Updated: Jan 05, 2026 By: Marios
For those looking to start up a new business venture or launch a side hustle, print-on-demand is becoming a popular business model.
Being able to sell made-to-order products without having to build a physical inventory opens up new possibilities for those with a business idea but a limited budget. It makes it a great opportunity to open an eCommerce store without the typical risks.
As you can see from the graph below, the print-on-demand industry is growing at a compound annual growth rate of 26% and is expected to keep on increasing. With more and more people populating the eCommerce market, now is a better time than ever to get ahead of the competition.
The Benefits of Print-On-Demand
Launching a print-on-demand store is becoming a more popular route as new entrepreneurs make the most of the opportunity to launch a business without having the typical overhead costs. Here are a range of benefits that make it an enticing option…
- It can be started on a low budget. Without having to invest in expensive printing equipment, workshop space, and inventory materials, print-on-demand becomes much more accessible to those on lower budgets. Since you are not charged for printing until an order has been placed, the risk is low.
- No storage space required. When launching a traditional eCommerce business, having to carry out stock forecasts and order products can seem impossible for those who are just starting out and don’t have anywhere to store their inventory. By using third-party suppliers to fulfil print-on-demand orders, the pressure is lessened.
- Order fulfilment is managed externally. Since third-party print-on-demand platforms are responsible for the printing, packaging, and shipping of orders, the process is made simpler. This is ideal for those who do not have prior experience running an eCommerce store and saves a lot of time.
- Creative freedom. Since you do not have to print endless versions of your designs in preparation for launch, there is more opportunity to change your product range. If certain designs are underperforming or need tweaking, this can easily be done without resulting in wasted stock.
How to Launch a Print-on-Demand Business
Although it can be daunting when looking to get started, breaking the process down into manageable steps will help you start your print-on-demand business in the most efficient way.
Find your gap in the market
The print-on-demand industry is becoming increasingly competitive, so you need to make sure you’re able to stand out from the crowd with an offering that’s different from what is already out there.
Instead of trying to accommodate a wide audience with a large product range, narrow down your target market and focus on providing unique products that appeal to their interests.
By picking a small group of people to target, you can carry out thorough market research and make sure that your business is heavily tailored to them, creating designs and writing content in a way that appeals to your audience.
Bring your design ideas to life
Now that you know who you are aiming your products at, it’s time to create ones that appeal.
Creating unique designs that align with the interests and style preferences of your target market means that you can establish a recognizable style that shows off your brand personality and makes an impact.
Depending on your design capabilities, there are various platforms that can be used to create print-on-demand designs. For those looking to draw up their own digital designs, tools like Procreate and Photoshop are a popular choice. For those who are not so confident using advanced tools, options like Canva are more beginner-friendly.
Select a print-on-demand platform
Since the print-on-demand platform you choose is responsible for printing orders, packaging them up, and shipping them to customers, choosing the right one is an important decision.
There are various factors to consider when researching the different providers, making sure that you find one that suits your requirements. The quality of printing, order fulfilment times, and cost are the main factors to weigh up in order to find the balance between budget and quality.
Some of the most popular print-on-demand companies to use include Gooten, Zazzle, and Prodigi. They each offer a variety of options, making them viable choices for a wide variety of business types.
Create a product catalogue
Now that designs are ready and your print-on-demand platform has been chosen, it’s time to decide what product options you are going to be offering to your customers.
There are so many possibilities when it comes to print-on-demand, ranging all the way from t-shirts and sweatshirts to water bottles and jewellery. Instead of getting carried away and adding all product types to your catalogue, start with a more concise collection that carefully considers exactly what your target audience is looking for.
As well as the product types, the different size and color options you are going to offer also need to be considered.
To help you ensure that your designs will still have the desired effect, create product mockups for each variation before listing them to ensure that they look as you’d expect.
Upload to your online store
Once the product range has been finalized, launch day is just around the corner.
There are various platforms that print-on-demand businesses use to sell their products, each depending on the audience that is being targeted.
Some print-on-demand businesses prefer to sell their products through dedicated online marketplaces, such as Amazon, eBay, and Etsy. This requires less preparation and involvement since products can easily be uploaded and left to tick over with minimal risk.
Set up automatic order fulfilment
By cutting out the middleman and setting it up so that all orders are sent directly to the supplier, the process is made much more efficient and takes up less time.
If you set up your online store to instantly send any placed orders directly to the print-on-demand platform responsible for printing, packaging, and shipping, this cuts out the need for handling them manually.
As well as making it easier from a business perspective, automating the process means the customer receives a faster service and a more accurate delivery date estimate.
Spread the word
Once your launch has been successfully completed, there’s no stopping there. To draw in customers and maximize sales potential, marketing your products is key.
Finding ways to connect with your target audience and increase awareness of your brand will help get your business off the ground and get those sales to come flooding in.
Whether you use social media to showcase your product imagery, paid advertising to get seen in search engine results, or work with influencers to make use of their existing audience, finding creative ways to advertise your products will help drive traffic to your store.
Bringing Your Print-On-Demand Business to Life
Starting a new business is becoming increasingly daunting in the current market due to the rise in competition and the added expenses that come alongside. When it comes to eCommerce stores, the biggest obstacles standing in the way of business startups are budget, equipment, and storage space – but that’s where print-on-demand comes in.
Since print-on-demand is a less risky approach, it means the risk-to-reward element is improved. This means that those with a great idea and a strong business plan have a high chance of success when they choose to bring their vision to life.
By identifying a gap in the market and creating impactful designs that resonate with online shoppers, print-on-demand opens up new opportunities to build a thriving business.
