How to Make Money with Print on Demand: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

The dream of earning money online has never been more attainable—and one of the most accessible routes is to make money with print on demand. Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, or someone looking for a side hustle, print on demand (POD) offers a low-risk way to sell custom products without upfront inventory or shipping headaches.

But how exactly do you get started? How do you create designs, find the right products, and generate real income? This guide breaks it all down.

What Is Print on Demand?

Print on demand is an ecommerce business model where you design custom products like t-shirts, mugs, posters, or phone cases, and a third-party supplier prints and ships them only when an order is placed. No inventory. No handling logistics.

How It Works:

1. You create or upload a design.

2. Customers order a product with your design.

3. A POD service prints and ships the item.

4. You get a cut of the profit—simple.

Why Make Money with Print on Demand?

Low Startup Costs

Forget warehouses or bulk orders. You can start with just a laptop and an idea.

No Inventory or Shipping

The POD provider handles production and fulfillment, letting you focus on creativity and marketing.

Endless Customization

From tote bags to yoga mats, you can personalize a wide range of products with unique designs.

Scalable & Passive

Create once, sell forever. Great designs can generate income for years with minimal upkeep.

Step-by-Step: How to Make Money with Print on Demand

1. Choose Your Niche

Success starts with picking a profitable niche. Generic stores rarely stand out. Niching down helps build a loyal audience and stronger branding.

Tips for Niche Selection:

• Follow your interests: Passion makes marketing easier.

• Validate demand: Use Google Trends or Etsy to explore.

• Check competition: Saturated doesn’t always mean bad—just differentiate.

Popular POD Niches:

• Fitness and gym culture

• Pet lovers (dogs, cats, exotic pets)

• Mental health and self-care

• Funny or sarcastic quotes

• Hobbies like fishing, gaming, or camping

2. Design Your Products

You don’t need to be Picasso. Tools like Canva, Adobe Express, or Placeit help you design without a design background.

Tips for Winning Designs:

• Keep it simple but bold.

• Use contrasting colors for visibility.

• Make designs emotion-driven or relatable.

• Test different fonts and placements.

Pro Tip: Hire freelance designers on Fiverr or Upwork if needed.

3. Choose the Right Print-on-Demand Platform

Not all POD services are created equal. Choose one based on your goals, product range, shipping options, and integrations.

Top POD Platforms:

Questions to Ask:

• Do they offer the products I want to sell?

• What are their base prices and shipping times?

• Where are their fulfillment centers located?

4. Build Your Storefront

You can sell through your own site or an online marketplace.

Option A: Your Own Store (e.g., Shopify, WooCommerce)

Pros: Full control, branding freedom, higher margins
Cons: Requires more marketing effort

Option B: Marketplaces (e.g., Etsy, Amazon, Redbubble)

Pros: Built-in traffic, easy setup
Cons: Less control, platform fees

Recommended Strategy: Start with Etsy or Redbubble to test demand, then build a Shopify store for long-term growth.

5. Price Your Products for Profit

Balancing cost, value, and customer expectations is crucial.

How to Price:

• Calculate base cost (from POD provider)

• Add a healthy markup (30%–50%+)

• Consider shipping and platform fees

• Analyze competitor pricing

Example:
If a hoodie costs $20 to fulfill, you might price it at $39.99, leaving room for discounts and still turning a profit.

6. Promote Your Products

Here’s where the magic happens. Without traffic, there are no sales. Use multiple marketing channels to attract buyers.

Organic Marketing:

• SEO: Use keywords in your product titles, tags, and descriptions.

• Pinterest: Great for visual niches like fashion, pets, or art.

• Instagram & TikTok: Share behind-the-scenes, mockups, or UGC (user-generated content).

Paid Marketing:

• Facebook/Instagram Ads: Target niche interests.

• Google Shopping: Drive traffic to your ecommerce store.

• Influencer Marketing: Send free products in exchange for posts.

Pro Tip: Run promotions like “Buy 2, Get 1 Free” or seasonal discounts to boost conversions.

Real-World Success Story

Meet Sarah, a yoga instructor who turned her passion into profits. She started selling custom-designed leggings and eco-friendly tote bags on Etsy, using yoga poses and mantras in her designs.

Her secret?

• A defined niche (yoga lovers)

• Consistent Instagram posts

• Offering limited-edition collections

Within six months, Sarah was making $2,500/month in passive income—all from designs she uploaded once.

Mistakes to Avoid in Print on Demand

❌ Choosing a Niche Without Research

Validate demand before creating dozens of designs.

❌ Ignoring Mockups

High-quality product images build trust and increase conversions.

❌ Underpricing

Low prices can hurt profits and devalue your brand.

❌ No Marketing Plan

A great product won’t sell if no one knows about it.

Tools to Help You Succeed

• Canva – Easy design tool with templates

• Placeit – Mockup generator for realistic product previews

• Marmalead / eRank – Etsy SEO tools

• Google Trends – Trend analysis

• Trello or Notion – Track product ideas and launches

Is Print on Demand Still Profitable in 2025?

Absolutely—but it’s competitive. What separates winners is:

• Strong niche branding

• Original, high-quality designs

• Consistent content marketing

• Testing and improving over time

Print on demand isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme, but with strategy and effort, it can become a sustainable income stream or even a full-time business.

Final Thoughts: Take Action Today

You now have the blueprint to make money with print on demand. The tools are accessible. The risk is low. The potential is real. Whether you want a creative side hustle or dream of full-time ecommerce freedom, POD is worth exploring.

✅ Ready to Get Started?

Tell us in the comments: What niche are you thinking about?
Or check out our next guide: Top 10 Print-on-Demand Products That Actually Sell →