The Print on Demand model is a game-changer. All you need is inspiration and some free time to add your own unique designs to custom products and list them online.
Print-on-demand sites will handle inventory, production, and shipping – freeing up your time to focus on growing your brand and revenue.
Follow our simple step-by-step guide to learn how to start a print-on-demand business with no money in 2025.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through those links. This comes at no additional cost to you.
What is the print-on-demand business model
Print on Demand (POD) is a business model that involves printing products after a customer orders.
Many print-on-demand companies like Printify offer additional services like door-to-door shipping, online design tools, and seamless integrations with popular eCommerce platforms and marketplaces like Shopify and Etsy.
This means you can quickly launch your online store and focus on marketing while your printing partners handle the rest.
With the global print-on-demand market value set to reach $48.4 billion by 2032, now is the perfect time to enter this thriving industry.
Stick with us as we explore how to create a print-on-demand business with no upfront costs and go through the pros and cons of this business model.
Make it happen today!
How to start a print-on-demand business in 2025
Print on Demand is one of the best ways to start selling custom products online. Jump on board for free with a wide range of customizable, high-quality items.
Follow these simple steps to turn your business idea into profits.
1. Pick a niche
A niche is a specialized market segment for products, and defining a market has many benefits, like higher profits, lower competition, and less money spent on advertising.
Choosing a profitable niche is one of the biggest tasks you’ll face in your eCommerce journey. It determines your target market, shapes your product offerings, and directly impacts your potential for long-term success.
If you’re unsure what niche to pursue for your brand, start with something you’re passionate about – like fitness, camping, or cats.
Where should you look for that profitable niche idea? Start by:
- Looking for the best-selling products in 2025. Start by checking out what’s trending on platforms like Amazon, Etsy, and TikTok Shop by typing “trending” or “best-seller” in their search bars.
Keep an eye on popular categories like tech gadgets, sustainable products, and personalized items. Tools like TikTok’s Creative Center, or eCommerce analytics tools like Jungle Scout can help you dive deeper into search and sales data. Don’t forget to browse industry blogs, scroll through social media hashtags, and read product trend reports for even more inspiration. - Using Google Trends. Explore trending topics across platforms and quickly assess their popularity. It visualizes search queries in various languages and regions.
- Finding relevant keywords. Finding relevant keywords is easier than you think. Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Semrush’s free eCommerce Keywords Analytics, and Ahrefs’ free Amazon Keywords tool can help you uncover what people are searching for. These are great for exploring keywords not just for ads or SERPs but also for marketplace-specific trends.
2. Decide what to sell
The variety of print-on-demand products goes beyond custom backpacks, t-shirts, and coffee mugs. Printify empowers you to print your own designs on phone cases, consumer products, personalized games, and even custom-printed pint glasses.
Check out some of the most popular items in our Product Catalog:
Whatever you decide to sell, the products should align with your niche. Keep your customers in mind so your items don’t get lost in an overcrowded market.
These are some of the best places to kick off your research and see what sells:
- Amazon. Browse bestsellers and trending categories for top product ideas.
- eBay. Spot popular items through active listings.
- Etsy. Find unique and gift-worthy merch ideas.
- Printify’s Bestsellers page. Updated regularly with our top-performing products.
Check out Facebook, X, Reddit, and other relevant social media platforms and print-on-demand websites to see what people are saying and buying.
If discussions around a particular product segment in your niche are quiet, pick one that’s more lively for better sales opportunities.
3. Create designs
Although POD relies heavily on unique designs, you don’t need to have artistic skills or be an experienced designer to start a print-on-demand store and create custom products.
- Printify’s Product Creator offers free use graphics for quick and easy product customization. We also provide an AI Image Generator and Shutterstock integration to take you from designing to selling in a few clicks.
- Alternatively, hire a professional designer through popular freelancer sites like Fiverr or Upwork to bring your vision to life.
- Of course, you can always design your own illustrations if you have an artistic eye. Tools like Adobe are perfect for this.
Conduct market research to find profitable design ideas for print-on-demand products. Draw inspiration from sites like Designious, Pinterest, and Dribbble.
A word to the wise – only use your research as a starting point to create original designs. Never plagiarize or claim another creator’s work as your own.
Don’t forget to test-run ideas by sharing designs on social media, online forums, or within your personal network.
Check out our article on Adobe Illustrator for print-on-demand design tips, insights, and inspiration.
4. Decide where to sell
The easiest way to sell your print-on-demand products online is by integrating a dedicated marketplace or eCommerce platform.
What’s the difference?
An online marketplace like Amazon, Etsy, or eBay functions just like an offline market, where merchants gather to sell their goods to a steady flow of shoppers.
The only difference is that you list your products on a website and use targeted keywords to help potential customers find you.
Meanwhile, using a dedicated eCommerce Platform like Shopify or WooCommerce lets you build your own standalone website to sell custom products.
This gives you complete control over your brand identity, marketing materials and strategy, and customer experience, enabling you to create a potentially more engaging shopping experience.
No matter your choice, Printify offers integrations with some of the world’s most popular sales channels:
Skip connecting to sales channels and sell products through your own unique store link by opening a Printify Pop-Up Store.
5. Set up a store
Although online store setup differs for each platform, it often starts with you gaining access to a finished platform or pre-built and customizable templates.
Enable essential features like payment gateways, shipping options, and customer service channels to build a smooth shopping experience for your customers.
Taking the time to set up your store properly is crucial for the success of your online business. This includes uploading high-quality product images, writing informative descriptions, and integrating SEO keywords for better visibility.
6. Pick your supplier
A successful print-on-demand business depends on a reliable supplier to fulfill all incoming orders.
The importance of finding a trustworthy print-on-demand company to do this can’t be overstated – your reputation as an entrepreneur depends on it.
This is where Printify comes in. Whatever you aim to achieve, our mission stays the same – to help merchants make more money with less effort.
Our easy-to-use print-on-demand and dropshipping platform helps anyone, regardless of background or experience, design and sell custom products without worry. Once you make a sale, our Print Providers do all the heavy lifting to print and ship your custom products.
Trusted by over ten million merchants worldwide, our team works tirelessly to give you the highest quality products, best prices, and lowest shipping costs in the industry.
100% free
Sign up and use our platform without any upfront investment. Customers cover the cost of the product only after they purchase it.
Seamless integrations
Publish your merch on some of the world’s most popular eCommerce marketplaces and platforms.
1000+ products
Our Product Catalog has a large selection of superior quality products, from t-shirts to home decor, for you to customize with unique designs.
No minimum order quantity
Thrive without limitations – order as few or as many products as you like and get a special shipping discount on bulk orders.
24/7 merchant support
Our expert team is ready anytime to help you succeed in your POD journey.
Not sure how to choose the best supplier for your business? Compare the biggest players in the market:
7. Set a price
The profit you make depends on how high you set your product prices.
Consider these factors when setting a retail price to stay competitive in the market:
- Shipping and production costs. Account for all the expenses of creating your products, including taxes and service fees. If you offer free shipping, factor in delivery costs into the retail price.
- Average price of similar products. Research current market trends and compare product costs for similar items among competitor online stores.
- Location of your customers. Cut down on delivery time and global shipping costs by choosing a local Print Provider.
Competitive prices set your print-on-demand store up for success. Check out our blog for more on how to price a product.
8. Check the quality of your products
Delivering high-quality products is fundamental for building customer satisfaction and trust. If your products meet customer expectations, securing repeat sales will be easier.
The primary step to delivering valuable products is choosing a reliable print-on-demand service.
Printify partners with a global network of carefully vetted and trusted Print Providers to guarantee high-quality production and timely delivery.
To establish a good reputation for your eCommerce store, we recommend placing sample orders to check the print, style, colors, and overall print quality of your product before listing it for sale.
9. Market your products
Your marketing efforts can make or break your business. The goal is to get noticed, drive traffic to your site, provide people with reasons to buy from you, and convert visitors into customers.
Here are a few ways to market your business:
- Social media marketing. Find and engage with your target audience by maintaining a social media presence. Create new content and hop on trends to grow your business.
- Influencer marketing. Collaborate with social media influencers to gain exposure to a broader audience and build trust. Look for influencers with similar brand values and followers that match your ideal customer profile.
- Content marketing. Create and publish blogs, videos, and product reviews to establish authority in your niche. High-quality content can drive traffic to your site, convert visitors, and offer opportunities for content monetization.
- Email marketing. Make a mailing list to send customers personalized offers, updates, and newsletters. Fine-tune your messages for different customer demographics to improve the relevance and performance of your email marketing campaigns.
- Paid ads. Invest in targeted ads to reach a broader audience and drive more traffic to your store. Use Google Ads for search engine advertising or Facebook Ads for highly specific audience targeting.
10. Monitor your online store performance
Monitoring your store’s performance is key to growing your business and making smarter decisions. Use analytics tools like Google Analytics and Hotjar to track metrics like customer traffic, conversion rates, which products are selling, user engagement, and cart abandonment rates.
These insights can show you what’s working, highlight areas where customers are dropping off, and help you tweak your strategies to boost sales and improve the shopping experience.
And pay attention to customer feedback. Encourage buyers to leave reviews and share their customer testimonials, giving you insights into what people love and what might need improvements.
Pros and cons of Print on Demand
As a tried-and-true way of printing for profit, print-on-demand services offer many benefits for budding entrepreneurs.
Let’s go over some of the perks.
Pros:
- Easy to start
You don’t need extensive entrepreneurial, marketing, or artistic experience. Print-on-demand services make things as easy as possible and offer beginner-friendly guides to streamline onboarding. - Low risk
When you partner with a print-on-demand company, you avoid the financial risk of traditional retail models. There’s no need to rent premises, hire staff, invest upfront, or worry about logistics. - No inventory
When you make a sale, a third-party supplier handles order fulfillment and ships products directly to your customer’s doorstep. You don’t need to keep your own inventory and spend money on storage space. - Global reach
Print-on-demand helps you effortlessly sell both locally and internationally for optimal reach and maximum profits.
The advantages of Print on Demand far outweigh the negatives, but you should still be aware of some of the downsides.
Cons:
- You can’t control quality
You’ll have limited control over print and product quality. The best way to counter this is to find a reliable print-on-demand partner with various trusted Print Providers and order product samples. - Longer production time
Since orders are only printed after a sale goes through, they can’t be packaged and shipped immediately. However, companies like Printify offer express and priority delivery to address this. - Lower profit margin
Due to the nature of the print-on-demand business model, costs per product will be higher than if you purchase products through wholesale. With Printify, you can still set your own profit margins freely. - Split responsibility
While Print Providers handle order fulfillment, your customers will turn to you whenever there is an issue. You’ll be responsible for providing excellent customer support to resolve any problems.
If you plan to sell products through a Printify Pop-Up Store, we’ll handle customer support for you.
Check our blog for up-to-date articles and information on how to start a POD business.
FAQ – How to start a successful print-on-demand business
Sign up for a free Printify account and choose products from our Catalog to add to your store. Then, design your custom merchandise and connect your account to popular eCommerce platforms or marketplaces to start selling online.
Yes, as long as you set good profit margins for your product line. When pricing items, keep all associated tax and service fees in mind. Working with a print-on-demand company like Printify that offers competitive pricing is also beneficial.
Absolutely! Many sellers successfully make money with Print on Demand by creating unique designs that resonate with specific niches.
With an effective marketing strategy, a profitable niche, and a focus on customer engagement, it’s possible to turn Print on Demand into a profitable business. Check out our merchant Success Stories for real examples.
Yes, the print-on-demand industry continues to grow and offers plenty of opportunities. Carve out a profitable space in the market by finding a niche and using relevant content to reach your audience.
Printify’s high-quality products and accessible platform let you launch your own store with minimal upfront investment, helping you focus on increasing revenue and expanding your reach.
Print-on-demand earnings vary based on factors like niche selection, design quality, and pricing strategy.
While it may take time to build up, successful sellers who price their products well and provide a smooth shopping experience find that Print on Demand can generate substantial income over time.
Becoming a print-on-demand supplier requires setting up reliable printing operations and maintaining a high product quality.
Explore becoming a Printify Print Provider by applying through our network. Suppliers must have strong quality control, prompt order fulfillment, and a good understanding of the print-on-demand model.
Closing thoughts
When done right, Print on Demand can be a very profitable endeavor. It’s a go-to eCommerce business model for entrepreneurs, artists, and content creators worldwide.
Launch a new business or scale your existing one without any financial risk by choosing Printify as your print-on-demand service.
