Starting a print-on-demand business is easier than ever with Printify. All you need is an idea and to set up a basic shop for your products.

Whether it’s your main business idea or just a side hustle, Printify will help you your business. You do not need to worry about the actual printing, shipping, and delivery of the products.

Let’s take a look at how to start a print-on-demand business and set up an account on Printify.

What is print-on-demand?

First thing’s first – what is print-on-demand?

Print-on-demand works as a printing system that caters to individual orders in real-time. It’s an e-commerce business that creates print copies once the customer has already placed an order. It may include items such as t-shirts, tote bags, mugs, mobile or laptop covers and posters.

Print-on-demand eliminates the need to keep inventory and spend money on designing items beforehand. The basic product is always available for customization by the buyer. Once the order is placed, the business can use the money paid by the customer to process it.

Pros and cons of a print-on-demand business

Print-on-demand businesses can cater to custom consumer demands for unique products. This means you can start a successful business with no major investment and planning.

We’ll discuss the pros and cons so you can learn more on how to start a print-on-demand business and whether it’s the right business model for you.

Pros:

Easy to set up

Setting up a print-on-demand business is simple, as users can easily create accounts on online platforms, add details about products, and start selling. Within a few minutes, the seller account will be functional. You may choose free platforms or pay a premium platform for extra services.

Create a brand name

If you have a unique business idea, POD will give you the freedom to create an exclusive brand. The customized products and packaging will give your brand a selling point among consumers. Since you own the product design and label, no third party will meddle as your brand grows.

Minimum inventory

To sell products via POD, you do not need to keep a significant inventory or spend on extra packaging. The products will be made as per the order, so you won’t need to hold on to surplus stock. Besides, you will not have to throw away any additional merchandise if no one buys a particular design.

Focus on the business

Letting the professionals handle packaging, shipping and other logistics will give you ample time to design new products and focus solely on the creative parts of the business.

Save on labor and equipment

Since you’re not processing the orders, you won’t have to hire labor or spend on expensive equipment. Not spending on equipment will also give you the freedom to experiment with different business ideas.

Cons:

Product quality

It may be hard to control the product quality when you cannot physically inspect it. Due to this, the customers may not trust your brand entirely.

Limited earnings

The profit margin is usually limited as the goods are sold on demand and the third-party platform has a cut in the selling price. Some platforms may charge additional commissions on each sale apart from the platform fees.

Lack of transparency

The marketing of the product is on a third-party platform, so you may not get exact customer insights on your business, meaning you won’t know the specifics of buyer intent and further information about the customers.

What is Printify?

Printify is a platform to sell print-on-demand goods such as home decor, planners, t-shirts, phone cases, and mugs. It is one of the most reliable and simple on-demand printing platforms. You can design and create different types of customizable goods for print-on-demand with Printify.

Printify will take on the job of covering product manufacturing, printing, packaging and shipping. Besides, it allows users to integrate their accounts with Etsy and Shopify for better sales.

Started in 2015, Printify has become a go-to for small businesses and individuals selling custom products. Over the years, it has established itself as a trusted platform due its transparent prices, quality checks, and customer service.

The platform also offers dropshipping services. If you want to learn more about dropshipping, you can learn over here about how to start a dropshipping business.

How to start a print-on-demand business with Printify?

There are several steps to getting started with Printify, let’s take a look:

Select a business niche

You may have a niche if you already have an idea of what you’d like to sell, if you don’t, you’ll need to do some research online to learn about the current trends.

You can select niches such as cooking, fitness, organization, nutrition, memes, camping, and more. With tools such as Semrush, Keyword Planner, and Ahrefs, you can look into the search volume of these niches. The popularity of certain terms can inspire you with some ideas for a best-selling product.

Choose products to sell

After choosing a niche, you will have to come up with product ideas. Ideally, your product should be in high demand. You can choose simple stickers, custom socks, printed phone covers, tote bags, and T-shirts.

The best thing to do is look for an in-demand product catalog that has a gap in the market with a considerable amount of interest. Most products already exist, so make sure to give your products a creative twist for new customers.

Other platforms to find trending products on are Etsy or Amazon. You can also look for ideas on social media platforms like X, Facebook, and Instagram.

Set up an LLC

Once you’ve decided what product you’ll be selling, you’ll have to register your business. The best business structure for this type of business is an LLC.

As an online business, registering a US LLC comes with a host of benefits, such as; credibility with customers, suppliers, and partners, US market access, cashout using US payment processors which are much faster and more reliable, favorable tax treatment for online services, and much more.

You can form an LLC and start your business with doola, from anywhere in the world, in less than five minutes.

Work on designs

Next up, it’s time to focus on the product designs and making them unique to attract customers. You have to give the consumers a reason to want your product in comparison to other brands. If your design stands out, the customers will be tempted to place an order.

Create mood boards for your products and test a few out before finalizing. If you need help in the design department, you may hire an online professional freelancer to work on helping you create unique designs.

Pick a platform for integration

Printify allows integration with several online stores. There are two different options to sell print-on-demand goods; choosing an already established marketplace or creating a new eCommerce store.

Some marketplace options include Etsy, Ebay, and PrestaShop. You can also create an eCommerce platform by setting up your own website and store using Shopify or WooCommerce.

Store set up

After choosing a selling platform, set up the store by adding detailed information on the website. Most of the platforms have user-friendly tools and interfaces to create the store or you can get a professional’s help.

Some platforms have customizable templates, to-do videos and pre-built stores.

Choose a supplier

Your supplier will be the backbone of the business, so make sure you choose someone that ensures product quality, on-time shipping and delivery.

We recommend using Printify. This print-on-demand platform has helped various businesses sell custom designs. From printing to shipping, Printify manages these tasks with ease.

All you have to do is sign up on Printify, create an account, and start selling.

Product quality check

Learning how to start a print-on-demand business involves paying attention to product quality. The execution of the design and quality of your products will directly impact the sales. Always inspect the quality of some samples beforehand.

High-quality products will help you build a brand name and customer trust. Happy customers means a happy business!

Product marketing

Once you’ve set up an online store, it’s time to start marketing your product. Here are a few ways you can market your business:

Social media

Create accounts on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube. You can link all the accounts to ensure cross-platform traffic. Add relevant content on these platforms, engaging the audience with the product designs, features, and how to use them.

Shop optimization

Use Google Keyword Planner to SEO optimize your store. When a customer searches using certain keywords, your store will appear at the top and generate more leads.

Influencer marketing

If you want to do influencer marketing, choose a social media influencer based on your target audience. Endorsements can directly convert viewers into buyers.

Content strategy

Use blogs, articles and testimonials on the website to promote the product. Make sure the information is reliable and contributes to the readers while also marketing the products.

How do I create a Printify account?

1. Go to Printify.com and click the “Sign Up” button located at the top-right corner of the page.

2. You will be prompted to enter your name, email address, and create a password for your account.

3. Once you’ve created your account, you can access the Printify dashboard. From there, you can set up your profile by adding personal and business details, such as your store name and profile picture.

4. To start selling products, you’ll need to connect your Printify account to an e-commerce platform like Shopify, WooCommerce, or Etsy. Go to the “My new store” section and click “Connect” to link your store to your chosen platform.

5. Browse through Printify’s product catalog, select the items you want to sell, and upload your designs. You can also use Printify’s mockup generator to create product images for your online store. Browse through Printify’s product catalog, select the items you want to sell, and upload your designs. You can also use Printify’s mockup generator to create product images for your online store.

6. Choose the selling price for your products, taking into account the costs of production and shipping. Review the shipping options provided by different print providers to select the best fit for your store.

7. After setting up your products and designs, you can publish them to your e-commerce store. Once your products are live, customers can start placing orders.

8. When customers place orders, they will automatically be sent to Printify for production and shipping. You can track the order status and manage your business through the Printify dashboard.

Building Your Business With Printify

You now have all the details on how to start a print-on-demand business in a few easy steps. Whether you wish to expand your current business with Printify or have a unique design idea, the platform offers convenient services.

With features such as e-commerce store integration, free basic services, and reliable quality products, Printify can help you build your business.

FAQs

How much does Printify cost?

Sellers can create an account for free on Printify. They only pay for the orders and shipping. Printify also offers a premium plan with monthly ($29) and yearly($299) subscriptions with benefits such as 20% off on products.

What are Printify’s shipping options?

Printify has shipping options such as Economy, Standard, Priority, and Express. Economy shipping starts from $3.99, and standard shipping will start from $6.49. However, the exact cost of the shipping will depend on the suppliers and destination.

Priority shipping is calculated individually as per the order. Express shipping will start from $7.99 per item. Since Printify does not offer free shipping, you will have to consider this while pricing the products.

What are good banking options?

If you’re registering your business as a US LLC, here are our recommendations for banking:

• Mercury

• Relay Financial

• Brex

• Citibank

• Bank of America

• Wells Fargo (Very foreign-friendly)

• JP Morgan Chase