It’s already difficult for a beginner to start selling online. But then, imagine setting up an online store without worrying about inventory, warehouse space, or even upselling a product.
For most people, this is the dream for the year! And I’m not here to wake anyone up from this dream, but to show you exactly what a print-on-demand business model is all about, and how you can start and own one.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know and practically walk you through the process of starting a successful print-on-demand business in 2025.
What is Print-on-Demand?
Print-on-demand (POD) is a business model that enables you to sell custom-designed products without maintaining any inventory.
This practically means that a seller doesn’t need to purchase stock upfront and store it in a warehouse. Instead, items are only produced when a customer places an order.
This approach is beginner-friendly because it eliminates the financial risk of holding unsold products.
In fact, Print-on-demand operates on a simple premise: you design a product, upload it to an e-commerce platform, and promote it to potential customers. When someone buys the product, a third-party fulfillment partner handles the printing, packaging, and shipping on your behalf.
Oh yeah! you get’em work for you, and pay you for each sale after deducting production costs.
And you can design and sell anything including:
- T-shirts, hoodies, and other apparel
- Mugs, water bottles, and tumblers
- Phone cases and tote bags
- Posters, wall art, and books
The limit is endless. The only criterion is that you have a niche your products cater to.
Why is Print-on-Demand So Popular?
Print-on-demand has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry, and its popularity isn’t just a passing trend.
In fact, this market was valued at $6.25 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 25.6%, reaching $59 billion by 2032. This means that a lot of sites are being sold, and a lot of buyers have their debit cards at hand waiting to make a purchase.
But do you know why this side hustle model is so popular? Let’s take a look…
Low Start-Up Costs
The first noticeable reason why side hustlers jump into this business model is because it offers low start-up costs.
Unlike traditional retail businesses where you are often required to invest thousands of dollars in upfront inventory, POD allows you to launch with minimal investment.
Basically, all you need is an idea, access to design tools, and a platform to sell your products.
The interesting part of it is that most of these tools and platforms offer a free tier to beginners so you can try print-on-demand business without investing money at the initial stage.
Customizable and Personal
Did you know that shoppers believe retailers need to do more to offer personalized experiences?
In fact, according to a study published by retailtouchpoints, 36% of consumers expect personalized options when shopping online. And Print-on-demand offers just that.
You can create a customer mug with a favorite quote, or even a t-shirt featuring their pet’s photo and sell it to them.
Eco-Friendly and Sustainable
If you were to go the traditional way of printing, like having your own printing machines, you would find out that most of the times, It often lead to overproduction and waste.
Print-on-demand reduces this environmental impact by producing items only when they’re ordered. This appeals to eco-conscious shoppers who value sustainability.
Flexibility & Global Reach
Whether you’re a full-time entrepreneur or a side hustler, POD gives you the freedom to work on your terms and sell to a global market.
You can decide to sell your products on Etsy and Amazon and stand a high chance of reaching millions of shoppers around the world.
Also, you don’t need to worry about fulfillment because your partners handle international shipping, making it possible to scale your business quickly.
Key Features of Print-on-Demand
Print-on-demand (POD) offers features that cater to creativity, flexibility, and accessibility.
- On-Demand Production: The standout feature of POD is its “made-to-order” approach. Products are manufactured only when an order is placed.
- Wide Range of Product Options: Print-on-demand supports a variety of product categories. This makes it easy to tailor your offerings to your target audience’s interests and needs.
- Integration with E-Commerce Platforms: Most print-on-demand providers integrate seamlessly with popular e-commerce platforms to automate the process of listing products, managing orders, and tracking inventory.
- Minimal Risk: Since you’re not investing in inventory upfront, the financial risk associated with POD is significantly lower than with traditional business models.
- Profit Margins and Pricing Flexibility: While profit margins in POD can range from 15% to 60%, you have control over pricing your products.
- Reliance on Fulfillment Partners: POD businesses rely on third-party providers for production, packaging, and shipping.
How to Start a Print-on-Demand Business as a Beginner
Starting a print-on-demand (POD) business anywhere in the world is easier than you think. You only need the right tools, approach, and plan to succeed in it.
Step 1: Researching Your Niche
The foundation of any successful business is a well-defined niche. You need to target the right audience, so sticking to a niche is compulsory.
But what exactly is a niche?
For newcomers, a niche in e-commerce is a specific market segment you target. For example; dog lovers, fitness enthusiasts, or fans of minimalist art.
This market segment already has buyers who are interested In the products you are selling.
But what niche is profitable? And how do you find them?
A niche is profitable if:
- It interests you
- Has high demand
- Less competitive.
To find a perfect niche for your POD business, start with your interests. Find what hobbies, communities, or causes you are passionate about and find out if there are other people interested in them.
For example, if your interest is around “Dog Breeds”, you will need to start by researching the market demand for that niche.
Plug in the keyword into Ubersuggest to reveal some metrics.
While this tool is primarily for keyword research, people searching for dog breeds are dog lovers and might be interested in buying designs about their favorite pets.
The purpose of using Ubersuggest is to find out if there is a search volume for that niche. As you can see from the search above, there are over one million people searching for that keyword globally. That’s a good one.
Next is to evaluate the competition. Now, you need to look at established POD stores within your niche. Identify gaps in their offerings that you could fill.
For example, the brand “Classic Dad” carved out its niche by focusing on humorous dad-themed products, which set them apart.
Once you identify your niche, validate it by ensuring there’s demand. Create a buyer persona and keep their preferences in mind as you design products.
Step 2: Choosing the Right POD Platform
Have you already found your niche? the next step is choosing a Print-On-Demand platform, and trust me, this is the backbone of your business.
A POD platform is where your designs live, and where orders are processed. They are the ones to print your designs on items and ship those items to your customers when they make a purchase.
Now, with so many options available, choosing the best one might be a little challenge. You must consider what the platform offers, including whether or not they have the items you plan to sell.
POD platforms like Printful offer a wide range of products from clothing to mugs, bags, phone cases, etc.
Other things you should consider are:
- Pricing: Compare base costs, shipping fees, and profit margins.
- Integration: Check if the platform works with your preferred e-commerce website.
For beginners, Etsy + Printful is a popular combination due to its user-friendly interface and robust features.
Step 3: Designing Your Products
Now comes the fun part—designing your products! This is where you showcase your creative skills.
Pintful offers an easy-to-use interface that allows you to create any design. You can upload your customer designs, or create one using texts, or pre-made templates.
Although it doesn’t have the best design tools just yet, you can design any kind of design in Canva, and upload it to the platform.
Canva is a free graphics design tool that allows you to create your POD designs for free!
To use this free design tool, head over to canva.com and jump on any template that looks appealing to you. Once your design is ready, Head over to ‘Printful > product templates > Create product‘ and upload it.
When designing your POD products, it is important to focus on trends and emotions that resonate with your niche (e.g., uplifting quotes, humor, or nostalgia). Use simple, bold graphics and text that are easy to read.
If design isn’t your strong suit, consider hiring freelance designers on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork. Provide them with a clear creative brief outlining your ideas, target audience, and product requirements.
Step 4: Setting Up Your Online Store
Print-on-demand is an e-commerce business model, so, as soon as your products are ready, you need to set up a store to sell them.
Setting up an online store is an easy process. Just choose an e-commerce platform and set up your seller account.
Printful offers easy integration for 20 e-commerce platforms including WooCommerce, Shopify, Etsy, and Amazon.
For beginners, you might not need to build a store from the ground up. All you need is to sign up for a seller account on Etsy or Amazon because these platforms already have millions of buyers.
But if you want a stand-alone under your customer domain name, I recommend you to get a hosting plan and build a WooComerce store!
Once your store is ready, it’s time to connect it to Printful.
Open your Printful dashboard and click on ‘store > choose platform’ to pick your preferred platform.
Printful has well-written documentation on how to connect these stores. Be sure to follow them.
Step 5: Marketing Your POD Business
Once your store is live, your next challenge is driving traffic and turning visitors into customers.
This is usually difficult for beginners. But, since you have a niche, you already know our target audience. And the job is halfway done.
There are several effective marketing strategies for beginners, and here are the most effective ones:
- Social Media Marketing: Build a presence on platforms where your audience hangs out. Instagram and Pinterest are great for visual products, while Facebook is ideal for community engagement.
- Influencer Partnerships: Collaborate with influencers in your niche to showcase your products. Micro-influencers often have engaged audiences and are cost-effective.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimize your product titles, descriptions, and tags with relevant keywords. Use tools like eRank to target specific terms that customers are searching for.
- Email Marketing: Create a mailing list to send updates, promotions, and new product announcements. Platforms like Mailchimp make this easy to set up.
- Paid Advertising: If your budget allows, invest in Facebook or Google ads to target specific audiences and drive traffic to your store.
One of the most cost-effective marketing strategies is content creation. Start a blog or YouTube channel to share useful tips, product showcases, or behind-the-scenes stories that resonate with your audience.
Is Print-on-Demand Right for You?
Print-on-demand is an exciting opportunity for creative entrepreneurs, but is it the right fit for you?
If you’re looking for a business model with low start-up costs, minimal risk, and flexibility, then POD might be a perfect choice. It’s especially suited for individuals who:
- Enjoy creative pursuits like graphic design or photography.
- Want to work from home or create a side hustle.
- Are willing to learn and adapt in a competitive market.
However, success in POD requires patience, consistency, and a willingness to face challenges like competition and reliance on third-party providers.
If you’re ready to put in the effort, the potential for growth and profitability is well worth it.
FAQs
What is print-on-demand?
Print-on-demand (POD) is a business model where products are created only after a customer places an order. This eliminates the need for inventory and upfront investment in stock.
How much money do I need to start a POD business?
Starting a POD business requires minimal investment. You’ll need funds for your e-commerce platform subscription (e.g., Shopify), design tools (if needed), and marketing. You can start with as little as $100–$300.
Which platform is best for POD?
Shopify and Printful are popular choices due to their seamless integration, ease of use, and scalability. However, Etsy is also a great option if you want access to an existing marketplace.
How long does it take to make money with POD?
The timeline varies depending on factors like your niche, marketing efforts, and product quality. Some entrepreneurs see sales within weeks, while others may take months to build momentum.
What are the most profitable POD products?
Popular and profitable POD products include t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, phone cases, and wall art. Personalized items tend to perform exceptionally well.
Can I run a POD business part-time?
Yes, print-on-demand is flexible enough to be run as a part-time venture. Many entrepreneurs start as side hustles and transition to full-time once they achieve consistent sales.
Conclusion
Print-on-demand is changing the way entrepreneurs approach e-commerce. With its low-risk, flexible model, it has opened the doors to creativity and entrepreneurship for millions of people worldwide.
This business approach involves printing a design on a product and selling it to millions of buyers around the world.
It is lucrative, however, the key to success is focusing on niche markets, leveraging creative designs, and using effective marketing strategies.
So, what’s your thoughts on this? are you going to start a print-on-demand business or are you just going to find another side hustle? Let me know in the comment section below.
