How to Start Print-on-Demand Step by Step

Why print-on-demand works

I didn’t plan to start a business. I was looking for a way to earn money from home that fit into my day-to-day life. Print-on-demand is perfect for that. You create the designs, a partner prints and ships, and you earn a margin. It’s not instant money, but it’s a realistic way to start something that grows slowly and sustainably.

Step 1 — Pick your niche

Your designs should appeal to a specific group. For example, parents, pet lovers, home decor fans, or hobbyists. Write down what problems or desires they have, because your products should solve them or make them feel something.

Step 2 — Choose products to test

Start small. Pick 3 types:

• One wearable item (t-shirt, hoodie)
• One home item (pillow, wall art)
• One gift item (mug, small print)

Test what your audience likes before expanding.

Step 3 — Connect with print partners

I use two main platforms:

• Printify for product variety and mockups

• Gelato for fast global shipping

Both integrate easily with Shopify, WooCommerce, or Etsy. You don’t need to worry about inventory or shipping.

Step 4 — Design your products

I create designs in Canva. It’s simple, fast, and professional enough for online sales.

Design tips:

• Keep text readable
• Use simple colours and clear images
• Make sure designs look good on small products like mugs or phone cases

Other useful tools: Creative Fabrica for fonts and graphics, SmartMockups for realistic product images.

Step 5 — Set pricing

Check your base cost on Printify or Gelato. Add a margin of around 30–50 percent. Include shipping costs in your calculations.

Step 6 — Write product descriptions

Focus on the outcome, not just the features. People buy how the product makes them feel.

Example for a pillow:

> This pillow isn’t just soft — it’s comfort for your quiet moments.

Include 3–5 bullet points, size info, and naturally add your keywords.

Step 7 — Promote your products

Start with:

• Pinterest for free traffic
• YouTube clips showing your design process
• One email to your list

Track what works and scale it slowly.

Step 8 — Test and repeat

Keep what sells. Drop what doesn’t. Try different designs, colours, and titles. The goal is steady improvement, not overnight success.

Final thoughts:

Print-on-demand is not magic. It’s practical. Start small, be consistent, and keep testing. Using Printify and Gelato made it manageable for me, and it can be for you, too

Click the link here for more information about these two platforms.

For Printify ➡️ click here

For Gelato ➡️ click here