21 Companies That Will Pay You to Write Greeting Cards (Hallmark Isn’t the Only Company!)

The process is very similar to submitting poems for money.

You submit your work and if they like it, you get paid.

Simple as that!

Get paid to submit your greeting cards

So, what companies can you pitch your ideas to?

Below we’ll list some of the best companies that pay you to write greeting cards for them.

1. Hallmark

• Submission form/page: http://corporate.hallmark.com/FAQs/FAQ-Inventors

Perhaps the most famous greeting card publisher, Hallmark doesn’t actually accept outside submissions.

They have their own in-house team of writers that write all of their greeting cards.

So, if you want to make money witting greeting cards for Hallmark, you will probably have to move to Kansas City, Mo. as the company is headquartered there.

The reason I am mentioning it on this list is because I know the first company most people think of when it comes to writing greeting cards for, is Hallmark.

So I wanted to answer the question of whether or not they accept freelance writers, which unfortunately they don’t. But we have more companies that do!

2. NobleWorks Cards

• Submission form/page: https://www.nobleworkscards.com/nobleworks-greeting-cards-submission-guidelines.html

When it comes to humorous cards, NobleWorks Cards is one of the top publishers.

If you can come up with funny greeting card messages, this is where you can make good money submitting your work.

Pay varies based on work.

3. American Greetings

• Submission form/page: http://corporate.americangreetings.com/contact.html

You’ve almost definitely heard of this big card company.

These guys don’t accept just anybody, though, so you’ll need to get in contact with them and arrange a formal exchange of ideas.

4. Smart Alex

• Submission form/page: http://www.smartalexinc.com/pages/artist_submissions/124.php

This is a greeting card company that targets the adult demographic, and they have a heavy preference for mature and topical cards.

That means your risque suggestions go here– though they do prefer that you keep it out of the “filthy” territory.

5. RSVP

• Submission form/page: http://www.creativersvp.com/reservations/

Like most other companies on this list, RSVP also published cards for any occasion – from holidays to birthdays, graduations, anniversaries and more.

They’re looking for writers who can write authentic, emotionally inspired, clever and original greeting card messages.

They also accept work from artists. So if you can draw and design original greeting card artwork, give them a try.

6. Moonlighting Cards

• Submission form/page: http://www.moonlightingcards.com

These guys occasionally run a contest that accepts written submissions.

Keep your eye out, and you could make an easy $25 for being accepted.

7. Shade Tree Greetings

• Submission form/page: http://media.wix.com/ugd/11d2b6_271fe81b6df24a5f86a27c21f659d65a.pdf

This one is a little different than the other ones. Here, you don’t get paid for writing, rather you get paid for submitting pictures!

You see, they have a category of cards known as “Actual Pictures” which are basically greeting cards with real pictures instead of drawings.

These pictures come from, you guessed it, people like you and me.

They like old family photos, especially unusual or funny ones.

If they accept and use your picture, they’ll send you a $100 gift certificate to CoolFunnyGifts.com.

8. Avanti Press

• Submission form/page: http://www.avantipress.com/submit/submissions/writing-submission

A pretty large distributor of cards, Avanti Press has unfortunately filled all their positions.

But they’re on this list because they’re accepting work for future contributors, so you should definitely send over a work sample while you’re at it.

9. Gallant Greetings

• Submission form/page: http://www.gallantgreetings.com/contact.cfm

Another company that is accepting future considerations.

Make sure you keep a copy of your submission as they do not send you the original back. This actually goes for every company – always have a back up of your work.

10. ComStock

• Submission form/page: http://comstockmarketplace.com/guidelines.php

An adult-focused company, ComStock pays $50 for accepted submissions.

Artists make a varied wage.

This company seems to be a bit raunchier than Smart Alex.

11. Calypso Cards

• Submission form/page: https://www.calypsocards.com/AboutUs/Submissions

Calypso Cards is a company that sells “sophisticated, contemporary and innovative” greeting cards.

They work with freelance artists, illustrators and ghostwriters to create original artwork.

You can submit work for all kinds of occasions, including:

• Birthday
• Thank you
• Anniversary
• Wedding, Baby, Sympathy,
• Get Well
• Friendship
• Valentine’s Day
• Christmas
• Thanksgiving
• New Year
• and more.

I couldn’t find any information about the pay but I am sure they’ll let you know once they accept your submission.

12. FineArtAmerica (formerly JQ Greetings)

• Submission form/page: https://fineartamerica.com/registrationartiststep1.php?newregistration=true

When the company was under JQ Greetings name, they used to accept submissions and pay writers directly, but after merging with Fine Art America, things have changed.

since the change, things have changed. Fine Art America is basically a fine art platform where you can create and sell your own customized artwork including greeting cards.

13. P.S. Greetings

• Submission form/page: http://www.psg-fpp.com/creative_guidelines.htm

Enclose a SASE when you apply here! These guys only accept submissions through mail.

They also have an emphasis on Christmas cards, so keep that in consideration.

No word on their payment, as it changes per-person.

14. Viabella

• Submission form/page: https://www.viabella.com/links/Submission_Guidelines.pdf

Viabella accepts submissions for all holidays and occasions including humor. They have a lengthy review process that can take 3-6 weeks.

Pay varies based on work.

15. Blue Mountain Arts

• Submission form/page: http://www.sps.com/help/writers_guidelines.html

This is a more family-friendly greeting card company that has an emphasis on interpersonal relationships.

They accept email and snail mail, but one important note: no rhyming poetry!

16. Freedom Greetings

• Submission form/page: http://freedomgreetings.com/about/workingforfreedom.php

The website doesn’t offer much information, except that they are interested in submissions.

We can’t tell you much more than that, but it is worth sending over a sample while you’re applying to the other sites.

17. Oatmeal Studios

• Submission form/page: http://oatmealstudios.com/html5/pages/writers_guide.html

This company tries to cover a wide variety of demographics. I couldn’t find how much they pay, but they are definitely accepting original submissions.

18. Shoebox Cards

• Submission form/page: http://www.shoeboxblog.com/Freelance/Rules.html

Shoebox has a particular request: not to send more than eight submissions at once!

Other than that, they are currently accepting. Shoebox is now a subunit of Hallmark cards, but you can email the submission director about freelance submissions.

19. Card Gnome

• Submission form/page: https://www.cardgnome.com/sell

Card Gnome is sort of like eBay or Etsy for greeting cards. You submit the design, they handle everything else from customization to printing the actual cards, shipping and payments.

The best part is that you can earn loyalty for the same card over and over again, each time someone buys it.

20. It Takes Two

• Submission form/page: http://ittakestwo.com/artists.html

They’re pretty explicit about being an in-house operation, but word is that they may accept submissions if you email them discreetly.

21. Ephemera

• Submission form/page: http://www.ephemera-inc.com/writers-guidelines

We’ll end with Ephemera, a company that is more focused on merchandise like stickers than it is with greeting cards.

Don’t let that dissuade you, though: you can make an easy $50 if your idea is accepted for their products.

Guidelines

Remember, no matter who you’re submitting to, there will be submission guidelines!

Some companies post them right on the site, and others ask you to email them.

Don’t be afraid to email – it is always important to follow these instructions.

What about small companies?

Yes, you can submit to smaller companies.

If you know of any companies that aren’t on the list, you should still feel free to approach them.

In fact, there should even be less competition if you do.

Either approach a local business or make a quick Google search for “Greeting Card Jobs.”

Greeting card writer salary:

So how much money can you really make writing greeting cards?

Well, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average greeting card writer salary is somewhere around $70,000.

With the companies listed above, freelance or non-contracted writers/artists can earn from $50 for an idea all the way up to $300.

Obviously, the better you are at it and the more you write, the more you make.

Now, the above list doesn’t contain all the information for payment on greeting cards. There is a pretty serious rate of variance with payment, anywhere from just a few bucks to a few hundred.

Final thoughts

In this field, originality is key.

But at the same time, you probably won’t find much success by pitching your wildest ideas. Somewhere in-between is ideal.

Study what other people are doing, and study specific to the niche you are submitting to.

Your dirty jokes might fly for one company, but they’ll offend the next company over.

Likewise, your poems about friendship are not going to appeal to the raunchy joke people.

It’s all about giving them something like what they’re selling, but with your personal twist.

There is pretty much a surefire chance that you’ll get at least one acceptance if you’re studying the market and putting your originality into it.

Just like any other creative writing jobs, such as video game writing jobs, writing and submitting greeting cards for money is also a matter of playing your cards right!