How to Make Money with Print on Demand: From Beginner to Pro

So you’re wondering if print on demand (POD) really makes money? I’ll tell you straight up: it does.

I’ve been in eCom for over 15 years and print on demand has been one of the most fun, low risk ways to make money online.

Whether you’re a beginner dipping your toes in or ready to scale like a pro, this guide has you covered.

Let’s get started.

What is Print on Demand?

Print on demand is a business model where you design products—T-shirts, mugs, phone cases—and only pay for them when a customer orders.

No inventory means no upfront stock costs and no storage headaches. You focus on design and a fulfillment partner handles the rest: printing, packing and shipping.

Why it works:

No inventory or upfront product costs.
Scalable as you grow.
Freedom to test niches and designs.

That’s why POD is a great place to start making money.

Beginner-Friendly Tips to Get Started Making Money

1. Choose a Niche That Sells

The more specific your niche the easier it is to stand out. Here’s why: niche markets have less competition and more loyal customers.

Instead of targeting “everyone” pick an audience you can relate to. Think cat lovers, gamers or fitness enthusiasts.

You’ll know you have a good niche when you can describe your ideal customer in one sentence like: “They’re dog owners who love hiking and share photos of their adventures online.”

Tips to find a niche:

Use Google Trends to find popular topics.
Check Pinterest for design inspiration and trends.
Browse Etsy or Redbubble to see what’s selling.

2. Best Platforms for Beginners

Starting on the right platform can make all the difference. Here are my top picks:

Etsy: Perfect for beginners with its built-in audience. Etsy’s marketplace makes it easy to reach customers without needing advanced marketing.

Pros: High traffic, creative buyers.
Cons: Listing fees and competition.

Redbubble: Great for passive income. Redbubble promotes your designs so you can focus on creating rather than marketing.

Pros: Hands-off fulfillment and traffic.
Cons: Lower profit margins.

Amazon Merch: If you get approved you’re tapping into one of the largest marketplaces in the world.

Pros: High visibility.
Cons: Competitive and approval required.

Printful: Integrates with Shopify, Etsy and more. You can customize products and even add branded packaging.

Pros: High product quality, custom branding options.
Cons: Higher production costs.

Printify: A flexible option that connects you to multiple suppliers. Great for comparing pricing and quality.

Pros: Cost effective and scalable.
Cons: Quality depends on the supplier.

3. Designing to Win

You don’t need to be a pro designer to design products that sell. The best designs are often simple but meaningful.

Design tips for beginners:

Use Canva or similar tools to create professional looking designs.
Combine bold fonts with minimal graphics for a clean look.
Follow trends like funny quotes, nostalgia or popular culture themes.
Test your designs with mockups before producing.

Pro Tip: Focus on emotional connection. Products that make people laugh, inspire or resonate with their identity tend to sell best.

4. Choosing the Right Products

Start with popular and evergreen products like:

T-shirts
Mugs
Tote bags
Hoodies
Phone cases

Expand later with:

Seasonal products (e.g., Christmas sweaters).
Niche products like yoga mats, aprons or pet bandanas.

Key Tip: Choose products that match your niche. For example if your niche is fitness enthusiasts include water bottles or gym bags.

Advanced Strategies to Grow Your Print-on-Demand Business

Once you have traction it’s time to scale. Here’s how:

1. Set up a Shopify Store for Your Brand

Having your own Shopify store gives you full control over your brand and profits. While marketplaces like Etsy are great for beginners, having your own store lets you:

Avoid marketplace fees.
Build a loyal customer base.
Create a unique shopping experience.

Steps to get started:

Sign up for Shopify and choose a theme.
Connect with Printful or Printify for automated fulfillment.
Optimize your store with product descriptions, reviews and high quality images.
Start driving traffic with social media and ads.

2. Running Paid Ads

Paid ads can take your POD business to the next level but they need to be done right.

Where to advertise:

Facebook Ads: Great for targeting specific demographics and interests.
Instagram Ads: Show off your designs visually.
TikTok Ads: Perfect for viral marketing with short videos.

Tips for success:

Start small (£5-£10/day) and scale as you see results.
Use lookalike audiences to target people similar to your best customers.
A/B test different ad creatives and headlines.

3. Expanding Product Lines

Don’t stop at basic products. Offer unique or premium products to differentiate yourself from competitors and increase profit margins.

High-ticket products:

Jackets
Backpacks
Home decor (e.g., pillows, wall art)
Premium fitness gear

Bundle and upsell:

Offer discounts on bundles (e.g., T-shirt + mug).
Suggest related products at checkout.

4. Email Marketing

Email is one of the most powerful tools for driving repeat business. If you’re not building an email list, you’re leaving money on the table.

How to grow your list:

Offer a discount for first-time buyers.
Create a lead magnet, like a free design download or guide.

What to send:

New product announcements.
Exclusive discounts and promotions.
Personalised recommendations based on past purchases.

Organic social media growth takes time but it’s worth it.

Platforms to focus on:

TikTok: Post behind-the-scenes videos, customer testimonials or trending challenges.
Instagram: Post high quality product images and Reels.
Pinterest: Drive traffic to your store with pins.

Engagement tips:

Reply to comments and messages fast.
Use polls and Q&A to interact with your audience.
Post regularly to stay top of mind.

Real-Life Examples

Let’s take a look at a couple of examples:

Etsy Seller Spotlight: A beginner focused on pet-themed mugs made over £1,000 in their first month. They kept it simple with funny slogans and optimised their Etsy listings with relevant keywords.
£50K/Month: A Shopify store owner made £50,000/month by targeting a specific audience with Facebook ads. They used upsells and bundles to increase average order value.

Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some to watch out for:

Not researching: Don’t design without understanding your audience.
Overstocking: Start with 5-10 products. Test before you scale.
Ignoring customer feedback: Use reviews and feedback to refine your products.
Relying on one platform: Diversify so you don’t lose sales if a platform changes their terms.

Conclusion

Print on demand is one of the easiest ways to make money online but it’s not a get rich quick scheme. Success comes from choosing the right niche, designing what resonates and scaling smartly.

Go! Design something, grow!

What is Print on Demand?