How To Make Phone Cases in 2025: A Complete Business Guide

Learn how to start a profitable phone case business with our step-by-step guide covering sourcing, design, pricing, and marketing strategies.

Phone cases appeal to people looking to personalize their device or add functionality to the gadget they use throughout the day.

Starting a phone case business offers several advantages. These accessories are compact, making them easy to store and ship. With Americans replacing their phones every three years, there’s a steady stream of new sales opportunities. You can also keep overhead low, especially when working with a print-on-demand supplier that eliminates inventory management.

Learn how to make phone cases, where to source materials, and the best places to sell them.

Is a phone case business profitable?

A phone case business can be a profitable way to make money online. With a 3.3% compound annual growth rate, phone cases maintain consistent demand. By 2029, the mobile phone case market is expected to reach $13.6 billion.

Profit margins for phone cases typically range from 40% to 200%. Their durability adds to their profitability, with fewer damages during storage and shipping. Their small, lightweight nature also means lower shipping costs that won’t eat into your profits.

You can further boost profitability by choosing an inventory-free business model like dropshipping or print-on-demand.

How to start your phone case business

1. Find your niche
2. Select phone case type
3. Pick your phone models
4. Decide how you’ll source your phone cases
5. Choose a business name
6. Legally establish your business
7. Set your prices
8. Develop a business plan
9. Design phone cases
10. Figure out your approach to inventory
11. Create your online store
12. Market your business

Use this step-by-step guide to launch your phone case business:

1. Find your niche

To stand out in a competitive market, you need to find a niche for your business. Consider:

Skills and interests

Your unique talents can shape your business direction. You might have crafting skills to create cases from unconventional materials, or artistic abilities to hand-draw custom designs.

Market gaps

Identifying gaps in the market helps establish your position among competitors. Andrew Moore, founder of Felony Case, started his business after noticing iPhone users had limited options: flimsy cases from mall kiosks or expensive protective cases from official Apple partners. He filled this gap by creating stylish cases with solid drop protection.

Target audience

Know who will buy your phone cases and what they want. Wildflower Cases targets fashion-conscious teens, which informs their pricing, design choices, marketing channels, and influencer partnerships.

2. Select phone case type

Phone cases can prioritize either protection or aesthetics. Here are common types to consider for your business:

Slim gel cases

These lightweight cases offer basic protection against scratches while providing extra grip through flexible silicone material. They’re an affordable way for customers to personalize their devices.

Velvet Caviar sells complementary accessories like grip rings and chain charms to enhance its gel cases.

Source: Velvet Caviar

Bumper cases

These cases protect the phone’s edges with harder, shock-resistant materials to guard against drops and impacts. Some include additional backing for scratch protection.

Evolved highlights practical benefits on their product pages, such as wireless charging compatibility and slim profiles that won’t add bulk.

Source: Evolved

Folio or wallet cases

Folio cases feature a folding cover that protects the screen from dust and scratches, resembling a small notebook. Some include wallet functionality for storing cards or cash, while others have built-in stands. These typically use leather-like materials and command higher prices.

Hand and Hide offers specialized wallet cases, including left-handed versions and dual phone holders.

Source: Hand and Hide

Battery cases

While more expensive than other options, battery cases solve a common frustration by extending phone usage between charges.

Luxylemon effectively markets these cases by highlighting their benefits during long commutes, emergencies, or situations where power outlets aren’t accessible.

Source: luxylemon

3. Pick your phone models

If you manufacture your own cases, you’ll need to decide which models to support based on market research from your target audience.

Common phone models to consider include:

• iPhone models. This includes iPhone 8, iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 min, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Plus. The regular iPhones 14, 15, and 16 account for almost half of iPhone sales.

• Samsung Galaxy models. Galaxy S, Galaxy A, Galaxy F, Galaxy M, and Galaxy Z are some of the most popular models.

• Xiaomi models. Models include Mi 9, Mi 10, Mi 11, Xiaomi 11, and Xiaomi 12.

Alternatively, consider a print-on-demand business model to avoid inventory risks.

4. Decide how you’ll source your phone cases

Regardless of your business model, you’ll need to source phone cases. Here are three options:

Use a print-on-demand service

Selling on demand reduces your margins but eliminates shipping and fulfillment. You won’t need to keep inventory on hand. If you’re selling phone cases in a Shopify store, print-on-demand apps integrate with your online storefront, so you can focus on making sales.

A few print-on-demand manufacturers include:

• Podbase. Offers custom phone case creation with 24-hour printing.

• Gelato. Provides print-on-demand services for various products, including different phone case types.

• Printify. Lets you customize phone cases and other products quickly.

Find a manufacturer

Finding a manufacturer to create your phone cases requires more effort than print-on-demand but can maximize your profits. While you’ll need to meet minimum order quantities and buy in bulk, you can potentially offer better prices and earn more each sale.

DIY

Creating your own phone cases gives you complete creative control. Artist Bailey Hikawa, for example, makes each case by hand, pouring silicone into sculptural molds. Her cases are unique art pieces with premium pricing to match.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BAILEY HIKAWA (@baileyhikawa)

5. Choose a business name

Your business name tells your audience who you are, reflecting your brand identity.

Shopify’s AI Business Name Generator can help you find a fitting name for your phone case brand. Simply provide a description—like your location or types of cases you sell—and the tool will generate several options.

Before committing to a name, check its availability on social media, as a domain name, and within your state’s business entity database (typically through your local Secretary of State’s office).

6. Legally establish your business

Your location and business type will determine how you register your business. As a solopreneur, you might choose between a sole proprietorship and an LLC. An LLC involves more paperwork but better protects your personal assets.

US-based businesses should obtain an employer identification number (EIN) from the IRS. You may also need to register with local and state government agencies.

7. Set your prices

Use these standard pricing models to determine retail prices for your phone cases:

1. Add your variable costs per product (cost of goods sold, packaging, shipping, etc.).

2. Assign a value to your time and estimate how much time you’ll spend per product.

3. Add your fixed costs (overhead expenses like rent).

4. Divide by the average number of products you expect to sell monthly.

5. Add your desired profit margin (consider market standards).

8. Develop a business plan

A business plan provides direction for your phone case business. Include these key elements:

• Company description. Summarize your business, goals, model, structure, vision, mission, and value proposition.

• Market research. Include insights about strengths, opportunities, market size, and competition.

• Ideal customer. Create an ideal customer profile detailing location, interests, income, and values.

• Services. List your offerings and pricing strategies.

• Marketing plan. Your marketing plan should outline how you’ll promote your phone case shop.

9. Design phone cases

Your designs help you stand out and showcase your creativity. Consider these design approaches:

Use a print-on-demand platform

These platforms let you drag and drop graphics, text, and stock photos for your designs. Some include built-in AI image generators. Printify, for example, connects users to Fiverr for hiring freelance designers and allows template saving.

Source: Printify

Work with designers and artists

Communities like Dribbble are excellent for finding designers aligned with your vision. For cost-effective options, explore freelance marketplaces like Fiverr. Partner with designers who can create distinctive visuals that set your phone cases apart.

Decorate your own phone cases

Some sellers take a hands-on approach, drawing directly on cases or adding embellishments like beads and trinkets. Pinkiimoons, for instance, creates custom 3D phone cases using silicone cream and charms to craft unique designs.

10. Figure out your approach to inventory

Phone cases are compact, but you still need an inventory management plan. Options include:

• Creating a designated space in your home

• Leasing warehouse space

• Using dropshipping to have a third-party supplier fulfill orders under your brand

11. Create your online store

Building your own online store gives you maximum control and helps establish customer trust. “Our website and retailers have been the two biggest sources of traffic and sales,” says Felony Case founder Andrew Moore. “[Customers] want to find your website directly just to validate the brand.”

Shopify makes it easy to create a website without coding or design skills. Choose from preset themes in the Shopify Theme Store and customize with your branding, fonts, colors, and layout.

Enhance functionality with Shopify apps. For example, use Shopify Marketplace Connect to integrate your catalog with platforms like Etsy and Amazon, or connect to social selling channels like Facebook.

12. Market your business

Promote your phone cases across different channels to expand your audience:

Search engine optimization (SEO)

SEO helps you reach people searching for phone cases for specific smartphones. Target relevant search terms in your product descriptions and blog content to increase website traffic. Use keyword research tools like Ahrefs to identify effective keywords.

Social media marketing

Social content is crucial for phone case businesses. As Wildflower Cases president Dave Carlson notes on Shopify Masters, “We are a content creation company that happens to make phone cases.” Short-form videos can be a great way to showcase your phone cases in action.

Word of mouth

Don’t underestimate the power of customer recommendations. If your customers love your phone cases, ask them to leave reviews you can use as testimonials in your marketing (with permission).

Phone case business FAQ

How do I start a phone case business?

1. Find your niche.

2. Select phone case type.

3. Pick your phone models.

4. Decide how you’ll source your phone cases.

5. Choose a business name.

6. Legally establish your business.

7. Set your prices.

8. Develop a business plan.

9. Design phone cases.

10. Figure out your approach to inventory.

11. Create your online store.

12. Market your business.

Are phone cases good for dropshipping?

Phone cases make excellent dropshipping products because they’re 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 inventory yourself.

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

Starting a phone case business requires more time investment than money. You can start a free trial with Shopify and import phone cases from dropshipping suppliers at no upfront cost. You only pay for items when customers place orders.

Can a 3D printer make phone cases?

A 3D printer can create phone cases, but since printing a single case can take several hours, it’s not ideal for high-volume businesses.

What is the best material to make a cell phone case out of?

Common phone case materials include polycarbonate (PC), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and silicone. PC offers durability, TPU provides flexibility, and silicone is lightweight. The best choice depends on which qualities you want to prioritize in your designs.