Beginner's
What is Print-on-Demand (POD)?
Nov
There are many ways to make money today. The hardest part is picking one that matches your skills & what you enjoy. If you want to be creative & earn from it, print-on-demand could be a great option.
With print-on-demand, you don’t have to wait a long time for products to be ready. You also don’t need to store big piles of items in your home or warehouse. To start, you just need a few smart ideas.
So, what does print-on-demand mean? This article will show you the basics you need to launch your online business & begin making money with it.
What is Print on Demand?
Print on Demand, also called POD, is a way to sell things online. You work with a printing company to make items with your design. These products are sold under your own name or brand. You only print the items after someone buys them. That means you don’t need to keep products in stock.
Also, when you use a Print on Demand company, they take care of everything after the sale. They print, pack, & ship the items for you. This is great if you want to try a new business idea without spending money on products first.
How print-on-demand works
Print-on-demand, or POD, is a way to send orders to customers. You make a design, then your POD partner prints the item & ships it to your customer. They do this without adding their name to the package or product. Everything looks like it came straight from you.
The printing only happens when someone places an order. This means no extra products are made. You only need to pay your print provider after the customer has paid. So, you don’t need money upfront to get started.
Here’s how to begin selling:
- Create an online store on a website builder like Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, or on a site like Etsy, Amazon, eBay, or Woocommerce
- Link your store to a POD service like FlexCreate
- Design your products, upload them, & add them to your store for customers to see
Pros and cons of print-on-demand
Print-on-demand is a smart way to earn money online. It works well for people who want a side income or even want to build a full-time business.
But before jumping in, it’s important to look at both the good sides & the downsides. This helps you see if POD fits your goals.
Pros
- No upfront investment. You don’t need to spend money at the start. No need to buy products in advance or own any special machines to begin.
- Quick setup. You can upload your designs fast & start selling in just a few minutes.
- Creative freedom. You can focus on your art or ideas without worrying about packing or shipping.
- Easy to test ideas. If one design doesn’t sell, you can move on & try something new. Print-on-demand gives you room to explore what works best for your audience.
Cons
- Higher cost per item. You make less money on each sale compared to bulk orders. That’s because POD prices include printing, packing, & staff work.
- Longer wait times. Orders take more time to ship. Unlike bulk buying, where products are ready to go, POD items are made after someone places an order. That adds extra time before the product reaches the customer.
What print-on-demand customization techniques to choose
Now that you’ve seen what print-on-demand companies can offer, it’s time to pick the right printing method for your products. What do terms like direct-to-garment, direct-to-film, or screen printing really mean?
Let’s take a closer look at which one suits your online business best.
Screen printing
Screen printing pushes ink onto fabric through a mesh screen. The ink sits on top of the fabric rather than soaking in like it does with DTG printing.
A stencil blocks ink in certain areas to create the design. Each design needs its own stencil, which takes a lot of time to prepare. That’s why screen printing is mostly used for large batches. Printing just one or two shirts takes too long & isn’t cost-friendly.
Designs for screen printing must be simple. You can use up to around nine colors. More colors mean a higher price for each product.
This method also uses a lot of water & often includes inks that don’t break down in nature, making it less eco-friendly than DTG.
Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing
Direct-to-garment, or DTG, prints ink straight onto the clothing. The ink goes deep into the fabric. This lets you make bright, detailed custom prints.
To get the best colors with DTG, use the sRGB color profile. This setup is based on red, green, & blue. These colors mix to form many others. The sRGB profile keeps colors the same across screens, printers, & devices.
Try not to use gradients in your DTG designs. Printers struggle with smooth fades. The result can look patchy because the machine spreads ink to fill missing spots.
Aside from that, you can create almost any design. Realistic photos or bold patterns both work well.
DTG is also a greener option. It creates very little wastewater & uses less power, so it helps cut down on pollution.
With DTG, you can make as many unique designs as you want. There are no color limits either. Want a hoodie full of rainbow shades? You can print it with ease.
Direct-to-film (DTF) printing
Direct-to-film (DTF) is one of the most flexible print styles out there. Most print methods only work well on cotton or cotton blends. But DTF works on lots of fabrics like polyester, fleece, nylon & cotton.
With DTF, a design is printed onto PET film using water-based ink. Then, a powder glue is added. After that, a heat press transfers the design onto the fabric.
This type of print is strong. The images are sharp & full of color.
DTF handles tough designs well. It works great with photos, fine art, small text, or anything detailed.
Here’s what you can do with DTF:
- Keep prints bright even after many washes
- Use clear space to make text or color stand out
- Print on more fabric types than DTG allows
Sublimation printing
Sublimation printing starts by printing your design on paper. That paper is then soaked with special ink. Next, a heat press transfers the design onto your product.
Heat is key here. It activates the ink & helps it bond to the surface. For the ink to go deep into the material, it must be pressed hard & heated to 350–400°F (176–205°C).
This method works on many surfaces. You can use it on both soft items like t-shirts or socks & hard ones like mugs.
Whichever method you choose, make sure it fits well with your designs & the types of products you want to sell. We’ll cover that more in the next part.
What products to choose for your print-on-demand business
There are so many product options out there. It’s easy to feel confused, especially with the huge variety that print-on-demand companies offer. In this part, we’ll explore what’s trending online now & which classic items should be part of your store.
T-shirts
T-shirts are something almost everyone owns. They’re a popular choice for online sellers. Based on recent print-on-demand stats, t-shirts stay at the top of best-seller lists. Their popularity reaches many types of customers.
Custom t-shirts give you a fun way to share ideas. You can design bold images, simple quotes, or themes that match your audience’s hobbies & interests.
Hoodies
A soft hoodie is always in style. People want them all year, so they’re a great product to sell.
Hoodies can be styled in many ways. You can adjust the design to match your print-on-demand business theme. That makes it easy to promote different looks for different seasons or events.
Eco-friendly products
Today’s shoppers care about the planet. Store owners need to meet this need. One simple way to do that is by offering eco-friendly products in your print-on-demand store. It shows that your brand supports green choices.
Stationery
Stationery is another print-on-demand favorite. Many people use these items—students, office workers & even those who just love to draw or jot notes. A cool, custom notebook or planner adds a fun touch to daily tasks.
Drinkware
Drinkware has always been a top seller. Mugs in particular are a fan favorite in print-on-demand shops.
- Sturdy enamel mugs for camping trips
- Classic mugs for sipping coffee in the morning
- Reusable water bottles for staying hydrated
- Stylish tumblers for drinks with flair
Check out these best-selling items & think about your audience. If you’re starting a store for book fans, focus on what this group loves. Maybe add a design with book-themed art to a mug? Or put a fun book joke on a notebook cover?
Tips for Picking the Right Print-on-Demand Provider
Before you begin selling online, there’s one more big choice to make—finding the right print-on-demand company to partner with. You might even choose more than one. Let’s go over what to look for when working with print-on-demand services.
Fulfillment methods
There are many ways to customize products. Each method has its own pros & cons. While checking out different print-on-demand companies, see which techniques they offer. Then think about which ones match your business goals.
Not sure if DTG or screen printing fits your needs? That’s okay. That’s why testing is important. Always order product samples. Trying out real items from different providers helps you decide what feels right.
Some companies give discounts on samples. Others don’t. So be sure to check what each provider offers before you decide.
Facility locations
Find out where the company’s printing centers are. It’s best if they have places in different parts of the world. That way, your global customers can get their items faster & shipping costs stay low.
It might seem fine to use a local shop right now. But think about the long term.
What if your store grows? Will your provider handle a bigger audience from many countries? Make sure they can scale with your business.
Fulfillment times
Fulfillment time means how long it takes to print & pack your product. Most companies say it takes about 2–5 business days. But not all providers work that fast.
Smaller teams might work quicker. But if your customer is far away, shipping could take longer. Bigger companies may take more time to print, but with multiple facilities, delivery might be faster.
Product quality
This part matters the most. You need great products to build a strong business.
Even fast service & fancy print options won’t help if your product is low quality. Don’t risk your brand’s reputation.
Like we said earlier—order samples. See them for yourself. Sell only items that look good & feel great. Your customers will thank you for it.
FAQs: Understanding Print-on-Demand
Is print-on-demand profitable?
Yes! You don’t need to buy stock or machines upfront. Just upload your design files & begin selling right away.
How to start a print-on-demand business
- Pick a niche that fits your style
- Sign up for a FlexCreate account
- Link your ecommerce shop to FlexCreate
- Make designs then place them on items
- Use free mockups to add products to your store
- Begin selling through your site
Can you make money with print-on-demand?
Definitely! Many print-on-demand shops started small. Some grew into six-figure brands. Choose a niche you enjoy & study different print-on-demand partners before diving in. You can build something big. Maybe even leave your full-time job. Just take that first step!
