Starting A Print-On-Demand (POD) Business - A Beginner's Guide
Starting A Print-On-Demand (POD) Business - A Beginner's Guide
Beginner’s Guide
Print-on-demand is a low-risk way to start an online business, allowing you to sell custom products without
holding inventory 1 . This guide will walk you through a step-by-step plan – from choosing platforms and
products to marketing and scaling – all tailored for beginners. We’ll use clear sections, bullet points, and a
comparison table for easy reading.
– Completely free
Free to join – Very low margins
upfront; they handle
(Standard (Redbubble keeps a
printing & shipping 9
Redbubble Marketplace accounts have large share) 11 <br>–
10 <br>– Global
small fee on Market is saturated;
customer base for art
earnings) 8 standing out is difficult
and novelty designs
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Platform Type Cost to Start Pros Cons
sizable cut)
Tip: If budget is a concern, starting on a marketplace (Etsy, Redbubble, etc.) is often cheapest since there’s
little to no upfront cost 16 . Once you validate your products and have revenue, you can consider opening a
Shopify store for more control while keeping your marketplace shops for additional income.
• T-Shirts: The top-selling POD item – simple to design and universally in demand 17 . Unisex tees
with catchy slogans or graphics are a great starting point.
• Mugs: Coffee mugs with funny or inspirational quotes are perennial bestsellers, especially as gift
items.
• Hoodies & Sweatshirts: Higher price point than t-shirts but popular for niche designs (e.g. hobby or
fandom hoodies) 18 .
• Stickers: Die-cut stickers (e.g. laptop or bumper stickers) are low-cost and trendy, especially for
artists’ designs 17 .
• Tote Bags: Reusable totes with aesthetic or witty designs cater to eco-conscious and everyday
shoppers 19 .
• Phone Cases and Posters: These can also be great once you have some design experience – custom
art prints or phone case designs can target specific audiences.
Ensure the products you choose fit your niche and audience. It’s better to start with a focused product line
than to overwhelm yourself with too many types at first 20 . You can always expand later.
How to get product ideas: Browse marketplaces to see what’s selling. Check Amazon, Etsy, or eBay’s
bestseller lists for popular product types in POD 21 . For example, if funny t-shirts are trending, that’s a clue
that tees in a certain style are in demand. Also, keep an eye on social media (Instagram, TikTok) – if you see
lots of people posting enamel pins or hats, that might indicate a rising POD product trend 22 .
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3. Niche Research and Selection
Choosing a profitable niche is a crucial step for POD success. A niche is a specific theme or audience
segment for your products. Focusing on a niche helps you stand out and attract a loyal customer base,
which often means higher profits and less competition 23 . Here’s how to pick and validate a niche:
• Start with your passions or interests: If you’re unsure which niche to choose, list topics you
genuinely enjoy or know well – e.g. fitness, pets, gaming, gardening, etc. It’s often easier to design
and market products for a niche you’re passionate about (you’ll understand the humor, trends, and
what appeals to fellow fans) 24 .
• Research trending niches: Look at current trends and bestsellers for inspiration. For example,
search Amazon or Etsy with terms like “trending” or “bestseller” to see popular items and themes in
real time 25 . Social media can spark ideas too – a viral meme or growing community (e.g. a new
popular TV series or hobby) could be a profitable niche if you act early (while respecting IP laws, of
course).
• Use Google Trends: Enter niche keywords into Google Trends to gauge interest over time 26 . This
tool shows if a topic is consistently popular or seasonal (for instance, “pumpkin spice” spikes every
fall). Favor niches with steady or growing interest.
• Keyword and data tools: For a data-driven approach, try free keyword tools to see search volumes.
Tools like Google Keyword Planner or Semrush’s free e-commerce keyword analytics can show how
many people search for “funny cat t-shirt” each month, for example 27 . High search volume with
moderate competition can indicate a viable niche.
• Check competition on platforms: On Etsy, how many results come up for your niche keywords? A
niche like “yoga humor shirts” might have fewer competing sellers than just “funny shirts”. Read
competitor reviews to see what customers like or want improved – that’s your opportunity.
• Validate on a small scale: Once you have a niche idea (say, “retro 90s nostalgia designs”), consider
making a few designs and getting feedback. You can share a design teaser in a relevant online forum
or Facebook group, or even run a small poll among friends or followers. Positive feedback or early
sales are signs you’re on the right track. If discussions around your niche are dead quiet or
oversaturated with sellers, you might pivot to a different angle or niche 28 .
Niche selection benefits: Defining a niche gives you a clear target customer, guides your design style, and
can reduce advertising costs by letting you market to a specific group. For example, a store focused on
“camping and outdoors” gear can build a brand that attracts camping enthusiasts repeatedly, rather than
trying to appeal to everyone.
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Placeit – An online tool by Envato that lets you create designs and product mockups. It has tons of t-
shirt and merchandise templates you can edit with your text/images 32 . It’s paid, but very handy for
making your product photos look professional without a photographer.
Kittl – A newer web-based design tool made for POD sellers, offering cool text effects and ready-to-
edit templates specifically for things like t-shirts and labels 33 . It’s designed to be beginner-friendly
for trendy typography.
• Hiring Designers: You can absolutely run a POD business without designing everything yourself. If
you have ideas but lack the artistic skills or time, consider outsourcing. Platforms like Fiverr or
Upwork let you hire freelance designers relatively affordably 36 . For example, you might pay a
designer \$10–\$30 for a t-shirt graphic that you can use on your products. Provide a clear design
brief (your concept, text, style references) and ensure the freelancer understands the design is for
commercial use (and thus must be original). This way, you get professional-quality designs while
focusing on other aspects of the business.
• Premade Graphics and Fonts: Another option is using pre-licensed artwork to create designs.
Websites like Creative Fabrica offer huge libraries of graphics, illustrations, and fonts that come
with commercial licenses 37 . You might download a cute illustration and add your own text to make
a design – legally. Just be sure to read the license (some assets can be used on POD products for
sale, others might have limitations). Also, Creative Market or Freepik are sources for graphics
(some free, some paid) that can spice up your designs. Always double-check that any graphic or font
is allowed for commercial/POD use. Many creators sell POD-friendly bundles of designs which can
jumpstart your product range, though using them means others might use them too – adding your
own twist or customization is wise.
Important design guidelines: Keep your target niche in mind when designing – e.g. bold, easy-to-read text
for humor shirts, or trendy color schemes for a youth audience. Aim for high-resolution images (300 DPI for
print) so the print comes out crisp. Most POD platforms will flag you if the resolution is too low. Use the
templates provided by your POD supplier (they often give exact dimensions for each product’s print area).
And remember, originality is key – take inspiration from market trends but do not copy others’ art. Not
only is that unethical, it can get you into legal trouble (more on copyright below) and marketplaces will
remove your listings if they detect IP infringement. As one POD provider advises: use research for
inspiration, but create original designs and never plagiarize someone else’s work 38 . If you do use
third-party elements (like clipart or fonts), ensure you have the right to use them commercially.
Finally, consider testing your designs before committing a lot of money to ads or inventory (though with
POD you’re not holding stock, it’s still your time investment). You can share a design on your personal social
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media or a subreddit related to your niche to gauge interest (without giving away too much to copycats).
Friends and family feedback can help, but unbiased opinions from your target audience are even better.
How integration works: Most major POD suppliers offer easy integrations (apps or plugins) with popular
marketplaces and e-commerce platforms 39 . For example, Printful and Printify have apps for Shopify and
WooCommerce, and can connect to Etsy, eBay, Amazon, and more. If you sell on Etsy, you would create an
account with a POD supplier, use their Etsy integration to connect your shop, and then you can publish
products from the POD app to your Etsy storefront in a few clicks 40 41 . When an Etsy customer buys your
item, the order details are sent to the POD supplier, who then charges you for the base product + shipping
and fulfills the order. This automation means you don’t need to manually order each item – it’s a huge
time-saver. (Do remember to set up your payment method with the supplier so they can charge for
fulfillment; usually your profit is the difference between what the customer paid on Etsy and the POD’s
charge).
If you’re using a marketplace like Redbubble or Amazon Merch, integration is not needed – those
platforms are the supplier and marketplace in one (you upload designs directly on Redbubble/Amazon, and
they handle printing/fulfillment under their system). The trade-off is less control and branding for you. In
contrast, using an external POD supplier with Etsy/Shopify lets you add things like custom branding inserts
or choose from multiple print labs.
• Printful: A leading POD company known for high product quality and reliable fulfillment. Printful
offers 440+ products including apparel, accessories, and home decor 42 . They have printing options
from direct-to-garment (DTG) to embroidery. Printful’s big plus is branding options – you can add
inside neck labels, pack-ins, or custom packaging to reinforce your brand 43 (great as you grow).
They integrate with 20+ platforms and ship from facilities worldwide for faster delivery. The interface
is beginner-friendly. Cost: Free to use (no monthly fee), you only pay per item base cost when an
order comes in. Printful’s prices can be a bit higher than some competitors, but you’re paying for
quality and service.
• Printify: A popular platform that acts as an aggregator of print providers. Printify gives you access
to a network of 100+ print factories around the world, often at very competitive base prices 44 45 .
For each product, you can choose among multiple print providers (e.g., a t-shirt might have 5
providers to pick from, with different locations, prices, and reviews). This can save cost or reduce
shipping time if you pick a provider near your customer. Printify is free, though they have a premium
plan (\$29/mo) that gives you a 20% discount on all base prices – something to consider if you scale
up and do volume. Integration: Printify connects with Etsy, Shopify, WooCommerce, eBay, and more
39 . One thing to note: because Printify uses various third-party print providers, quality and
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shipping times can vary by provider 46 . However, each provider is reviewed, and you can switch
providers if one doesn’t meet your standards. It’s a flexible solution favored by many beginners for
its low costs and large catalog (1,300+ products).
• Gelato: A POD service that focuses on a global production network. Gelato connects you to local
print partners in over 30 countries, which means when someone orders, Gelato often prints it in a
facility near the customer for faster, cheaper shipping 47 . This is great for international reach.
Gelato’s catalog includes common items (apparel, wall art, mugs, etc.). They tout fast delivery and
reduced carbon footprint by local fulfillment 48 . Integration support is somewhat more limited but
they do connect with Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, and others. Cost: Free to start; they have optional
subscription plans for discounted rates. Note: Some users report Gelato’s product prices can be a bit
higher on certain items 49 , and branding options may be limited compared to Printful.
• Others: Gooten, Teelaunch, CustomCat, etc., are additional POD suppliers each with their own
product mix and integrations. They can be worth exploring if you need specific products or features.
For instance, Gooten is another integrator like Printify with competitive prices; Teelaunch (a Shopify
app) offers some unique products like Bluetooth speakers; and Merch by Amazon (Amazon Merch) is
unique as it lets you sell on Amazon with no upfront cost but has fewer product types (mostly shirts,
hoodies, etc.) and a tiered system for how many designs you can upload 15 50 .
Setting up your store with a POD supplier: Once you choose a supplier, the process usually goes: install
their app or connect via their website -> upload your design files to their mockup generator -> choose the
product (size, colors) and generate product listings. You’ll be able to set your own retail price, which should
cover the base cost + shipping + platform fees + leave you a profit. When you push the product to your
store, double-check the listing details (title, description, sizing info, etc.) and SEO keywords. Each platform
might need slight tweaks (for example, Etsy allows 13 tags – use them all with relevant keywords).
Quality control: Your reputation depends on the product quality, so pick a reliable supplier. A great practice
is to order samples of your own products before you start selling them widely. This lets you experience
what a customer would – you can check the print quality, colors, fabric or material, sizing, and shipping
speed/packaging 51 . It’s worth the small cost to catch any issues (like a design needing color adjustments
or a mug print that was too small) before customers start ordering. Print-on-demand means you skip
inventory, but it doesn’t mean you should skip quality checks. Most POD companies offer discounted
samples for sellers.
Finally, consider turnaround times: POD production typically takes 2–5 days for apparel and maybe longer
during peak seasons. Make sure to set customer expectations for delivery (e.g. if using Etsy, adjust your
“processing time” to account for print time). And keep an eye on your supplier’s alerts – if a product goes
out of stock or a print facility has delays, you might need to temporarily pause that listing or switch to an
alternative provider (Printify makes that easy by selecting a different print provider if needed).
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Free (Organic) Marketing Strategies
• Social Media Marketing: Establish a presence on platforms where your target customers hang out.
For visually appealing products (t-shirts, art prints, home decor), Instagram and Pinterest are
excellent. If your niche has a younger audience or has an entertainment factor, TikTok can be
powerful. Post engaging content regularly – not just product images, but lifestyle shots, videos, or
memes related to your niche. For example, if your niche is cat lovers, post funny cat videos or a reel
of your t-shirt design being worn by someone playing with kittens. Use relevant hashtags to increase
discoverability (e.g. #catlover, #funnytshirt). Short videos can go viral on TikTok or Instagram Reels,
giving your shop free exposure. Tip: Show “behind the scenes” of your design process or how your
product is printed – people love seeing the journey, and it’s great content 52 . Also, engage with
communities: join Facebook groups related to your niche (e.g. a group for camping enthusiasts if
you sell camping-themed merch) and participate genuinely – many groups have specific days or
threads for small businesses to share products. Be careful not to spam; focus on building a rapport
and showcasing your passion for the niche, with your product as a natural extension of that.
• Content Marketing & SEO: If you have your own website (Shopify or similar), consider starting a
simple blog or resource section to attract visitors via search engines (SEO). For instance, if your niche
is fitness, write a few short articles like “10 Motivational Fitness Quotes for Gym Lovers” and include
some links or images of your products. This can slowly help your Google rankings. On Etsy, “content
marketing” translates to optimizing your product listings – use clear, keyword-rich titles and
descriptions so shoppers can find you via Etsy search 53 . Fill out all the tags and attributes Etsy
allows; these act like keywords. Also, maximize your product photos (Etsy lets up to 10 images +
video) – high-quality, well-lit images and a short video of the product can significantly improve
conversion. Good SEO (on Etsy or on your own site) is free and continuously brings in traffic if done
right.
• Influencer & Community Marketing: Identify influencers or popular pages in your niche. For free
exposure, look for micro-influencers – these are folks with maybe 1,000–10,000 followers who have a
loyal niche audience. Often, micro-influencers will happily promote your product in exchange for a
free sample or small commission. For example, if you sell eco-friendly tote bags, find a sustainable
living Instagrammer who might like your designs. Send them a tote and kindly ask (no obligation) if
they’d share their honest review or a photo if they love it. A genuine shoutout from an influencer can
drive followers to your page. You can also set up an affiliate program (there are apps for Shopify, and
for Etsy you can do it informally) where you give someone a referral link and they earn a percentage
of any sale they drive. Influencer marketing, even when paid, often yields better trust and targeting
because the audience is already interested in that niche 54 . Aside from influencers, leverage any
community you’re part of: Reddit has countless subreddits – many allow sharing your creations on
certain days (check rules). If you’re an active Redditor in r/boardgames and you launch a boardgame-
themed shirt, you might share it in a context like “Designed this boardgame humor tee – hope fellow
gamers like it!” (again, ensure you follow subreddit self-promotion rules).
• Email Marketing: It’s never too early to start building an email list, even if it’s small 55 . For
instance, if you have your own site, prompt visitors with a 10% off coupon if they subscribe to your
newsletter. If you’re on Etsy, you can still collect emails by including a card in your shipped orders
asking customers to join your newsletter or follow you on social media for special offers. Email
marketing pays off in the long run: you can announce new product drops, flash sales, or send
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holiday gift guides featuring your products. Services like MailChimp have free plans for small lists.
The key is not to spam – send genuinely useful or interesting content along with promotions. An
engaged email list can drive repeat business for free (well, the cost of your time).
Once you have a bit of revenue or if you’ve budgeted some marketing spend, paid ads can amplify your
reach. A few avenues to consider:
• Search and Social Media Ads: The two giants are Google and Facebook.
• Google Ads: You can run Shopping ads if you have an e-commerce site – those product photos that
show up on Google search results. This targets people actively searching for things like “custom
coffee mug gift”, which can be high-converting. Google also allows text search ads, but for POD
products, visuals help, so Shopping ads or Display ads (banner images) might perform better. Keep
budgets small as you test (e.g. \$5-10/day) and target specific keywords or demographics so you
don’t overspend.
• Facebook/Instagram Ads: Facebook’s ad platform lets you create image or video ads and target
very specific audiences by interest. For example, you could show your funny dog t-shirt ad to people
aged 25-45 who have “Dog lover” or “Pet owner” interests in certain countries. The targeting is
powerful, but the challenge is your ad is “cold” – people weren’t actively searching for a product. So
make the ad eye-catching and consider an offer (like free shipping or limited-time discount) to entice
impulse buys. Test with a small audience and budget; see if it yields sales above the cost. Instagram
ads in particular work well if you have great product photography or lifestyle shots.
• TikTok Ads: If you’re targeting Gen Z or millennials and can make a viral-style video for your product,
TikTok’s ad platform can spread it quickly. It’s still a newer ad space and sometimes cheaper than
Facebook per view. The creative is key – it has to feel like a TikTok, not a traditional commercial.
• Etsy Ads (Promoted Listings): If you sell on Etsy, you can use Etsy’s internal advertising. You set a
daily budget (even \$1-5/day) and Etsy will promote your listings in search results and other places
on Etsy. This can boost visibility especially when you’re new with no sales history. Etsy Ads use a pay-
per-click model (you pay only when someone clicks your listing). Start low and watch which products
get clicks or sales – you can then allocate more budget to the winners. Keep in mind Etsy Ads
performance can vary; some sellers find them profitable, others not, so monitor your return on ad
spend.
• Influencer Partnerships (Paid): Beyond free product-for-post trades, you might find it worthwhile
to pay a larger influencer for a shoutout. For example, a YouTuber who does niche content (say a
yoga YouTuber for yoga-themed merch) might charge a fee to feature or wear your product in a
video. Ensure they have authentic engagement (not just high follower count) and negotiate a
package (maybe a dedicated Instagram post + a story + a YouTube mention). Always track results
(provide a unique discount code for that influencer’s audience, so you can see how many sales came
from it). That way you’ll know if the investment paid off.
• Others: You can explore advertising on Pinterest (Promoted Pins), which works well for art, home
decor, and fashion items since Pinterest users often shop through pins. Also, consider seasonal
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promotions – for example, running a Valentine’s Day Facebook ad for your heart-themed mugs, or
Father’s Day ads for your “Best Dad” shirts. Seasonal targeting can capture people looking for gifts.
Marketing balance: In the beginning, focus on organic marketing while you fine-tune your products and
listings. It’s better to have say 10+ reviews and professional-looking photos before spending big on ads
(people are more likely to buy if they see others have). As you see some sales organically, amplify with paid
methods on the products that perform best.
Remember, marketing is an ongoing effort. Track your results – for every strategy, ask “Did this bring
visitors? Did those visitors buy something?” Use Google Analytics or the analytics dashboard of your selling
platform to see traffic and conversion data 56 . Over time, put more effort and/or budget into the channels
that show a good return, and iterate or drop the ones that don’t.
• Start as Small as Possible: In the beginning, only spend on the essentials. If you’re on Etsy, for
example, each product listing costs \$0.20 to publish and lasts 4 months 3 . You could list 10
products for just \$2.00. Etsy will also take a 6.5% transaction fee and payment processing fee per
sale 57 , but that comes out of revenue, not upfront. On other marketplaces like Redbubble or
Amazon Merch, it costs nothing to create designs and list them (Amazon Merch is free but requires
approval). So, an initial budget could literally be under \$20 to get a basic shop up (covering a few
listings and maybe a logo design if you outsource it). Tip: Leverage free trials – Shopify, for example,
often has a 14-day free trial (or longer promotions) 16 . You could set up your store and even start
selling before ever paying the monthly fee.
• Prioritize Spending that Yields Sales: Use your limited funds on things that directly improve your
product or sales. For instance, investing in one high-quality design (paying an artist $30) that
becomes your bestseller is more valuable than spending $30 on Facebook ads for a mediocre
design. Similarly, ordering a sample for $15 to take your own product photos can be more cost-
effective than buying stock photos or premium mockups. If you have a small marketing budget,
consider spending it on Etsy Ads or a targeted social ad where the audience is likely to convert,
rather than broad ads.
• Free and Low-Cost Tools: Avoid hefty software subscriptions early on. Use free design tools like
Canva and free resources (there are lots of free font libraries, mockup generators with free tiers, etc.)
30 . Many POD platforms themselves have free mockup generators. For example, Printify’s design
interface has a basic text and graphics tool plus stock images you can use 58 . GIMP and Inkscape
(mentioned earlier) are free alternatives to Photoshop/Illustrator 35 . If you need stock photos for
marketing, sites like Unsplash and Pexels offer free high-quality images.
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• Keep Fixed Costs Low: If you go with a Shopify store or another paid platform, be mindful of app
addiction – it’s easy to install many plugins that each charge \$5-15/month and suddenly your
monthly expense is high. Start with just what you need; many features (like basic email capture,
review sections, etc.) can be done with free apps or manual methods until revenue justifies a paid
solution. Similarly, don’t rush to buy a fancy logo or branding package. You can create a simple text
logo in Canva for free and upgrade it later when sales roll in.
• Accounting for Fees and Taxes: Plan that marketplaces will take a cut (as mentioned, Etsy ~6.5%,
plus payment fees ~3% + \$0.30). Factor these into your pricing so you’re not losing money on each
sale (we’ll discuss pricing in the next section). Also note, you will owe income taxes on any profits –
set aside a portion of revenue (exact percentage depends on your location and tax rate) so you’re not
caught off guard at tax time 41 . For now, just keep good records of expenses and sales. As a small
starter, you likely don’t need an accountant yet, but it’s good to form the habit of tracking every
expense (listing fees, sample order costs, advertising spend) and income in a simple spreadsheet.
• \$10 – Purchase 2-3 designs from a freelancer on Fiverr (or a bundle of designs from Creative
Fabrica).
• \$5 – Etsy listing fees for ~25 products (you may not have that many designs yet; remember each
renewal is \$0.20).
• \$15 – Order one sample of your product (perhaps your best t-shirt) for quality check and to take
your own photos.
• \$20 – Initial Etsy Ads or Facebook ad test over a week.
• \$50 – Reserved for any unforeseen costs or future ads, or maybe to upgrade to a custom domain
for your Shopify store (~\$10-15/year) and first month of Shopify \$29 (if you choose to start your
own site).
• Remainder – saved for reinvestment once you get some sales.
With this breakdown, you’ve covered designs, listings, quality assurance, and a bit of marketing – all under \
$100. Adjust based on your situation; if you’re designing yourself, you don’t need to pay for designs, so that
money could go to more advertising or saved.
• Scaling Up Cautiously: As you start selling, resist the urge to immediately pour a lot of money into
“vanity” investments (like a gorgeous custom website theme or expensive ads) until you have
validated winners. Instead, reinvest profits into things like new designs, higher ad budget for
products that are already selling well, or subscribing to a premium plan on a POD platform for
discounts (e.g., Printify Premium costs \$29/month but saves 20% on product costs – only
worthwhile if you’re doing enough orders). This way, your business grows from its own revenue. It is
possible to start a POD business with very little upfront cash and scale it by continuously rolling
earnings back into growth 16 .
• Contingency Planning: Expect the first few months to be a learning phase. You might spend \$50
on ads that don’t convert well, or realize a niche isn’t working and pivot – that’s normal. Set a limit on
how much you’re willing to invest before seeing results, and define what a “result” means (e.g. “I’m
willing to invest \$200 over 3 months; I expect at least 20 sales in that time to continue”). This
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prevents sinking money indefinitely. Thankfully, with POD, your biggest investment is often time and
creativity, not cash.
In summary, keep your operation as lean as possible. Many highly successful POD entrepreneurs started
with just a few dollars. By minimizing expenses and maximizing the free resources at your disposal, you can
achieve profitability faster and with less risk. As one article noted, launching on a platform like Etsy is
among the most beginner-friendly ways to start a brand, with minimal upfront cost but access to a huge
customer base and flexibility to offer many products 16 .
• Business Setup and Taxes: Depending on your country, you may not need to formally register a
business right away (many start as a sole proprietor), but you do need to report your income and pay
taxes on profits 41 . Keep records of all your sales and expenses. If you’re in the US, for example, any
income from your POD business is subject to income tax, and once you cross a threshold, the selling
platforms may issue you a 1099-K form. Set aside a percentage of your earnings for taxes (consult
local tax guidelines or an accountant if unsure – often ~20-30% of profit for self-employment tax and
income tax combined, but it varies). Also consider sales tax or VAT: in many jurisdictions, physical
product sales are taxable. Platforms like Etsy will automatically collect and remit sales tax for certain
states/countries, but if you sell on your own website, you might need to handle that. Research your
local laws – for instance, US sellers might need a sales tax permit for their state if fulfilling orders
locally, whereas using dropshippers in other states can complicate nexus rules. In the EU, VAT is a
consideration. This sounds daunting, but start simple: as a beginner, focus on tracking everything. As
you grow, consult a tax professional to ensure compliance. The key takeaway is don’t ignore taxes –
you’re responsible for them, and it’s easier to do things right from day one than to untangle a mess
later.
• Store Policies (Shipping, Returns, etc.): It’s crucial to have clear policies that both protect you and
inform customers. If you’re on a marketplace like Etsy or Amazon, you’ll fill out shop policies in your
account settings. If you run a Shopify store, create pages for “Shipping Info”, “Returns & Exchanges”,
“Privacy Policy”, “Terms of Service”, etc. Key points:
• Shipping Policy: Outline processing time (e.g. “Items are made to order and typically ship in 3-5
business days”) and shipping methods (e.g. “Standard shipping via USPS, 3-5 business days transit
time domestically”). If you only ship to certain countries, state that. Because POD involves
production time, set realistic expectations to avoid complaints.
• Return/Exchange Policy: POD products are custom-made, so you may choose a no-return policy for
buyer’s remorse (which is common in POD). It’s acceptable to state that returns/exchanges are only
accepted for defective or incorrect items, given the product is made on demand. However, good
customer service might mean you occasionally issue a replacement or refund to keep a customer
happy (you can decide case-by-case). Just be clear in writing: e.g. “Because our products are printed
especially for you, we cannot accept general returns or size exchanges. If an item arrives damaged
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or with a printing error, please contact us within X days with a photo, and we will arrange a
replacement or refund.” 59
• Privacy Policy: If you collect any personal info (which you do, at least name/address for orders), you
should have a basic privacy policy. If you only sell via Etsy/Amazon, those platforms’ overarching
privacy terms cover customers, but it’s still good to mention you won’t misuse any data. If you have
your own site, a privacy policy is legally required in many regions. You can use a free generator to
create one.
• Terms of Service: A general TOS might cover that customers must provide correct shipping info,
your limitation of liability, etc. It’s a bit formal, but plenty of templates exist. On marketplaces this is
less of an issue, on your own store it’s good to have.
• Customs/Duties: If you ship internationally, note that buyers are responsible for any customs fees
(this is standard).
• By-the-Book Compliance: If you brand your business name, consider if you need a DBA (“doing
business as”) registration or any local business license for selling online. Many small sellers operate
unregistered until they reach a certain income, but check local regulations. For example, if you start
using a unique brand name, you might register it to prevent others from using it – though that
might be a later step.
• Intellectual Property (Copyrights & Trademarks): This is critical in POD. The rule of thumb: never
use copyrighted or trademarked material in your designs unless you have explicit permission
60 . This means:
• Do not use characters, logos, or imagery from movies, TV, video games, sports teams, etc. (No
Disney, no Marvel superheroes, no NFL team names, no Harry Potter font quotes – nothing that isn’t
yours.) Big companies actively police marketplaces and will issue takedowns. POD platforms also
have content filters. For example, Amazon Merch has strict content policies – using another brand’s
name or any form of IP violation can get your account terminated 61 .
• Avoid using trademarked words/phrases in your designs or even in listing tags. Trademarks can be
tricky – common phrases can be trademarked in certain product categories. When in doubt, do a
quick USPTO trademark search (if in US) for your slogan or phrase. If you see an active trademark for
clothing on that phrase, don’t use it. (E.g. “Live Laugh Love” on shirts might be fine if not
trademarked, but something like “Keep Calm and ____” was trademarked and people got in trouble
for using it on merch.)
• Parody and Fair Use: Some designs border on pop culture but with a twist (parodies, satire). Legally,
parody has some protection, but it’s a gray area in commerce. A general advice: unless you’re well-
versed in IP law, steer clear of anything that obviously references another IP. Creating original, niche
content is safer and in the long run builds your own brand identity.
• If you want to use existing IP (like a famous quote or image), get permission or a license – but
realistically, for major franchises this is not feasible for a small seller. Alternatively, use public domain
content: artwork or texts that are definitely out of copyright can be used. (For instance, artworks by
old masters, or quotes from authors who died over 70 years ago – these are often public domain.
But even then, watch out for trademarks.)
• Unique designs only: As Printify advises, your content should be original – you can follow trends,
but put your own unique spin on them 62 . Don’t copy another seller’s design that’s doing well; not
only is it unethical, but if they catch you (or their fans report you), your shop could get taken down
for IP infringement or plagiarism. Many designers intentionally put subtle marks or styles in their
art, and platforms do honor DMCA takedown requests.
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• Copyright for Your Work: The flip side – your designs are automatically copyrighted to you when
you create them. You don’t need to register them (unless you become big and want to litigate
against copycats, which is down the road). You might find people copying your designs;
unfortunately it’s common in POD. Focus on moving forward and building your brand rather than
chasing each copycat (unless someone really egregiously steals and undercuts you, then you can file
a takedown). It’s an annoying reality, but unique branding and continually releasing new designs can
keep you ahead.
• Platform Rules: Every platform has specific content and conduct policies. For example, Etsy
prohibits certain content (hate speech, explicit adult content without marking it mature, items that
infringe IP, etc.) – violating these can suspend your shop. Amazon Merch not only scans for IP but
also for quality issues (they’ll remove designs that don’t meet guidelines or get poor customer
feedback). Make sure to read through the seller policies of whatever platform you use. It’s not
thrilling reading, but it will save you from accidental mistakes like using a forbidden keyword in your
title (some platforms ban things like “COVID” on products, as an example, to prevent misinformation
merchandise).
• Business Insurance: Not needed when you’re tiny, but as you scale, consider liability insurance. In
POD, it’s rare to have issues (like a shirt causing injury… unlikely). But if you sell children’s products or
anything like face masks, there could be safety considerations. This is a later-stage thought – just be
aware of it.
In short, cover your bases: treat your POD venture as a real business from day one. Set up your shop’s
policies clearly, follow the law regarding taxes, and be extremely careful with intellectual property. As the
saying goes, it’s better to ask for permission than forgiveness – but with IP, you often won’t get permission,
so it’s better to just create something completely your own. This way, you won’t get nasty surprises like legal
notices or account bans, and you’ll build a trustworthy brand for the long term.
• Not Defining a Clear Target Audience: One major mistake is creating designs you like without
considering your target customer 63 . If you don’t have a specific audience in mind, your products
may end up too generic or miss the mark. Always ask, “Who is this product for, and would that
person be excited by it?” Avoid trying to appeal to everyone; niches work better than broad “anyone
aged 0-99” approaches.
• Skipping Market Research: Failing to research the market and competitors can lead to launching
products that have no demand or are up against fierce competition 64 65 . Don’t blindly assume
your idea is unique – do a quick scan on Etsy/Amazon to see if similar products exist. If they do,
study what they’re doing (price, design elements, customer reviews) to identify how you can
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differentiate. Launching a product without seeing if people are actually searching for or buying
similar items is like throwing darts in the dark.
• Choosing the Wrong Product or Supplier: Not all POD products and providers are equal. A mistake
would be putting a detailed, colorful design on a product that doesn’t showcase it well (e.g. a highly
intricate design on a small phone case might not even be visible). Match design complexity to
product – detailed art might shine on a poster or large sweatshirt print, whereas simple bold text
works on a mug 66 67 . Also, picking a POD supplier solely because they’re the cheapest, without
researching quality, can backfire – you might get slow shipping or subpar prints that anger
customers. How to avoid: Order samples and read reviews of POD providers. A reliable supplier
might cost a bit more but saves you from negative reviews and refunds, which is worth it.
• Poor Design Quality or Mockups: Using low-resolution artwork or sloppy designs will hurt your
sales and reputation. Likewise, having only generic or low-quality product images (mockups) can
make your shop look unprofessional. This mistake is common – sellers upload designs that are
pixelated or use the same bland mockup everyone else does. Solution: Always design at 300 DPI and
use the proper print file dimensions. If you’re not confident in your design’s look, get feedback or
hire a professional to clean it up. For mockups, try to create at least one eye-catching image per
product: if the default supplier mockup looks cheesy, consider using Placeit or Photoshop to put
your design on a realistic model or setting. Since product images are the first thing customers see,
any low-quality or generic image can create a bad first impression – shoppers might doubt the
product quality and leave 68 . Conversely, crisp and appealing images build trust.
• Copying or Infringing on Other Designs: As discussed in legal, copying designs is both unethical
and risky. Many newbies see a top-selling shirt and think “I’ll just make something similar.” This can
quickly cross into plagiarism or IP theft. Even if not illegal, copying a popular design means you’re
chasing a trend with nothing unique – why would customers buy yours instead of the original? It’s a
mistake that can tarnish your brand (customers notice knock-offs) and potentially get you shut down
if the original creator reports you. Avoid this by creating original work or sufficiently transforming
ideas into something fresh. Being “inspired by” is okay; direct copying is not 69 .
• Mispricing Your Products: New sellers often either price too high (no one buys because it’s not
competitive) or too low (after fees and costs, you make no profit). Underpricing is especially common
– you might be so eager for sales that you set slim margins. But remember to account for all costs:
base product + printing + shipping (if you offer free shipping, that cost comes from your margin) +
marketplace fees + tax. For example, if a shirt costs \$10 from Printful and \$4 to ship, and Etsy fees
are ~10% of your price, pricing the shirt at \$15 with free shipping would actually lose you money. On
the flip side, if similar shirts sell for \$25 and you price at \$40, customers will likely skip yours.
Solution: Do a market comparison of similar products to find a reasonable price range, then factor
in your costs to ensure profit. It’s often better to price slightly higher and be able to occasionally run
a sale (people love sales) than to price rock-bottom and have no room for promotions. Keep an eye
on profitability per item – a healthy margin might be 30-50% after all costs. As Printify advises,
consider production costs, shipping, and competitor pricing when setting your retail price 70
71 .
• Neglecting Customer Service: Ignoring customer messages or not resolving issues is a mistake
that can kill a fledgling business. If a customer contacts you about a sizing question or a delivery
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issue, respond as quickly and helpfully as possible. Good customer service turns unhappy buyers
into loyal ones and yields good reviews. A common mistake is to get defensive or ignore a complaint
– this can lead to public negative feedback that scares away other buyers. Instead, even if it’s not
your fault (e.g., courier delayed a package), apologize for the inconvenience and offer solutions
(tracking info, replacement if lost, etc.). Earning Etsy’s “Star Seller” status, for example, requires
responding to messages within 24 hours and having great ratings 72 . Aim for that level of service
from day one.
• Giving Up Too Soon: Print-on-demand is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It’s easy to get discouraged if
you don’t see sales in the first week or if a design you loved flops. Many beginners make the mistake
of quitting after a short time or only a handful of products. In reality, success often comes after
testing many designs, learning from what works, and building up SEO and reviews over months.
Treat each failure as feedback: if nothing in your shop sells, perhaps the niche or designs need
change – that’s actionable info, not just a failure. Patience and consistency (uploading new designs
regularly, refining your store, improving marketing) are key. Those who stick with it, improve
continuously, and adapt are the ones who start seeing momentum. Don’t compare your day 30 to
someone else’s year 3.
• Staying in a Bubble: Another mistake is not staying updated or networking. The POD world evolves
– new products, new trends, algorithm changes on platforms – you should keep learning. There are
many YouTube channels, blogs, and forums (like r/printondemand on Reddit) where sellers share
tips. If you isolate yourself, you might miss a crucial Etsy SEO update or a trending product
opportunity. Make it a habit to spend some time each week reading or watching educational content
in the POD/e-commerce space.
Once you’ve got the basics down and have made some sales, scaling up is the next challenge. Scaling
means increasing your revenue and profit in a sustainable way. Here are strategies to grow your POD
venture:
• Expand Your Product Line (Smartly): Leverage what’s already selling well. If you have a design
that’s a hit on t-shirts, consider launching it on other products like hoodies, tank tops, mugs, or
stickers. Often customers who love a design might buy multiple product types. Also, introduce new
designs within your niche. A mistake is to suddenly branch into unrelated niches when one niche is
working – instead, deepen your catalog in that niche and become a go-to shop for those customers.
For example, if your cat-themed shirts are doing great, add cat-themed tote bags, hats, and wall art.
This increases average order value (customers might add a mug to their t-shirt order) and your
overall market presence 73 74 . Over time, having a diverse range of products also protects you
from sales slumps in one category.
• Add Sales Channels: Once you’ve proven demand on one platform, you can reach new customers by
expanding to others:
• If you started on Etsy, you might try Amazon Merch or Redbubble for additional passive income
(those have their own traffic).
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• If you started on marketplaces, you might open your own Shopify store to build a branded website
(you can even use a custom domain and link it on your social media, giving a more professional
image).
• You can also consider international marketplaces (if you only sell in the US, Etsy UK or regional
platforms could be next). Diversifying channels means you’re not putting all eggs in one basket – if
one platform’s algorithm changes or sales dip, others can compensate. Just be mindful to keep
branding consistent if you want to build a coherent brand.
• Invest in Brand Building: At the start, you might have been just “GenericTeesCo”. To scale, think
about branding – a memorable shop name, a logo, a consistent design style or voice. People start to
buy not just the product, but from you because they like your brand identity. Branding can also allow
you to eventually create an audience (followers, email list) that you can market new products to
directly, reducing reliance on ads. Consider creating an Instagram/Pinterest dedicated to your
brand where you post regularly. Over time, a strong brand can command loyalty and even higher
prices. Some practical brand-building moves: get a custom logo (freelancers can do this, or DIY on
Canva), use a consistent color scheme and tone in your website/social media, and share the “story”
or values behind your brand (eco-friendly? supporting artists? donating a portion to charity?
highlight what you stand for).
• Optimize and Automate Operations: As orders increase, streamline your workflow so you don’t
drown in admin tasks. The great thing is you already have a lot automated through POD integrations
(printing and shipping are handled) 75 . But consider other areas:
• Order Management: Ensure your integrations are set to auto-fulfill orders. If you sell on multiple
platforms, you might sync them to one fulfillment hub (Printful, for instance, can aggregate orders
from Etsy, Shopify, etc. in one dashboard). This prevents missed orders.
• Customer Inquiries: Develop template responses for common questions (sizing, shipping times) to
save time typing. You can even use tools or Gmail templates for FAQs.
• Analytics Tracking: Use tools like Google Analytics (for your site) or utilize Etsy’s shop stats to
identify trends – what products sell in what season, which traffic source converts best, etc. 76 . Data-
driven decisions will help you scale effectively by focusing on high-performing areas.
• Project Management: If you’re juggling many designs and platforms, something like Trello or a
simple spreadsheet can help you track to-dos (e.g., “Design new Christmas graphics by Oct 1;
Optimize Etsy tags for top 5 listings; Launch new product line on Shopify next month”). Staying
organized becomes more important as you scale.
• Outsourcing: Automation isn’t just software – it’s also delegation. If you reach a point where you
have consistent profits, consider outsourcing tasks that consume your time but aren’t your strong
suit. For example, hire a virtual assistant to handle customer service or social media posting. Or
collaborate with freelancers: bring on additional designers to expand your design library faster 77
78 . Many successful POD businesses have multiple designers contributing art (either as one-off
• Scale Marketing Efforts: As your business grows, so should your marketing (in a targeted way).
Increase budgets on campaigns that showed positive ROI. Experiment with new marketing channels.
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For instance, you might start running seasonal promotions: by year 2 you could have Black Friday
sale emails, holiday ad campaigns, etc. Also, consider affiliate marketing or partnering with
bloggers/YouTubers where they earn a commission for referring sales. This can widen your audience
with relatively low risk (you pay commissions on actual sales). If you’ve built an email list, try
segmenting it and doing more sophisticated email marketing (like a special discount to your VIP
customers who purchased 2+ times). The goal is to reach more of the right people now that you know
what they like. Printful suggests using tactics like targeted ads, influencer partnerships, or even
hiring a marketing expert as you scale to keep expanding your reach 79 .
• Offer Customization or Personalization: One way to differentiate and add value as you scale is to
allow customers to personalize products (like adding their name or a custom phrase to a design).
Some POD suppliers and platforms support this (Printful, Printify, Gelato all have some
personalization capabilities). Personalized products often command higher prices and engage
customers (e.g., “Add your dog’s name to this mug”). It requires more effort (proofing each order’s
custom text), but it can be a lucrative expansion.
• Watch Your Numbers: When scaling, it’s easy to get caught up in revenue, but keep a close eye on
profit margins. More sales is great, but ensure your costs (ads, fees, etc.) aren’t growing faster.
Regularly calculate your profit per product and overall. As volume increases, consider if you can
negotiate better rates or use cost-saving options: e.g., Printify Premium for discounts, bulk order
samples or branded packaging, etc. If you have consistent sales in one country, you might route
orders to a local printer to save on shipping (Printify/Gelato let you choose providers by region).
• Customer Retention and Community: It’s cheaper to retain a customer than acquire a new one.
Encourage repeat business by releasing new designs/products to previous buyers (announce via
email or social media). Possibly implement a loyalty program or simply occasionally send a thank-
you discount code to past customers. Engaging with your customer community (through, say, an
Instagram where you feature customers wearing your products, or a Facebook group for your
brand) can create brand advocates who bring in others. As you scale, your community and word-of-
mouth can start playing a big role – but you have to cultivate it by being interactive and appreciative
of your customers.
• Mindset for Scale: Scaling can be challenging – more orders can mean more customer issues to
handle, more pressure to release new designs, etc. Keep the agile, learning mindset you had at the
start. Continue to gather feedback. What are customers saying in reviews? If you see requests (e.g.,
many say “wish this was in kids’ sizes”), that’s golden info for expansion. Be ready to pivot or tweak
your approach as the market or algorithms change. Also, protect your business by diversifying
income streams (maybe add printables or digital products, or even consider wholesale/B2B deals for
steady revenue). Essentially, think like a bigger business as you become one.
Finally, celebrate milestones – scaling isn’t just about toil. When you hit 100 sales, 1000 sales, or whatever
goals you set, acknowledge how far you’ve come. This will keep you motivated for the next stage of growth.
By following this guide – selecting the right platform, starting with popular products, researching your
niche, creating or sourcing great designs, integrating a trustworthy POD supplier, and steadily marketing
your store – you’ll be well on your way to building a successful print-on-demand business. Remember to
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pace yourself, keep learning, and adapt as you go. POD is a journey of creativity and entrepreneurship; with
low risk and this plan in hand, you have the freedom to experiment and find what works best for you. Good
luck, and happy printing!
Sources:
82 39
2. Teeinblue – 7 Marketplaces to Start POD Without a Website (platform pros/cons and fees) 5 3 6
83 61 8 84
3. Printful – Top 16 POD Companies (2025) and Copyright 101 (supplier features & IP rules) 42 44 46
13 85 60
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1 2 7 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 34 36 38 39 51 54 55 56 58 70 71 76 80 81
30 31 32 33 35 37 5+ Easiest Editing Tools for Print on Demand and Printables for Beginners - Rachel
Rofé
https://rachelrofe.com/5-easiest-editing-tools-for-print-on-demand-and-printables-for-beginners
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63 66 67 69 17 Critical Print-on-Demand Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
https://designmusketeer.com/print-on-demand/print-on-demand-mistake/
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