Print on Demand: What It Is & How To Start (2026)

Imagine your artwork on t-shirts, your designs on posters, or your logo on backpacks and water bottles. How about turning your writing into a self-published book? With print on demand, it's easy to design or customize everyday items and sell them online.

This guide explores print on demand, a business model experiencing rapid growth—the global market reached approximately 10ドル billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a 25% annual rate through 2033. Below, find essential tips on launching your print-on-demand business, including links to some of the best print-on-demand services.

What is print on demand?

Print on demand is a business model where products, such as clothing, accessories, or home décor, are designed by the seller and produced by the supplier once an order is received. When a customer places an order, the product is printed, packed, and shipped by a third-party print-on-demand service. For sellers, this eliminates the need to purchase and manage inventory.

Products commonly sold through print on demand include t-shirts, mugs, posters, and books. The method appeals to many sellers because it enables them to test different designs and product ideas without a big financial investment.

You can use a print-on-demand service to:

• Test a small business idea or new product line without the risk of buying inventory
• Monetize a YouTube audience or fans with branded merchandise
• Create original products for niche customers like CrossFit enthusiasts or French bulldog owners
• Produce small batches of products to promote your event or brand
• Offer products that celebrate seasonal holidays or reference cultural trends
• Compare designs and products to see which your customers prefer
• Start your online store to sell custom products worldwide

A graphic shows the six stages of the print-on-demand process.

How print on demand works

Using a print-on-demand service is straightforward. Here's how it typically works:

1. Create a design

Start by creating a unique design. Use the design tools in your print-on-demand app to develop a logo, image, or pattern that complements the product you want to sell.

This could mean adding a printed image of a meme to a t-shirt, or an embroidered illustration to a bag. Think about what will resonate with your target audience.

2. Choose products

Next, browse a print-on-demand catalog and choose which items to add your designs to. Most print-on-demand apps offer a range of options across categories like clothing, accessories, stationery, and home goods.

3. List products for sale

When your print-on-demand products are ready, list them in your online store. You'll need to write clear product descriptions, set prices, and add product images that showcase your items in detail.

Make your online store visually appealing and easy to navigate, so customers can easily find what they're looking for.

4. Customer makes a purchase

When a customer decides to buy one of your products, they place an order through your online store's checkout.

5. Order is sent to the print-on-demand company

Order details are then sent to your print-on-demand provider. This process can be automatic if you connect your online store with a print-on-demand app.

6. Printing, packing, and shipping

The company prints the product, packages it, and ships it directly to the customer. Depending on the service you use, customers may also be able to send returns back to your print-on-demand partner.

Pros and cons of print on demand

Print on demand is a dropshipping business model that makes running a business more accessible:

• Quick to market: Design a product and list it for sale in minutes.
• No inventory: Run a low-cost, low-risk business that doesn't handle inventory.
• Outsourced fulfillment: Your print-on-demand partner takes care of shipping.

However, print on demand also has some limitations to consider:

• Higher cost per item: Since you won't purchase items in bulk, they cost more per unit.
• Limited control over shipping: You may not be able to set shipping costs or customize the delivery experience.
• Customization constraints: Print-on-demand services are often unable to accommodate complex design requests.

If you're looking for other inventory-free selling options, try connecting with established Shopify brands to sell their products.

Getting started with print on demand

It's a great time to start using print on demand. Whether you want to create hoodies for your social media followers, tote bags to promote your brand, or new custom products for your store, print on demand has become an established way to produce and sell products.

With Shopify, you can connect print-on-demand apps directly to your store. When you make a sale, the order is automatically forwarded to your print-on-demand partner for production and shipping.

3 popular print-on-demand services

It's important to pick a print-on-demand service that meets your needs.

Think about product selection, shipping speed, and pricing when choosing a partner. A great deal on shipping costs might lose its appeal if your customers need to wait three weeks to receive their orders.

Do your research to vet potential partners. Start by considering these three popular print-on-demand services:

1. Printful

The logo of Printful, featuring three colored triangles that symbolize printing ink

Printful is a popular choice among print-on-demand sites because of its wide selection of high-quality products and brands (Gildan, American Apparel, etc.). It has a free trial, an easy-to-use mockup generator, and options for adding your own branding to the unboxing experience.

2. Printify

The logo of Printify, which is cartoon snapping fingers on a green background

Printify is another print-on-demand service that features a large selection of t-shirts, hoodies, and popular products. It also has an international vendor network with a number of white-label products, such as jewelry, shoes, and water bottles.

3. Gelato

With a network of more than 140 printing partners in 32 countries, Gelato offers a wide range of products to customize and sell, including a focus on stationery and wall art.

Check out more of the best print-on-demand companies and sites.

Tips for starting with print on demand

Using a print-on-demand service is often easier than managing your own inventory, but there are unique considerations to be aware of.

Here are some essential best practices for any print-on-demand business.

Always order samples

As a seller, you should feel confident about the quality of the products you offer to your customers—even when they're sourced from a third party.

The best way to ensure your products look and feel as intended is to order samples. Place sample orders through your online store to test out your entire shopping experience, from browsing to delivery.

Some print-on-demand services, like Printful, offer a sample discount to help sellers validate their design choices.

Beyond ensuring product quality, samples can also be useful for taking product photos for your website and social media profiles.

Create mockups of your products

While samples can help you snap compelling photos, mockups help customers envision themselves owning your products.

Many print-on-demand services have mockup generators to showcase your products on a model, in an environment, or as a flat lay.

Be strategic about shipping

Even though you won't be shipping products yourself, it's up to you to set expectations and communicate with customers throughout the shipping process.

The best print-on-demand companies are transparent about shipping and proactive about sharing information, but you remain the point of customer contact.

Account for printing times in your shipping estimates. Outline what customers should expect concerning shipping on your FAQ page or a dedicated Shipping page.

If possible, absorb shipping costs into retail prices. Extra shipping costs added at checkout may deter some customers, while the incentive of "free shipping" can enrich your marketing efforts.

Find a niche audience

Since the print-on-demand model offers smaller profit margins, you'll want to be strategic about how you position your brand. Having a clearly defined audience can help lower the cost of acquiring customers, increasing your potential profits.

Finding a niche makes it easier to grow an audience.

Creating designs when you're not a designer

Design plays a crucial role in creating successful print-on-demand products. But you don't need to be a full-time designer to source original designs.

There are many ways to commission or produce your own designs, as long as you understand a few key concepts that will help you work effectively with designers.

If design isn't your strength, consider using logo maker tools, hiring freelance designers, or using AI-powered design assistants to create professional-looking graphics for your products.

Understand file specifications

First, and most important, is preparing your design file. When working with designers, you should specify that your design is for printing. This implies that it should be saved at a resolution of 300 dots per inch (dpi). The dimensions of the images you upload should be the same size as the printing area for the product.

Note that print specifications will change depending on the printing technique used. When in doubt, just send the designer the print specs for the specific product so they understand the context.

In most cases, the file you upload will be a PNG or PSD. Keep in mind that if you use a transparent background, the color of the product will be your background color.

Example of a printing guide layer in Photoshop, showing the user where to place their design

Find design inspiration

One of the more challenging aspects of starting a print-on-demand business when you're not a designer is figuring out what you want to design in the first place.

This will depend on your target audience for the product, but you can find design inspiration on social media networks like Pinterest and Subreddits, or wherever your potential customers hang out online.

Look for content, messaging, or styles that resonate with your target audience. Just be sure you're not directly copying or infringing on anyone else's work.

Social media is also a great place to litmus test your ideas. Create a mini focus group by:

• Posting to your personal network
• Using Instagram's Poll and Question stickers to solicit feedback
• Sharing a design idea with a subreddit

Partner with a designer

In the best-case scenario, you're a designer or know one you can work well with. But don't be discouraged if you don't have access to design skills. That's what outsourcing is for.

You can find designers to work with on Behance or 99designs who can produce usable designs as long as you provide clear instructions. Here's how you can add clarity and context for a design project:

• Share insight into your audience. Tell them what it's for and who your audience is. Showing them your website can help.
• Clearly explain what you want. Use your initial pitch and subsequent revisions (you should get at least one or two) to over-communicate what you're looking for, and try to provide concrete feedback every step of the way.
• Provide examples for inspiration. Give them a reference to base the design on, or point to past work that you liked.

Design, sell, and grow

Print on demand is an accessible pathway for new entrepreneurs—and anyone who wants to test an idea before they invest in it.

There are thousands of white-label products out there, and no shortage of possible designs to pair with them.

If your print-on-demand product sells, you can always graduate from print on demand to holding your own inventory, or continue to use these services while finding new ways to grow your audience.

The greatest advantage of the print-on-demand model is flexibility, giving you back to focus on growing your business.

From first-time sellers to global retailers, Shopify works for everyone. See plans and pricing.

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