Starting a business used to mean investing thousands in inventory, storage, and shipping. But what if you could launch a profitable business today—without ever touching a single product?
That’s exactly what print-on-demand (POD) allows you to do.
With POD, you can sell custom-designed apparel, mugs, phone cases, home decor, and more—without handling production, packaging, or shipping.
It’s one of the easiest ways to start an online business, even if you have no experience.
Here’s how…
First things first…
How does Print-on-Demand Work?
- You Create a Design – Whether it’s a funny quote, an artistic illustration, or a motivational phrase, your design is the heart of your business.
- Upload It to a POD Platform – Sites like Printify, Printful, or Gelato let you place your design on hundreds of products.
- List It for Sale – Connect your POD supplier to an online marketplace like Etsy, Amazon, or Shopify.
- A Customer Orders, and the Supplier Does the Rest – The POD service prints, packages, and ships the item—while you collect the profit.
Why Print-on-Demand Is a Great Business Model…
- No Upfront Inventory Costs – You don’t pay for products until they sell, eliminating financial risk.
- Low Maintenance – Once your designs are uploaded, orders are fulfilled automatically.
- Unlimited Scalability – Your business isn’t limited by how much stock you can store.
- Creative Freedom – Sell designs based on trends, personal interests, or niche markets.
So, now you understand the power of POD, let’s get to the good stuff:
How to get started
- Pick a Niche That Sells
The more targeted your audience, the better. Examples of profitable niches include:
- Motivational quotes for entrepreneurs
- Funny pet-themed shirts for dog lovers
- Nostalgic 90s or retro designs
- Sports and fitness gear
- Personalized gifts
Look for trending topics or underserved markets for maximum success.
- Create Simple but Marketable Designs
You don’t have to be a professional designer—tools like Canva or Placeit make it easy to create stylish graphics. Keep designs simple, readable, and visually appealing.
Not confident in your design skills? Hire a freelancer on Fiverr or Upwork to create designs for you.
- Sell on the Right Platform
Different platforms work best for different business models:
- Etsy – Best for unique and personalized designs.
- Amazon Merch on Demand – Taps into millions of buyers with built-in traffic.
- Shopify + Printify/Printful – Best for building a brand and keeping more profit per sale.
Bonus tip: Promote your designs on social media to attract customers faster!
Print-on-demand is the perfect way to turn creativity into cash—without the headaches of traditional inventory-based businesses.
You design, they print and ship, and you collect the profits.
If you’re looking for an easy, flexible online business to start this week, print-on-demand might be exactly what you need.
