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Print on Demand Store for Beginners: How It Works and What to Watch

Print on demand lets you sell your designs on products like t-shirts, mugs and tote bags without buying stock. A printing company makes each item only after a customer orders it and ships it for you.

How it works

1. You create a design.
2. You connect a print-on-demand service to your store and add products with your design.
3. A customer orders from your store.
4. The order goes to the print service, which prints and ships it.
5. You keep the difference between your price and the service's cost.

The good parts

• No stock to buy or store
• Easy to test many designs
• You don't pack or ship anything yourself

What to watch out for

• Thin margins. The print service's cost per item is higher than bulk printing, so price carefully.
• Quality. Order samples before you sell, so you know what customers will receive.
• Shipping times. Items are made after ordering, so tell customers how long it takes.
• Copyright. Only use designs, fonts and images you have the right to use commercially. Avoid brand names and characters you don't own.

Setting it up on Shopify

Shopify's app store lists several print-on-demand services. Compare product ranges, printing locations and costs, then install one and create your first product.

Start with a Shopify free trial

First-week plan

1. Pick one niche you understand (a hobby, a profession, a pet breed).
2. Make five designs for that niche.
3. Order samples of your two favourites.
4. Photograph the samples and list them.
5. Share them on Pinterest, where people search for gift ideas.

Before you open, run through our store setup checklist.