If you are considering ways to make passive income, you have probably heard about print-on-demand. We all desire a side hustle that brings in extra cash. The economy is not easy on any of us.
So, how much can you make with POD? Ryan Hogue claims to make $10,000 a month with his print-on-demand business. Wholesale Ted also declared a similar margin from selling one of their design. ZipRecruiter shows that Work from home POD in the United States earns an average of $4649 monthly.
This article will teach you how to make money with the print of demand and its profitability. If you are still wondering whether Amazon KDP is worth it, I wrote a whole article sharing the pros and cons of starting an Amazon KDP business.
How To Make Money From Print-On-Demand?
Your success and the amount you can make with print-on-demand depends on your audience, how they resonate with your designs, and your ability to reach them.
Of course, in the beginning, you may only make a little money from your designs. You may not have an audience, and people are unaware of your Work.
Some print-on-demand entrepreneurs report making $50 in the first month, but with time, they now earn between $9,000 and $15000 a month from the business.
Before we proceed, let’s get this burning question out of the way.
Is print-on-demand profitable? Yes. But if you want a get-rich-quick scheme, POD is not your thing. It takes years to start seeing desirable results.
So, what is the secret to crushing these numbers in the shortest time possible? I combed the internet and listened to print-on-demand gurus. I have crammed their advice on how to make money from POD in this article for you.
Note: Print-on-demand is only suitable for some. If you love designs or art and are willing to work hard, keep reading.
Fundamental Principles To Making Money From Print-On-Demand
Whether you deal in printing designs on T-shirts, household accessories, or gift cards, these principles will help you succeed in your online POD business.
1- Choose The Right Niche
The first step to making money with print-on-demand is to choose a profitable niche. This means identifying a group with a common interest and creating products that appeal to them.
Print-on-demand is a competitive industry, so it is vital that you choose a low, competitive niche to maximize your profits.
Some exciting niches include:
- Stationery
- Special merchandise
- Customize home décor
- Special needs health products
- T-shirts
2- Create High-Quality Designs
The success of your print-on-demand business depends on the quality of your designs. People are looking for something unique, eye-catching, trendy, and high-quality.
3- Choose What Resonates With Your Target Audience
You can use design tools such as Canva, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop to create your products. Most of these tools are free, meaning you can keep the profits from your designs.
4- Use a Reputable POD Platform
To sell your designs, you have several reputable platforms, such as Printful, Teespring, or Redbubble.
However, these platforms require high-quality products and on-time delivery. They have a reputation to protect, so deliver on your promise.
Alternatively, you can sell your POD products on your website or eCommerce platforms like eBay or Etsy.
5- Price Your Products Appropriately
In a competitive market, pricing can differentiate between failure and success. So, while you want to compete favorably, ensure your prices cover your costs and allow you to make a profit.
Factor in the production costs, shipping, and platform fees when setting your prices to ensure you are not running at a loss.
6- Improve Your Designs
Know the latest design trends and adapt your products accordingly. You want to know which events are coming up and how to leverage them.
During political seasons be alert to changing trends. Listen to popular music and movies; people love to identify with these trends and will likely buy a relevant design from you.
7- Provide Excellent Customer Service
Your customers are people, and they need you to treat them as such. Customer service is one way to build trust and credibility with your fans and keep them coming to your store whenever they think of print-on-demand.
If your customers have any challenges with a product or queries, address their issues promptly and provide tracking information for their purchases.
Now that we have covered the basic principles of making money with print-on-demand, let’s examine the steps you can take to build a POD business.
A Step-By-Step Guide to Making Money With Print-On-Demand
This guide shows how you can use print-on-demand platforms to make money online.
Step 1: Choose An Idea You Are Passionate About
Niching down on POD business is vital if you want to beat the competition and build a loyal audience.
Pick a topic you love and are knowledgeable about. It should be something you can do in your spare time. Center your ideas on your hobbies and interest and target the market that already knows you.
You can also choose a niche depending on what is trending. Search Google Trends to determine popular topics, but ensure you are not copying other people’s Work. Your competition’s Work should inspire you to stay original.
Step 2: Create Your First Artwork
If you love designing, you can use design tools to bring your ideas to life. Free software like Canva is easy to use to create mind-blowing designs.
But if you don’t know how to design, you can hire someone to do it for you. You can hire a freelancer from Fiverr or Upwork to work on your design for as low as $5.
Step 3: Pick a Platform
Picking the right print-on-demand platform is essential to profit from your Work. These platforms make your Work easier. You can have your orders fulfilled and shipped faster.
You don’t have to worry about shipment, returns, and payments- the company handles all these functions.
Of course, the product you intend to sell determines your chosen platform. Some POD entrepreneurs love Printful with Ecwid eCommerce since it offers marketing automation.
Other platforms you can use include:
- Printify
- Redbubble
- TeeSpring
Step 4: Post Your First Product
Your platform will allow you to showcase your first product. Ensure you describe it well, even if the platform provides default descriptions.
Remember, besides your products, your customers also buy the story behind your brand. Relate what inspired the design and why it is valuable to you.
Clear and optimized product descriptions help with SEO and make your designs discoverable.
Step 5: Promote Your Work
Like any other business, promoting your Work helps you make money from your print-on-demand business.
Even if you don’t want to spend money on ads, you can promote your products on social media to create a buzz around your business.
Use Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for your clothing and lifestyle products. You can also showcase your followers your designs on mugs, phone cases, and posters.
FQAs
Can you make a living doing print on demand?
Yes, it’s possible to make a living doing print-on-demand (POD). However, you need to create high-quality designs, effectively market them, and price products in a way that covers costs and provides enough profit to sustain your business.
Your success will also depend on your marketing skills, design abilities, and understanding of the costs and pricing in the POD business model.
Is print-on-demand an excellent way to make money?
POD can be an excellent way to make money; however, it is not a guaranteed source of income. And since it requires minimal investment in inventory or equipment, it allows creators to reach a large audience with their designs and make profits.
With proper marketing and quality designs, you can generate a sustainable income through POD, although it is only viable for some.
What are the most profitable print-on-demand sites?
The profitability of print-on-demand (POD) sites can vary depending on several factors, such as the fees charged, the base costs of the products, and the demand for specific designs.
Having said that, here are some of the most popular and profitable POD sites:
- Amazon Merch
- Redbubble
- Society6
- TeeSpring
- Printful
- Zazzle
- Spreadshirt
How much money can you make on Printify?
The amount of money you can make on Printify will depend on several factors, such as:
- The quality and appeal of your designs
- The cost of the product
- The cost of printing and shipping
- The price you set for the product
- Marketing strategies
What to read next:
- How Much Does It Cost To Start An Amazon KDP?
- 13 Advantages and Disadvantages of Owning Your Own Business.
- How to Overcome the Fear of Failure as an Entrepreneur?
How much can you make with POD?
How much money you make from print-on-demand business depends on several factors. Some people consider their POD stores as side hustles or passive income generators; others take this as a full-time job and earn more.
If you spend more time on the business building a considerable following, your POD income will be higher than those of side hustlers.
Print-on-demand is a great money-making opportunity for designers and artists who want to showcase their skills to their audiences.
So if you have the skills and passion, I hope this guide gave you what you are looking for. Do you have a POD business, or are you planning to launch one?