Sell custom products without inventory
Discover how to make money on Shopify with 12 exciting business ideas. From launching a store to building apps or becoming an expert, there are plenty of ways to cash in. If you’re a creator, marketer, or problem-solver – there’s an opportunity waiting just for you.
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1. Open a print-on-demand store
With Print on Demand, anyone can launch an eCommerce store without worrying about inventory or storage space. Simply design, create, and sell products to customers worldwide through Shopify.
This beginner-friendly, low-investment approach lets you personalize a wide range of products. Sell funny t-shirts, customize pet items, or design your own backpack collection. It’s perfect for all types of entrepreneurs.
Once you make a sale, your supplier handles everything else – inventory management, printing, packaging, and shipping – leaving you free to focus on your creative vision.
Ready to open an online store? Learn how to start a print-on-demand business with our guide.
2. Start a Shopify dropshipping business
Dropshipping is an order fulfillment method where an entrepreneur purchases products from a dropshipping supplier as needed. These suppliers offer clothing, home decor, and even beauty products.
Similar to Print on Demand, starting a dropshipping store is a popular way to make money on Shopify, but there’s a slight difference. Unlike private-label dropshipping, you can’t customize the products you sell, making the competition fiercer.
There are plenty of dropshipping suppliers to choose from. Select one, integrate it with your Shopify store, and start building your business.
Is dropshipping worth it? Explore the pros and cons of starting a dropshipping business.
3. Try affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is a business model where third-party publishers promote products or services.
If you’re an established blogger, influencer, or educator, the Shopify affiliate marketing program is a great way to make money.
The Shopify Affiliate Program is free to join. Apply if you:
- Own and run an active website
- Have an established audience
- Create original content
- Have experience with commerce, entrepreneurship, Shopify, or other eCommerce platforms
After you become a Shopify affiliate, you earn a commission for each user who signs up for a paid Shopify plan via your link.
You can also create your own website on Shopify and use it as a platform to promote and sell products as an affiliate marketer.
While you can approach brands yourself, networks like Rakuten or Awin help you find opportunities faster.
If you’re new to this and starting from scratch, learn how to start affiliate marketing with no money.
Join the Printify Affiliate Program and earn a 5% commission on every order your referrals make for the next 12 months. Just sign up, share the affiliate link, and get paid.
4. Sell handmade goods
If you have a knack for creating things, Shopify is the perfect platform for you. The arts and crafts market reached $50.9 billion in 2024, providing a promising opportunity for Shopify merchants to run their own businesses.
Sell a variety of handmade goods:
- Apparel
- Accessories
- Jewelry
- Artwork
- Paper products
Increase the likelihood of success by exploring our market research on what to sell on Shopify.
5. Sell subscription boxes online
For the right product or service, adding a subscription as a purchase option can be an effective approach and create a predictable and steady income stream. Typically, customers pay a weekly, monthly, or yearly fee.
For example, a popular Shopify store, Wohven, sends their subscribers a new t-shirt every month, showing that a subscription service can work even for t-shirts.
You can get third-party subscription apps from the Shopify App Store. Then, learn how to set up subscriptions from the Shopify Help Center.
6. Sell digital products
Shopify is a great online platform for selling digital products. While they take time to create, you can sell them repeatedly afterward without worrying about restocking inventory.
A few ideas for digital products and downloads:
- eBooks
- Online courses
- Planners and task sheets
- Journaling and affirmations
- Digital art
- Graphic design templates
Remember to remove shipping for digital goods in the Shopify admin dashboard.
7. Promote your services
If you’re a writer, graphic designer, fitness trainer, or teacher, use the Shopify platform to promote and sell services.
Create a professional website to showcase your skills and attract potential customers. It offers useful marketing tools that will help grow your service-based business.
List your available services – for example, consultations, online courses, or workshops – as your products.
After setting up a Shopify store, search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for driving traffic. Our step-by-step guide will teach you how to improve Shopify SEO so people can quickly find your business.
8. Monetize your social media presence
How to use Shopify to make money with social media platforms? By turning followers into customers! Social commerce is booming – in 2025, 17.11% of all online sales come from social networks. That’s a massive money-making opportunity.
With Shopify’s Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok apps, you can sync your store’s products and sell directly on social media. No need for a full website – just share links and start making passive income.
For an even easier start, try the Shopify Starter Plan ($5/month). It’s perfect for selling through social media, YouTube channels, email, or even in person with Shopify POS. Plus, platforms like Printify let you design and sell custom fan merch without upfront costs.
If you’re an influencer, creator, or just getting started, Shopify makes it easy to build an online business and cash in on your audience.
9. Start an online grocery store
With grocery delivery eCommerce hitting $257 billion in 2024, selling food online is a huge opportunity. More people are skipping the store and turning to online shopping, even for groceries – so why not give them what they need?
With Shopify, you can launch your own grocery business, offer local delivery or pickup, and even sell online straight from your garden. Use Shopify’s product collections to organize fresh veggies, baked goods, or specialty items – making it easy for customers to shop.
Manage everything from your phone with Shopify’s mobile app – track orders, connect with buyers, and watch your sales roll in. Remember to check local regulations first, then start feeding your community while building a thriving online business.
10. Buy and sell Shopify stores
The idea is simple – you buy an established eCommerce store, improve it to perfection, and resell for a higher price, basically flipping Shopify stores.
Explore websites like Flippa or Empire Flippers to see what’s available for purchase. These marketplaces provide detailed information about each store, including traffic and revenue.
If you enjoy setting up shops, another way how to make money on Shopify is by building a store from scratch and selling for profit. While the profit will be lower, so will the risk.
11. Become a Shopify expert
If you already have experience with the platform, earn money by becoming a Shopify partner and helping other Shopify store owners build, scale, or market their businesses.
Take a look at the service categories and check whether there is a specific area that aligns with your expertise.
A few in-demand categories:
- Marketing and sales
- Visual content and branding
- Development and troubleshooting
As an expert, you offer either a fixed price or an hourly rate, tailoring the service to fit the requirements of each client so you can accommodate both small and large businesses.
12. Create Shopify apps
A Shopify app extends the functionality of the platform. Most Shopify apps are built by third parties.
While this option isn’t for everyone, it’s a great opportunity for developers who want to use their coding knowledge to build solutions for millions of Shopify merchants and create a steady income stream.
The Shopify App Store provides developers with a worldwide audience. However, if you want to build an app the Shopify community loves, carefully follow the platform’s app requirements.
How to make money with Shopify and Printify?
Print on Demand is one of the best ways to make money on Shopify. With Printify, anyone can start their own online store today.
Step 1: Sign up
Sign up for an account and access a wide collection of products, beginner-friendly design tools, and thoroughly vetted Print Providers.
Step 2: Choose a product
The Printify Catalog has more than 1,300 customizable products. Choose your next bestseller, and click Start designing.
Step 3: Add a design
With our Product Creator, designing is quick and easy. Add graphics, illustrations, or text to create one-of-a-kind products.
Step 4: Integrate your online store
Easily integrate Printify with Shopify in just a few clicks – sync products, prices, and inventory effortlessly to start selling right away.
Step 5: Start selling
After you make a sale, our Print Providers handle the rest – printing, packaging, and shipping directly to your customer’s doorstep.
What to know before starting a Shopify business?
Entrepreneurs should consider several aspects before starting a business on the Shopify eCommerce platform.
Target an audience
Save time by focusing on those most likely to buy from you – explore who your target audience is, what they do, and what their interests are.
Segment an audience by:
- Demographics: Age, education, income level.
- Geographics: Residents of a specific town, city, or country.
- Psychographics: Attitudes, aspirations, values.
In addition, analyze competitors’ customer feedback and gather information from social media, forums and other online sources to understand your ideal customer better.
Use tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, or BuzzSumo to check what people search for so you can pick a product or service that’s in demand.
Increase the likelihood of sales by providing shipping and payment methods that align with your target audience’s preferences.
Make sure to have a business plan
A business plan is a prerequisite for a successful business. It outlines the company’s goals and strategy for achieving them. It helps acquire customers, anticipate challenges, and make informed decisions.
Types of business plans:
- Standard. A version that’s very detailed and specific. It takes more time to write.
- Lean. If a business is simple, write a lean plan with key information and ideas.
With a business plan, it’s easier to set and achieve goals.
Market well
After identifying the target audience, market your Shopify store via channels they frequent the most.
- Social media marketing. Social presence is everything. With it, increasing sales and making money becomes easier.
- Email marketing. In 2024, the revenue from email marketing surpassed $9.5 billion, proving that it’s an effective way to reach people.
- Content marketing. If you consistently publish relevant content, you’ll build trust and quickly reach your audience’s hearts and minds.
In addition, don’t forget to build long-lasting relationships by providing excellent customer service. If you’re successful, they will likely buy from your Shopify store again.
Whether you plan on starting a clothing line or selling digital products, try these Shopify marketing tips to advertise effectively.
Analyze and adjust performance
When your Shopify store is up, don’t neglect the power of statistics. With Shopify’s analytics, you can see how your business is performing.
Use the data to gain insight into what works and what doesn’t to improve certain areas of your online storefront and marketing efforts.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! Shopify offers plenty of money-making opportunities, from selling print-on-demand products to launching a Shopify affiliate business. Whether you create your own products, offer digital downloads, or provide services, the platform makes it easy to build an ecommerce store and generate sales revenue with the right strategy.
Absolutely! You don’t need specialized knowledge to start a Shopify site. A print-on-demand business is a great way to earn extra cash with minimal upfront investment. Beginners can also sell handmade products, dropship items, or even develop mobile apps for store owners. The key is choosing a business model that fits your skills.
It depends on your approach, but if you’re looking to make money online fast, selling trending print-on-demand products or leveraging an existing social media following can speed things up. Some sellers see customer purchases within days, while others take weeks to optimize their Shopify business for steady sales revenue.
Print-on-demand apparel, accessories, and home goods are among the best-selling items, especially in niches like fitness, pets, or pop culture. Other hot sellers include handmade products, digital downloads, and physical products with unique branding. Success comes from great designs, smart marketing, and an easy-to-navigate eCommerce store.
Make money online with Shopify
When learning how to make money on Shopify, it’s vital to evaluate all options carefully – each is unique, requiring different skills and strategies.
If you’re ready to explore these avenues, consider your strengths first, increasing the likelihood of success. With the right approach, anyone can make money by doing what they’re good at.
Printify allows you to start a business easily. Our platform is 100% free, beginner-friendly, and available to everyone.
