Print-on-demand is a way to sell custom, made-to-order products featuring your designs. For beginners, you design an item (like a t-shirt or mug), list it online, and a third-party printer makes and ships it when ordered. That eliminates upfront costs since nothing is printed until a sale happens, reducing your risk. In other words, you can launch with zero inventory, which is called how to start a print-on-demand business.
So if you’ve been wondering how to start a print-on-demand business, keep reading for the step-by-step breakdown. Meanwhile, is print-on-demand worth it? Can you make money with POD? The answer is yes, but it takes strategy. One Etsy seller, Cassiy Johnson, started her POD store in 2020 with only $50–$100. Within months, she made her first sales (even two on day one) and eventually replaced her 9-to-5 income in 18 months. That shows you can definitely make money with print-on-demand if you work it smartly.
Although profit margins tend to be slimmer than bulk manufacturing, they typically range around 10–30% (aiming for ~20% profit is a safe target). Even so, many find POD worth it because startup costs are minimal. For instance, platforms like Printful or Printify charge only when an order ships, so that you can experiment with little risk.
Pro Tip: Focus first on one niche or customer group (e.g., cat lovers, gamers). Specialized designs often sell better than broad, generic ones.
Choosing Your Niche and Products
For starters, finding the right niche (target audience) is crucial when learning how to start a print-on-demand business. Narrowing your focus helps you stand out. For example, Cassiy succeeded by selling matching “mom and me” shirts—she spotted customers already buying matching apparel and created her versions. Also, if you’re still figuring out how to start a print-on-demand business, remember: the niche you choose now will guide everything else.
Additionally, you should know the most popular print-on-demand products. Apparel and home goods often sell best. Some evergreen hits include:
- T-Shirts and Hoodies: Everyone wears them, from kids to adults. The global custom t-shirt printing market was $2.7 billion in 2024. Fun or niche graphics can boost your profit on these staples.
- Mugs and Drinkware: Custom mugs, water bottles, and tumblers are favourite gifts and impulse buys. They ship well and allow many creative designs (quotes, photos).
- Home Decor: Throw pillows, posters, and canvas art can feature personalized art or patterns. These can sell nicely if your niche fits (like pet portraits or travel themes).
- Accessories: Tote bags, phone cases, stickers, and hats also sell well. Their production costs are often lower, so you can set competitive prices.
A common question is how to start a print-on-demand business, and picking the right products and niche is step one. By choosing a narrow niche (e.g., “cat-lovers”) and focusing on a few product types, you can market more effectively.
Pro Tip: Start with 2–3 product types and expand after seeing what customers like. This will keep your costs manageable and help you focus on quality.
Platforms and Tools for Your POD Business
Next, decide where to sell. There are a few ways:
- Marketplace POD Platforms: Sites like Redbubble, Teespring (Spring), and Etsy let you sell POD items easily. You sign up (often for free) and upload designs; they handle printing and shipping. For example, Redbubble and Teespring have no monthly fees but take a cut of each sale. Etsy charges about $0.20 per listing plus a 6.5% transaction fee, but gives you access to a vast marketplace of shoppers.
- E-commerce Stores: Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce allow you to build your store. Shopify (around $30/month) is beginner-friendly. You’ll connect it to a POD service (like Printful or Printify). That costs more upfront, but you control your brand and keep the full price you set.
- Print-on-Demand Fulfilment: Printful, Printify, Gelato, and others integrate with marketplaces or your store. You create products there; they print and ship them when an order comes in. Compare them by product range, print quality, and shipping times. For instance, Printful is known for high-quality apparel, while Printify lets you pick from multiple print partners (often at lower cost).
- Design Tools: You don’t need to be a pro graphic designer. Free tools like Canva or GIMP help you make designs. Canva even offers POD mockup templates. For unique art, consider hiring a freelancer on Fiverr or Upwork (you can find good designs for $5–$20).
A common question is how to start a print-on-demand business, and picking between a marketplace or your own store is step one.
Pro Tip: Try at least two selling platforms. For example, list some designs on Redbubble (easy setup) and your Shopify store. Diversifying helps you reach more customers and see which platform works best for you.
Setting Up Your Store and Launching Products
Now, ready to roll? Here’s how to start a print-on-demand business step-by-step:
- Research Your Market: Look at competitors and trends in your niche. What designs and products sell well? Use Google Trends and Instagram hashtags to spot hot topics. Also read customer reviews on similar products to see what buyers like or want improved.
- Create Your Designs: Use a Canva or Adobe Spark tool to make eye-catching artwork. Keep resolution high (300 DPI) so prints are crisp. If design isn’t your strength, buy premade graphics or hire a designer.
- Set Up Your Shop:
- On Shopify/WooCommerce: Sign up for the platform and connect your POD app (Printful, Printify, etc.). Add your logo, write an “About Us,” and set up payment/shipping settings.
- On Marketplaces, create your seller account on Redbubble or Etsy (it’s quick and free to start). Upload your designs and choose products for each design.
- List Your Products: Write clear, friendly descriptions using keywords customers search for (e.g., “funny cat t-shirt gift”). Upload high-quality mockup images so shoppers see products clearly. Price your items by adding a markup on top of the base cost. Remember to factor in platform fees and advertising costs.
- Launch and Market: Share your new products on social media (Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok). For example, post a photo of someone wearing your custom shirt. Use relevant hashtags (#POD #sidehustle #onlineshop). You could also run a small Facebook or Instagram ad targeting your niche audience. Building an email list (via a signup popup or freebie) can help you send new designs to interested customers.
In addition, consistency is key. The first design might not go viral, but you’ll get traction over time if you keep adding new products regularly. Watch which listings get views or sales, and adjust accordingly. For example, if one t-shirt design sells well, offer it on a mug or hoodie too.
Pro Tip: Offer bundles or volume discounts (e.g. "Buy two shirts, get 10% off") to boost your average order value. Also, experiment with pricing: sometimes a $19.99 price converts better than $18.99, so test different points.
Startup Costs and Profit Margins
Starting a POD side hustle can be very cheap. Here’s a quick breakdown of typical costs:
- Store fees: Shopify Basic is ~$29/month (often with a trial). Etsy charges $0.20 per listing plus a 6.5% transaction fee. Redbubble and Teespring have no listing fees.
- Samples: It’s smart to order your samples to check print quality. Plan to spend $20–$50 on a few initial items.
- Designs: DIY is free using free tools. Hiring a designer can be $5–$50 per design.
- Marketing: You can start with free methods (social posts, SEO) and later pay for ads (even $5/day can drive extra traffic).
- Miscellaneous: Domain name (~$10/year) if you want a custom website URL.
Surprisingly, many POD beginners spend under $100 to test their first shop. For example, Cassiy Johnson launched her Etsy shop with about $50–$100. That shows you can start small when figuring out how to start a print-on-demand business without much risk.
Can you make money with print-on-demand? Yes, but watch your margins. For instance, if a shirt’s base cost is $12 and you sell it for $25, you make $13 before fees. After Etsy’s 6.5% cut and a small payment fee, maybe ~$10 profit per sale. That’s roughly a 40% margin, which aligns with industry norms (experts say ~20% profit is a safe target).
To boost profit: use quality designs that justify higher prices, and scale up volume. Also, focus on complementary products (if shirts sell well, add mugs or hoodies in the same design).
Pro Tip: Track every expense (including your time). Use a simple spreadsheet to calculate your break-even price (base cost + fees + marketing) and add at least 20% profit. Regularly review each product's performance—drop or improve low-sellers and invest in winners.
Marketing and Growth Strategies
Having a store is not enough; you must promote your POD business. Here are some tips:
- Social Media: Post consistently on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. Show your products being used (e.g., someone wearing your shirt). Use niche hashtags (like #fitnessshirt or #catmom) to reach your ideal customers.
- SEO and Content: If you have a blog or site, write helpful posts (e.g., “Gift Guide for Cat Lovers”). Include “how to start a print-on-demand business” in your content to attract other beginners. For example, write one blog post titled just that, which can attract motivated readers.
- Email Marketing: Collect emails (via a signup form or freebie) and send updates about new designs. Even a simple newsletter can turn visitors into buyers.
- Collaborations: Partner with micro-influencers in your niche. For example, send a free product to a niche blogger or Instagrammer for a review or shout-out.
- Retargeting Ads: If someone visits your site but doesn’t buy, a small Facebook/Google ad can remind them of what they saw. These ads often convert at a high rate.
Recognizing that marketing is as vital as product setup is another lesson for anyone learning how to start a print-on-demand business. Monitor performance using shop analytics: Which products get clicks? Which ads yield sales? Tweak accordingly.
Finally, when you have a few best-sellers, expand wisely. Add related products (e.g., if mugs sell, try coasters). But don’t spread yourself too thin—focus on customer service. Quick responses and clear shipping information build trust and lead to repeat sales.
Pro Tip: Meanwhile, keep learning. Free resources (blogs, YouTube tutorials) can show new strategies. Stay updated on trends (e.g. search "print on demand trends 2025") so your designs and marketing stay fresh.
Key Takeaways
- First, print-on-demand means you only print after a sale. This setup shows you how to start a print-on-demand business with minimal overhead.
- Second, you can make money with POD, but expect moderate profit margins. Treat it like a business: plan, price smartly, and market well.
- Popular products are often shirts, hoodies, mugs, and bags. Start in a niche you know and focus on those items.
- Startup costs can be very low. Many shop owners begin with under $100, using free design tools and social marketing to get early sales.
- Use the right tools: To boost SEO, add search phrases like “how to start a print-on-demand business” in your content. Also, try Printful or Printify for fulfilment, Shopify/Etsy for selling, and Canva for design. Test multiple platforms to see what works best.
Pro Tip: Always iterate. Try small ad budgets, tweak prices, and add fresh designs regularly. Customer feedback is gold—use it to refine your offerings.
Print-on-demand is a journey. With persistence and creativity, you can build a side hustle that grows into a steady income. Applying what you’ve learned here lets you know how to start a print-on-demand business and grow it over time.