How Riya Made ₹15,000/Month Using Canva Without Any Degree (And How You Can Too)!

In a world where traditional degrees are no longer the only path to success, many young people are discovering creative ways to earn money online. One such person is Riya, a 22-year-old college dropout who turned her free time and basic design skills into a steady income of ₹15,000/month — using nothing but Canva and a little hustle.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s possible to earn from home without advanced skills or investment, this story is for you. In this article, we’ll take you through Riya’s exact step-by-step journey so you can learn how to start your own income stream using Canva — even if you’re an absolute beginner.

Step 1: Discovering Canva — The Free Design Tool Anyone Can Use

Riya didn’t have any background in graphic design. She was simply someone who spent a lot of time online, especially on Instagram. One day, while watching a YouTube video about “ways to earn online without investment,” she came across a mention of Canva — a free online tool that allows anyone to create beautiful graphics using drag-and-drop features.

Intrigued, Riya visited www.canva.com and created a free account. Within minutes, she saw thousands of ready-made templates for Instagram posts, YouTube thumbnails, business flyers, and more.

She started experimenting. First, she tried making an Instagram quote post using a pre-designed template. She changed the text, added her own colors, and downloaded the image — all within 10 minutes.

💡 Beginner Tip: Canva has templates labeled clearly — “Instagram Post,” “YouTube Thumbnail,” “Poster,” etc. Just click and edit the text, image, or colors. No technical skills needed!

Step 2: Practicing and Building a Sample Portfolio

Riya didn’t wait to get clients. Instead, she decided to build her confidence by practicing with sample designs. Over the next 7 days, she created 10 graphics for different imaginary businesses:

A bakery: A poster announcing “20% off on cupcakes”
A boutique: An Instagram carousel showing new dress arrivals
A coaching center: A flyer for “Maths Crash Course”
A YouTube gamer: A click-worthy thumbnail with bold text
A digital marketer: A set of motivational quote posts

After designing, she downloaded all the images and uploaded them to a Google Drive folder. This folder became her free online portfolio — something she could easily share with potential clients.

💼 Portfolio Tip: Create a Google Drive folder named “YourName Design Portfolio.” Add your best 8–10 designs, and make the folder shareable with a public link.

Step 3: Finding Clients Through Free Facebook Groups

Many people make the mistake of waiting until they feel “perfect” before approaching clients. Riya took action early. She joined Facebook groups where small business owners and content creators hang out.

Some examples of these groups:

“Freelancers and Startups India”
“YouTubers & Content Creators Help Group”
“Small Business Support India”

She didn’t spam these groups. Instead, she introduced herself politely:

“Hi! I design social media posts and thumbnails using Canva. If anyone needs affordable graphics to improve their Instagram or YouTube page, I’d love to help. Here’s a link to my sample work: [Google Drive Link].”

The first few days were slow, but on Day 4, someone messaged her asking for a YouTube thumbnail. She charged ₹300 and delivered it within a few hours. The client loved her work and referred her to a friend. This simple post led to her first two clients.

🤝 Client Tip: Start with lower rates like ₹300 per design, but always deliver quality. Ask happy clients to refer you or give a short testimonial.

Step 4: Offering Monthly Packages and Increasing Earnings

As she gained confidence, Riya realized that instead of one-time orders, she could offer monthly packages to regular clients. Here’s how she positioned her services:

₹1,000/month for 5 Instagram post designs
₹1,500/month for 6 YouTube thumbnails
₹2,000/month for a complete monthly content pack (Instagram + YouTube + Flyers)

She messaged her previous clients and posted updated offers in more Facebook groups. By the second month, she had 5 clients — two Instagram business pages, two YouTubers, and one boutique owner.

With 5 clients paying between ₹1,000 to ₹3,000 monthly, she reached a consistent ₹15,000/month income — working just 2–3 hours a day from home.

💸 Pricing Tip: Offer value packs. Most clients prefer predictable monthly content over one-time posts. It also helps you secure regular income.

Step 5: Managing Work, Communication, and Time

One reason Riya succeeded is that she kept her process simple and efficient:

Used Canva Free Version for all designs
Shared files through Google Drive
Communicated with clients on WhatsApp or Instagram DMs
Delivered 2–3 designs within 24 hours
Asked for branding colors, examples, or text before starting

This method helped her avoid stress, maintain client satisfaction, and save time.

⏱️ Pro Tip: Always save designs in separate folders for each client. Use consistent colors and fonts to make their brand look professional.

What Tools Did Riya Use?

You don’t need expensive software or paid tools to start. Here’s the exact toolkit Riya used:

Tool	Purpose
Canva (Free)	To design social media graphics
Google Drive	To store and share designs
WhatsApp & Instagram	To communicate with clients
Facebook Groups	To find potential clients
YouTube	To learn Canva design tricks and tips

All of this is 100% free and easily accessible to anyone with a smartphone or laptop.

Can You Do This Too? Absolutely!

If you’re:

A student
A homemaker
Someone between jobs
Or simply looking for side income

…then you can follow the same path Riya did, using just free tools and basic skills.

Here’s a quick checklist to get started:

✅ Sign up on Canva.com
🎨 Create 8–10 sample designs using free templates
📁 Upload them to a public Google Drive folder
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Join Facebook groups for freelancers, creators, and business owners
📢 Post your services with your portfolio link
✍️ Deliver quality work, ask for reviews, and slowly increase your rates