in the same place will be more convenient to manage.

To buy a domain name, click “Buy new domain.” On the next step, type in your chosen domain name, and Shopify will show you if the domain is still available and how much you can buy it for.

What’s a good domain name?

First, it’s related to the products you’re selling, and in the best case – includes a product-related keyword.

Choosing a name that’s related to products you’re selling will make it easier for customers to remember your shop. Besides, having a keyword in your domain name may help you with Google rankings. (To learn more about what keywords are, check out our Ecommerce Keyword Research: The Ultimate Guide article and to find relevant keywords for your phone case business name, use a keyword search tool such as KWFinder – Read our KWFinder Review here.)

Second, it should be easy to pronounce and remember, and it shouldn’t be too long.

Finding a short, one-word domain name that’s available with .com at the end is close to impossible today. Therefore, a domain name that consists of multiple words is okay as long as it’s not unpronounceable and impossible to remember. Another way to go is to come up with a made-up word that includes a part of your product keyword (for example, Printful is a word put together from two keywords: Print + fulfillment.)

If you’re stuck and can’t come up with your perfect domain name, there are tools – such as domain name generators – that can help. To name a few:

• Shopify Business Name Generator
• Domain Puzzler
• LeanDomainSearch

When you’ve found and bought your domain name, we can move forward and add products to our shop.

HOW TO ADD PRODUCTS TO YOUR SHOPIFY PHONE CASE STORE USING PRINTFUL

Printful is a print-on-demand dropshipping company that lets you start your own online store without inventory and large investments. After you’ve connected Printful to your online store, every time a customer makes an order on your store, Printful will automatically print, pack and ship the order to your customer – with your branding and everything. To learn more about Printful and the features and services they offer, check out our comprehensive Printful review .

Here’s how to connect Printful to your Shopify store:

From your Shopify dashboard, go to Apps → Visit the Shopify App Store

Find Printful and click “Get”

You’ll be automatically sent back to your shop, where you’ll need to approve that you want to connect your shop with Printful. Click “Install app” to agree.

Then, you’ll be asked to create a Printful account – enter your email and click “Create”

And done! You’ve now connected Printful to your Shopify store!

The next step is to add phone cases that you want to sell on your store. To do that, click “Add product,” then choose the category “Accessories” and find “Phone cases.”

Click on the image to select the model you want to add first. Now, if you have your design ready, this is the step where you have to upload it:

If you don’t have designs yet, as a backup you can create a simple, text-based design directly through Printful:

When you’ve created your design or uploaded your design file, click “Proceed to mockups” and choose your mockup images. Then, move forward to your product descriptions.

Here, you can either leave the product descriptions that Printful has prepared or write your own. We recommend that you write your own unique product descriptions. Here’s why:

• Firstly, there are already hundreds of stores using the default product descriptions provided by Printful. That definitely won’t help you with your Google rankings since Google sees copied texts as duplicate content, which may harm your rankings.
• And secondly, unique and niche-specific product descriptions will speak more to your customers, and that can significantly boost your sales.

So, don’t be lazy, and write your own original product descriptions. To learn more about writing great product descriptions, check out our How to Write Better Product Descriptions article and our How to Design the Perfect Product Page for Your Ecommerce Business article.

When your product descriptions are done, the final step is to choose the pricing.

Printful will offer you their suggested retail price and estimated profit per item sold. That said, you can always increase the retail price if you want to make a bigger profit. But, be reasonable – don’t put a price so high that no one will buy your phone cases because they’re just too expensive. The best way to decide is to take a look at other stores and check their average prices for similar products, then adjust your pricing accordingly. If you need help determining your profit margin and cost of your phone cases, check out our Profit Margin Calculator to determine the selling price of your products based on your desired revenue.

When you’re happy with your pricing, click “Submit to store” and you’re done! If you have more designs, repeat the same process until all of your designs are added.

HOW TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR PHONE CASE Store on Shopify

After you’ve added all the products and designs you want to sell to your Shopify store, let’s finish and customize your shop’s design before you hit the launch button and make it visible to everyone.

Go to your Shopify dashboard → Online store → Themes.

You can stick with Shopify’s default shop theme – it’s simple, minimal, and does the work. However, if you want something more sophisticated, there are hundreds of pre-made themes available through Shopify – for free or paid.

Just browse through the themes available until you find the perfect layout for your shop. (Warning! Once you’ve started browsing, it’s seriously hard to stop.)

For our test store, let’s go with ”Supply” – one of the free themes offered by Shopify. To use the theme, just click “Add Supply.”

When it’s added, you’ll be able to find it under the section “More themes.”

Click “Customize” and you’ll be taken to its customization page. There, you can create your shop’s look by uploading images, store’s logo, changing colors, adding necessary sections, headlines and other descriptions.

Play around until you’re satisfied with the result, and when you’re ready, click “Publish”. Your default theme will be automatically replaced with the custom one.

Finally, just before we do the last step to make your shop live and to get started selling, we must take care of a few more things:

Your shop, by default, will accept PayPal payments. To let your customers pay with their cards as well, it’s necessary to activate Shopify Payments. Do that by going to the Shopify dashboard → Settings → Payment Providers, and clicking “Complete account setup” at Shopify Payments. Then, you’ll be asked to provide information about your business, personal details, and information about the products you’ll be selling.

When taking PayPal payments, be aware that PayPal will take a portion of the payment as commission for facilitating the sale. If you’re interested to know how much that portion will be based on the price of your phone cases, check out our PayPal Fee Calculator to uncover any hidden PayPal fees.

Make sure you charge your customers for shipping (unless you have a free shipping policy). To edit your shipping settings, go to your Shopify dashboard → Settings → Shipping, and define your shipping rates depending on each orders’ destination. You can also contact Shopify and ask for live shipping rates ” a la carte ”, which will cost you additional $20 per month to add the feature. Or, if you opt-in for the Shopify Advanced plan ($299/month), you can use Printful’s live shipping rates.

In both cases, it means that the delivery costs will be calculated in real-time so that neither you or your customers overpay for shipping. To learn more about creating a shipping strategy for your online phone case business, check out the articles in our Shipping & Fulfillment category on our blog.

To be able to receive orders and use Shopify after your free trial is over, you must add your billing information. To do that, go to your Shopify dashboard → Settings → Billing, and add your credit card information.

There are other settings that you may want to review and change, but these three are the most important ones.

When your store looks perfect, your phone case products are added and all settings are in place, it’s time to – drumroll please – LAUNCH YOUR STORE!

To make it accessible to everyone, go to Online Store → Preferences → Disable password page and click ”Save.”

Congratulations! Your store is now online and ready to accept orders.

How to Sell Your Phone Case Products Online

Here’s the harsh truth: Simply launching a shop is not enough to become a successful entrepreneur. To sell your designs on phone cases, you’ll have to work on your marketing and generating traffic to your store.

Here are 3 methods – tested and true – you can use to attract visitors to your online store and make your first sale:

START WITH PERSONAL CONNECTIONS

It’s so obvious that many new entrepreneurs ignore it, but your friends, family, and personal connections are your secret recipe to getting your phone case business off the ground.

Don’t keep it a secret, make sure to tell people about your idea even before you start selling. Let it settle in their minds so that when you launch your shop, they know what it’s about and can help you promote it. When your shop is live, announce the big news on your social media accounts, and ask your friends to help you spread the word.

ADVERTISE Your Phone Case Business ON FACEBOOK

Another way to get traffic to your shop is to advertise on Facebook. All you need for that is a Business Page (your store’s fan page) and a Facebook Ad Account (a platform for creating ads) with the Facebook pixel (conversion tracking code) installed in your shop.

When your Business Page and Ad Account is all set up, you can promote your phone case business on the world’s most popular social media with over 2.2 billion active users. However, keep in mind that Facebook is not the place people go to find something to buy.

Instead of trying to sell your phone cases right away, do it in three steps:

Get Attention

Stay in Sight

Let me show you how to create Facebook campaigns for each of these steps:

When no one has heard about your recently launched online store, the first step is to let people know it’s there… and get them to pay their first visit to your store. In other words, you should start with campaigns that will generate clicks to your website.

Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Open your Facebook Ad Manager to start creating a campaign. On the first step, choose your campaign objective, “Traffic,” which means that Facebook will show your ad to people who’re most likely to click and visit your shop.

Name your campaign and click “Continue.”

Step 2: Define your target audience. Facebook is famous for its laser-specific targeting options, so make use of it. You can find potential customers based on where they live, their interests, demographics, online behaviors, etc.

The better you know your niche, the more precisely you’ll be able to define your audience. For example, if you’ve designed phone cases for ”grammar nazis”, you can find potential customers by targeting:

• English teachers
• Users with the interest ”English grammar” or ”English philology”
• Users interested in ”Grammar” and ”English language”

Additionally, since you’re selling phone cases, you may want to show your traffic campaigns on mobile only, which will make them more context-relevant. Think about it: People will see a phone case ad on their phone!

Also, if you’re selling phone cases for specific phone types, you may want to target people who own that particular type of phone. For example, if you sell only iPhone cases, it would be smart to target people with iOS devices only.

When you’ve defined your audience, set your campaign budget and click “Continue.”

Step 3: Write your ad copy and upload images. Make sure you use visuals that speak to your target audience. You can use product photos or mockups with your best designs, or find free niche and/or product-matching images in photo stocks like Unsplash or Pixabay. For a more comprehensive list of stock photo resources, check out these 200+ Free and Premium Graphic Design Resources .

When it comes to copy, the same tip applies: Speak directly to your target audience. If you’re targeting “English teachers,” you can, for example, start your ad copy with a question: “Are you an English teacher?” You know he or she is, so that’s a great way to catch attention.

When your ad is ready, click “Confirm” to launch it.

When your first campaign has generated some traffic to your shop, it’s important that you don’t lose connection with people who have shown interest in your products. So, the next step is to stay in their sight until they’re ready to convert.

Step 1: Create your product catalog on Facebook by connecting your Shopify store with Facebook. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it .

Step 2: Go to Ads Manager and start a new campaign, choosing “Catalogue Sales” as your campaign objective. In this case, Facebook will show people the exact product they viewed last time they visited your shop. Name your campaign and click “Continue.”

Step 3: Choose to target users who’ve visited your shop or added some products to their basket within the last 30 days but didn’t make a purchase.

When that’s done, set your campaign budget and click “Continue.”

Step 4: Create your ad. Remember that people you’ll be showing this campaign to already know your shop, so the goal of these ads is to keep your store in their sight and remind them of the products they viewed. Since you connected your product catalog to Facebook, it’ll automatically use product images from your shop.

Regarding your copy—keep it simple and don’t be too sales-driven. Your goal is to remind people of your products without being too intrusive.

The last step is to convert those people who have visited your store several times within a certain period of time but haven’t bought anything from you. This is where you can finally get to selling because you can be quite sure these people are interested in your products.

Step 1: Go to Facebook Ads Manager and start a new campaign. Again, choose “Catalogue Sales” as your campaign objective. Name your campaign and click “Continue.”

Step 2: Create a new custom audience – scroll down to “Custom Audiences” and click “Create new.”

Then, click “Website traffic” and create an audience of people who’ve visited your store at least 2 times within the last 30 days:

• Choose “Page Views” from your events
• Click “Refine by” and click “Frequency,” then set “Greater than or equal to 2”

Click “Create Audience.” Then, set your budget and click “Continue.”

Step 3: Create your ad. Your ad images will, again, be automatically taken from your product catalog, since this is a “Catalogue Sales” ad. In the copy, encourage people to come back to your shop and get the product they were interested in.

COLLABORATE WITH INFLUENCERS IN YOUR NICHE

Studies show that 88% of people trust online recommendations as much as personal ones. As a result, influencer marketing content delivers 11x higher ROI (return on investment) than traditional forms of digital marketing. That explains why influencer marketing has become one of the online marketing trends of 2018 .

While influencers with millions of followers may not be within your reach, there are thousands of micro-influencers (influencers with less than 10k followers) who’re happy to collaborate with small brands.

Here are some easy ways how to find them:

• If you know your niche inside out, think of people you already follow, or even know personally, who have authority within the audience you’re targeting.
• Use hashtag searches on Instagram. Simply type in the search bar: “# + your niche keyword.” Go through the top posts and check people behind them and how many followers they have.
• Conduct a Google search for bloggers, podcasters and/or columnists who cover topics related to your niche (for example, just type into Google: “blog” + your niche keyword).
• Use Twitter’s advanced search to find users who tweet about your niche and related topics. Check people behind the tweets and their total number of followers.

How to Make Sure the Influencer You’ve Found is Legitimate

The number of followers can be a misleading statistic to make you believe that an individual has influence over a large number of people. In reality, getting a large number of followers can be as simple as paying for a service.

The problem? These followers are fake.

How do you make sure that an influencer actually has influence and isn’t just scamming you for free stuff? Here are 5 suggestions:

Check Engagement Rates (Likes vs. Total Count of Followers)

A high engagement rate on a profile’s content is an indication of influencer legitimacy. When they have a consistently engaged audience, it’s likely that their followers are real people who actually do enjoy the influencer’s content. A high engagement rate also indicates how well the influencer can put together posts that are meaningful and relevant their audience, which would be good for you if you choose to work with them as an affiliate partner (more on that later!)

Engagement rate is calculated by dividing the total amount of followers by the number of likes on a piece of content.

Here’s how Scrunch defines engagement rates:

• Low – 0%-1.64%: This translates to 1-16 reactions for every 1000 followers
• Medium – 1.64%-3.48%: This translates to 16-34 reactions for every 1000 followers
• High – 3.48%-6.67%: This translates to 34-66 reactions for every 1000 followers
• Very High – 6.67%-100%: This translates to 66+ reactions for every 1000 followers

Take a Look at the Comment Quantity & Quality

Though post likes are one factor that can indicate legitimacy, unfortunately, these can be purchased as well. Even comments can be purchased.

How do you protect yourself against purchased engagement? Rate the quality because that’s one thing bots can’t do (yet).

Open up one of the influencer’s posts and scroll down to the comments section; take a look at the comments. Are they generic, irrelevant and short? For example: “Great!” “Awesome!” “Keep it up!” or even just a string of emojis?

Or, are they long, thoughtful, relevant? For example, the commenter replies to other users’ comments in long-form and mentions the topic of the post itself.

Check to make sure that the comments are relevant to the post and that they aren’t just posting nonsense generic comments, which is a typical bot-move.

Check for Random or “Robot” Followers

Open up the influencer’s followers list, and open several of the followers’ profiles at random.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Are these real profiles?
• Do their posts have engagement?
• Do their captions make logical sense?

When profiles are made up of stock photos with no or very little content and engagement and garbled captions, it’s very possible that they’re “bot” accounts, fake profiles and are paid followers.

Check Post Content to Weed Out Promo Accounts

What is a promo account? A promo account is one that almost exclusively uses the platform to promote sponsored or affiliate products.

They usually cover a wide range of different products and provide very little value to the followers. It’s generally believed that these promo accounts that look to have huge followings are usually made up of purchased followers.

Even if the followers are real, if the account promotes products constantly, then the value of the suggestion from the influencer decreases. Your post gets lost in the sea of other promoted content.

So how do you avoid promo accounts?

• Check the posts to make sure that each post isn’t promoting a product
• Identify if the account has curated content within a certain niche
• Check the above steps to check if followers are earned or purchased

HOW TO Get INFLUENCERS TO Promote Your Phone Case Business

Now that you’ve found influencers, it’s time to reach out to them and let them know you want to work with them. Brands and influencers tend to work on different terms, but here are the two most popular forms of collaboration:

Give Away Free Samples in Exchange for Promotion

Send the influencer a free product he or she can review and share with his or her followers. Many influencers are happy to collaborate on these terms, especially if they really like the product.

You can also give influencers various products that they can use for a giveaway for their followers. For them, making sure that their audience is engaged and growing is as important as it is for you to get your product exposed, and a giveaway is a great way to keep followers engaged.

• It’s cheap: It’ll only cost you one or a few products.
• It’s easy to arrange: All you need to do is ship the product to the influencer.
• Not regular: The influencer will review your product once, or promote it while his/her giveaway is active, after which he/she might stop doing it.
• It may be difficult to track results from such collaborations.

Launch an Affiliate Program and Share Your Revenue

You can let influencers earn from every product they sell. The idea is that the influencer promotes your product using a unique link. Whenever someone clicks on that link and makes a purchase, the influencer receives a commission – usually a percentage of the total order value.

• It’s motivating for influencers to regularly promote your products since they earn from every purchase.
• For influencers with a large follower base, affiliate marketing may be the only form of collaboration they’re interested in.
• The results from the collaboration will be easy to track.
• You’ll have to share a portion of your revenue.
• It requires a setting up an affiliate account, which takes some time and in most cases a registration fee (For example, if you use the well-known affiliate program ShareASale , the registration fee is $500)
• The influencer will need an affiliate account, too. So, if they don’t have an affiliate account and they don’t want the hassle, they may drop off because of this reason.

To learn more about How to Start an Affiliate Program for Your Ecommerce Store , check out our comprehensive article.

If you’ve read this far, you’re ready to start your own phone case business! You know everything you need to know about what it takes to get your own phone case business up and running, so now it’s up to you. Good luck, and we can’t wait to see what you’ve created!

Ready to explore with me?

A once-weekly newsletter packed with insights, trends, tools, and opportunities to help you build a better online business.

29,374 others on the list 🔥

Phone Case Business Plan Template & Guidebook

How to write a phone case business plan in 7 steps:, 1. describe the purpose of your phone case business..

The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your phone case business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers’ problems. It also helps you identify what makes your business different from others in its industry.

Our purpose at [Company Name] is to provide our customers with quality and fashionable phone cases that protect their devices while expressing their individual style. We strive to create a positive customer experience by offering competitive prices and excellent customer service.

2. Products & Services Offered by Your Phone Case Business.

You may want to do a comparison of your business plan against those of other competitors in the area, or even with online reviews. This way, you can find out what people like about them and what they don’t like, so that you can either improve upon their offerings or avoid doing so altogether.

3. Build a Creative Marketing Stratgey.

Target market, customer base , product or service description, competitive analysis, marketing channels, form an llc in your state, 4. write your operational plan..

Next, you'll need to build your operational plan. This section describes the type of business you'll be running, and includes the steps involved in your operations. 

What equipment, supplies, or permits are needed to run a phone case business?

5. management & organization of your phone case business., 6. phone case business startup expenses & captial needed..

This section should be broken down by month and year. If you are still in the planning stage of your business, it may be helpful to estimate how much money will be needed each month until you reach profitability.

Running costs refer to ongoing expenses related directly with operating your business over time like electricity bills or salaries paid out each month. These types of expenses will vary greatly depending on multiple variables such as location, team size, utility costs, etc.

7. Financial Plan & Projections

A financial plan is an important part of any business plan, as it outlines how the business will generate revenue and profit, and how it will use that profit to grow and sustain itself. To devise a financial plan for your phone case business, you will need to consider a number of factors, including your start-up costs, operating costs, projected revenue, and expenses. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Phone Case Business Plans:

Why do you need a business plan for a phone case business.

A business plan is essential for any business, including a phone case business. It provides structure and direction for the business and helps to identify goals and action plans for achieving them. It can also help to provide an understanding of the market, provide financial projections, and demonstrate to investors or lenders why the business has potential. Additionally, it can help the owner to determine if the business is feasible and viable.

Who should you ask for help with your phone case business plan?

Can you write a phone case business plan yourself.

Writing a phone case business plan requires a lot of research and planning, and it is something that should not be taken lightly. It is best to consult a professional business plan writer or consultant to help you prepare the most effective business plan for your phone case business. They will have the experience and resources to guide you through the process and ensure your business plan covers all important considerations. They will also be able to provide advice on how to best market your phone case business and make it successful.

Related Business Plans

Home inventory business plan template & guidebook, home inspection business plan template & guidebook, home decor business plan template & guidebook, health and wellness business plan template & guidebook, hauling business plan template & guidebook, hardware business plan template & guidebook, handyman business plan template & guidebook, hair extension business plan template & guidebook, handbag business plan template & guidebook.

I'm Nick, co-founder of newfoundr.com, dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs succeed. As a small business owner with over five years of experience, I have garnered valuable knowledge and insights across a diverse range of industries. My passion for entrepreneurship drives me to share my expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs, empowering them to turn their business dreams into reality.

Through meticulous research and firsthand experience, I uncover the essential steps, software, tools, and costs associated with launching and maintaining a successful business. By demystifying the complexities of entrepreneurship, I provide the guidance and support needed for others to embark on their journey with confidence.

How To Start a Phone Case Business

Starting a business is a big step that needs care, attention, and consideration. You don’t want to jump into any opportunity before doing research to identify if the opportunity is viable and the right step for you.

Below you’ll find the steps needed to start a phone case business plus a few key points to consider, followed by a collection of resources you can use now and in the future. Let’s get started with the steps.

Steps to Starting a Phone Case Business

1. make sure running a business is right for you.

Some people want to run a business, while others like working with the business’s products and services but don’t like management.

It’s important to be passionate about your business; otherwise, you will look for a way out instead of solutions when problems arise.

Ask yourself a few questions to see if you are on the right track. For example:

• Can you see yourself owning and operating a phone case business for the next few years?
• Are you passionate about phone cases?
• If there were no restrictions and you had the choice to do whatever you wanted with your life, would you still move forward with this business?
• Why do you want to open a phone case business?
• What do you expect from your business, financial freedom, being your own boss, prestige, a way out of a job you dislike?

The above questions can only be answered by you, and your answers will give you more clarity as to what you really want.

For more, see  Business Startup Considerations.

2. Research

Business research.

The time you take to do research will pay off. The more you know about a business, the better your decisions and the final outcome you’ll have.

You need to speak with experienced people in the field to get accurate information.

See my article below for a few exercises that will get you on the right track and keep you from making mistakes based on inaccurate information.

See  An Inside Look Into the Business You Want To Start  for more.

Target Audience

Understanding your target audience allows you to visualize your customers and set up your business to your customer’s preferences.

For more, see,  How To Understand Your Target Market .

3. Setup Considerations

For this step, you must imagine how your business will be set up.

For example:

• Are you considering a Kiosk set up in a mall?
• Are you planning a storefront?
• Are you planning on an online operation or online and a brick-and-mortar business?
• Will you open a home-based business?
• Are you considering a full-time or part-time operation?
• Will you do all the work yourself?
• Are you planning on resale or making your own cases?
• Will you offer custom designs?
• Do you want to build a brand?
• Are you considering add-ons, such as phone repairs, accessories, or even phone sales?

Answering the above questions will help you set up your business effectively.

4. Choosing The Right Business Location

Your location is very important unless your operation is online. For example, if you are focusing on a brick-and-mortar business, you must locate in an area with a demand for phone cases, or it doesn’t make sense to open.

If you’re planning a brick-and-mortar operation then you’ll need to locate it in a busy area, for example, a kiosk in a popular mall , where thousands of people walk by every day. You need to make your display attractive and you need to have a wide selection of desirable cases.

For more, see  Choosing The Best Location for Your Business.

5. Choose a Business Name

Choosing a business name is important, especially if you put your name on your phone cases. Your business name has to be memorable, catchy, and available for registration. You’ll also want a domain name to match your business name.

For this important step, see  How To Register a Business Name . Also, check out the latest search results offering  Name Ideas for a phone case business .

6. Business Registration

You’ll have to register your business to comply with the laws in your area. I suggest looking at the link below to get a strong overview of what you need to register your business.

It’s also a good idea to speak with a professional, such as a lawyer or accountant, to get advice on your particular situation.

See,  How to Register Your Business  for all the details.

7. Create Your Corporate ID

A corporate ID is the artwork for items, such as business cards , promotional items, your website, your logo, stationary, etc.

It’s important to have your design created by a professional to leave a good impression on your customers.

See  A Complete Introduction to Corporate Identity Packages  for more.

8. Estimating Your Startup Cost

Depending on your operation, starting from home as a part-time business, operating online, or opening a storefront will determine your startup cost. Start by making a list of all the things you’ll need, and as you’re getting pricing, other issues will show up, and you can update your list.

It’s important to be as accurate as possible because if you estimate too high, your venture could luck risky, and if you estimate too low, you may run out of money before you can open your door to the public.

For more, see,  Estimating Start-up Costs: Are you Missing Anything?  Also, see,  Business Expenses To Consider.

9. Writing a Business Plan

Your business plan is a roadmap to your destination and helps you stay on track once you are up and running.

It’s also an essential document when looking to attract investors and apply for financing.

For details, see  How to Write a Business Plan.

10. Set up Your Banking

As a business owner, you’ll need to separate personal and business finances by opening a separate checking account. You can use your current bank or choose a new bank.

For more, see,  How to Open a Business Bank Account  and  What Is a Merchant Account, and How to Get One.

11. Get the Funding for Your Operation

For this part of the startup process, you’ll need to make copies of your business plan and meet with lenders to discuss a business loan.

You may review the article below to prepare before meeting with a financial lender.

For ideas, see our article,  Getting a Small Business Loan.

12. Software Setup

It’s time to look at software to help you manage your business.

For example, you may need an accounting program, and you can discuss the best option with your accountant. You may also need programs like those included in Microsoft Office, a popular business package.

In addition, browse through the available software for a phone case business that could be beneficial.

• phone case business software
• Small business software

13. Get The Right Business Insurance

If there is an accident at your place of business, you will need sufficient insurance coverage.

If you are running this business out of your home, speak to your home insurance broker to ensure running a business out of your home will not void your current home insurance policy.

For more, see  What to Know About Business Insurance.

14. Choose Suppliers

You will need a supplier that will ensure you have sufficient supplies in stock to make sales.

A great supplier can help you succeed, while a poor supplier negatively affects your company.

See,  How To Choose a Supplier  for tips and insights.

15. Physical Setup

For this step, you will focus on the setup of your business. Whether you have a storefront or are running an online operation, you will need everything to be organized so you do not waste time looking for things.

Your office is where you will spend most of your time managing your business. Therefore, your office will need to be fully equipped and organized to maximize productivity.

See,  Here are Considerations for The Setup of Your Office  for the details.

16. Creating a Website

Many people purchase a phone case online because it’s convenient; therefore, do you want to ensure your website is quick, mobile-ready, and contains all the information customers want?

If you’re designing phone cases, you can have an option for people to upload a graphic or photo where you can create a custom case for them.

You may have other accounts online where you can market your phone cases, such as a  Facebook Page  or even open up an  Etsy store , but your website should be your main focus because you’ll have full control when you register a  domain name  and sign up for hosting.

For more, see our page on  How to Build a Website.

17. Create an External Support Team

An external support team includes professionals who can help you with services and advice. They are not on your payroll but are paid by the hour, on a retainer, or by the job.

Your team may consist of a lawyer, an accountant, a graphic designer, an IT professional, a webmaster, etc. Building your team may take months or years, but once it’s in place, you have a group of people you can count on when you plan to expand your business or need advice.

For more, see,  Building a Team of Professional Advisors.

18. Hiring Employees

You may be planning to do everything yourself, and that’s a good idea to keep your cost down, but when you expand, you may need to hire employees. Ensure you hire the right people for every position, and make sure you don’t overhire.

For more, see,  How and When to Hire a New Employee.

Considerations

Who will buy a case.

You do have to consider how many people already have a case for their phones. I would say quite a few. I know that I purchased my case when I purchased the phone. Have I ever replaced it? No, I haven’t so I wouldn’t be a good customer for someone selling cell phone cases.

In order to make an impact, you need to do some effective marketing and make your phone cases desirable. People may not need a new case, but if they find a case that appeals to them more than the one they have then they may make a purchase based on desire and not need.

Make Cell Phone Cases Desirable

You need to have a wide variety, including name brands, and desirable functions, for example, a case that protects your phone and holds credit cards or cash.

Style is an aspect that will make your cases more desirable, especially for those interested in fashion. Fashionable name-brand cases will appeal to them. Another aspect is the graphic on the case. E.g SIFI fans may find graphics on the case related to the latest movie desirable.

You may add additional products and services that go with cell phone cases. For Example, accessories such as chargers, cables, screen protectors, cell phone repair ( which you can subcontract,), etc.

Getting Customers Through The Door

Once your business is open, don’t expect customers to walk through your door without marketing your business. You’ll need to take action to bring awareness to your phone case business.

For a list of tips, see our article  How To Get Customers Through the Door , to find a few ideas you can use.

Grand Opening

Creating a memorable grand opening for your new business is important, as it will engage the community and attract new customers.

For an overview, see,  How To Plan a Grand Opening .

More Marketing Ideas

Marketing is an essential process for any business owner. The key to successful marketing is tracking your campaigns and doing more of what works.

See our  marketing section  to spark your creativity for more ideas to market your business.

Regarding profit, you can’t just look at your profit per case. Instead, you have to look at the whole picture. So, for example, if you make $10 per case in profit, you still have to factor in other business expenses. So the 10 dollars is not net profit.

No one can tell you how much profit to expect unless they understand your business costs. A rule of thumb is keeping costs minimum without sacrificing customer service or quality.

See,  Factors Affecting Business Profit

You can get an idea of the pricing for phone cases that can give you a starting point for where you set yours. When pricing your products, you need to accurately determine your costs to calculate profit per sale.

See the latest  phone case prices  and  tips for setting your prices.

This part of the post contains resources you can use during the startup phase and when your business is up and running.

Most links lead to search results, so you always have updated information anytime you use this page. You may want to bookmark it to return to use the resources.

Trends and Statistics

Studying trends and statistics gives you a strong overview of your industry. You may find something missing in the phone case industry that you can use for a competitive edge. Or on the other hand, you may find something you’re missing that you need to include.

See  phone case trends and statistics  for the latest.

Top Phone Case Businesses

Studying the competition gives you an idea of what you’re up against.

You’ll get an idea of your competition’s pricing, product services, and warranties. But, here again, you may find something missing that the competition is overlooked, or you might find something that you’ve missed. Then, you can include it in your business.

I suggest you spend some quality time studying  top phone case businesses.

The Future of The Phone Case Industry

Researching the future of the phone case industry can provide a glimpse into the future of your industry.

For example, new material is coming to make the protection of phones more effective. You could start planning to use this material to create your phone cases.

This could give you a headstart and a competitive edge.

The future of the phone case industry.

Terminology

You will need to know the terminology used the in the phone industry.

You will pick up the terminology once your business is up and running, but why not take some time to brush up on it using the link below.

See the latest search results for  phone case industry terminology .

Knowledge Is Power if You Use It!

There’s a lot of information on phone cases and running a business. The links below lead to various resources you can use to stay up-to-date with the industry.

Blogs are an excellent way to stay up-to-date with the latest information.

Subscribe to as many blogs as possible. Then, when the information starts to flow to your inbox, you can unsubscribe to those that don’t offer much value. In the end, you’ll have a selection of hand-picked blogs that deliver valuable information.

• Cell phone blogs  to follow

Using a site like Google News allows you to filter results according to your search query. You can even set up alerts to get a notification for the new stories that the media covers.

• See Google’s news search results related to the  phone case industry
• News search results related to a  phone case business

YouTube is another source of information you can use to get the latest videos related to the phone case industry. So why not take a few minutes to see the latest videos published on YouTube related to phone cases?

• Phone Case business

Privacy Overview

Our work is reader-supported, meaning that we may earn a commission from the products and services mentioned.

How To Start A Phone Case Business

• Last Updated: June 18, 2024
• By: StartUp 101

Advertising Disclosure

Think of all the people who have smartphones now. In the United States, it’s over 307 million! And one thing many smartphone users purchase are protective cases to keep their phones safe – and they often want a unique design.

With new models and designs being introduced often, there has never been a better time to start your own cell phone case business. But hold on, having a cool design idea isn’t enough. You need to be prepared for the hurdles that come with entrepreneurship, and this guide is here to help you navigate the key steps to getting started.

Business Overview

A custom phone case business involves designing, manufacturing, and selling cases for mobile phones. Cases may be designed for decoration or extra protection and include cases made of materials like plastic, silicone, leather, and wood.

Most phone case businesses sell online, but some sell in a retail setting, such as a kiosk in a mall. Some custom case businesses make their own cases, while others will focus on dropshipping cases made by other manufacturers. 

Another consideration is whether you will focus on making cases for a particular model like the iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, or both. Each time a new device is released, retooling for the new phone case design will be necessary.

Related Business Ideas

Cell Phone Repair Computer Repair E-commerce Business Screen Printing T-shirts Trophy Shop See the full library of business ideas >>

Industry Summary

The phone case industry has grown steadily along with the mobile phone market. As new phone models are released, there is an ongoing need for new case designs. Consumers also purchase cases as fashion accessories and to showcase their personal style.

The global phone case market was estimated at $22 billion in revenues during 2022. This market is not just huge; it’s growing. The rapid pace of smartphone adoption worldwide and the need to protect these devices contribute to this growth and is projected to increase by 8.3% annually through 2030.

Steps To Start A Phone Case Business

Step 1:  market research.

Starting a phone case business, like any other venture, requires careful planning and research. This involves gathering information about the market, potential customers, and who is already operating in the phone case industry.

The aim is to understand the demand for your products, identify your target audience, and recognize what makes your business unique. While big players like Otterbox have the general market cornered, they can’t be everything to everyone. That’s where a smaller, more focused business can really shine.

When doing market research, you want to hone in on your ideal target audience. Say you decide to create phone cases featuring artwork from local artists. Not only does this tap into community spirit, but it also offers something unique that larger companies aren’t doing. Or perhaps you focus on making ultra-durable cases specifically for outdoor adventurers, with added features like a built-in compass or firestarter. These are the kinds of specialized products that can earn you a dedicated customer base.

Identifying a niche is more than just a business strategy; it’s a survival tactic. A well-chosen niche can give your brand a distinct personality and a purpose that resonates deeply with a specific group of consumers. It can be the difference between getting lost in the sea of generic phone cases and building a brand that people genuinely care about.

And let’s not overlook the power of word-of-mouth in niche markets. People love to share their “hidden gem” finds with friends and family. So, once you’ve impressed a small group of dedicated customers, you may find your business growing faster than you’d imagined.

Step 2:  Write a Business Plan

Writing a business plan is the next step in starting a business, and while it isn’t required unless you need funding, it’s still important to have. It’s essentially a roadmap that outlines your business goals and how you plan to achieve them. A business plan also serves as a reality check, forcing you to consider all aspects of your business, from market analysis and management to financial projections.

Related:   How to write a business plan

Step 3:  Secure Funding

You’ve got your business plan, and you’re confident there’s a market for your unique phone cases. Now comes a major hurdle for many entrepreneurs, which is funding. Capital is the lifeblood of any startup, and in the competitive phone case market, you’ll need a fair amount to get off the ground. So, how do you secure the funds you need? Let’s look into some common sources.

Personal savings: The first funding source to look at is your personal savings. Cell phone case businesses can be very affordable to start, and many entrepreneurs don’t have to rely on outside funding. But, if your savings aren’t enough, you’ll need to explore additional options.

Traditional lenders: For additional funding, banks and credit unions offer small business loans. To qualify, you’ll likely need good credit, collateral, and to invest a portion of your own capital, as lenders want to see you sharing the risk. If the loan seems too risky for a bank loan, the Small Business Administration (SBA) can guarantee a portion of qualified loans to encourage lending.

Friends and family: Asking friends or family to invest in your business is another option. Be sure to put any agreements in writing to avoid misunderstandings. Set clear repayment terms and offer interest.

Microloans: For those with limited funding needs or who can’t secure traditional loans, microloans are a viable option. Microloans are small, short-term loans with lower qualification requirements. Some organizations even offer business training alongside the loan, which can be a valuable bonus.

Related:  Finding the money to start a business

Step 4:  Register the Business

Starting a phone case business involves several steps to ensure it’s properly registered and legal. Navigating through the legal requirements might seem overwhelming, but it’s a necessary part of the entrepreneurial process. Keep in mind that rules can vary by state, so always check local regulations.

Choose a business structure : The first step is to decide on your business structure.

There are four types – sole proprietorship, general partnership, corporation, and Limited Liability Company (LLC). Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. For instance, a sole proprietorship is easy to start up and has lower costs, making it a popular choice for small businesses. However, it doesn’t offer personal liability protection. On the other hand, an LLC or corporation does provide liability protection but involves more paperwork and higher setup costs. The choice of structure will depend on your specific circumstances and goals.

Related: Comparison of business structures

Forming an LLC sounds complicated and expensive, but using an entity formation service guides you through the process so you know it was done right.

Some popular LLC formation services include:

IncFile  - $0 plus state fees & free registered agent for 1 year!

ZenBusiness  - Best for beginners. $0 plus state fees & free registered agent for 1 year!

Northwest  - Best privacy protection. $39 plus state fees & free registered agent for 1 year!

Business name registration: After registering the business structure, you may need to register your business name. This process will vary depending on what business structure you pick. Sole proprietors and partnerships will often be required to register a “Doing Business As” (DBA), while corporations and LLCs register with the state during the formation process.

During this time, it’s also a good idea to check if the name you want is available as a web domain, even if you’re not ready to set up a website yet.

Related: Finding a domain name for your business

Obtain business licenses and permits: While there are no licenses and permits specifically for a cell phone case business, there are some common local, state, and federal registrations many businesses, which include a sales tax permit and an Employer Identification Number.

Related: What licenses do cell phone case businesses need ?

Step 5: Select Suppliers

If you’re setting up a phone case business, finding a good supplier is key. An important factor to consider when finding suppliers for your phone case business is whether you want to use the dropshipping or in-house production model.

Dropshipping involves outsourcing the production and shipping of your products while in-house production requires you to manufacture the products yourself. If you prefer the dropshipping model, make sure to find a reliable supplier that offers this service. If you want to produce the cases in-house, you will need to find suppliers that can provide you with raw materials such as plastic or silicone.

Related: What is dropshipping ?

Step 6:  Set Up Operations

Starting a phone case business involves several steps, each critical to its success. After clearing the initial legal hurdles, like choosing a business structure and registering your name, the focus shifts to operational aspects.

Setting up a workspace is likely your first move. This could be a home office, a co-working space, or a small manufacturing facility, depending on the scale of your operations. Ensure that the workspace is equipped with all the necessary tools and equipment for making phone cases.

Next, consider how you will sell your products. Local sales can be a good starting point. Consider reaching out to local stores and seeing if they’d be interested in stocking your cases. Online sales, however, offer a broader customer base. Setting up your own website can give you more control over your brand, but it also requires more work in terms of setup and maintenance. Alternatively, you can use online marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon, which are user-friendly and come with a ready-made audience.

Step 7:  Prepare to Launch!

After registering your business and establishing your supply chain, there are still several key steps you’ll need to take before launching your phone case business. Every business will have different needs, but here are some common items:

Business insurance : Protect your business from potential risks with business insurance. This could include general liability insurance or product liability insurance, which can cover claims related to the use of your phone cases.

Bookkeeping : Implement a bookkeeping system to manage your finances. You can use software like Wave Accounting (FREE) or Quickbooks , or hire a professional accountant.

Business bank account : Open a separate bank account for your business to keep your personal and business finances separate. This will make it easier to track your income and expenses.

Marketing strategy : Create a comprehensive marketing strategy to attract customers. This may include designing a logo, setting up a website, using social media, email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and more.

Common Questions When Starting A Phone Case Business

How much does it cost to start a phone case business.

Starting a phone case business can cost between $2,000 to $30,000 when all initial expenses are included. Some of the main costs involved in launching a phone case startup include:

Registering your business: $100

Equipment: If you’re manufacturing your phone cases, the cost of equipment such as 3D printers or injection molds can range between $1,000 to $10,000.

Initial inventory purchases: $500 – $3,000 for the first sample batch

Packaging materials: $500 – $1,500

Printer fees for custom case designs: $300 – $1,000

Website design: $300 – $5,000

Marketing: $500 – $1,000

Is a phone case business profitable?

A phone case business has the potential to generate sizable profits due to the high margins and demand in this market, but the profitability can vary widely based on factors like location, business model, and overhead costs.

To give you a basic idea, let’s say you sell 100 phone cases a week at an average selling price of $15. Your weekly revenue would be $1,500. In this model, if your cost for each case is $5, your total weekly expenses on inventory would be $500, not counting other operational expenses like merchant processing, website maintenance, marketing, and insurance, which we’ll assume adds up to another $200 per week.

So, in our example: Weekly Revenue: 100 cases x $15 = $1,500 Weekly Inventory Expense: 100 cases x $5 = $500 Weekly Other Operational Expenses: $200 Weekly Total Expenses: $500 (Inventory) + $200 (Operational) = $700

Your weekly profit in this scenario would then be $1,500 (Revenue) – $700 (Total Expenses) = $800. This equates to a monthly profit of about $3,200 and an annual profit of around $38,400. These are rough estimates, but they give you a basic formula for calculating your potential profit in the phone case business.

What skills are helpful in running a phone case business?

Running a successful phone case business requires a unique blend of skills. Here are some of the most important ones based on my search:

Artistic and design skills : A significant part of a phone case business revolves around creating appealing and unique designs. Therefore, having artistic abilities or a keen eye for design can be extremely beneficial.

Business management skills : These skills are crucial for running any business. They include financial management, strategic planning, and operational efficiency.

Marketing and branding skills : Whether you run an online shop or a physical store, you need to market your products effectively and build a strong brand presence. This involves understanding SEO, social media marketing, and possibly even influencer marketing.

Sales skills : You should know how to sell your product and negotiate with suppliers or potential business partners. This includes understanding your target market and knowing how to appeal to them.

Research skills : To stay competitive, you need to keep up with industry trends and customer preferences. This involves regularly conducting market research and competitor analysis.

Customer service skills : Excellent customer service can set your business apart from competitors. This includes responding promptly to customer inquiries, resolving issues effectively, and ensuring overall customer satisfaction.

What is the NAICS code for a phone case business?

The NAICS code for a phone case business is 311811.

The NAICS code (North American Industry Classification System) is a federal system to classify different types of businesses for the collection and reporting of statistical data.

Related: What is a NAICS code?

What Licenses Does A Phone Case Business Need?

Popular Questions

See more start-up questions

Popular Business Ideas

See more business ideas

2 Responses

Hi, My Name is Jimmy. I am 17 Year old and would like to know what all i need to be a business owner. I want to have a business at home and ship products myself. I just need help on which products i need in order to start my business. My Business is Phone Case/Clothing Business..

It’s just I really need help and if you would please help me to start up the business. that would be awesome!

It’s not an issue in all cases, but one thing that you may need to watch out for is there may be issues legally signing any contracts. So if you are starting as a sole proprietorship and need a DBA or registering as an LLC, obtaining business licenses, etc., you may have to get parents or a guardian involved to sign for you.

There are a lot of options for finding a vendor for phone cases and apparel, and there are so many options to choose from depending on what you are looking for.

One thing is to do a search for “drop ship phone case” if you don’t want to handle inventory. Another would be to search ThomasNet as you can search for a type of product and they show vendors in the US. Here is a search for phone cases – https://www.thomasnet.com/manufacturers/cell-phone-cases-manufacturers-suppliers-95962932-1.html . The least expensive option would be to use something like Alibaba https://www.alibaba.com/ to search for manufacturers that are largely overseas to make bulk purchases.

Hope this is what you were looking for, but if you have other questions, please let me know!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Form An LLC

Business ideas, common start-up questions, get in touch.

Contact Form

Mailing Address: PO Box 2571 Carbondale, IL 62901

Rules and regulations for starting a business change frequently. While we do our best to keep this information fully up-to-date, its very difficult to stay on top of the changes for every state. Also, this site is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal or tax advice.

Additionally, Startup101 may earn a small commission from products or services mentioned on this site.

Disclaimer | Privacy

© 2017 – 2024 StartUp101 LLC – All Rights Reserved.

Some (but not all) of the links on StartUp101.com  are affiliate links. This means that a special tracking code is used and that we may make a small commission on the sale of an item if you purchase through one of these links. The price of the item is the same for you whether it is an affiliate link or not, and using affiliate links helps us to maintain this website.

StartUp101.com  is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to  Amazon.com .

Our mission is to help businesses start and promoting inferior products and services doesn’t serve that mission. We keep the opinions fair and balanced and not let the commissions influence our opinions.

How to start a phone case business

Table of Contents

What you need to consider before starting a phone case business

How to start a phone case business from scratch, identify a gap in the market, write a business plan, start designing your phone cases, test your designs, source your phone cases, build your brand, set your prices, design your online store, promote your business , keep organised business finances with a simple app.

Smartphones have become a key part of our lives, and most of us take our mobile phones with us wherever we go. Since these devices are very valuable, consumers need a way to protect their investment –– and add some personality to their phone. 

A phone case offers both these things, which is why it could be a fantastic business opportunity for creative entrepreneurs like yourself.

This guide will explore:

• Simple tools to keep your business finances organised

The first thing you need when starting a phone case business is a good plan of action. There are a number of case types you could design, so you need to think about which kind you want to focus on. You also need to think about how you’ll source your cases and who you want to sell them to. We’ll go over all these aspects in a later section. 

First, let’s take a look at the most common phone case types you could design and sell:

• Gel or rubber cases: Bendy cases that are easy to customise and come with additional grip sections to make it easier to keep hold of your phone. Gel or rubber cases are affordable, durable and versatile, making them perfect for a range of designs. 
• Bumper cases: Come with extra protection around the edges and sides of the phone and either have full gel sections covering the back or simply wrap around the phone to protect the edges. 
• Wallet cases: Combines your wallet and phone with bank card and cash slots on the back or in a separate flip cover that folds over the front of the phone. Wallet cases are often made from leather, vinyl, and metal and can be designed in a number of colours.
• Hard cases: Snap onto the phone and help protect them against damage. These cases are great for keeping your phone in good condition and last longer than gel or rubber options. Hard cases suit consumers who prefer a more expensive look and can also be customised in a range of designs.
• Special cases: Have unique features ranging such as extra shock protection, built-in charging systems, hand-carved wood designs, and waterproof designs. These cases tend to cost a little more to make and buy but can be highly appealing to consumers.

Now that you know what case designs you can choose from, it’s time to explore the steps you need to take to start your own business in the field.

First, you need to choose your business structure and whether you’ll be a sole trader or a limited company ? 

Limited companies might be better if you want to grow your business, but they come with more paperwork. Sole trader businesses are simpler to run, but you have no protection in case something goes wrong since you and your business are seen as one legal entity.

You also need to notify HMRC that you will be managing your own tax and National Insurance contributions and submit a Self Assessment tax return yearly (if you make over £1,000 from your business income).

Once you’ve chosen a structure and registered your business, it’s time to start building it.

Since there are tons of phone case companies out there, you need to find and focus on a niche to help you build a memorable and competitive brand. The more focused your niche is, the fewer companies you’ll have to compete with to capture consumers’ attention.

Focusing on a niche can also help you rank higher on Google since you can target specific terms customers might search for. This is called search engine optimisation (SEO), which you can learn more about in our beginner’s guide to small business SEO .

Here’s how you find a niche to focus on:

• Conduct competitor analysis: Research and analyse what other phone case companies are doing and who they’re trying to sell to. This will help you to identify a gap that you can fill. Learn more about conducting competitor analysis here .
• Speak to potential customers: You could also speak to people you want to sell your cases to. Run surveys on forums and social media groups to collect information about your potential niche. Asking around what people want to see from phone case designers can help you find that gap your business can fill.
• Check out influencers: Browse social media to see what kinds of designs are getting the most attention right now. Think about how your designs can fit into the trends and add value to your target customers.

Once you’ve decided what you want to focus on, it’s time to start planning how to launch your new business.

A business plan is crucial to ensure you hit the ground running when starting your business. Writing a business plan will help you budget for startup costs, identify roadblocks, and understand what you’ll need in terms of resources. 

You need a business plan to determine the ultimate goal you have for your business. For example, do you want to become a global company or stick to local markets? Do you want your cases to be sold in shops or just online? 

Identify your business goals and set smaller milestones (called objectives) along the way to help you stay on track and measure your success. Learn more about business goals and objectives here .

You also need to consider who you want to target with your business. For example, do you want to sell to younger customers or older ones? Will you target high-paying customers or sell affordable cases to students?

Now comes the fun part, which is designing your cases. Here you get to experiment with different designs to find your style. You can either use programs like Photoshop to create your own mockups. 

You can also try mockup generators offered by print on demand (POD) companies like CaseApp and Printful . This way, you can see what your design will look like on different phone models. Make sure you double-check your options before printing your cases. Some companies only use certain print techniques or only cover a certain part of the case. 

As an alternative, you can also check out design communities like Dribbble or Fiverr to shop around for designers that can design your cases. 

Once you’ve come up with a few designs, it’s good to get feedback on them as early as you can to see if they’re worth pursuing. Start by asking friends and family for their input. You can also post your designs on Facebook , Instagram , Pinterest, etc., and use the number of likes, shares, and comments as indicators of interest. 

Reddit is a great place to find feedback for your specific niche. Post your designs in a relevant subreddit (like unicorns if you’re selling unicorn designs). Reddit has an anonymity level that’ll allow you to get honest opinions.

Once you’ve gathered feedback on your cases and settled on designs you feel comfortable with, it’s time to bring your vision to life. On a budget, you have three main options for getting your cases made.

• Find a manufacturer: Finding a manufacturer to work with is probably the best option to make a higher profit since you can create hundreds of the same designs. Alibaba offers a list of China-based manufacturers that make most case designs and types. You can also work with a local manufacturer to appeal to consumers who want to support businesses in their own area.
• Use print on demand (POD): Companies like Printful or Printify are perfect if you want an easy way to add your designs onto phone cases and send them directly to your customers. A supplier of your choice will add your designs to your chosen phone cases and create the pieces for you. 
• Dropshipping: This is one of the most affordable options for sourcing your phone cases, where you choose a manufacturer who makes the product you want and ships your phone cases directly to your customers for you. Dropshipping tools like Oberlo have countless product designs to choose from, meaning you don’t have to keep any stock yourself.

Your brand needs to reflect the identity or personality of your business, from your logo and colour scheme to your packaging strategy and customer service. Branding makes your company stand out and allows you to create something customers will remember. The more unique your brand, the more likely it is you’ll make an impression.

As a start, make sure you have:

• A unique logo to help you stand out
• A colour scheme that represents your business identity
• A memorable brand name and mission statement
• A set of values to help you target customers

Competitor research comes in handy when you need inspiration. Take a look at what other brands are doing and make notes of what you like and don’t like to help you build your brand.

Next, you need to decide how much you’ll charge for your phone cases. After all, your prices affect every area of your business, from cash flow (the balance of money entering and leaving your business) to profit margins to how many expenses you can afford.

Bear in mind that you’ll need to make sure your prices also fit with your niche and the types of phone cases you sell. If you sell high-quality special cases, you can set higher prices. On the other hand, you won’t be able to charge as much for simple gel cases, but these will cost less to produce.

Choose a price range that will allow you to cover manufacturing costs and other expenses while still being reasonable enough that customers will pay them.

You need a place to promote your phone cases and to let customers order them. Sites like Shopify are easy to use and have a ton of templates to choose from to design your online store.

Make sure your site has all the elements that impact how people see your business. Upload beautiful photos of your designs and match them with engaging product descriptions that highlight the benefits. 

Also include an About page where you share information about your products and business, focusing on benefits and how you provide value to customers. 

Now it’s time to find customers to buy your fabulous phone cases. Use search engine marketing to reach people who search for phone cases you provide. Understanding the intent behind the searcher will help you get more traffic to your website and hopefully sell more cases. You can either use SEO or pay for Google Ads to promote your business.

You can also use social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest to share images and videos of your designs. Use social media advertising to spread the word about your business with paid and unpaid campaigns to help you reach specific audiences.

Be as specific as possible in your messaging and consider what the biggest selling points are for your phone cases. The key is to believe in your product and spread the word about why your phone cases are the ones to buy. Now that you understand how to start a phone case business, it’s time to take the plunge and realise your dream. Good luck!

When you’re starting your own business, it’s important to keep your personal and business finances separate , as well as keeping organised records for bookkeeping purposes. Starting a business takes a lot of time, focus, and hard work. The last thing you need is to waste hours dealing with a bunch of financial admin. 

That’s why thousands of business owners use the Countingup app to save time on their financial management and focus on growing their business. Countingup is the business current account and accounting software in one app. It automates time-consuming bookkeeping admin for self-employed people across the UK.

With automatic expense categorisation, receipt capture tools and cash flow insights, you can confidently keep on top of your business finances and save yourself hours of accounting admin, so you can focus on starting growing your makeup business. Find out more here .

• Counting Up on Facebook
• Counting Up on Twitter
• Counting Up on LinkedIn

Related Resources

Bookkeeping and accounting tips for hairdressers.

As a self-employed hairdresser or salon owner, bookkeeping and accounting can be hard

What expenses can you claim as a childminder?

Being a childminder can be a great way to earn extra income or

How to get more clients as a freelance makeup artist

Whether you’re a professional makeup artist, a bridal makeup artist or a student

How to start a supported living business

Starting a supported living business is a challenging, but incredibly rewarding, way to

How To Start A Vending Machine Business In The UK

Starting a business is a great way to become your own boss and

How to start a dog daycare business

If you think dogs are a treat to be around, you’re not alone.

How to start a babysitting business

If you love spending time with children and offer to babysit for family,

How to start a cat sitting business

Did you know that 24% of the UK population own a cat? That’s

Money laundering regulations for estate agents

In December 2020, the government issued the National risk assessment of money laundering

How to sell jewellery designs to companies 

Do you enjoy creating unique jewellery designs? If so, you might want to

How to become a self-employed labourer

Do you enjoy working with your hands and like the idea of being

How to start a home-based recording studio

With the advancement of technology, recording music at a professional level from home

Start a Custom Phone Case Business

Embrace Technology and Creativity Via a Custom Phone Case Business

CUSTOM PHONE CASE BUSINESS

Related business ideas, discover your perfect domain, custom phone case mini business plan, business analysis: custom phone case business, expected percent margins:, expected earnings:, steps to achieve these numbers:, product sourcing & manufacturing:, marketing and sales efforts:, sales approach & customer retention:, efficiency & cost-control:, operational foundations:, not what you had in mind here are more ideas, grab your business website name, step 1: determine if the business is right for you, step 2: name the business, step 3: create a business plan, outline goals and objectives, establish a budget, identify target market, step 4: obtain business licenses and permits, research local requirements, contact local government agencies, step 5: find a supplier, step 6: design your phone cases, research popular designs, create your own designs, step 7: market your business, create a website - the first step to marketing your business is to create a website. this should include information about your business, such as what type of phone cases you offer, pricing, and contact information. you should also include images of your phone cases and customer reviews. this will help potential customers get a feel for your business and what you offer., utilize social media - social media is a great way to market your business. you can create a page for your business on platforms like facebook, instagram, and twitter. you can use these platforms to post pictures of your phone cases, share customer reviews, and promote any special offers or discounts. you can also use social media to interact with customers and answer any questions they may have., participate in local events - participating in local events is another great way to market your business. you can set up a booth at local events and festivals to showcase your phone cases and meet potential customers. you can also use these events to network with other local businesses and build relationships. this can help you get more exposure for your business and generate more sales., step 8: set up an online store, step 9: manage your business, track your inventory, monitor your finances, explore more categories, take the next steps.

• School Sleeves
• Laptop Sleeves
• Tablet Cases
• iPhone Cases

Phone Cases

How to Start a Phone Case Business

Cell phone accessories give consumers a chance to personalize and customize their experience. The popularity of cell phone cases in particular makes this market highly profitable, but at the same time very competitive.

Service providers have plenty of products on hand when customers purchase a new phone. Phone owners buy accessories from various sources, including kiosks at the mall and online stores. Widespread product availability can make market entry more difficult than production.

Your decision to start a phone case business requires a long-term commitment. Start your journey by researching your target market. Design the type of case your ideal customer demands and develop a marketing strategy. Once you have a finished product, expect to spend most of your time selling it.

Obstacles and challenges will arise as you develop your business. Having patience and realistic expectations, therefore, will help you succeed as an entrepreneur. Follow the step-by-step procedure described in this guide to build a successful phone case business. Pay attention to details and you will avoid many of the problems that have caused other startups to fail.

Chapter Overview:

• Covering the Basics

Research the market to discover what consumers want from their cell phone cases. Learn how to write a successful business plan. Name your business, select your location and sales channel. Develop a mission statement and business goals that will guide your efforts.

• Legal Requirements

Reduce your risk of liability and failure by learning and complying with legal requirements. Discover the laws and regulations that apply to the production and sale of phone cases. Keep in mind that taxation will impact the way you organize and operate your business.

• Financing the Business

Money affects every aspect of your business. Learn to estimate your startup and operating expenses. Find ways to finance your company. Your financial needs will affect product pricing as well as your choice of equipment and facilities.

• Marketing and Advertising

Identify the people who will most likely buy your product and find out how to reach them. Select workable marketing channels and craft a strategy that resonates with your audience. Learn to make customer service a competitive advantage and the cornerstone of your phone case business.

• Selecting Vendors

Vendors will supply you with services and items you need to manufacture cell phone cases. Find out how to choose the right suppliers for your business. Reliable and highly professional vendors will have a direct impact on your business success.

• Launching the Business

Launching your business marks the beginning of a long journey. Announce the launching of your phone cases and engage your customers to get the feedback you need to tweak your product and brand. The feedback will allow you to adjust your business strategies in order to stay relevant in the dynamic marketplace of cell phone accessories.

Chapter 1: Covering the Basics

Starting a business involves more than a creative product and a place to sell it. Such a misunderstanding reflects the deceptive simplicity of consumer’s perspective. Successful ventures need hard work and diligent research before they open their doors.

Developing a business plan requires intense thought and visualization. You must document every process and resource that your business will need. Extensive research and planning can lure investors and provide a solid foundation for success.

Market Research

Good market research has several stages. Firstly, you should gather data from current phone case sales. Get to know the people who are buying phone case accessories. To do so, you must find out where they hang online and offline.

Connecting with your future customers is crucial to your business success. Interact with customers on social media and get their feedback on what they like and dislike about currently available phone cases. Ask about their opinion regarding phone case prices. You can gather this information by using social networks, blogs and forums, conducting surveys, providing questionnaires or doing interviews. Use customer feedback to craft a marketing message and design your product.

Study your competitors after you study your customers. Identify the companies that have phone cases comparable to yours and learn how they operate. Gather information about both new and established brands.

To analyze your competition, obtain accurate data from published industry and trade sources. Watch your competitors’ social media accounts and websites for strengths and weaknesses. You can also speak directly to business owners. Many of them will be happy to share their knowledge and experience.

Competitive research should include comparing available products and prices. In addition, you may wish to approach your competitors as a customer and buy one of their phone cases in order to get insight into actual customer experience.

Writing a Business Plan

The aim of your business plan is to give credibility to your startup. A good business plan can win the hearts and money of banks and investors by proving that you have a solid proposal. Also, your business plan will define your operation and help you focus your activities.

Start your document by preparing an executive summary and outline. Giving your readers an overview will prepare them for the details that follow.

The description section of your plan should include a review of the phone case industry. Write an analysis of competing firms that highlights their strengths and weaknesses. A detailed business plan should also encompass marketing strategies that explain how you plan to position your phone case business in today’s competitive market in order to attract customers and make a profit.

Next, provide a section on your design and development plan. Supply the specifications of your phone case design as well as your production process. Include estimates for the cost of labor and materials for your case as for product pricing.

The operations and management plan is another crucial section of your business. You should include logistical details and the performance requirements of your organization. Define every role within your organization and provide accurate job descriptions as well as requirements related to managing your phone case business.

The last part of the business plan includes financial factors. Financial requirements stated in the plan should include an accurate estimate of the capital needed to start your phone case business. Describe how you plan to use the aforementioned capital. Highlight other financial elements, such as expected sales, cash flows, profit and return on investments. Describe your financial picture as the numbers portray it and avoid the temptation to exaggerate your position.

Naming Your Business

The name of your phone case business is crucial to your success. Choose a business name that conveys the values and mission of your company. However, remember that you do not necessarily need to have a descriptive name. Trying to communicate too much with a name can cause confusion, so keep your name short, easy to spell and pronounce.

Check the availability of the desired URL domain. You will want to use the same name for your website that you use for your business. If the website name is not available, consider adjusting or changing the business name. Also, check existing business names and trademarks before naming your business to avoid legal complications.

In general, you should avoid using worn-out terms and clichés for your business name. Instead, choose a unique name that makes your business stand out from the crowd.

Once you come up with a list of names that meet the above criteria, conduct a survey asking people and potential customers which name they like and which name is easy for them to remember. The success of your phone case business depends on its name, so avoid making a quick decision.

Selecting a Location

Your business model will influence where you locate your phone case business. Decide whether you will sell your product online or through a store or kiosk. You might choose to sell through more than one channels.

Availability and cost will guide your selection of a physical location. Search for an affordable high-traffic location that has no nearby competitors. Setting up a physical store requires inventory space and fixtures such as lights and shelves. You will also need to buy signs, a merchant account and a point-of-sale system to check out customers. Use listings in local and online directories to help shoppers find your kiosk or store.

On the other hand, an e-commerce website requires software and a secure environment for shoppers. Your site should include product photos, custom product descriptions, pricing and shipping information, return policy and contact information. Having an online store also requires opening a merchant account with credit card providers and online payment services.

Operating only an online store adds flexibility to your location search. You might cut costs by using your garage or basement to store your inventory and process orders. Otherwise, consider renting a space in a commercial building. Whether you choose a physical or an online location, keep in mind that you need extra space to store inventory, invoices and bookkeeping paperwork.

To conclude, you must resist the temptation to speed through the basic steps of opening a phone case business. Research your market thoroughly and write a business plan to give your startup purpose and direction. Use diligence to choose a fantastic business name and a great location. Work hard now towards creating a solid foundation on which to build your successful phone case business.

Chapter 2: Legal Requirements

Obtaining business licenses may sound like a tedious task, but it is necessary if you wish to legally operate your phone case business. Specific licensing requirements depend on the location, size and structure of your organization. In order to learn which licenses you need to obtain, check with your local and state government offices.

In general, you will need one or more of the following:

• General Business License

This license serves to identify businesses within an area and raise revenue for the local government. Your fee helps pay for available public infrastructure and services, whereas licensing data enables planners to manage the growth of their community. In most cases, general business license must be renewed annually.

• Sales Tax Registration

Both online and offline retail operations must collect sales tax in most states. If you are required to collect sales tax, you need to obtain a tax permit. Discounts for submitting sales taxes early or penalties for late payments can apply.

• Unemployment and Worker’s Compensation Registration

Most states require you to register your business, even if you are the only employee. Depending on the size and structure of your phone case business, you might need to buy insurance that covers work-related injuries. In addition, some states may require you to pay into the unemployment insurance plan used to finance discharged workers.

• Alarm Permit

Every time something or someone triggers your alarm, law enforcement or emergency personnel must respond. Communities require businesses to buy an alarm permit in order to help pay for such services. Some localities might also charge you an extra fee for every alarm incident in your phone case store.

• Home Occupation Permit

If you plan to have a home-based phone case business, remember that most city and state governments require businesses operated from a home to have a home occupation permit. This permit limits the amount of noise and pollution your business produces. It restricts the business space used within your home, the amount of customers that visit you daily, the number of employees, as well as the number of vehicles in front of your residence.

• Signage Permit

Local ordinances often govern the size and height of signs used in commercial areas. Keep in mind that you might face signage restrictions while operating your phone case business from home. Once you get your signage permit, you will have a chance to learn about applicable rules.

• Zoning Permit

If your phone case business is operated in a residential zone, familiarize yourself with the zoning ordinances and make sure to abide by the existing zoning laws. If necessary, obtain a zoning permit and comply with specific terms listed on the permit.

In addition to obtaining licenses and permits, there are other things to consider when starting a business. The following is a list of steps to setting up a phone case business:

• Register Your Business

Contact the Secretary of State’s office for your state to register your business. The type of registration you need can vary depending on the structure of your phone case business. Common choices include operating as a sole proprietor, LLC or partnership.

• Obtain Licenses

Check with the state secretary’s office to see if you need a state business license. For a local business license, inquire with the county clerk’s office. You might discover that the rules vary depending on your location and business structure.

• Get Your Federal Employer ID Number

Most businesses, particularly the ones with employees, should obtain an employer identification number. This number is used for filing taxes and can be obtained by completing and submitting Form SS-4 to the IRS.

• Obtain Sales and Use Tax Permit

The permit is required by most states. Check with the Department of Revenue for your state whether your phone case business requires this particular permit.

Future business owners often want to jump straight in with both feet and start selling their product before fulfilling business requirements. Resist the temptation to rush through this phase of setting up your phone case business. Spend the time and money needed to make your phone business legal. Compliance will help you avoid legal and civil complications that can jeopardize your business in the long run.

Chapter 3: Financing Your Phone Case Business

Insufficient funding causes many businesses to fail, even if they started well. You can improve your chances of success by having enough cash on hand to run your business until it generates positive cash flows. The information presented here will help you estimate your capital requirements, set pricing and operate a profitable phone case business.

Types of costs

Make the distinction between one-time costs and recurring expenses as you plan. Recurring costs include the materials used for production and rent, as well as utilities and payroll. On the other hand, the cost of starting a business includes one-time necessary expenses such as production equipment and furniture. Also, you must pay for operating licenses and permits before you start selling your product.

While listing all expenses, consider the fixed and variable costs associated with your business. Fixed costs, such as your rent, don’t change, regardless of how many phone cases you make and sell. Variable costs, on the other hand, increase along with growing production and sales volumes.

As you make progress with your business, you will have optional costs that may include office decorations, holiday parties and similar expenses that are not necessary for your phone case business to function efficiently.  In contrast, essential costs are crucial to the functioning of your business. Always make sure you have enough money to cover the essential costs before you decide to invest in elements that will create optional costs.

Estimating your costs

Use your business plan to identify the fixed infrastructure your company requires. Think through your daily operation and write down everything your business needs. When finished, research the prices associated with the things on your list. Add the cost of every item on your list to estimate your total cash requirements.

Your phone case business must own assets including computers, printers and furniture. Other necessary business assets are cash registers, credit card terminals and inventory. Assets last for a long time over which you can depreciate them to save money on taxes.

In addition to assets, virtually all businesses must have inventory. Your raw material inventory includes everything used to make your phone cases. Examples of raw material items include the dye, templates and blank cases. During production, you move raw materials into your work-in-progress (WIP) inventory. The WIP inventory encompasses the cost of direct materials, direct labor and other production costs. Finally, the finished goods inventory refers to your phone cases that have been completed by the production process, but have not yet been sold to customers.

Your startup will have overhead expenses including legal, administrative, marketing and selling costs. Add the cost of electricity and other utilities used for production as part of the cost of your phone cases. Remember to calculate your labor costs and taxes as you prepare your financial plan.

Your cost estimates should cover your first full year of operation and the cost of your capital. You need to have enough resources to cover at least 6 to 12 months of costs and expenses before you actually start making a profit.

Financing methods

Common financial strategies for startups use multiple funding sources. You should consider all available options if you have insufficient cash on hand to open your phone case business. For example, you can get started using your personal credit card, but you might also need to get a loan from a bank or finance company.

Finding a strategic partner can help you raise low-cost capital. Use your business plan to attract investments from family members, friends and angel investors. You might also want to post your plan to a crowdfunding website to attract investors.

In addition, consider using a business incubator that provides office space and equipment to reduce your startup costs and connect with available funding options. Another option is to enter into licensing agreements and have other companies pay you to produce phone cases for their brands.

Financing your startup takes work. Patiently look for affordable financing options and negotiate terms whenever possible. Part of the funding process might require you to defend your business plan and deliver samples before investors will trust you with their money.

Financial issues cause many businesses to fail. Make your startup different by preparing a realistic financial plan. Get started by calculating the cost associated with producing and selling your phone cases. Estimate your selling price and your path to profitability so you know how much money you need. Armed with a solid business plan and a viable financial strategy, you can get the financing you need to open a stable and successful phone case business.

Chapter 4: Marketing and Advertising

Marketing your phone cases effectively is more important than the quality and design of your product. Without successful marketing strategies in place, you may have the best design and highest-quality products but your business will not be sustainable.

The usability and appearance of your phone cases matter. However, people need to hear about your company first, in order to buy your product. If they don’t know you exist, you will have a hard time achieving sales.

Successful marketing is an on-going process that starts before a company is launched. Think about your marketing strategies in advance and don’t forget to include them in your business plan. Your marketing plan will depend upon the time and money you are able to invest.

In general, you should market your product both online and offline. Also, make excellent customer service one of your most important marketing strategies. Satisfied customers are likely to become loyal to your brand and bring in even more new customers, thus allowing your business to expand.

Online marketing

Digital marketing will help you reach your target market, regardless of whether you operate your phone case business online or offline. The following are some online marketing ideas that will help you promote your phone case business:

• Launch and optimize your website

Nowadays, every business should have a website that offers extensive information on their products and services. The website should include contact info, product photographs and specifications, prices and payment options as well as customer reviews wherever applicable. Have your website optimized for search engines, as well as for mobile devices. In addition, consider hiring an SEO expert that will make your site more visible in Google search results.

Make sure that your website is easy to navigate and customer-friendly. A modern design that includes pictures and sufficient engaging content will attract visitors and help convert them into customers.

• Choose your e-commerce platform

If you want to sell your phone cases online, you should set up an e-commerce website.  There is a wide variety of e-commerce platforms available to choose from. These platforms simplify many aspects of online businesses, ranging from product and category pages to checkout processes. Some of the most popular platforms include Shopify, Bigcommerce, Volusion and OpenCart.

The choice of the e-commerce platform for your phone case business will depend on your budget. In addition, some e-commerce platforms are more customizable than others. Carefully research all your options before you decide to use a particular platform for your phone case business.

• Use social media to advertise your brand and connect with people

You can use a virtually limitless number of social media accounts to advertise your product and engage your target audience. Keep in mind that this requires time and a regular activity from your part. Make sure to answer all the questions from your potential customers and provide feedback for comments. You can also find free and low-cost online apps that will help you coordinate all your social media accounts. In addition, use paid social ads to reach even more people if your budget allows you to. Finally, remember to create a LinkedIn account in order to reach prospective business customers, partners, and vendors.

• Create a blog

Integrate a blog into your website or e-commerce. Use the blog to provide up-to-date information about your industry and products. This helps to establish your company as an authority in the phone case industry and attract more visitors to your website.

• Take advantage of listing opportunities and business forums

Create listings and free pages on online directories such as Google my Business page, Yelp and Yahoo Local. This will enable potential customers to get in contact with your business more easily when they begin researching phone cases. Similarly, participating in online forums that pertain to your type of business will allow you to connect with your target audience and other business owners.

• Use e-mail to reach influencers and customers

Contact your LinkedIn connections and phone case business influencers via e-mail. Don’t be afraid to ask about their advice and suggestions. If you are trying to reach potential clients via e-mail, make sure you have their consent before you send them an e-mail. This means that your website should offer potential customers the opportunity to subscribe to your e-mails. Choose your subject line with care and offer your clients the opportunity to unsubscribe.

Offline marketing

While digital marketing is a ‘must’ these days, do not underestimate the power of offline marketing. Offline marketing offers a unique value and can help create long-term relationships with customers. The following are some offline marketing ideas that you can use to advertise your phone case business:

• Use creative branded stationery and printed materials such as business cards and envelopes. Your correspondents and on-premise shoppers should see a consistent presentation of your brand as they learn about your products, so use the same logo and color scheme on all your online and offline materials.
• If you have enough financial resources, use press releases to publicize the launch of your startup and spread the word of your high-quality phone cases.
• Distribute promotional items, such as pens or mugs, that bear your company logo to build awareness of your brand.
• Consider using local media to market your phone cases. Include newspaper advertising as well as television and radio commercials and billboards.
• If you have a physical store, advertise your products to every shopper that comes through your door, but make sure to avoid aggressive marketing. Subtle face-to-face marketing creates lasting impressions that can result in recurring sales.
• Use guerrilla marketing tactics to attract attention. Unconventional creative activities such as leaving sticky notes in random places or creating sidewalk advertisements create curiosity about your brand and draw attention to your products.

Customer Service

Satisfied customers create brand ambassadors who tell other people about their positive experience with your business. You should never forget that angry and dissatisfied customers will also share their experiences. In fact, customers who were unfairly treated can leave irate online comments that go viral. Don’t take chances with your reputation. Instead, choose right now to satisfy every one of your customers.

Customer service as an affordable marketing tool gives you a chance to establish a competitive advantage that makes your brand of phone cases stand out from others. You need to make relationships, not sales, your top priority.

Active listening on your part will enhance customer satisfaction, particularly when dealing with disgruntled clients. Avoid arguments and work together with customers to find satisfactory solutions. In addition, admit your mistakes and never try to fool your clients.

Make sure to treat your customers with respect and always honor your commitments. It is important to provide shoppers with several ways to contact you and promptly respond to all their inquiries. Your aim is not to simply meet customer expectations, but to exceed them.

Now that you understand the importance of marketing to your phone case business, it is time to create a strategy that communicates your brand values both online and offline. You can accomplish much with free and low-cost activities using creativity and ingenuity, but make sure to add customer service excellence to your marketing toolbox.

Chapter 5: Vendor Selection

All businesses rely on partners and vendors. For your phone case business, you will need to find the right suppliers who can deliver the quality and quantity of materials needed to make your products. Without dependable vendors, you will have difficulty scheduling production and fulfilling orders. Your business could fail if you don’t have the right people on your side.

A phone case business requires at least three essential components, depending on your business model. First, you must have blank phone cases. In addition, you need some winning designs and an access to a specialized UV printer. If you chose to manufture more unique case designs, you may need other materials such as templates, glitter, fabric and paint.

Before you start your phone case business, you need to choose vendors that will continually supply your business with items such as blank phone cases and materials used to decorate the cases. Also, you will need to find appropriate design and printing marketplaces. Establishing the costs of these services and materials will help you determine the price of your final product.

Vendor Selection Criteria

Budget conscious startups often focus on the price of their materials. After all, you need every dollar to work hard for you. However, you should avoid obtaining low-quality goods in exchange for a bargain-basement price. Otherwise, your finished goods could fall short of your customers’ quality standards, resulting in a high refund rate and a damaged reputation for your business.

The model of cases that you choose to sell can also affect your vendor selection. Supposing that you want to only sell cases that fit a certain brand of phone, you must find a vendor that sells blank cases that fit that brand and provides any additional services that you need.

Choosing established vendors that have good reputations can help ensure that you get high-quality materials. Sometimes, however, you might have to achieve a balance between affordability and take chances on an unproven supplier. Still, established vendors will often offer you favorable terms of sale and robust customer service that justify their high prices.

Dependability is another factor that guides your choice of vendors. Your suppliers must make themselves available to answer questions and resolve problems with your orders. Check to see if a prospective supplier has good reviews from other business customers. Always inquire about the time it takes to receive delivery of your materials so you can plan your purchasing activities accordingly.

Vendor Selection Process

Use multiple sources of information to create a list of potential vendors and then narrow your list to the ones that you will seriously consider. You can talk to your friends and acquaintances in the business community to get their feedback about the companies from your list. If possible, talk to people who have done business with each supplier before submitting customer application.

Try using business directories such as Thomson and the Yellow Pages to learn more about possible vendors. In addition, you can join trade organizations that include other phone case businesses to meet people who can suggest appropriate vendors and share their experiences with the names on your list. Your local Chamber of Commerce might also have resources or members who can help you choose the best vendors for your startup.

Should you need further guidance while choosing vendors, you can visit trade shows and exhibitions where prospective vendors show their products and market their services. Trade publications can also supply you with valuable information.

Request additional information from your possible vendors by submitting a Request for Information. Next, write a Request for Proposal or a Request for Quotation in which you specify the requirements for your business and phone cases. Describe the materials and services you want to buy, including their quantities. Finally, evaluate and compare the responses you get. When you find the vendors that best fit your business model, negotiate acceptable terms of sale and prepare to submit your first order.

Take a step-by-step approach to your vendor selection process, since your choice of vendors will directly impact your business success. When you choose the right suppliers, you will have reliable partners who can help you produce the goods you need to sustain your business.

Chapter 6: Launching Your Phone Case Business

Whether you choose to have a one-day event or a series of activities that stretch over several days, your business launch should serve to attract attention from your target market and set the stage for long-term operations.

Resist the temptation to splurge on an overly expensive event. Instead, let your budget guide your launch plans. You should have fun launching your business, but don’t forget that the launch sets the stage for your future business success.

Launch Your Business

Choose the right channels to announce the launching of your business. You should target the channels that will reach your potential customers. The channels can include a blog post on your website, an announcement on your online store, an event or even a press release. Focus on one mail channel and use other channels, such as social media and e-mail, to support your main post or event.

Create a date and time for your startup launch that accommodates the schedule and lifestyle of your ideal customers. If you have a physical store, you can hold your launch event there. Also, consider using webinars, live social chats, video streaming and other tools to expand your target audience.

Keep your launch activities aligned with your goals by building an appropriate narrative. Throughout the event, communicate the essence of your firm and focus attention on your product and brand. As your event progresses, make sure to addresses the needs of your customers.

Your knowledge of your customers’ habits and opinions will help you pitch your brand to them. Use facts to sell your product and reinforce your most important point throughout the launch event.

After The Launch

Leverage the momentum of your launch event to build your business. Get feedback from your attendees and customers in order to improve your business plan. You can use the ideas that got the most traction during your launch to optimize your long-term operations.

Prepare for the surge in sales that might follow your launch by having on hand an ample selection of phone cases and supplies. Furthermore, you should double-check your website to make sure that it functions properly and can handle a potentially high traffic volume. Test your e-commerce store, if you have one, to ensure that your customers will have an easy shopping and checkout experience.

Continue to develop your online presence or physical store and optimize your business processes. If you stay focused on making your business efficient and dependable, you can attract sales and serve customers long after the surge from your launch event has faded. Don’t forget to interact consistently with social media users and brainstorm for ways to find new customers.

Launching your phone case business gives you a chance to introduce your brand to the world. Focus your event on a central message that appeals to your target market. In the aftermath of your event, act on the feedback you have received by correcting problems and implementing suggestions. If you continue improving your business after your launch event, your business will grow and prosper.

Conclusion                           

Motivated by your vision and courage, you have decided to open a phone case business. Like any business, however, you must go beyond your initial desire to plan and prepare for your new venture. When you discipline yourself to create a business plan, you will stay focused on your goals and have a useful tool for attracting investors and securing financing.

You must invest careful thought into your business model. Regardless of whether you operate a brick-and-mortar store, e-commerce website or both, you need to choose whether you operate as a sole proprietor, LLC, partnership or corporation. The name of your business should have a high priority because it must differentiate your company from competing brands while inspiring confidence and communicating your values.

The time you spend calculating the cost of doing business and your amount of overhead will pay off in the long run. You can avoid many expenses, including rent, by operating only online from your home. In any setting, your business will have routine expenses for supplies and materials as well as one-time costs for fixtures and equipment. Additionally, you will have expenses for categories such as payroll, security and utilities.

Many companies start well but eventually get choked when they run out of cash. As you prepare your financial plan, try to have enough money to operate for at least six months after you open. The cost of capital from your chosen financing options will affect your bottom line. You can borrow from friends and family members and find business partners to save money, but you might also need to use a personal credit card or loan to get started.

As you have learned, you must identify and comply with all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations that apply to your phone case business. Buying permits and licenses and paying taxes will keep your business legal as well taking care of your responsibility regarding workers compensation and unemployment insurance.

Marketing your product requires you to survey your competitors and create a sustainable competitive advantage. Communicate your message using digital marketing tactics including content and social media as well as paid advertising. Local options for advertising such as billboards and grill marketing can also contribute to the success of your business.

Find the best suppliers for your business before you open, so you have the knowledge you need to set prices. Also, selecting your vendors in advance will help you plan your purchasing to guarantee the availability of the materials and products needed to fulfill your orders. Make sure to balance your desire for quality with your need for affordability.

As you plan to launch your business, decide whether you want to have a grand opening day or hold a series of launch events. Use the feedback you get from your launch to refine and improve your business plan and model. You should also commit yourself to ongoing improvement to keep your phone case business efficient and relevant.

Starting a phone case business lets you sell a product that has existing demand and proven marketability. You also will have relatively low start-up costs and access to multiple sales channels. When done right, you supply your customers with a wow-factor while earning margins as high as 600%. Your decision to launch a startup requires a lot of effort but it will inevitably reward you if you invest the proper time, effort and money.

5% FOR SCHOOLS

Our custom printed laptop and tablet sleeves have been put to the test in thousands of classrooms since 2010.

• Free samples
• In-house design team
• Full satisfaction guarantee

Related Posts

Custom Branding: 3 Innovative Ideas for Your Business

How to Protect Your Laptop from Damage

Laptop Safety 101: How to Protect Your Laptop

Happy 4th of July! 🥳💥🥧🏈🏀⚾️🍔🌭🔔🇺🇸 ... See More See Less

Shipping is included with your CustomLogoCases.com order and........... ~ Our delivery and logistics team follows your order every step of the way, providing shipping and tracking updates in real time ~ Each case or sleeve is individually wrapped and packed with care ~ Every shipment is clearly marked for receiving and ease of distribution For more information about our #customcomputercase #custommerch #customlogocase #LaptopSleeves #computercases #ipadcases #computercase #laptopcase #phonecases #laptopbag #computerBags #iPadCase #tabletcasecustom #tabletcasescover #tabletcases #tabletcase process, products and services, please do not hesitate to call, click or connect today! 🇺🇸🔝📦📬📨💻🚛✈️🤩 ... See More See Less

ORDER NOW FOR DELIVERY BY OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 Ordering "Back To School" Cases and Sleeves for students and staff are a breeze with CustomLogoCases.com. We just need a little information from you and our team handles the rest! Be prepared to share the following detail with your initial inquiry: 1) Make, Model and Generation of your devices 2) Print Friendly Logo- Vector File Format Preferred (.ai, .eps or .svg) 3) Product preference - check out our website for details 4) Quantity Needed 5) Delivery Deadline Call, click or connect today! #customlogocase #customlaptopcases #CustomLaptopSleeve s #CustomizedMerch #CustomLogoCases #NeopreneOuterPocketSleeve #Customlogocase #Customlaptopsleeve #laptopsleeves #computercase s #ipadcase s #computercase #laptopcase #laptopbag #computerbags #iPadCase #PTA #deviceprotection #schoolfundraiser #fundraiser ... See More See Less

• Building Your Site
• Promote Your Site
• Entrepreneurship
• Design & Inspiration
• Tips & Tricks

From Idea To Profit: Starting Your Phone Case Business Journey

Starting a phone case business can be profitable in today's digital age. With the increasing demand for phone cases and the convenience of selling them online, it is an opportunity worth exploring. In this guide, we will discuss how to start a phone case business, the benefits of selling phone cases online, and provide valuable insights on starting your phone case business journey.

Why Starting A Phone Case Business Can Be Profitable?

The phone case market has experienced tremendous growth in recent years thanks to the rising popularity of smartphones. As more and more people invest in these devices, the demand for protective and stylish phone cases continues to increase. Starting a phone case business can let you tap into this lucrative market and capitalize on the growing consumer need for high-quality cases.

Why Start A Phone Case Business

Selling phone cases online offers numerous advantages compared to traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Here are some key benefits:

• Wide reach. You can reach customers worldwide with an online store, significantly expanding your potential customer base.
• Lower overhead costs. Operating an online store eliminates the need for expensive physical retail space and reduces overhead costs such as rent, utilities, and staffing.
• Convenience. Customers can browse and purchase phone cases from the comfort of their own homes at any time, making it convenient for both you as a seller and your customers.
• Flexibility. An online store lets you easily update your product offerings, experiment with different designs and materials, and adapt to changing market trends.
• Data-driven decision-making. Online platforms provide valuable data insights to help you analyze customer behavior, track sales performance, and make informed decisions to optimize your business strategies.

How To Start A Phone Case Business?

Starting a phone case business requires careful planning and execution. Here are some key steps to get started:

• Research and identify your target market. Understand your potential customers' preferences, demographics, and buying behavior to tailor your product offerings accordingly.
• Choose a niche. Identify popular phone case trends or unique design ideas to differentiate yourself from competitors and cater to specific customer segments.
• Source reliable suppliers. Find reputable phone case suppliers who offer high-quality products at competitive prices to ensure the durability and appeal of your phone cases.
• Design eye-catching phone cases. Use design tools and software to create visually appealing and unique designs that resonate with your target audience.
• Set up an online store. Use website builders like Strikingly to create a mobile-friendly and user-friendly online store that showcases your phone cases to sell online.
• Implement marketing strategies. Leverage effective SEO techniques, social media platforms, and collaborations with influencers or bloggers to increase brand awareness and drive sales.
• Manage inventory and fulfillment. Develop an efficient   inventory management system and partner with reliable shipping services to ensure timely delivery and customer satisfaction.
• Analyze data for continuous improvement. Track sales, customer behavior, feedback, and reviews to gain valuable insights for adjusting marketing strategies and improving overall business performance.

Following these steps, you can embark on a successful journey in the phone case business, leveraging the benefits of selling phone cases online while maximizing profitability.

Choosing Your Niche in the Phone Case Business

Selecting the right niche is vital to establishing a successful phone case business. Follow these key steps to make a smart choice:

Identify Popular Phone Case Trends

• Stay updated on the latest trends in phone cases to understand consumer demand.
• Popular trends include marble and geometric patterns, floral designs, minimalist styles, and pop culture references.

Research Your Target Market And Competitors

• Thoroughly research your potential customers' demographics, preferences, and buying habits.
• Analyze competitors' products, pricing strategies, and marketing tactics to find gaps in the market.

Select A Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

• Differentiate yourself from competitors by developing a USP.
• Consider customization, eco-friendly materials, or enhanced protection to attract customers seeking unique phone cases.

Following these steps, you can choose a niche that aligns with popular trends, appeals to your target market, and sets your phone case business apart.

Sourcing Phone Cases And Materials

When starting your phone case business, reliable suppliers and quality materials are key. Here's what you need to know:

Finding Reliable Suppliers

• Seek suppliers with a strong industry reputation and a wide range of phone case options.
• Utilize online directories like Alibaba or AliExpress, attend trade shows, or contact manufacturers directly to establish supplier relationships.

Understanding Different Phone Case Materials

Phone cases come in various materials:

• Plastic - Lightweight, affordable, with matte, glossy, or transparent finishes.
• Silicone- Flexible, shock-absorbing, provides grip and protection.
• Leather- Luxurious, durable, but pricier.
• Metal- Superior impact protection, often sleek and rugged.

Ensure Quality and Durability

• Prioritize quality and durability to build a reputable brand.
• Test samples for defects, sturdiness, and craftsmanship before committing to a supplier.
• Research customer reviews to gauge the durability of your potential suppliers' phone cases.
• Consider suppliers with certifications like ISO 9001 or RoHS compliance as indicators of quality commitment.
• Communicate your quality and durability expectations to your suppliers.

High-quality phone cases will satisfy customers, generate positive recommendations, and repeat business.

Designing and Customizing Phone Cases

Setting yourself apart from competitors through design and customization is essential in the phone case business. To attract buyers and boost sales:

Utilize Design Tools and Software

• Use design tools like Adobe Photoshop, Canva, CorelDRAW, or GIMP for advanced editing and customization.
• Experiment with colors, patterns, images, and typography to bring creative ideas to life.

Creating Eye-Catching and Unique Designs

Stay updated on fashion, pop culture, art, or technology trends to inspire your designs.

• Use high-resolution images for visual appeal and play with color combinations.
• Explore various design styles, like minimalistic, abstract, or vintage, and incorporate your brand elements.

Incorporate Personalization Options

• Offer customizable templates, monogramming, photo uploads, and color customization to cater to customer preferences.
• Personalization enhances customer satisfaction and adds exclusivity to your phone cases.

Mastering these aspects can help you create visually appealing, unique, and personalized phone case designs that resonate with your target audience and set your business apart.

Selling Phone Case Online - Setting Up Your

Online Store With Strikingly

You must have a well-designed and user-friendly website for phone cases to sell online successfully. Strikingly is a powerful website builder that can help you easily set up your online store.

Exploring The Features And Benefits Of Strikingly

Strikingly offers a wide range of features and benefits that make it an ideal choice for starting your phone case business:

• Easy-to-use interface. Strikingly's drag-and-drop editor allows you to create and customize your website without any coding knowledge.
• Mobile responsiveness. With more people using their smartphones for online shopping, it is crucial to have a mobile-friendly website. Strikingly ensures that your online store looks great on all devices.

Image taken from Strikingly

• E-commerce capabilities. Strikingly provides built-in e-commerce features, such as product listings, shopping carts, and secure payment gateways, making it convenient for customers to purchase phone cases from your store.

• Professional templates. Choose from various professionally designed templates optimized for conversion and user experience.

• SEO optimization . Strikingly allows you to optimize your website for search engines, helping potential customers find your online store when searching for phone cases.

Designing A Mobile-Friendly And User-Friendly Website

When designing your online store with Strikingly, keep the following tips in mind:

• Choose a clean and visually appealing design that reflects the style of your phone cases.
• Use high-quality images of your phone cases to showcase their design and quality.
• Ensure easy navigation by organizing your products into categories and providing clear links to different sections of your website.
• Include detailed product descriptions highlighting each phone case's unique features and benefits.
• Incorporate customer reviews or testimonials to build trust and credibility with potential buyers.

Optimizing Your Online Store For SEO And Mobile Responsiveness

To ensure that your online store ranks well in search engine results and provides a seamless user experience on mobile devices, follow these best practices:

• Conduct keyword research to identify relevant keywords for your phone case business. Incorporate these keywords into your website's content, including product descriptions , headings, and meta tags.
• Optimize your website's loading speed by compressing images and minimizing unnecessary code.
• Ensure your online store is mobile-responsive by testing it on different devices and screen sizes.
• Ensure your website has clear calls-to-action (CTAs) that prompt visitors to purchase or contact you for more information.

Setting up your online store with Strikingly and following these tips can help you create a visually appealing, user-friendly, and SEO-optimized website that will attract customers to purchase phone cases from your business.

Marketing And Promoting Your Phone Case Business

It is crucial to implement effective marketing strategies that will help you reach your target audience and boost sales to ensure the success of your phone case business. The section below will explore three key marketing techniques: implementing SEO strategies, leveraging social media for brand awareness, and collaborating with influencers and bloggers to boost sales.

Implementing Effective SEO Strategies

Implementing effective SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategies is essential for driving organic traffic to your online store and increasing visibility in search engine results. Here are some tips to optimize your website for search engines:

• Conduct keyword research . Identify relevant keywords related to your phone case business, such as a phone case business, starting a phone case business, or selling a phone case online. Incorporate these keywords into your website content, including product descriptions, blog posts, and meta tags.
• Optimize on-page elements. Ensure your website's title tags, meta descriptions, headers, and URLs include targeted keywords. It will help search engines understand the content of each page and improve its ranking.
• Create high-quality content. Regularly update your website with informative blog posts or articles related to phone cases. It provides value to your customers and helps establish you as an authority in the industry.
• Build backlinks. Seek opportunities to have other reputable websites link back to yours. It can be achieved through guest blogging, influencer collaborations, or partnerships with related businesses.

Leveraging Social Media For Brand Awareness

Social media platforms provide excellent opportunities to promote your phone case business and build brand awareness among potential customers. Consider the following strategies:

• Choose the right platforms. Identify which social media platforms are popular among your target audience and focus on establishing a strong presence there. Some popular options include Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and TikTok.
• Create engaging content. Share visually appealing images and videos of your phone cases, showcasing their unique features and designs. Encourage user-generated content by running contests or giveaways that involve customers sharing their photos with your products.
• Interact with your audience. Respond promptly to your followers' comments, messages, and inquiries. Engage in conversations, ask for feedback, and show appreciation for customer support.
• Collaborate with influencers. Partnering with influencers with a niche following can boost brand visibility and drive sales. Send them free samples of your phone cases in exchange for honest reviews or sponsored posts.

Collaborating With Influencers And Bloggers To Boost Sales

Influencers and bloggers have the power to influence purchasing decisions among their followers. You can tap into their audience base, collaborate, and increase your phone case business sales. Consider the following strategies:

• Identify relevant influencers and bloggers. Research individuals with a strong online presence within the phone case or technology niche. Look for those whose values align with your brand's image.
• Reach out to potential collaborators. Craft personalized pitches explaining why you believe a collaboration would benefit both parties involved. Offer incentives such as free products or commission-based partnerships.
• Provide clear guidelines. Communicate your expectations regarding content creation, including key talking points or specific features you want to highlight about your phone cases.
• Monitor campaign performance. Track the results of influencer collaborations by monitoring engagement levels, website traffic, and sales generated during the campaign period.

Remember that successful marketing requires consistency, adaptability, and staying up-to-date with industry trends. You can effectively promote your phone case business and increase profitability by implementing effective SEO strategies, leveraging social media platforms, and collaborating with influencers and bloggers.

Managing Inventory And Fulfillment

Managing Inventory and Fulfillment is crucial for the success of your phone case business. To ensure efficiency and customer satisfaction:

• Efficient Inventory Management System . Implement a system to track phone case availability, use inventory management software to monitor sales trends, and categorize your inventory based on design styles, phone models, or materials. Set reorder points and regularly conduct audits to maintain optimal inventory levels.
• Partnering with Reliable Shipping and Fulfillment Services . Choose shipping partners based on cost-effectiveness, delivery speed, and services like tracking and insurance coverage. It ensures streamlined shipping processes and timely delivery.
• Ensuring Timely Delivery and Customer Satisfaction . Prioritize efficient order processing, communicate order status to customers through automated notifications or tracking links, and promptly address customer concerns or issues. It builds trust and encourages repeat purchases.

Focusing on these aspects can streamline your operations, reduce stock-related issues, and create a seamless customer experience in your phone case business.

Analyzing Data And Making Data-Driven Decisions

Tracking sales, website traffic, and customer behavior ensures your phone case business's success.

• Sales Tracking . Utilize e-commerce platforms for detailed sales reports to identify top-selling phone cases and trends, enabling data-driven decisions regarding your inventory.
• Website Traffic Monitoring. Use tools like Google Analytics to gather data on visitor numbers, locations, and popular pages, helping you focus on attractive phone case designs or categories.
• Customer Behavior Analysis. Examine metrics like bounce rate, time spent on site, and conversion rate to understand how customers interact with your online store and identify areas for improvement.

Analyzing Customer Feedback and Reviews

Customer feedback and reviews provide valuable insights for your phone case business.

• Positive Reviews. Use them as testimonials to build trust with potential customers and share on social media.
• Negative Reviews . Address promptly and professionally, using them to identify areas needing improvement in your products or customer service.

Adjusting Marketing Strategies Based on Data Insights

Data insights from sales, website traffic, and customer feedback refine marketing strategies.

• Identify Effective Channels . Determine which marketing channels drive the most sales or traffic and allocate resources accordingly (e.g., social media advertising).
• Tailor Campaigns . Customize marketing campaigns based on customer preferences and trends revealed through data analysis, enhancing your competitiveness in the phone case business.

Starting a phone case business is a profitable opportunity in today's digital age. This guide outlines the key steps to kickstart your journey to success.

Turn your passion for phone cases into a thriving business by identifying trends, researching your target market, and crafting a unique selling proposition.

Use Strikingly , a user-friendly website builder designed for online stores for an impressive online presence.

Remember, success requires dedication, creativity, and adaptability. Stay updated on industry trends and refine your strategies based on data insights to build a profitable and sustainable phone case business. Start your journey to success today!

Trusted by millions of entrepreneurs & creatives.

How to Start A Phone Case Business? (Updated for 2024)

Starting a phone case business , or even any other kind of business, seems daunting and scary. However, as long as you know what to do and understand how to start a phone case business, it can be your chance to earn and be the boss.

Starting a phone case business from scratch is scary, like other businesses. But if you know what steps to take, you'll realize that it's possible and doable, and you can do it all on your own.

Without further ado, let's get started!

1. Start with a business plan

A business plan is probably the most crucial part of every business. Without this plan, no one should ever start a phone case business.

A business plan generally illustrates your goals, financial strategies, research, and everything else involved with your phone case business.

When creating a business plan, you need to include more than just the steps on how you start. It also includes how you will sustain it and how you can develop it even further as you move forward.

For this reason, your business plan acts as your guide. Also, depending on the circumstances that will happen throughout your actions, you may need to revise and adjust this plan accordingly. Because all businesses have pros and cons .

If you still don't value the importance of a business plan, you should know that it's what lenders want to see, especially if you plan on applying for a business loan (which a knowledgeable entrepreneur should do).

A precise and robust business plan can give your phone case business credibility and make a solid foundation for all your financial needs as a start-up business. It can also give you a very good idea about phone case business profitability .

Overall, making a business plan isn't difficult. You don't even need excellent writing or computing skills to do so. The format of a business plan is similar, so it will be easy to find some templates.

Below is a sample outline for a phone case business plan to help you get started:

• Executive summary : This plan shows a gist of your entire phone case business and the reasons why it will end up being a success.
• Company description : This plan details all information about your phone case business in a detailed manner, including your advantages over competitors.
• Organization and management : This plan shows the structure of your phone case business and who will run it. Simply put, it will show what type of business you're running and who are the people responsible for it.
• Market analysis : This plan includes your perspective on the industry you're pursuing and your target market or customers. Further, it includes your potential competitors for comparison.
• Financial plan : This plan describes everything about your phone case business funding. As such, it includes your required funds, a detailed statement of your finances, and your analysis of such.
• Marketing strategy : This plan primarily addresses the concern of reaching and getting customers. Moreover, it demonstrates how to expose the products and services your phone case business offers, how to keep customers from leaving, and how to increase sales. If you want to learn more about getting customers for your business, read our article on how to get clients for a phone case business ?

2. Choose a business name and register your business

After making a business plan for your phone case business, you need to start with the basic things like choosing a business name and registering it.

Choosing a business name is one of the leading preparatory works. However, there are other complex things, such as registering your business to your state's requirements. Such requirements differ depending on which state you or your phone case business will be in.

You'll get a federal tax identification number as soon as you finish this. Afterward, you'll be ready for the next step.

Along with this step is choosing your location, which you must do before registering your phone case business.

Some businesses, especially the ones conducted online, don't need a good location. However, if your business makes good use of the place, it's completely different.

If your location is essential to your phone case business, then make sure you choose wisely and consider every factor to favor your business.

3. Set up your business entity

Be sure to set up a business entity before you begin offering services or products to customers to meet all local and state regulations. The business entity you choose will depend on your operating circumstances and requirements.

For instance, the limited liability company (LLC) is a popular option for most businesses. Your assets can be kept separate from your business's financial operations with an LLC.

4. Get your licenses to operate your business

License to operate is essential to every business, and as a start-up, your phone case business needs it as well.

Licenses and permits for businesses vary from municipality to municipality. You should register for each if your location requires it, as they ensure standard business practices. In addition, if you don't have them, your state or town could shut you down.

Ignoring the law is unacceptable because you are ignorant of it. Check with your local chamber of commerce or secretary of state's office to ensure you have all the necessary documents.

5. Get business insurance

Every business will always benefit from business insurance , and a phone case business is no exception. But, of course, business insurance differs for every business, so be sure to know which one suits your phone case business.

Simply put, your phone case business is prone to error or accidents, and having insurance backs you up with answering the expenses rather than you owning it all up.

For this reason, you should consider choosing a reliable insurance company that offers good terms to protect you and your phone case business as you run it.

6. Separate your business finances from your own

The next thing you need to do is to set up your company's financial backbone. To do so, you must create a separate checking account for your business. This account will help you track your phone case business finances and separate them from your finances.

In case you are wondering, separating finances is crucial to protecting both assets. You can prevent creditors (and people who sue you if you run a business as an LLC) from coming after your assets if you set up separate business accounts.

It is also easier to monitor your company's financial performance, pay taxes, and track your cash flow if your phone case business has a separate account.

You'll also want to find an appropriate business credit card once you have a business bank account. If you choose the right card, you can also get cash back, travel rewards, a 0% introductory APR, and more to help you maximize your spending.

7. Consider your financing options

Starting a phone case business can be more or less financially demanding , depending on how big or small you want to start.

A loan will always be handy if you can't shoulder such investment or don't want to lash out your money (like emergency funds).

Considering all the future expenses to maintain your phone case business, you can make it a bit more affordable by considering your financing options.

Whether you need a large loan, rolling credit for incremental purchases, or equipment financing, there's a solution for you. However, to find the right one for your phone case business, you must search for it and be diligent in your search.

If you want, you can read our article on how to finance a phone case business .

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions you may also ask about how to start a phone case business. Read further to see our answers, which may help address your other concerns.

How to start a phone case business with no money?

A phone case business' initial investment depends on the scale you have in mind. Now, it's not the end of the world if you want to start a phone case business but have no money.

As mentioned earlier, you can always consider several financing options to fund your business. For instance, you can always secure a business loan from leasing companies to fund your phone case business.

One thing to note is that loans go side by side with interest, which is why securing such means you also have to deal with interest.

For instance, it may take longer to recoup your investment since you also have to pay for the additional interest.

Of course, it takes a great deal of work to secure a loan. However, as long as you have a robust business plan, a start-up phone case business is always possible, even if you have no money for an initial investment.

How to start a phone case business from home?

Starting a phone case business from home can be easier since you wouldn’t have to worry about renting or buying property.

Still, the steps above apply even to a phone case business you want to start at home. The only difference is that you won’t have to choose a location since you already have one.

What do you need to start a phone case business?

If you want to start a phone case business, you need several things. However, everything boils down to your knowledge about a phone case business and a robust business plan.

From these three things, you can come up with how to work your way around insurances, licenses, equipment, marketing, and other things necessary for a phone case business to start and run.

How to scale a phone case business?

Scaling a phone case business means setting the stage to enable and support growth in your company. It means having the ability to grow without being hampered.

This process requires planning, funding, suitable systems, staff, processes, technology, and partners. These things are essential to successfully scaling a phone case business.

You must evaluate your phone case business. Next, you should look at your business as a whole and see if you’re ready to develop and expand your business.

Also, scaling a phone case business requires specific funding, so be ready to secure such funds.

Another thing to ensure is that you secure and maintain your current sales to keep everything steady.

Lastly, when scaling a phone case business, you either invest in technology or find more staff or people to where you can outsource tasks.

Ultimately, starting your own phone case business, or any kind of business, can seem daunting and scary. However, knowing the steps to take to start a phone case business could be your chance to earn and work for yourself.

Check also:

• Phone Case Business Success Stories
• Phone Case Business Businesses

• 4,818 founder case studies
• Access to our founder directory
• Live events, courses and recordings
• 8,628 business ideas
• $1M in software savings

Related Business Ideas

Ecommerce Store

$291K/month

Cpg Company

$228K/month

Amazon Business

Etsy Seller Business

$48.4K/month

Join our free newsletter to get unlimited access to all startup data. We just need your email:

Check your email

If there's a Starter Story account associated with that email you'll get an email with a link to automatically log in. The link will expire in 15 minutes.

Your existing password still works, should you want to log in with it later.

With Starter Story, you can see exactly how online businesses get to millions in revenue.

Dive into our database of 4,418 case studies & join our community of thousands of successful founders.

Join our free newsletter to get access now. We just need your email:

• Shop all deals
• Free phones
• Smartphones
• Verizon Home Internet
• Bring your own device
• Accessories
• Refer a Friend
• Verizon Visa® Card
• Certified pre-owned phones
• Apple iPhone 15 Pro
• Apple iPhone 15
• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Google Pixel 8 Pro
• Other phones
• Trade in your device
• Tablets & laptops
• Certified pre-owned watches
• Jetpacks & hotspots
• Shop all accessories
• Phone cases
• Screen protectors
• Tablet accessories
• Chargers & cables
• Phone attachments
• MagSafe compatible
• Verizon accessories
• Shop all watch accessories
• Smart watches
• Shop all plans
• International services
• Connected devices
• Discounts overview
• Mobile + Home
• First responders
• Verizon Forward
• Connected car plans
• Shop all home solutions
• Fios Home Internet
• 5G Home Internet
• LTE Home Internet
• Accessories overview
• Cables & connectors
• Networking & Wi-Fi
• TV accessories
• Phone equipment
• 5G Home accessories
• Prepaid overview
• Phone plans
• Smartwatch plans
• Tablet & hotspot plans
• International plans
• Smartwatches
• Hotspots & routers
• Basic phones
• Why Verizon Prepaid
• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+
• Apple Arcade
• Google Play Pass
• Apple Music
• Xbox All Access
• Services & perks overview
• Entertainment
• Protection & security
• Digital family
• Financial services
• Back to Menu
• Sign in to My Account
• Prepaid instant pay
• Business Log in

Choose your cart:

• Mobile solutions
• Home solutions

Verizon Access gets you in to the experiences you love. The best in sports, music and entertainment. Just for being a Verizon customer.

Already with Verizon? See offers

More front row less FOMO

Verizon Access brings you over a million presale tickets for your favorite artists, right to your phone. Plus early access to exclusive experiences, and select seats to shows all year long to help bring you to the artists you love.

Every game’s a game changer

All season long, we got you. From sideline access to tickets to the hottest matchups across the NFL and your local basketball, hockey and baseball teams. Verizon Access can get you in on your favorite teams just for being a Verizon customer. So what are you waiting for?

Small streams to big screens

From red carpet movie premieres to exclusive offers, Verizon Access can get you in to all the entertainment you love. All just for you, a Verizon customer.

Ready to get started?

Have questions we’ve got answers, what is myaccess.

Welcome to myAccess, where you can enjoy special offers and benefits designed with you in mind, when you have a standard mobile phone account. myAccess consists of:

• Account Offers : Offers personalized for you, when you consider upgrading your device, adding a line, or a new plan.
• Anytime Deals : Discounts from Verizon that you can claim anytime after they appear. Claim one, or claim them all. They're always changing and available to you if you are eligible.
• Make the most of your plan : Highlights unused benefits from your Unlimited plan that are not currently activated, such as Apple Arcade® or Disney+.
• Local Passes : Access to our most exclusive experiences, including sports and concerts, as well as new devices and more. They’re first come, first served, and only a limited number of Local Passes are made available. If you qualify, you can try to claim Local Passes. Note: Learn about restrictions by visiting the myAccess Terms .
• Presale tickets : Exclusive access to purchase tickets for the artists you love, before they're available to the general public. If you qualify, you are able to purchase Presale tickets. Tickets are first come, first served, and there is a limit of 4 Presale tickets per event, unless the artist sets a lower limit.
• Select Seats : An exclusive benefit to access tickets that are available for a limited time during the general public on-sale and can only be purchased by Verizon customers.
• Survey : Provide feedback on myAccess and the offers you receive, as well as express your personal preferences, so we can continue to enhance and personalize experience.
• Keep Track of it All : Find offers you've claimed and have not used, as well as view some of the services you have with Verizon.

myAccess is free and available to you by signing into your account through My Verizon , if you qualify. Additional terms and conditions may apply to individual offers. Learn more about myAccess by visiting the myAccess Terms .

Am I eligible for myAccess?

You are eligible if you have a standard mobile account and meet all of the following requirements:

• Are 18 or over.
• Have a smartphone on an active standard Verizon mobile account in good standing.
• Are a resident of the US (excluding the territories of Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands).

See the myAccess Terms for more details. Note: Business and prepaid accounts aren't eligible for myAccess at this time. myAccess is not available to lines associated with a Just Kids plan, Gizmo device, Ellipsis Kids Devices or Disney devices.

How do I enroll in myAccess?

Enrollment is not required. You can access myAccess when you sign in to your eligible My Verizon account . If you are already signed in:

• My Verizon online: From the top of the Verizon home page select Account > More > myAccess .
• My Verizon app: Select the myAccess icon at the bottom of your screen.
• Home Internet & TV
• Mobile + Home discount
• Support overview
• Return policy
• Community Forums
• Business support
• Download My Verizon App
• Accessibility
• Check network status
• Responsibility
• Verizon Innovative Learning
• Consumer info
• 5G overview
• Innovation Labs
• Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
• Apple iPhone 15 Plus
• Apple AirPods Max
• Apple Watch Series 9
• Elizabeth James
• Terms & Conditions
• Device Payment Terms & Conditions
• Report a security vulnerability
• Mobile customer agreement
• Announcements
• Radio frequency emissions
• Taxes & surcharges
• Legal notices
• facebook-official
• Privacy Policy
• California Privacy Notice
• Health Privacy Notice
• Open Internet
• Terms & Conditions
• About Our Ads

• Start free trial

Start selling with Shopify today

Start your free trial with Shopify today—then use these resources to guide you through every step of the process.

How To Make Phone Cases: Start Your Business Now (2024)

Phone cases are an easy way to add individuality and functionality to an item found in every person’s pocket. Here’s how to start your own phone case business.

Custom phone cases are easy to source and appeal to people looking to spruce up their device or add extra functionality to the one gadget no one can live without.

Building a business around making and selling phone cases comes with a variety of benefits. It’s easy to hold inventory and ship cases due to their small size. They’re also relatively low-cost to produce using methods such as print on demand .

And, with an average smartphone lifespan of around two-and-a-half years, every model launch offers a new sales opportunity.

This guide answers common questions about starting a phone case business, including how to source different types of cases and find the best places to sell them.

Is a phone case business profitable?

A phone case business is a profitable way to make money online . With a 3.3% compound annual growth rate, phone cases seemingly never go out of style. By 2029, the mobile phone cases market size is expected to reach $13.6 billion .

Phone cases are also easy products to manage, adding to their profitability. They’re typically tough and hard to break, meaning less stockroom and shipping damages. They’re also small and lightweight, so your profit margin won’t be compromised by high shipping rates. Phone cases can also be dropshipped for an inventory-free business model.

Things to consider before starting a phone case business

Before you start creating your own phone cases, there are a few things you’ll need to know—including the most popular categories of phone cases.

Types of phone cases

Some phone cases are designed for functionality, while others prioritize visual appeal. Consider selling these common types of cases:

Slim and gel cases

Slim cases don’t compromise the mind-blowing dimensions of today’s smartphones. While offering minimal protection against cracks and scuffs, they do provide additional grip through a flexible, rubbery silicone gel material. Slim cases also give consumers a low-cost way to personalize their devices with eye-catching designs and colors.

These are some of the cheapest cases you design and sell, making them a good candidate for print on demand.

Bumper cases

Unlike slim phone cases, bumper cases cover only the sides or border of a phone. They may also contain an additional piece to protect the back from scratches. Bumper cases tend to be made from harder, more shock-resistant materials to protect phones from dings and drops.

Folio or wallet cases

Folio cases have a folding cover that encloses the front of a phone to protect the screen from dust and scratches, giving the phone the appearance of a small notebook.

Some folio cases have wallet-like features, such as the ability to store cash or credit cards, while others can be turned into a stand to prop up a phone for easy viewing.

You’ll typically find these cases in leather-like materials. Folios usually cost more than slim and bumper cases, but also appeal to a wide range of consumers.

Tough cases

Many consumers view phone cases as less an aesthetic choice and more a practical way to protect their device from everyday risks. Tough cases are bulkier and weigh more than other designs, thanks to protective features like shock absorbers and durable plastics.

Shoppers looking for tough phone cases are likely to be interested in a product’s construction and durability claims, so bear this in mind when writing your product descriptions . Information about drop tests, water resistance, and brand credibility may improve customer confidence.

Battery cases

Battery life remains a consumer bugbear in the smartphone market. While more expensive than other phone cases, battery cases offer a solution to this common issue, allowing users to double or triple usage time between charges.

Since these cases not only protect your phone but provide some extra charge, battery cases are an especially good marketing prospect for any models where battery life is a commonly cited complaint.

Silicone cases

Silicone is another inexpensive material to consider when selling phone cases online. Silicone cases are soft and durable, and also work well in high temperatures. You can often source silicone cases from dropshipping suppliers for as little as $2 per case.

Setting up a phone case business requires focusing not only on the types of cases you want to sell, but also the kinds of phones and models you want to support.

Device support is an integral marketing decision, which should be based on an in-depth review of current market trends. This process gives you an opportunity to dig into niches that emerge around specific phone models.

The aim here is to identify demand for particular types of cases for certain models. You may also spot underserved smartphone types, giving you an opportunity to capture a niche.

Some devices you may want to consider before you design custom phone cases include:

iPhone models

• iPhone 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 min
• iPhone 13 SE
• iPhone 13 Pro
• iPhone 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 14 Pro
• iPhone 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 14 Plus

Samsung Galaxy models

Xiaomi models.

To identify profitable devices, start with basic keyword research using tools like Google’s Keyword Planner or KWFinder to assess search volume for cases for specific types of phones.

If you plan on using Google Ads to sell your products, this step is essential for identifying the best search results pages to appear on.

How to start your own phone case business

The top phone case businesses didn’t become successful overnight. These brands follow a business plan and aim for sustainable growth.

Use this step-by-step guide to structure your business model and create your phone case business:

• Identify a need in the market
• Develop a business plan
• Identify a target market
• Start designing
• Source phone cases
• Choose a brand name and logo
• Choose a price point
• Create your online store
• Market your business

1. Identify a need in the market

Many businesses find success by becoming a leader in a particular part of their industry. As you build your phone case brand, consider whether to target certain consumers. For example, could you specialize in cases for outdoor adventures? Or graphic cases designed by independent artists?

When starting his phone case business, Andrew Moore of Felony Case identified a niche in the iPhone market. He saw a gap between the basic cases you could find at dollar stores and mall kiosks and the expensive, protective cases produced by official Apple partners.

To capitalize on the market gap, Felony Cases marketed its products toward “more fashion-forward people looking for something unique.” Andrew focused efforts on producing fashionable cases that also offered drop protection.

2. Develop a business plan

A business plan guides your entire journey when you create your own phone case business. It can help clarify your strategy, identify roadblocks, predict resources, and assess business ideas before you launch.

Developing a business plan will also ensure you set goals. Do you want to become a household name that’s carried by multiple retailers, or a premium brand found in boutique shops? Will you start an online store and sell directly to your customers?

Identify your business goals and keep them in mind as you build out your phone case brand.

3. Identify a target audience

Designing phone cases is of little use if your product doesn’t appeal to your target market. Useful data points to understand more about your customers include:

• Spending patterns
• Habits and routines

To collect this information, new businesses often head to social media, using tools like Facebook Audience Insights . Other information sources include customer surveys and an email list of relevant contacts.

Consider the pros and cons of targeting certain demographics. For example, young people tend to be more receptive to viral marketing and word of mouth, but they also have limited funds. Middle-aged buyers may be able to afford more expensive phone cases, but may be less trend-conscious.

4. Start designing

Your phone case designs are your biggest differentiator when selling custom phone cases online. It’s also where you can let your creativity shine. The first batch you release to the public will act as an introduction to your brand, so make sure you craft something awesome to put your stake in the ground.

There are two ways to go about designing phone cases:

Work with designers and artists

Communities like Dribbble are great places to shop for designers based on the aesthetic you’re looking for. Or, if you’re looking for cost-effective designs, find low-rate freelancers on marketplaces like Fiverr . Try to partner with designers who can produce distinctive, original visuals to help set your phone cases apart.

Design your own phone cases

Using design software or print-on-demand apps , you can create your own phone case mock-ups. These tools let you apply unique images, patterns, and fonts, as well as showcase your brand and logo.

Be aware that not all phone case suppliers will print on the sides of the case. Many will only print on the back, so make sure you pay attention to that during the design phase and when looking for a supplier.

Try to develop multiple designs, so you’re not dependent on one idea. Request feedback as early as you can in the following ways:

• Post your designs on TikTok, Instagram, or Pinterest to gauge interest.
• Ask friends and family for input.
• Post your designs in relevant Subreddits (e.g., r/pugs if you’re selling cases for dog owners).

5. Source phone cases

With designs finalized, it’s time to bring your custom phone cases to life. Unless you’re willing to invest in printing equipment, you have three options when it comes to getting your phone cases made.

Find a manufacturer

Finding a manufacturer to create your phone cases can maximize profits. Alibaba offers a directory of manufacturers in China who make a variety of high-quality phone case types, including slim, folio, and battery.

While you’ll have to buy in bulk with a minimum order quantity , you’ll have the potential to offer better prices and make more from each sale.

You can also partner with a domestic manufacturer to appeal to consumers interested in supporting local businesses. Either way, be sure to order a sample first before committing to a bulk order.

Since inventory won’t take up much room, if you’re confident about your phone cases, you can invest in an offline sales presence by setting up a cart or kiosk in a high-traffic area like a mall.

Use a print-on-demand service 

Printful and Printify are two of many services that let you print phone cases on demand. While selling on demand will reduce your margins, it also removes shipping and fulfillment responsibilities, so you don’t need to keep cases on hand.

If you’re selling phone cases in a Shopify store, print-on-demand apps can integrate with your online storefront, so all you need to worry about is making sales.

Validating designs can be tricky. Another benefit of the print-on-demand model is the ability to test ideas without needing to invest in stock.

Dropship phone cases

Instead of making your own custom phone cases, you could choose to dropship existing products from a supplier that handles order fulfillment. Dropshipping is straightforward when using an app like DSers to import phone cases from Aliexpress into your Shopify store.

Free Webinar:

How to quickly start a profitable print-on-demand store

In our free 40-minute video workshop, we’ll take you from product idea to setting up an online store to getting your first print-on-demand sale.

6. Choose a brand name and logo

Defining your business’s public persona starts with selecting a business name and logo. 

You can use a free design tool like the Shopify logo maker to help craft a logo and build your brand. Answer a few questions about your business and the logo maker will offer dozens of templates. Download visual assets for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube to create a consistent identity across all channels.

Customers can be receptive to brands with a good story, so try weaving a narrative into your brand name, logo, and website. If you’re manufacturing phone cases, you’ll want to have this information ready before the first batch is finished. Then you can start selling your cases right away.

7. Choose a price point

Pricing your phone cases is one of the keystone decisions you need to make. It impacts nearly every area of your business, from cash flow to profit margins , to deciding what expenses you can afford.

Choose a price point that covers your manufacturing costs but doesn’t deter customers. Remember, you want to aim for profit margins that you can comfortably scale if your designs take off.

8. Create your online store

Building a store provides an alternative or complementary sales channel to selling your products on online selling sites . Running your own store will also help maintain control of your brand. 

Andrew built Felony Case by focusing first on the brand’s website, then moving to online marketplaces. 

“Our website and retailers have been the two biggest sources of traffic and sales. … [Customers] want to find your website directly just to validate the brand,” says Andrew.

Shoppers will probably check social media profiles like Instagram and Facebook to see if you’re active there too. 

“I think all these touchpoints work hand-in-hand and give your brand that full 360 view online,” Andrew says. 

9. Market your business

Now that you’ve figured out your market, your product, and your supply chain, it’s time to promote your phone cases on as many marketing channels as possible.

As far as marketing goes, try the following channels and tactics:

Search engine marketing

Search engine marketing helps you reach people who are searching for phone cases for particular smartphones. The buying intention behind these searches means you’ll get the most relevant clicks through to your products and the phones you support. You can achieve this organically through SEO or by paying to promote through Google Ads .

Facebook advertising

If you’re targeting a specific interest group with your designs, Facebook ads can help you market to people who fit a certain profile.

Instagram marketing

Instagram is a highly visual platform, perfect for showing off your designs, with the option for paid advertising as well.

Influencer marketing

Partnering with YouTubers, Instagrammers, and TikTokers lets you harness their influence and audiences to get your phone cases in front of more people.

Word of mouth

While posting on social media and working with influencers can get you far, don’t forget word of mouth . If your customers love your phone cases, that’s a huge opportunity for some extra marketing juice. Ask your customers to leave a review so you can use testimonials in your marketing (with permission, of course).

Launching your phone case startup

Like any other competitive market, thriving in the phone case industry requires an ability to reach customers in profitable niches. Get your marketing right, figure out winning designs, and learn as much as you can about your customers, and what starts as a lucrative side hustle may quickly grow into a full-time business.

Illustration by Rachel Tunstall.

Phone case business FAQ

How do i start a phone case business.

• Identify a market need.
• Create a business plan.
• Identify a target audience.
• Design your phone cases.
• Find a manufacturer.
• Choose a brand name and logo.
• Choose a price point.
• Create your ecommerce website.
• Market your business.

Are phone cases good for dropshipping?

Phone cases are an excellent dropshipping product because they are lightweight and easy to source. You can find hundreds of different models from suppliers like Alibaba or AliExpress, sell them in your online store, and never hold a single item in inventory.

How much does it cost to start a phone case business?T

Starting a phone case business is more an investment of time than money. You can start a free trial with Shopify and import phone cases for free from dropshipping suppliers. You only pay for items when customers order them.

Keep up with the latest from Shopify

Get free ecommerce tips, inspiration, and resources delivered directly to your inbox.

By entering your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from Shopify.

popular posts

The most intuitive, powerful

Shopify yet

Shopify Editions Summer ’24

Subscribe to our blog and get free ecommerce tips, inspiration, and resources delivered directly to your inbox.

Unsubscribe anytime. By entering your email, you agree to receive marketing emails from Shopify.

Latest from Shopify

10 Jul 2024

Learn on the go. Try Shopify for free, and explore all the tools you need to start, run, and grow your business.

Try Shopify for free, no credit card required.

• Mobile Site
• Staff Directory
• Advertise with Ars

Filter by topic

• Biz & IT
• Gaming & Culture

Front page layout

"Cleverly hidden spyware" —

Shopping app temu is “dangerous malware,” spying on your texts, lawsuit claims, temu "surprised" by the lawsuit, plans to "vigorously defend" itself..

Ashley Belanger - Jun 27, 2024 5:35 pm UTC

Temu—the Chinese shopping app that has rapidly grown so popular in the US that even Amazon is reportedly trying to copy it—is "dangerous malware" that's secretly monetizing a broad swath of unauthorized user data, Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin alleged in a lawsuit filed Tuesday.

Griffin cited research and media reports exposing Temu's allegedly nefarious design, which "purposely" allows Temu to "gain unrestricted access to a user's phone operating system, including, but not limited to, a user's camera, specific location, contacts, text messages, documents, and other applications."

"Temu is designed to make this expansive access undetected, even by sophisticated users," Griffin's complaint said. "Once installed, Temu can recompile itself and change properties, including overriding the data privacy settings users believe they have in place."

Griffin fears that Temu is capable of accessing virtually all data on a person's phone, exposing both users and non-users to extreme privacy and security risks. It appears that anyone texting or emailing someone with the shopping app installed risks Temu accessing private data, Griffin's suit claimed, which Temu then allegedly monetizes by selling it to third parties, "profiting at the direct expense" of users' privacy rights.

"Compounding" risks is the possibility that Temu's Chinese owners, PDD Holdings, are legally obligated to share data with the Chinese government, the lawsuit said, due to Chinese "laws that mandate secret cooperation with China's intelligence apparatus regardless of any data protection guarantees existing in the United States."

Griffin's suit cited an extensive forensic investigation into Temu by Grizzly Research—which analyzes publicly traded companies to inform investors—last September. In their report, Grizzly Research alleged that PDD Holdings is a “fraudulent company” and that “Temu is cleverly hidden spyware that poses an urgent security threat to United States national interests.”

As Griffin sees it, Temu baits users with misleading promises of discounted, quality goods, angling to get access to as much user data as possible by adding addictive features that keep users logged in, like spinning a wheel for deals. Meanwhile hundreds of complaints to the Better Business Bureau showed that Temu's goods are actually low-quality, Griffin alleged, apparently supporting his claim that Temu's end goal isn't to be the world's biggest shopping platform but to steal data.

Investigators agreed, the lawsuit said, concluding “we strongly suspect that Temu is already, or intends to, illegally sell stolen data from Western country customers to sustain a business model that is otherwise doomed for failure."

Seeking an injunction to stop Temu from allegedly spying on users, Griffin is hoping a jury will find that Temu's alleged practices violated the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (ADTPA) and the Arkansas Personal Information Protection Act. If Temu loses, it could be on the hook for $10,000 per violation of the ADTPA and ordered to disgorge profits from data sales and deceptive sales on the app.

Temu “surprised” by lawsuit

The company that owns Temu, PDD Holdings, was founded in 2015 by a former Google employee, Colin Huang. It was originally based in China, but after security concerns were raised, the company relocated its "principal executive offices" to Ireland, Griffin's complaint said. This, Griffin suggested, was intended to distance the company from debate over national security risks posed by China, but because the majority of its business operations remain in China, risks allegedly remain.

PDD Holdings' relocation came amid heightened scrutiny of Pinduoduo, the Chinese app on which Temu's shopping platform is based. Last year, Pinduoduo came under fire for privacy and security risks that got the app suspended from Google Play as suspected malware. Experts said Pinduoduo took security and privacy risks "to the next level," the lawsuit said. And "around the same time," Apple's App Store also flagged Temu's data privacy terms as misleading, further heightening scrutiny of two of PDD Holdings' biggest apps, the complaint noted.

Researchers found that Pinduoduo "was programmed to bypass users’ cell phone security in order to monitor activities on other apps, check notifications, read private messages, and change settings," the lawsuit said. "It also could spy on competitors by tracking activity on other shopping apps and getting information from them," as well as "run in the background and prevent itself from being uninstalled." The motivation behind the malicious design was apparently "to boost sales."

According to Griffin, the same concerns that got Pinduoduo suspended last year remain today for Temu users, but the App Store and Google Play have allegedly failed to take action to prevent unauthorized access to user data. Within a year of Temu's launch, the "same software engineers and product managers who developed Pinduoduo" allegedly "were transitioned to working on the Temu app."

Google and Apple did not immediately respond to Ars' request for comment.

A Temu spokesperson provided a statement to Ars, discrediting Grizzly Research's investigation and confirming that the company was "surprised and disappointed by the Arkansas Attorney General's Office for filing the lawsuit without any independent fact-finding."

"The allegations in the lawsuit are based on misinformation circulated online, primarily from a short-seller, and are totally unfounded," Temu's spokesperson said. "We categorically deny the allegations and will vigorously defend ourselves."

While Temu plans to defend against claims, the company also seems to potentially be open to making changes based on criticism lobbed in Griffin's complaint.

"We understand that as a new company with an innovative supply chain model, some may misunderstand us at first glance and not welcome us," Temu's spokesperson said. "We are committed to the long-term and believe that scrutiny will ultimately benefit our development. We are confident that our actions and contributions to the community will speak for themselves over time."

reader comments

Channel ars technica.

Power Dialer is

Boost call efficiency and supercharge your sales with Power Dialer’s lightning-fast, automated calling system!

Zapier Integration is

KrispCall now supports Zapier Beta! Connect & elevate your workflow seamlessly

How Much Does A Business Phone Cost In 2024?

• 11 minute read

Even though there are many options for business communication nowadays, regular phone calls 📱 are still going strong.

While live chat may be better in some cases, 81% of customer service professionals still prefer the phone for more complicated problems.

So, no matter the size or type, companies need a phone system. But how much does a business phone cost, and which kind is best🤔?

In this guide, we’ll discuss the costs of different business phone systems, cost breakdown, and how to save on business phone lines. We’ll also break down what impacts the price so you can choose the right solution for your business’s needs and budget.

🔑 KEY HIGHLIGHTS

• Costs of business phone systems vary significantly depending on the type – traditional landlines, VoIP, cloud-based, or virtual. Landlines have the highest installation and monthly costs.
• Virtual phone systems tend to be the most affordable option, costing $10-50 per month . Cloud-based VoIP solutions are also reasonably priced at $20-30 per user per month .
• Other factors that impact phone system costs include the number of users, features used, ability to scale, and maintenance/support needs.
• Cloud-based VoIP providers like KrispCall offer all-in-one communication platforms with calling, messaging, CRM, and mobile apps integrated at competitive per-user rates.

Table of Contents

Costs of Different Types of Business Phone Lines/System

As of now, companies have several choices for their telephone system – a traditional landline, VoIP, cloud-based, and a virtual phone . Each option has different cost factors tied to its specific capabilities. Let’s explore the costs of different types of business phone systems: 

1. How much does a Traditional Landline System cost?

Traditional landline-based systems tend to involve greater expenses. These phone options require actual physical cabling and specialised telephone equipment, driving up the price significantly for smaller companies. Installation costs usually range from $100 to $300 per line, and monthly bills are in the $20 to $60 range. In addition, upkeep and add-on features contribute further to long-term costs.

2. How much does a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) System cost?

Cloud-based phone systems minimise the need for physical infrastructure, resulting in notably lower initial expenses. Businesses can anticipate paying approximately $20 to $30 monthly per user. In most cases, this cost already provides access to improved features like automated receptionists and ways to connect with other tools. 

3. How much does a Cloud-Based Phone System cost?

VoIP systems that are hosted internally within a company incur major upfront expenses for the required PBX equipment, installation work, and setup. These on-premises VoIP options typically have hardware and installation expenditures between $6,000 to $7,000 . Plus, ongoing service and upgrade charges frequently represent an extra 15-20% yearly addition to those figures. 

4. How much does a Virtual Phone System cost?

Virtual phone systems tend to be the most reasonably priced telephony options for small businesses. Plans usually range from $10 to $50 per month for a basic package. The costs are low as it runs completely over the Internet without needing much physical equipment. However, the monthly fee can vary depending on which add-on features you utilise through this phone solution. 

Cost Breakdown While Operating A Business Phone System

Operating a business phone system involves several types of costs. Understanding the fixed and variable expenses associated with your phone service is important. Some of the major fixed and variable costs include:

1. Fixed Cost

Fixed costs are one-time fees or ongoing expenses that stay the same each month. Here is a breakdown of fixed costs while operating a business phone system:

Telephony Hardware:

• Hard Phones (desk phones) : These range from basic models for ~$50 to feature-rich models for ~$200+ per phone.
• Mobile Phones : Business phone plans with compatible phones can range from ~$30 to ~$100+ per month per line, depending on data and feature needs.
• Softphones (software applications for computers) : These can be free or included as part of a cloud-based phone system subscription.
• Routers and Network Upgrades: Depending on your existing internet infrastructure and the number of users, you may need to upgrade your router or internet plan to handle VoIP calls. Costs can vary.
• Phone Numbers: Local phone numbers typically cost a one-time setup fee of ~$10 to $40 each, with some providers offering bundled plans with included numbers. Toll-free vanity numbers can cost significantly more, ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars per year.

2. Variable Cost

These are costs that fluctuate based on your usage patterns. Here is a breakdown of variable costs while operating a business phone system:

Communication Charges:

• Monthly Service Fees : Cloud-based phone system providers typically charge a per-user, per-month subscription fee (often ~$20 to $40+ per user). This usually includes unlimited calling within a designated area (often US and Canada).
• Long-distance and International Calls : Calls outside your included area will be billed per minute at a predetermined rate.
• Overage Fees : If you exceed the minutes or features included, you may be charged overage fees.
• Data Charges: For mobile phone usage, data charges can apply for using the phone’s internet connection for calls (VoIP) or other business applications.
• Roaming Charges: If employees travel outside their designated calling area, roaming charges may apply for calls or data usage.

Factors Affecting Business Phone System Cost

In order to accurately determine the expense of a business phone system, several impacting elements must be evaluated.

The five most critical aspects of business phone systems that should not be overlooked are:

1. Number of Users

The size of your workforce is an important factor in determining the business phone line cost. A larger staff indicates more phone lines, extensions, and potentially more intricate routing configurations. The greater the number of employees, the more phone resources needed and the higher the associated costs .

2. Type of System

The design of the phone system is a key factor in determining expenses. Systems are generally categorised as on-premise or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Traditional on-premise phone networks commonly require physical equipment, typically making an in-house IT team necessary for maintenance, which increases both the initial and ongoing costs . 

3. Features

The inclusion of advanced features can greatly impact the price aspect. Features like auto-attendant, call forwarding , voicemail, and video conferencing do not only provide extras but also fulfil practical business needs. However, every additional feature typically increases the cost . Choosing only the most useful optional features is key to avoiding unnecessary costs.

4. Scalability

Preparing your investment for the future is a smart strategy. Choosing a telephone system that has the flexibility to seamlessly expand along with your developing business will save you the frustration and substantial cost of needing to replace an outdated system down the road. 

5. Installation, Maintenance and Support

Regardless of which system is selected, continuing maintenance and support will incur costs. Onsite systems typically demand routine hardware upgrades and software fixes that contribute to long-term spending. While VoIP options rely less on physical equipment, software updates and troubleshooting are still needed periodically. 

Total Estimated Cost of Operating a Business Phone Line

The total cost of a business phone system varies greatly depending on multiple influencing aspects, making it difficult to provide a single universal answer. 

KrispCall, a popular virtual phone system , is an illustrative example that involves transparent tiered pricing plans with clearly defined features and costs. 

KrispCall’s Essential plan : $15 per month (voicemail, call history, and basic reporting)

KrispCall’s Standard plan : $40 per month (API and webhook access, Advanced reporting, Call center capabilities, and more integrations)

KrispCall’s Enterprise plan : Custom pricing (all standard features plus Developer support, Bundle calling, and a Dedicated account manager. 

A business with 20 staff on the Standard plan would expect a ($40 per user x 20 users) $800 monthly fee. This estimated starting point does not account for all potential pricing plans. For a customised calculation tailored precisely to an individual company’s specific needs, consult directly with an experienced KrispCall representative to obtain a customised proposal.

How to Save Business Phone Line Costs?

Business phone prices are definitely high. Here is how you can save business phone line costs: 

• Unlimited Local and National Calls : Choose plans that offer unlimited local and domestic long-distance calls to avoid pay-per-minute fees, especially if your business makes many calls within your area or country. Opting for unlimited local and national calls can save money for companies that frequently communicate within these regions versus paying for each individual call.
• Bundled Service Packages : Consider bundles that group phone lines with internet services from providers. Packages that combine these can sometimes result in reduced expenditures compared to purchasing each separately. 
• Call Forwarding & Voicemail : Utilise features like call forwarding and voicemail to guarantee all calls are received, even when unavailable to answer. This decreases reliance on costly call redirection solutions by enabling forwarding incoming calls to other lines or leaving voicemail messages.
• Focus on Quality, Not Cost : It’s important to prioritise quality over a purely low price point. Simply selecting the most inexpensive phone system option isn’t enough. Consider overall value and support requirements rather than upfront rate for proper budget optimization suited to a business’s communication needs.
• Allow Bring Your Own Device : Explore allowing a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) arrangement where staff utilises personal mobile phones, but the company compensates for data charges. Permitting the usage of individually owned smartphones and tablets in this way can dramatically decrease expenses associated with purchasing physical phones for each employee.
• Compare Multiple Provider Quotes : Be sure to obtain quotes from multiple phone system vendors rather than automatically selecting the initial option considered. Seeking competing estimates allows for comparisons between providers’ available plans, pricing models, and inclusive features.

How KrispCall Helps Save Business Phone Costs?

The cost of a business phone depends on who you choose and your needs. It’s super important to do your research before choosing a provider, but cloud-based VoIP systems are really easy to set up and can save you a ton on your phone bill.

In this regard, KrispCall’s payment options are an amazing deal for the money you pay. Everything is clear-cut, with no extra fees. Not only is KrispCall great value for money, KrispCall offers an inclusive UCaaS platform that has many impactful features, such as:

Phone Tree (IVR) : Streamline call handling using KrispCall’s automated phone menu to quickly direct callers to the appropriate team or data. KrispCall’s IVR solution can significantly reduce your monthly business phone bills by streamlining call flows and decreasing reliance on costly staffed phone lines.

Business phone system : Make and receive calls using a dedicated business number from any location with an internet connection. KrispCall’s cloud-based system ensures high-quality calls and reliability. No need to pay for expensive on-premise phone equipment that quickly becomes outdated.

Messaging : Teams can collaborate effectively through instant messages within a secure interface that allows file sharing and group chats. Companies save money by supporting virtual cooperation that avoids expenses related to in-person meetings, like travel costs and unused office space. 

Shared phone number : KrispCall offers a single shared phone number that multiple team members can access, which allows businesses to save on the costs of multiple phone lines and numbers.

Global Calling : KrispCall’s global calling feature enables businesses to make cost-effective international phone calls across borders, reducing expensive long-distance charges

The cost of a business phone system is dependent on several factors, including the selected solution, desired functionality, and company scale. 

On-site systems frequently involve greater expenditures because they require installation, upkeep, and physical infrastructure. In comparison, cloud-based VoIP phone options are typically more affordable for smaller organisations because they require minimal hardware. 

If your objective is enhancing business communications, take a look at KrispCall ’s VoIP phone solutions. KrispCall provides a range of services that assist small companies. From gathering all messages in a single location to streamlining the return of missed calls, you can find helpful offerings at a much lower price point.

KrispCall’s near-complete telephony solution, with its seamless telephony and response capabilities, has the potential to increase sales and customer satisfaction. 

Therefore, schedule a demo today to see how KrispCall can elevate your business communication. 

How much should a business phone line cost?

A business phone line should cost around $20 to $140 per user per month depending on factors like the type of service (VoIP vs. landline), number of users, desired features, and whether it’s a basic or enterprise-level plan.

How much does VoIP cost for a business?

A VoIP, on average, can cost a business between $25 and $35 per line monthly.

How long does a business phone system last?

Most phone systems these days can be expected to last around 5 to 8 years on average before needing an upgrade. 

Follow our newsletter !

Dinesh Silwal

Dinesh Silwal is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of KrispCall. For the past few years, he has been advancing and innovating in the cloud telephony industry, using AI to enhance and improve telephony solutions, and driving KrispCall to the forefront of the field.

Related Blogs

What is a busy lamp field (BLF) and why is it essential?

Have you ever faced 🤔 a bustling call center environment? If you haven’t, let’s discuss; in these call centers, phones…

• 14 minute read

What Is Answering Machine Detection: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you tired of your agents spending valuable time 🕒 leaving messages 💬 on answering machines instead of engaging with…

• 13 minute read

Are Landline Phones Still Relevant In 2024?

Do people still have landline telephones ☎️ in 2024? Is it still relevant to use a landline phone to communicate…

• 8 minute read

TechRepublic

Account information.

Share with Your Friends

8 Best Business Phone Services of 2024

Your email has been sent

• Best overall and best business phone service: Nextiva
• Best advanced features for growing companies: RingCentral
• Best for teams that prefer traditional desk phones: Ooma
• Best for global contact centers: 8x8
• Best for sales teams: Dialpad
• Best for low-volume calling: Zoom Phone
• Best for custom in-app calling solutions: Vonage
• Best for text-heavy business communications: OpenPhone

The best business phone services are packed with communication features that go beyond basic calling capabilities. From video conferencing to team chat, texting and automation, teams get everything they need, plus the flexibility to support remote and hybrid work environments.

For this buyer’s guide, I picked Nextiva as the overall top business phone service because it’s the best value for features and reliability. It’s versatile enough to support teams of all sizes in any work environment, and it delivers all the phone and communication tools you need under one roof.

Top business phone services comparison

Nextiva: Best overall and best business phone service

Lots of business phone systems shine for a particular use case or industry, but it’s rare to find one that’s so well-rounded and suited to fit nearly every situation, yet that’s exactly what Nextiva does.

Nextiva works for traditional office environments, hybrid teams and fully remote staff; you can even use it to set up a virtual call center. And, it works just as well whether you have five or 50 users.

From an admin standpoint, the initial setup and deployment of Nextiva is about as easy as it gets. You can onboard users in just a few clicks, and they can start using Nextiva from their existing computers and smartphones, so there’s no need to buy new or expensive phones.

As a user, you’ll have access to all the necessities plus powerful extras available from a sleek dashboard. You can field an incoming call while simultaneously messaging your team members and even pulling up a fax on the same screen.

It would be nice to have call recording and voicemail transcription available on lower-tier plans; also, you’ll need to upgrade for most integrations, including Salesforce, HubSpot and Zendesk. But overall, these minor flaws can be overlooked — Nextiva is a great deal no matter which way you slice it.

Recent updates to Nextiva

• Tons of usability upgrades for NextivaONE and NextOS.
• Caller ID verification on every inbound call.
• Set location and timezone of business contacts.
• Bulk import settings for admins when setting user preferences.
• Essential : Starts at $28.95 per user per month billed annually.
• Professional : Starts at $32.95 per user per month billed annually.
• Enterprise : Starts at $42.95 per user per month billed annually.
• Free trial available? Yes, Nextiva offers a free demo.

The Essential plan is more than enough for most small teams, but you’ll need to upgrade to access features like screen sharing, multi-level auto attendant, SMS/MMS and call recording.

Pros and cons

Who is Nextiva best for?

Nextiva is best for remote and hybrid teams that need to make outbound calls, handle incoming calls and collaborate internally from a single source of truth. It’s a complete unified communications as a service system that works really well for smaller businesses or teams of up to 100 users.

RingCentral: Best advanced features for growing companies

RingCentral is one of the most powerful business phone systems on the market. When you compare it side-by-side with Nextiva, it’s a close call, but most smaller teams won’t take advantage of RingCentral’s advanced capabilities.

As an all-in-one unified communications platform, RingCentral has everything you need to handle calls at scale while keeping your team connected.

The phone system comes with a multi-level auto attendant and IVR, AI-powered background noise cancellation, call queues, call recording, visual voicemail and shared lines — all on the entry-level plan. Plus, each user gets their own dedicated number, and you can choose between a local or toll-free option.

RingCentral’s team collaboration tools are just advanced. You’re getting unlimited video conferencing, AI meeting insights, live transcriptions, whiteboarding, collaborative notes and breakout rooms.

If you move up beyond the basic tier, you’ll unlock even more advanced capabilities, including live call monitoring, whisper and barge. There are plenty of add-ons and options to support advanced sales needs, like RingSense for Sales, which is the platform’s AI-powered sales intelligence suite.

Recent updates to RingCentral

• Real-time agent guidance for RingCX.
• AI-powered coaching, scoring and insights with RingSense for Sales.
• New events platform that supports virtual, hybrid and on-site events for up to 100,000 people.
• Core : Starts at $20 per user per month billed annually.
• Advanced : Starts at $35 per user per month billed annually.
• Ultra : Starts at $45 per user per month billed annually.
• Free trial available? Yes, a 14-days free trial is available.

Annual billing saves you up to 33% compared to RingCentral’s month-to-month prices. Also, volume discounts are available for teams with at least 100 users.

Who is RingCentral best for?

RingCentral is best for larger teams, typically between 100-999 users. Its base phone system plans are built to scale, and you can add features. Most businesses that use RingCentral never outgrow it.

Ooma: Best for teams that prefer traditional desk phones

Ooma is a solid business phone system that works best when it’s deployed in traditional office environments, especially if your team likes desk phones over smartphones and computers. Everything about Ooma is built to support the needs of small businesses; it’s easy to use, and Ooma comes with plenty of features that won’t make your head spin.

Ooma makes it a seamless transition for businesses that want to switch from a landline to a VoIP phone system. You can even keep your existing phones, and Ooma will work with plug-and-play adaptors.

If you do want to purchase new phones, no problem — all of Ooma’s hardware is pre-configured out of the box, so there’s no complex setup or need for IT support.

The calling features are somewhat limited compared to other phone systems on the market, but for small teams that just want a phone that works well, Ooma is sufficient.

Plus, Ooma comes with the tools you need to handle in-office communication, like intercom, overhead paging, a company directory, extension dialing and transfers.

Recent updates to Ooma

• New integration with Clio for legal practice management.
• New design and facelift to the Ooma desktop app.
• New feature to support “one-to-many messaging” for Ooma Office Pro Plus users.

Ooma’s three pricing plans don’t require contracts.

• Essentials : Starts at $19.95 per user per month.
• Pro : Starts at $24.95 per user per month.
• Pro Plus : Starts at $29.95 per user per month.
• Free trial available? No, Ooma does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

The Essentials plan does not include text messaging, video conferencing, call recording, voicemail transcription and even the Ooma desktop app, so you’ll need to start at the Pro tier to unlock those features.

If you want access to team chat, hot desking, CRM integrations and advanced call management tools, opt for Ooma’s Pro Plus plan.

Who is Ooma best for?

Ooma is best for smaller businesses where the entire company is based in a single office or one location. It’s the best option if your team prefers using traditional desk phones for inbound and outbound calling.

8x8: Best for global contact centers

8×8 is an enterprise-grade business phone system that’s packed with advanced features. Its unlimited calling to 14 countries is by far its most noteworthy standout, as no other system on my list offers anything close to this at the entry-level plan tier. For global teams that make lots of calls to even more locations, just upgrade one plan tier to access unlimited calling to 48 countries.

Plus, 8×8 supports audio and video conferences with up to 500 active participants. To put that into perspective, other plans limit you to just 25 participants or 100 participants on the first tier. And some cap your conferences at 200 users — even at the “enterprise” level.

You’re also getting team chat, SMS/MMS messaging and all the features you’d expect from a powerhouse business phone system.

Hot desking, multi-level auto attendant, presence detection, call queues, live streaming via YouTube, interactive meetings, unlimited internet fax and CRM integrations — these are all entry-level plan features. Managers will even have access to live monitoring, whisper and barge, which are almost never included as base plan features.

Recent updates to 8×8

• AI-powered meeting summaries and action items after calls.
• New integrations with Cognigy and MoEngage.
• Ability to send SMS and WhatsApp messages directly from CRMs.
• New call queues and ring groups for contact centers.

Pricing for 8×8 is not available online, so you will need to request a quote and a demo from the company’s sales team. There are five plans to choose from: two unified communications packages and three contact center plans.

Who is 8×8 best for?

8×8 is best for large organizations and contact centers that make and handle a high-volume of international calls. It also works really well for hosting large-sized meetings with hundreds of active participants.

Dialpad: Best for sales teams

Dialpad delivers unlimited calling, texting and team collaboration under one roof. Similar to other tools on my list, it’s great for inbound call handling, outbound dialing and team meetings.

But Dialpad really stands out for the way it’s integrating AI into nearly every feature. While AI is starting to creep into the way all business phone systems are powered, Dialpad is definitely leading the pack.

Real-time AI-generated transcripts are available on every plan, which is a nice perk for such a low entry-level price. As you upgrade your plan tier, you start to access even more AI capabilities, including advanced automation.

While these features can be useful for any business, they’re really helpful for high-volume outbound sales teams. Although more expensive than its base business communications platform, Dialpad sales-specific contact center packages with a price that’s easily justified when you consider what you’re getting.

You can access power dialers, AI-generated notes, live AI agent assistance, local number dialing, advanced coaching capabilities and much more. These features ensure your sales reps are more informed and close more deals, while spending less time on mundane admin tasks.

Recent updates to Dialpad

• Ability to set bulk holiday hours.
• CSAT scores for outbound calling if you have the add-on.
• A deep Siri integration for Apple users.

Here are the base pricing options for Dialpad’s business communication platform:

• Standard : Starts at $15 per user per month.
• Pro : Starts at $25 per user per month.
• Enterprise : Custom quote.

The low rates are somewhat deceiving, as you’ll need to upgrade to access advanced features. And even some basic features, like internet fax, cost extra.

So if you’re going to spend more money, it’s worth upgrading to Dialpad’s Sales Contact Center; those plans start at $60 per user per month.

Who is Dialpad best for?

Dialpad is best for high-volume calling, especially for outbound sales teams. If your business wants access to the latest and greatest AI and automation features, Dialpad has what you’re looking for.

Zoom Phone: Best for low-volume calling

All the business phone systems on my list offer unlimited calling; Zoom Phone offers this too, but you can also opt for metered rates if you’re a low-volume user. This is a great way to save money if the average user spends just eight minutes or less on outbound calls each day.

What’s also cool about Zoom Phone is the ability to mix and match plan types. For example, let’s say you need a phone system to accommodate 25 users, but just five of them make lots of calls, while the others barely touch the phone. You can easily set up your system so those five users are on an unlimited calling plan, and your low-volume users pay less for metered billing.

Zoom Phone falls on the more basic end of the spectrum compared to some of its advanced competitors, though you still have access to plenty of great features from a reliable provider. I especially like the ability to seamlessly transition a voice call into a Zoom meeting.

All plans come with call recording, hot desking and Salesforce integrations, which are normally reserved for mid-level plans or higher.

Recent updates to Zoom Phone

• Advanced IVR speech recognition settings.
• Improved call logs for both Zoom Phone and Contact Center.
• New Bullhorn CRM integration.
• Voicemail transcription in additional languages.
• US and Canada Metered : Starts at $10 per user per month.
• US and Canada Unlimited : Starts at $15 per user per month.
• Global Select : Custom pricing.
• Free trial available? No.

If you’re on the unlimited plan, you can add on international calling to 19 countries for just $10 per month. The Global Select plan gives you access to unlimited calling in one region from a list of 48 countries, which is nice if the majority of your team or customers is based internationally.

Who is Zoom Phone best for?

Zoom Phone is a great value for users who don’t spend a lot of time on the phone. It can also be appealing for international calling capabilities in select regions.

Vonage: Best for custom in-app calling solutions

Vonage has a basic unified communications system, which is fine for just one or two people who want to add a business line to their existing smartphone. You’ll get unlimited calling, SMS/MMS messaging, voicemail and a virtual receptionist — plus the ability to handle calls from your smartphone or desktop computer.

But these plans are pretty limited, and you’ll need to upgrade to access team collaboration features. Once you reach that price point, you get a much better, fully-featured phone system for either the same rate or less.

While its standard phone system pales in comparison to others, its standalone communication APIs are a great way to add calling capabilities to other software.

Let’s say you want to set up a virtual video meeting or appointment option from your website or mobile app — you can do this with the Vonage Video API. Or, maybe you want to add global calling capabilities built into your website or mobile app — Vonage’s Voice API has you covered.

You’ll need development resources to handle these things for you. But in the world of business communications, you can essentially build anything you want with the Vonage APIs.

The platform even makes it possible to verify and validate users worldwide. For example, you could send a text or voice verification code to users when they sign up or try to log into your financial app or healthcare app.

Recent updates to Vonage

• New virtual assistant applet.
• Menu enhancements for admins.
• Option for admins to report problems from the audit log.
• Supervisor call barging.
• Infrastructure refresh for Asia-Pacific region.
• New conversion analyzer feature.
• Mobile : Starts at $19.99 per line per month billed annually.
• Premium : Starts at $29.99 per line per month billed annually.
• Advanced : Starts at $39.99 per line per month billed annually.

You’ll need to start at the Premium tier to unlock basic team collaboration features. Call groups, visual voicemail and calling recording aren’t available until you reach the Advanced level.

Pricing for Vonage’s communication APIs is based on usage, starting at $0.0043 per minute.

Who is Vonage best for?

Vonage is good for two different scenarios. Its base phone system works for entrepreneurs or small teams that just need a basic business phone line. But Vonage’s communication APIs are its shining star, and these are best for businesses that want to embed custom calling capabilities into a website or app.

OpenPhone: Best for text-heavy business communications

OpenPhone is one of the more unique business phone systems on this list. While OpenPhone comes with basic call-handling capabilities, it’s really more of a business texting platform than anything else.

Sure, you can use it to dial outbound and receive as many calls as you want — unlimited. You’re also getting call recording, voicemail transcripts and the option to choose between a local or toll-free number. But in terms of calling capabilities, that’s really where it ends.

OpenPhone shines for its unlimited texting throughout the U.S. and Canada. You can set up AI-powered message replies, auto-responses and even scheduled messages at scale.

These work really well for outbound text campaigns or just any business that would rather text with their customers instead of call them. From appointment reminders to promo codes, there are tons of ways you can leverage this platform.

One really cool feature of OpenPhone is its unique ability for multiple team members to collaborate on the same text thread. This ensures your customers get a prompt response, they’re always being helped, and they’ll never know that they’re actually texting with more than one person.

The biggest drawback of OpenPhone is the calling capabilities aren’t really scalable. Even basic features, like the ability to put someone on hold or transfer a call, aren’t available on the entry-level plan.

Recent updates to OpenPhone

• AI contact creation suggestions.
• Automatic audio greeting with no option to leave a voicemail.
• Ability to forward calls during and after business hours.
• New Zapier Zap for marking conversions as done.
• Starter : Starts at $15 per user per month.
• Business : Starts at $23 per user per month.
• Enterprise : Custom pricing.
• Free trial available? Yes, a 7-days free trial is available.

There’s also a one-time fee of $19 to set up texting and an ongoing fee that ranges between $1.50 and $3 per month for texting.

Each plan comes with one phone number per user, and additional lines can be purchased for just $5 per month.

The entry-level Starter plan is capped at 10 users, so you’ll need to upgrade to a Business plan once you exceed that limit.

Who is OpenPhone best for?

OpenPhone is best for small teams that want to handle the majority of customer communication via texting instead of calling. If you’re handling a high volume of inbound or outbound calls, OpenPhone won’t work for you.

Methodology

I looked at dozens of business phone services before narrowing down the top eight providers. Then each of these top picks were evaluated based on the same criteria, including cost, features, collaboration and customer service.

While basic phone systems are fine for some use cases, I gave extra points to systems that came with more advanced capabilities.

• Standard and advanced features : Things like unlimited calling, voicemail, video conferencing and texting are all basic features. Others, like multi-level IVRs, AI-powered automation and call summaries, are a bit more advanced.
• Customer support : 24/7 phone and live chat support should be the standard, but it’s not. Beyond support hours and channels, I also assessed how helpful each provider’s customer service team is and if they actually solve problems quickly.
• Third-party integrations : You should be able to seamlessly integrate your business phone system with tools like CRM software, ERP software, fax systems, cloud storage and help desks.
• Security and privacy : You shouldn’t have to worry about your calls, messages or data being intercepted. The best business phone providers have multiple servers and data centers worldwide and perform regular audits on them. They also have high-level encryption, redundancy architecture, advanced account management tools and multi-factor authentication.
• Uptime percentage : Does the provider have an uptime guarantee or SLA? Any technical flaws or infrastructure issues could lead to unplanned outages or downtime.
• Demo or free trial : You should be able to test the system before buying it or committing to a contract.
• Overall cost : I assessed all the various fees, including cost per user, installation costs, differences between paying monthly or annually, discounts, optional hardware and more.

What you need to know about business phone services

How much does a business phone cost per month.

Business phone services powered by VoIP technology typically start at $10 to $25 per user per month. For more advanced features, expect to pay somewhere in the $20 to $40 range per user each month. On-premise PBX phone systems can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,500 per user to set up, plus an ongoing monthly fee of $20 to $50 per user.

What’s the benefit of a business phone system?

Modern business phone systems come with more than just the ability to make and receive calls. Most of these providers offer a unified communications suite, which gives you calling, texting, video conferencing and team collaboration tools all included in the same package.

What hardware do you need for a business phone system?

VoIP business phone systems don’t require any additional hardware. As long as you have a stable internet connection, the system can work using smartphones and computers to handle all incoming and outgoing calls. If you prefer to have traditional desk phones, you can purchase VoIP-enabled phones or just get an adapter to convert your existing phones into IP phones.

Do you need a separate phone for your business?

You can use a personal phone number as your business phone, but it’s not very professional. Aside from small side gigs, you should really have a separate line for your business activity. Even for solopreneurs, a business phone line is affordable and makes it easy to separate personal calls from business calls while maintaining a professional appearance with your clients.

Shopping tips from an expert

When you’re shopping around for a business phone system, it’s easy to get distracted by all the features and capabilities available from each provider. But narrow your focus on what you actually need right now — not what you might need in a year or two; otherwise, you’ll end up overpaying for a phone system that’s packed with features you’ll never use.

Take care of your most urgent needs right away. You can always upgrade or add extra features down the road.

Subscribe to the Daily Tech Insider Newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest in technology with Daily Tech Insider. We bring you news on industry-leading companies, products, and people, as well as highlighted articles, downloads, and top resources. You’ll receive primers on hot tech topics that will help you stay ahead of the game. Delivered Weekdays

• Nextiva vs RingCentral (2024): Which One is Best for Your Business?
• RingCentral vs Dialpad: Compare VoIP solutions
• Ooma vs RingCentral: Compare VoIP solutions
• 10 VoIP features that can benefit your small business
• What Is the Best Dialer for My Call Center?

Create a TechRepublic Account

Get the web's best business technology news, tutorials, reviews, trends, and analysis—in your inbox. Let's start with the basics.

* - indicates required fields

Sign in to TechRepublic

Lost your password? Request a new password

Reset Password

Please enter your email adress. You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password.

Check your email for a password reset link. If you didn't receive an email don't forgot to check your spam folder, otherwise contact support .

Welcome. Tell us a little bit about you.

This will help us provide you with customized content.

Want to receive more TechRepublic news?

You're all set.

Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye out for a confirmation email from our team. To ensure any newsletters you subscribed to hit your inbox, make sure to add [email protected] to your contacts list.