Understanding the Print-on-Demand Model

The print-on-demand (POD) industry is experiencing a period of rapid growth, fueled by the increasing demand for personalized products and the rise of online shopping. In 2024, the global POD market was valued at $10.21 billion, and it is projected to reach an impressive $87.1 billion by 2033. This business model offers a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs, artists, and influencers to tap into a thriving market with minimal upfront investment and reduced inventory-related risks. One of the key advantages of POD is its environmentally friendly nature. By producing items only when ordered, it minimizes raw material wastage and avoids the need for excess inventory and physical paperwork. If you’re looking to embark on your entrepreneurial journey with a POD business, this comprehensive guide will provide you with the necessary steps and insights to start and scale successfully in 2025.

Step 1: Decide What to Sell

Before diving into the world of POD, it’s crucial to have a clear strategy in place. This involves outlining your goals, target audience, and the specific steps you’ll take to achieve success. A well-defined strategy will guide your decision-making process and help you stay focused on your objectives.

The first step in starting your POD business is to identify a profitable niche and understand the demand for different products. Conduct thorough market research, analyze trends, and identify customer needs to make informed decisions about what to sell. Tools like ListingView can provide valuable insights into competitor shops, their top-performing listings, and keyword niches.

To avoid overwhelming customers and ensure a focused product offering, it’s recommended to start with just one product type and master it before expanding your product line. This allows you to gain experience, build momentum, and establish a strong foundation for your business.

Here are some of the most popular and trending POD products in 2025:

• Apparel:
  • T-shirts: T-shirts remain a top-selling POD product due to their versatility and wide appeal. Offer a variety of styles, colors (black and white being the most popular worldwide), and sizes (XS-4XL) to cater to diverse preferences and promote inclusivity. Consider incorporating vintage, nostalgia, Barbiecore, and futurecore designs to capitalize on current fashion trends.
  • Hoodies and Sweatshirts: These comfortable and stylish garments are perfect for colder climates and offer ample space for creative designs.
  • Leggings: Leggings continue to dominate the apparel industry, offering a lucrative niche for POD sellers.
  • Tank tops: With their versatility and diverse range of styles, tank tops are a trending product in the fashion scene.
  • Athleisure and Sportswear: The growing focus on health and wellness has led to increased demand for athleisure and sportswear. Explore options for yoga, fitness, running, cycling, and swimming apparel.
• Home Decor:
  • Wall Art: Wall art is a popular choice for personalizing living spaces. Offer a variety of styles, sizes, and frame/mounting suggestions to cater to different preferences and boost sales.
  • Throw Pillows: Throw pillows add a decorative touch to any room and are a favorite among home stylists.
  • Blankets: Blankets offer a wide range of possibilities, from personalized baby blankets to seasonal throws and milestone blankets.
• Drinkware:
  • Mugs: Mugs are a classic POD product that continues to be in high demand. Offer personalization options like names, initials, or custom illustrations to increase sales.
  • Tumblers: Tumblers are a popular choice for those who are always on the go
• Accessories:
  • Tote Bags: Eco-friendly tote bags are a sustainable and stylish choice for shoppers
  • Phone Cases: Phone cases allow individuals to express their personality and protect their devices. Consider focusing on niche fandom themes to attract specific customer groups
  • Stickers: Stickers are a low-cost, high-profit margin product that can be easily customized and shipped.
• Other:
  • Personalized Items: Personalized items are a growing trend in the POD industry. Customers love products that are unique to them, such as custom apparel with their names or initials
  • Stationery: Seasonal and event stationery, such as invitations, greeting cards, and planners, offer a unique opportunity for personalization. Offer digital downloads for instant gratification.
  • Kid-Friendly Products: Products like cute outfits, backpacks, or personalized storybooks cater to families with young children. Focus on bright designs, educational themes, or personalized names to stand out.

When selecting your products, consider factors such as:

• Sustainability: Offer eco-friendly materials and packaging to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers
• Personalization: Provide options for customization to cater to the growing demand for unique products
• Profit Margins: Research market trends and compare product costs to ensure profitability
• Shipping Costs: Factor in shipping costs when setting prices and consider using a local print provider to reduce expenses
• Trends: Stay up-to-date on the latest design trends and consider incorporating elements like minimalist designs, retro aesthetics, socially aware messaging, digital artwork, and pop culture references
• Events: Leverage major global events, such as the FIFA World Cup or Wimbledon, to create trending designs and capitalize on increased demand.
• Hobbies and Interests: Target specific interests or hobbies, such as gaming or pet ownership, to connect with niche markets and stand out from the competition
• Seasonal Options: Offer seasonal options for apparel and other products to tap into year-round opportunities
• Size and Color Options: Offer a variety of sizes and colors to cater to diverse preferences and avoid decision paralysis for customers
• Design Elements: Keep designs simple and clean, using a concise color palette and a limited number of design elements to avoid overwhelming customers
• Plastic Bans: Consider the impact of plastic bans and offer alternative materials like paper for products such as packaging, labels, and cards
• Decline in Children’s Literacy: Consider the decline in children’s literacy and how it may affect the demand for books
• More People Working from Home: Consider the impact of more people working from home on the demand for office supplies and home decor

Step 2: Choose a Print-on-Demand Platform

Once you’ve determined your product offerings, the next step is to select a suitable print-on-demand platform. These platforms act as intermediaries, handling the production, fulfillment, and shipping of your products, allowing you to focus on design and marketing. It’s essential to choose a platform that aligns with your business needs and offers the features and pricing models that best suit your requirements.

Before making a decision, it’s crucial to understand the different types of print-on-demand sites available:

• All-in-one sites: These platforms, such as Redbubble, Teepublic, and Amazon Merch on Demand, handle everything from printing and shipping to customer service. They offer a convenient option for beginners but may have limitations in terms of branding and customization.
• Marketplaces: Marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon offer a larger audience and built-in traffic but require integration with a third-party print-on-demand site like Printify or Printful.
• Personal websites: Creating your own website with a platform like Shopify or Wix gives you full control over your brand and customer experience but requires more effort in driving traffic.

Here’s a comparison of some of the top print-on-demand platforms in 2025:

Site	Features	Issues
Printful	Built-in mockup generator, integrations with a large variety of marketplaces and commerce platforms, 20% discount on sample orders, offers a wide variety of products, including apparel, home decor, and accessories	Products can be more expensive than competitors
Printify	Wide variety of products, competitive pricing for bulk orders, transparent production partner network, easy-to-navigate design tools, integrates with Shopify, Etsy, and TikTok	Product quality and shipping times can vary depending on the supplier
Gelato	Extensive global production network with over 130 locations, user-friendly interface, 1-click integration, focuses on high-quality products	Product range is not as extensive as some competitors
SPOD	Fast production, high-quality items, 48-hour production guarantee, integrates with Shopify, Squarespace, Magento, and WooCommerce	Fewer marketing tools compared to competitors
Sellfy	All-in-one solution with an integrated e-commerce platform, customizable store themes, marketing tools, offers global shipping and eco-friendly packaging	Higher base product costs
Gooten	Vast product catalog, global fulfillment options, advanced order management tools, integrates with Shopify and BigCommerce	Higher learning curve for beginners
Zendrop	Fast fulfillment, custom packaging, product bundles, integrates with Shopify	Some valuable features are inaccessible to non-paying users
CustomCat	Reliable shipping, substantial discounts, diverse product catalog, integrates with Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Etsy	No information available on specific features
Teelaunch	Robust fulfillment network, high-quality products, integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, and TikTok Shop	No information available on pricing
OnPrintShop	Ready-to-use templates, easy design customization tools, user-friendly interface, end-to-end print automation with AI-enabled functionalities, support for integration with suppliers, customized print e-commerce storefronts, reporting and analytics features, integration with existing and 300+ third-party applications, multi-language and multi-currency support	No information available on pricing or specific integrations

When choosing a POD platform, consider the following factors:

• Pricing: Evaluate the platform’s pricing model, including product costs, shipping fees, and any monthly or transaction fees
• Product Selection: Ensure the platform offers the types of products you want to sell and provides a wide enough selection to cater to your target audience
• Shipping Costs and Times: Consider the platform’s shipping costs and estimated delivery times, especially if you’re targeting a global market Choosing a local print provider can help reduce shipping costs and delivery times
• Production Time: Evaluate the platform’s production time to ensure you can meet customer expectations for order fulfillment
• Integrations: Check if the platform integrates with your chosen e-commerce platform or marketplace to streamline order management and inventory tracking.
• Customer Support: Assess the platform’s customer support channels and responsiveness to ensure you can get assistance when needed
• Branding Opportunities: Consider whether the platform offers white-labeling options or other branding features to enhance your brand identity
• Marketing Support: Explore any marketing tools or resources provided by the platform to help you promote your products and reach a wider audience.
• Print Quality: Look for platforms that prioritize high-quality printing and use reliable printing partners to ensure customer satisfaction
• Location of Suppliers: Consider the location of the platform’s suppliers, as local production can offer benefits such as faster delivery times and lower shipping costs
• Web-to-Print Industry Trends: Stay informed about the latest trends and technologies in the web-to-print industry to make informed decisions about platform selection

Step 3: Create Designs

Design plays a crucial role in the success of your POD business⁶. Eye-catching and appealing designs are essential for attracting customers and driving sales If you don’t have design skills, consider hiring a freelance designer or utilizing user-friendly design tools like Canva or Adobe Illustrator

To streamline your design process and ensure high-quality output, consider using pre-made templates and design suites. These tools can save you time and effort, especially if you have no design background. Platforms like Creative Fabrica offer affordable subscriptions to libraries of pre-made graphics and fonts that can be licensed for POD use.

When creating designs, keep in mind that they are generally non-exclusive, meaning you can use the same designs on multiple POD platforms and marketplaces. This allows you to maximize your reach and potentially increase your sales.

Here are some design trends and considerations for POD products in 2025:

• Minimalist Designs: Simple and clean designs continue to be popular, offering a timeless and versatile aesthetic
• Retro Designs: Nostalgic and retro-inspired designs are making a comeback, appealing to a wide audience with vintage typography and classic graphics.
• Socially Aware Messaging: Designs that promote equality, empathy, and resilience resonate with socially conscious consumers
• Digital Artwork: AI tools are increasingly being used to create intricate and unique digital artwork for POD products
• Pop Culture References: Incorporating pop culture references, from classic movies to trending memes, can add a fun and relatable touch to your designs
• Events: Leverage major global events and sports events to create trending designs and capitalize on increased demand
• Hobbies and Interests: Focus on themes that your audience loves, such as hobbies, interests, and niche fandoms, to create designs that resonate with specific customer groups
• Targeted Art Style: Choose an art style that aligns with your target audience and niche to enhance the appeal of your designs
• Concise Color Palette: Use a concise color palette with a limited number of color options to avoid overwhelming customers and make it easier for them to make purchasing decisions
• Simple Designs: Consumers generally prefer clean and simple designs, so avoid cluttering your products with excessive artwork
• Brainstorming: Regularly brainstorm new ideas and experiment with different design elements and styles to keep your offerings fresh and exciting
• Avoid Generic Holidays: When designing for holidays, avoid generic themes and instead focus on sub-niching or cross-niching to stand out from the competition

Step 4: Set Up Your Store

Once you have your designs ready, it’s time to set up your online store. You have several options to choose from:

• E-commerce Platforms: Platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and Amazon offer user-friendly interfaces, built-in audiences, and various features to help you create and manage your store. Etsy, in particular, can be a great starting point for POD businesses due to its low startup costs and built-in audience However, it’s important to note that platforms like Amazon Merch may have limitations on the number of designs you can upload, especially when starting out
• Personal Website: Creating your own website with a platform like Shopify or Wix gives you more control over your branding and customer experience. However, you’ll need to invest more effort in driving traffic to your site

When setting up your store, consider the following:

• Integrations: Choose an e-commerce platform that integrates seamlessly with your chosen POD platform to streamline order management and inventory tracking
• Customer Experience: Provide a positive customer experience by enabling essential features like secure payment gateways, various shipping options, and reliable customer service channels
• High-Quality Product Photos: Use high-quality product photos to showcase your designs and help customers visualize your products. Consider using high-quality mockups to make your products stand out
• Shift towards Online Selling: Recognize the growing trend towards online selling of print and optimize your online store accordingly

Step 5: Market Your Products

Marketing is essential for driving traffic to your store and generating sales. With the increasing number of active monthly users on social media, platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok offer valuable opportunities for reaching your target audience

Here are some effective marketing strategies for your POD business:

• Social Media Marketing: Create engaging content, run contests, and interact with your followers to build a strong social media presence
• Influencer Marketing: Collaborate with influencers who align with your brand values and have a following that matches your target audience
• Content Marketing: Create valuable content, such as blog posts, articles, or videos, that are relevant to your niche and attract potential customers
• Email Marketing: Build an email list and use email marketing to promote new products, offer discounts, and announce sales
• Paid Advertising: Utilize paid advertising on social media, search engines, or other websites to reach a wider audience and drive traffic to your store
• User-Generated Content (UGC): Encourage customers to share photos and reviews of your products to build trust and credibility
• Personalized Experiences: Leverage AI and machine learning to offer targeted marketing and personalized experiences to customers based on their online journey
• Custom Hashtag: Create a custom hashtag featuring your brand name and combine it with trending hashtags to increase visibility and build a community

Step 6: Scale Your Business

Once your POD business starts generating consistent sales, it’s time to focus on scaling your operations. This involves expanding your product line, adding new designs, reaching new markets, and optimizing your processes for efficiency and sustainability

Here are some key strategies for scaling your POD business:

• Streamline Your Processes: Regularly review and refine your processes to identify any bottlenecks or inefficiencies. Automate tasks, utilize tools to save time, and consider outsourcing tasks that you don’t have time for
• Collaborate with Artists and Freelancers: Partner with artists and freelancers to create new designs and expand your product offerings
• Optimize Your Website: Ensure your website is optimized for search engines and conversions to attract more customers and increase sales
• Expand Your Product Line: Introduce new product categories and add new designs regularly to offer more variety to your customers and cater to different segments
• Convey a Strong Brand Identity: Maintain a consistent brand identity across all your channels, including your website, social media, and marketing materials
• Invest in Customer Retention: Provide excellent customer service and offer loyalty programs to encourage repeat purchases and build a loyal customer base
• Build a Community: Create a community around your brand by engaging with customers on social media, hosting events, or partnering with other businesses
• Invest in Online Ads: Utilize online ads strategically to reach a wider audience and drive traffic to your store
• Expand Your Distribution Channels: Sell on multiple platforms, such as Shopify, Etsy, and Amazon, to reach a larger customer base
• Minimize Cart Abandonment: Implement strategies to reduce cart abandonment, such as exit pop-ups and targeted ads that address customer concerns
• Boost Customer Loyalty: Offer special coupons, discounts, or small gifts to reward customer loyalty and encourage repeat purchases
• Monitor Online Store Performance: Utilize reporting and analytics capabilities to track your store’s performance, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions
• Leverage AI and Automation: Utilize AI and automation to optimize your operations, personalize customer experiences, and speed up complex tasks
• Test Clearance Sales: When retiring underperforming products, consider running clearance sales to maximize revenue and clear out inventory
• Expand into New Markets: Explore new markets, especially the Asia-Pacific region, which is expected to have significant growth in the POD market
• Avoid Overcrowded Catalogs: Regularly review your product offerings and remove underperforming products to avoid overwhelming customers and causing decision paralysis
• Upload Consistently: Maintain a consistent uploading schedule to improve your visibility and potentially increase sales
• Invest in Long-Term Growth: Focus on building a sustainable brand that can scale over time, rather than just chasing short-term profits
• Experiment and Analyze Data: Continuously experiment with different strategies, analyze data, and make adjustments to improve your business performance
• Invest in Digital Printing and Automation: Consider investing in digital printing capabilities and automation to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and manage last-minute orders effectively
• Use Dynamic Mockups: Utilize Dynamic Mockups to streamline your design process, store your designs in one place, and ensure consistency across different mockups

Step 7: Set Your Pricing Strategy

Setting the right price for your POD products is crucial for balancing competitiveness and profitability. Research the market to understand the price range for similar products and ensure your pricing is competitive while still allowing for a healthy profit margin

Here are some key considerations for setting your pricing strategy:

• Shipping and Production Costs: Factor in all expenses related to creating and shipping your products, including taxes and service fees
• Average Price of Similar Products: Research current market trends and compare product costs for similar items among competitor online stores
• Profit Margins: Aim for a profit margin that allows you to cover your costs and generate a reasonable profit. The average profit margin for top-selling POD products is 40-50%
• Free Shipping: If you offer free shipping, factor in the delivery costs into the retail price¹⁶.
• Robust Pricing Model: Develop a pricing model that can absorb potential price increases due to factors like tariffs or rising energy costs

Legal and Tax Considerations

When starting and running a POD business, it’s essential to be aware of the legal and tax obligations involved. This includes obtaining the necessary licenses and permits, registering your business, and paying taxes on your income

Here are some key legal and tax considerations for POD businesses in 2025:

• Trademark Your Designs: Protect your intellectual property by trademarking your designs
• Comply with Data Protection Laws: Ensure you comply with data protection laws, such as GDPR, when handling customer data
• Understand Sales Tax and VAT: If you’re selling to customers in different states or countries, familiarize yourself with the sales tax and VAT requirements. Understand the concept of Nexus and how it determines your sales tax obligation
• Keep Track of Your Income and Expenses: Maintain accurate records of your income and expenses for tax purposes
• Consider Forming an LLC: Forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) can help protect your personal assets from business liabilities
• Resale Certificate: Obtain a resale certificate to avoid paying sales tax on products you purchase for resale
• Tax Deductions and Write-offs: Understand the various tax deductions and write-offs available to POD businesses to minimize your tax liability
• Separate Business and Personal Expenses: Maintain separate bank accounts and credit cards for your business and personal finances to simplify accounting and tax filing
• Consult with a Tax Professional: Seek guidance from a tax professional or CPA to ensure you comply with all tax requirements and maximize your deductions
• Tariffs: Be aware of the potential impact of tariffs on your business, especially if you’re sourcing products or materials from overseas
• Stricter Data Protection Laws: Stay informed about stricter data protection laws and how they may affect your business, especially when hosting customer data
• Stricter Health and Safety Requirements: Be aware of stricter health and safety requirements and how they may affect your production processes or working conditions
• New Employment Laws: Stay updated on new employment laws, especially if you plan to hire employees or contractors
• Disconnection between Laws in Different Countries: Consider the impact of the disconnection between the creation and governing of laws in different countries on international trade and your POD business

Conclusion

Starting and scaling a POD business in 2025 requires careful planning, a deep understanding of the market, and a commitment to providing high-quality products and excellent customer service. By following the steps outlined in this guide, staying informed about the latest trends and technologies, and adapting to the evolving market dynamics, you can increase your chances of success in this thriving industry.

Remember that building a successful POD business takes time and effort. Be patient, persistent, and willing to learn and adapt along the way. Consider finding a mentor who can provide guidance and support as you navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship

Keep in mind that the POD industry is constantly evolving, with new trends, technologies, and challenges emerging. Stay informed about these changes and adapt your strategies accordingly to ensure the long-term success of your business