Full Print On-Demand Tutorial For Beginners in 2025 (Step-by-Step)

Print on demand is a popular side hustle in 2025, offering a low-risk way to start a business with minimal upfront costs. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll explore everything beginners need to know to launch a successful print on demand business, straight from the insights of an experienced millionaire businessman with over 35 years in the industry. For more tips on building wealth, check out ainotes.pk. Let’s dive into the 10 key sections to get you started.

What is Print On Demand?

Print on demand is a business model where you only pay for products after customers order them. Your unique designs are printed on items like clothing, mugs, posters, bags, and cushions, then shipped directly to buyers. This eliminates the need for a factory or inventory, making it a risk-free way to start.

• Why it’s great: You can run it from a laptop with little money.
• Passive income potential: As income scales, your time investment stays stable.
• Market growth: The global print on demand market is worth $6 billion today and is projected to hit $40 billion by 2031.

Choosing the right market is crucial—booming industries like this give even an average Joe a shot at success.

What You Need to Start

To launch a print on demand business, you need five essentials:

1. A winning product
2. A great design
3. A selling platform
4. A reliable supplier
5. Paying customers

This guide covers all these steps to ensure you’re set up for success. Explore more earnings skills at ainotes.pk/category/earnings-skills-for-students/.

How to Find a Winning Product

Picking the right product category and design is critical. A winning product can mean the difference between hundreds of sales or none.

H3: Choosing a Product Category

• Focus on one category initially (e.g., clothing or wall art) to master it.
• Avoid spreading designs across multiple products early on—it wastes time and money.
• Limit color options to seven to avoid overwhelming customers.
• Avoid seasonal items like cards and calendars—opt for evergreen products.

H3: Top Product Picks

• Clothing and wall art offer high profit margins (20-30%).
• Example: A wall art sale at $49.99 with $32.37 in costs yielded a 25% margin ($12.42 profit per sale).
• Low-margin items like mugs or iPhone cases need high volume to succeed.

Finding the Best Niche

Blank products don’t sell—attach a customer’s interest to your item. Avoid trademarked content (e.g., Star Wars) to stay legal.

• Check trademarks for free on UK and USA sites (e.g., “Boomers are awesome” was clear).
• Don’t aim for total originality—successful entrepreneurs “steal” smartly.
• Research sub-niches on Etsy:
  • Search “women’s T-shirts,” sort by reviews.
  • Example: A T-shirt with 130 reviews likely sold 1,300 units, generating $43,628 in revenue and $13,000 in profit (30% margin).

Creating Your Designs

Turning ideas into great designs is a common hurdle, but it’s easier with tools like Canva. Here are four methods:

1. Canva (Free): Use fonts and elements from successful designs, download without backgrounds.
2. Buy Templates: Find designs online (e.g., via Google image search) and purchase source files.
3. Midjourney (AI): Costs $10/month, generates commercial-use designs (e.g., “butterflies in silhouettes”).
   • Setup: Join via Discord, use /imagine command, upscale favorites.
4. Hire Designers: Use Upwork or Fiverr with a specific brief for professional results.

Choose based on your skills, time, and budget.

Picking the Best Print On Demand Website

Your supplier matters—cheap sites often mean lost shipments and poor quality. Gelato stands out:

• High-quality products and printing.
• Production in 32+ countries, 90% of orders made locally for faster shipping.
• Pay only after a sale—no upfront costs.
• Example: A T-shirt design uploaded to Gelato’s catalog, offered in seven colors, used direct-to-garment printing for cost efficiency.

Where to Sell Your Products

Two main options: Etsy and Shopify. Here’s the breakdown:

H3: Etsy

• Pros: 460.6 million visitors (Feb 2023), built-in global audience, no marketing needed.
• Cons: High competition, fees (6.5% transaction, 3% processing, optional 15% ad fee).
• Start here to test products—list 1,000 items ($200 total).

H3: Shopify

• Pros: Own your customer data (emails worth $1/month), no direct competitors.
• Cons: Requires marketing investment.
• Use after validating products on Etsy.

Recommendation: Begin with Etsy, then scale to Shopify.

Selling on Etsy: 3 Hacks

Boost visibility on Etsy with these tips:

1. Attractive Mockups: Use Gelato’s mockup studio to show products in real-world settings.
2. Best Keywords: Copy tags like “men’s funny shirt” or “Father’s Day gift” from top listings.
3. Premium Branding: Create a clean logo and banner with Canva, reflecting a boutique feel.

Marketing Your Products

Start with organic reach before paid ads:

• Post short-form content on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts.
• Tell a story with your product, not just fancy shots.
• Test organically, then boost winners with ads.

Avoid over-reliance on ads—build a solid foundation first. Learn more strategies at ainotes.pk/category/earnings-skills-for-students/.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t focus on revenue—profit margins are key:

• Example: A competitor sold at 5% margins, while 30% margins earned more long-term.
• Track your hourly earnings (profit ÷ hours worked) to ensure viability.
• Markets aren’t saturated—list 1,000 products before judging.

Table: Profit Margin Example

Conclusion

Print on demand in 2025 offers beginners a low-risk, high-potential side hustle. With no upfront costs, a growing $6 billion market, and tools like Gelato, Etsy, and Canva, anyone can start. Focus on winning products, smart designs, and profit margins—not revenue hype. Begin with Etsy to test, scale to Shopify later, and prioritize organic growth. It’s not a “quick buck,” but with persistence (e.g., 1,000 listings), you can carve your spot in this booming industry. Ready to turn your laptop into a money-maker? Visit ainotes.pk for more insights.