Starting a print on demand (POD) business is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to get into ecommerce.

You don’t need to invest in inventory upfront. You don’t need a warehouse or shipping system. And you don’t need design experience if you use the right tools.

But while it’s simple to start, that doesn’t mean it’s easy to grow.

Print on demand takes research, testing, and strategy. If you treat it like a business from day one, you can build a reliable income stream—especially if you niche down and focus on creating real value for your customers.

Here’s exactly how I would go about starting a POD business from scratch in 2025.

If you’re short on time or just want a quick overview before diving in, here’s a simplified breakdown of how to start a print on demand business from scratch:

TL;DR: How to Start a Print on Demand Business

• Choose a specific niche with proven demand
• Pick a platform: Shopify, Etsy, or Amazon Merch
• Use a POD supplier like Printify, Printful, or Gelato
• Create simple, targeted designs using tools like Canva or Kittl
• Optimize product listings with strong keywords and clean mockups
• Drive traffic with Etsy SEO, TikTok content, or small-budget ads
• Start with 3–5 products, test, and double down on what sells
• Focus on quality, margins, and customer experience from day one

Choose Your Niche First

Picking a niche is the most important step. It affects your designs, pricing, marketing, and brand. Without a niche, your products won’t stand out.

Customers need to know your store is made for them—not for everyone.

Why a Niche Matters

A strong niche:

• Helps you create targeted designs people actually want
• Makes marketing easier (especially on platforms like Etsy or TikTok)
• Builds brand loyalty over time
• Reduces competition because you’re not trying to sell to everyone

Some niches that are still working in 2025:

• Dog breeds and pet lovers
• Fitness subcultures (e.g., CrossFit moms, powerlifters, runners)
• Career-focused themes (e.g., nurses, teachers, truck drivers)
• Mental health and affirmations
• Hobbies like fishing, hiking, or video gaming

How to Choose One

If you’re stuck choosing a niche, try this method:

1. List your interests or communities you’re part of.
2. Use Etsy or Redbubble to search keywords and check bestsellers.
3. Validate demand by checking reviews, TikTok hashtags, or Amazon search volume.
4. Confirm that the niche is specific enough to design for (but broad enough to scale).

Niche Selection Table

Niche	Pros	Cons
Pet Owners	Loyal buyers, endless sub-niches	Saturated with dog/cat content
Nurses	High emotional connection	Difficult to create fresh designs
Gym/Workout	Consistent demand	Trend-driven, needs constant updating
Mental Health	Positive messaging, evergreen	Needs careful language/tone
Political Humor	Viral potential	Risky, polarizing content

Set Up Your Storefront

Once you have your niche, it’s time to set up a storefront. There are three main ways to sell print on demand products:

1. Shopify with a POD App
2. Etsy with a POD integration
3. Amazon Merch on Demand

Shopify + POD Apps

This gives you full control of branding and customer experience. It’s a better long-term option if you plan to build a standalone store.

Pros:

• Full control over branding and domain
• Easier to scale with ads
• More backend flexibility

Cons:

• Requires monthly fee (Shopify starts at $39/month)
• No built-in traffic—you need to bring your own

Recommended apps:

• Printify (lower base prices)
• Printful (better product selection, high quality)
• Gelato (great international coverage)

Etsy + POD

Etsy is ideal for beginners. You can tap into existing traffic, and you don’t need a full website.

Pros:

• Built-in customer base
• No upfront cost for setting up a website
• Etsy shoppers are used to buying custom products

Cons:

• Higher competition
• Etsy takes fees (6.5% + listing and payment processing)

Amazon Merch on Demand

Amazon lets you list your designs and handles everything from printing to shipping.

Pros:

• Massive audience
• No upfront investment or subscription needed

Cons:

• Strict application process
• Limited design control
• You only get a royalty, not full profit

Each platform has its own strengths depending on your goals, budget, and level of experience.

If you want full control and plan to build a long-term brand, Shopify is the way to go.

If you’re testing the waters and want built-in traffic without the overhead, Etsy makes it easy to start.

And if you want a completely hands-off approach with access to one of the world’s biggest marketplaces, Amazon Merch might be worth exploring.

The key is to pick the platform that matches where you’re at right now—not where you think you’ll be a year from now.

Pick a Print on Demand Supplier

The supplier you choose determines your product quality, pricing, and shipping speed. It also affects your margins.

Here’s a breakdown of the most popular POD providers:

POD Supplier Comparison

Supplier	Base Cost (T-Shirt)	Product Quality	Shipping Speed	Integrations
Printify	$8.00–$12.00	Depends on provider	3–7 days	Etsy, Shopify, WooCommerce
Printful	$13.00–$16.00	Premium	3–6 days	Shopify, Etsy, Amazon
Gelato	$9.00–$13.00	Good	Fast globally	Shopify, WooCommerce
SPOD	$7.00–$10.00	Average	Very fast (48 hrs)	Shopify, WooCommerce

Printify offers one of the lowest base costs in the market by partnering with multiple print providers. That means quality can vary depending on which supplier you choose, but it gives you more pricing flexibility and better margins, especially if you’re testing designs.

Printful is known for premium product quality and branding options like custom packing slips and inside labels. It’s more expensive, but great for sellers building a premium or long-term brand with consistent quality across orders.

Gelato is ideal for international sellers. They have a global network of printers, which means faster delivery worldwide and lower shipping costs for non-US customers. The product quality is solid, and it integrates easily with major platforms.

SPOD stands out for speed. They offer 48-hour production times, which is rare in POD. While their product catalog and quality are more basic, they’re a good fit if quick turnaround is your top priority.

Design Winning Products

You don’t need to be a graphic designer. But you do need to create clean, clear designs that connect with your audience.

Tools like Canva, Kittl, and even AI art generators like Midjourney can help.

Key Design Tips

• Keep it simple: Most top-selling shirts use just text and one or two colors.
• Focus on message: Designs should make people say, “That’s so me” or “I know someone who needs this.”
• Use humor, nostalgia, or emotion: These drive conversions.
• Test different product types: Shirts, mugs, totes, and posters all sell well.

Design Tools I Recommend

• Canva Pro – Easy drag-and-drop designs with built-in templates
• Kittl – More flexibility and better for advanced typography
• Midjourney – Create custom art with prompts (good for posters and niche designs)

If you’re not a designer, you can also outsource initial designs on Fiverr or Upwork for $5–$20 per item.

Upload Products and Optimize Listings

Now that you have designs ready, it’s time to create listings. Your product titles, descriptions, and tags matter just as much as the design.

Etsy Optimization Checklist

• Use all 13 tags
• Include the niche keyword in your title
• Front-load the most relevant keywords
• Write a description that answers these questions:
  • Who is it for?
  • What makes it special?
  • How does it ship?
• Add 5+ high-quality mockups using tools like Placeit
• Offer free shipping if possible

Shopify Optimization Tips

• Use SEO-friendly product URLs
• Include lifestyle images (not just plain mockups)
• Add a size chart and FAQs to reduce returns
• Enable reviews to build social proof

Handle Orders, Shipping, and Returns

When someone places an order, your POD supplier will automatically fulfill it. That’s the beauty of the business—you don’t have to touch the product.

But you still need to manage the customer experience.

Key Points to Cover

• Communicate clearly about shipping times
• Offer order tracking (most suppliers do)
• Respond to customer inquiries quickly
• Set up return policies (many POD products aren’t eligible unless defective)

Returns are a common issue. Because items are custom-made, most suppliers won’t accept returns unless the item is damaged. Be upfront about this in your FAQ.

Start Driving Traffic

Without traffic, your store won’t make sales. You can’t just upload products and hope people find you.

Here are a few ways to get traffic to your POD store:

1. Etsy SEO

If you’re on Etsy, focus heavily on search terms. Most shoppers find items through search.

• Use keyword research tools like eRank or Marmalead
• Look at what tags top shops are using
• Refresh listings every few weeks to stay relevant

2. TikTok Organic

TikTok works well for niche products. Create content around your product’s lifestyle or emotional appeal.

• Share “pack with me” videos
• Show behind the scenes of your design process
• Use trending audio + relevant hashtags

3. Paid Ads

Running ads is more advanced, but worth testing once you have a proven product.

• Facebook Ads: Works best with emotion-driven designs
• TikTok Ads: Ideal for visual, impulse-buy products
• Pinterest Ads: Great for gifts and home decor items

Start small—$5 to $20/day—and test different audiences and creatives.

Getting traffic isn’t about doing everything at once—it’s about picking one or two channels and doing them well.

Whether you focus on Etsy SEO, short-form content on TikTok, or small ad tests, the goal is to get your products in front of the right audience consistently.

Once you find a channel that brings in steady sales, you can scale from there without spreading yourself too thin.

Scale What Works

Once a design starts selling consistently, don’t stop there. Double down.

Scaling Checklist

• Launch complementary products (e.g., mug version of your t-shirt)
• Add bundle deals and upsells
• Create a simple email list for returning customers
• Run retargeting ads for visitors who didn’t buy
• Keep adding new designs within the same niche

Many sellers plateau because they try to reinvent the wheel with new niches. Stick with what works and expand slowly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Too many products too soon: Start with 3–5 listings and improve them instead of uploading 100 designs in one go.
• No clear audience: Generic quotes don’t sell. Know your buyer.
• Ignoring shipping times: Be transparent to avoid negative reviews.
• Bad mockups: Low-quality images kill trust instantly.
• Pricing too low: You’ll lose money fast if your margins don’t make sense.

Avoiding these mistakes early on can save you time, money, and frustration. Print on demand is a simple model, but the details matter.

Focus on quality over quantity, know exactly who you’re selling to, and make sure your listings build trust from the first click.

Getting the basics right gives you a solid foundation to grow from.

Print on Demand Profit Example

Let’s break down a basic t-shirt sale using Printify on Etsy.

Item	Amount
Sale Price	$24.99
Printify Base Cost (Bella+Canvas Tee)	$10.10
Etsy Fees (Listing + Transaction + Payment)	~$3.00
Shipping (Free to US)	$4.50
Net Profit	$7.39

It’s not huge per unit, but the key is to sell in volume—or create higher-ticket bundles.

Final Thoughts

Starting a print on demand business is low risk and has huge upside if you treat it seriously. It’s not passive.

But it’s highly scalable once you find a niche and build a system around testing, optimizing, and repeating what works.

Focus on delivering value to a specific group of people. Keep things simple. And test small before going all in.

Once you find that first design that sells consistently, everything gets easier.