Photo: Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, cropped

Print on demand FAQ: what beginners ask before starting

By FastBuySale Newsroom · 10 Nov 2026 · 10m ago

What is print on demand?

Print on demand is a way of selling custom products without holding stock. You create designs, place them on products from a fulfilment provider's catalogue and list them for sale. When a customer orders, the order passes to the provider, which prints the item, packs it and ships it directly to the customer. You pay the provider's base price for each item and keep the difference between that and your selling price. Common products include t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, posters, phone cases, tote bags, stickers, notebooks and wall art. The model is popular with artists, writers, creators and side hustlers because it removes the biggest risk of traditional merchandise: paying for boxes of stock that may never sell.

How is it different from dropshipping?

Both models avoid holding inventory, but they differ in what you sell. Dropshipping usually means listing existing products made by someone else and having a supplier ship them. Print on demand means selling products customised with your own designs, which gives you more control over branding and originality. Print on demand quality depends on the provider's printing methods and blank products, while dropshipping quality depends on the supplier's goods. Shipping times for print on demand include production time because each item is made after ordering.

How is it different from bulk printing?

With bulk printing, you order many items at once from a printer at a lower cost per item, then store, pack and ship them yourself. Bulk printing gives better margins and faster delivery once stock exists, but requires upfront cash, storage space and the risk of unsold stock. Print on demand costs more per item but requires little upfront money. Many sellers start with print on demand to test designs, then move best-sellers to bulk production when demand is proven.

What does it cost to start?

Typical startup costs include design software or tools, sample orders, a domain name and online store subscription if you run your own shop, marketplace listing or transaction fees, and marketing. Some sellers start with a few hundred in their local currency or less. Advertising can quickly become the largest cost, so start with small tests. Keep a simple budget and track every expense from the beginning.

How do I choose a niche?

A niche is a group of people with a shared interest, identity or profession, such as nurses, rock climbers, gardeners, teachers, dog owners of a particular breed or fans of a hobby. Narrow niches make designs more meaningful and marketing more targeted. Choose niches you understand or can research deeply, check that people actively buy related products and look for gaps where existing designs feel generic. Avoid niches built mainly around trademarked brands or franchises.

Which products should I start with?

Start with a small number of products that suit your designs and niche, such as t-shirts and mugs, rather than listing every item available. Fewer products make it easier to order samples, take good photos and manage quality. Add products once you see which designs sell. Consider profit margins, shipping costs and how well each product shows your design.

What are the design rules?

Designs should be original, readable at the size printed and suited to the printing method. Use high-resolution files that meet the provider's specifications. Check placement and colours on mockups and samples, because colours often look different on fabric than on screen. Simple, bold designs often print better than fine details. Keep source files organised so you can resize designs for different products.

What are copyright and trademark risks?

This is one of the most important issues for beginners. Copyright protects creative works such as artwork, characters, photos and some text. Trademarks protect brand names, logos and slogans used to identify goods and services. Using protected characters, team logos, brand names, celebrity images or trademarked phrases without permission can lead to listings being removed, accounts being suspended and legal claims. Before using a phrase, search official trademark databases where available. When in doubt, create something original.

Where can I sell?

Options include your own online store, marketplaces for handmade and custom goods, social media shops and selling to an existing audience through a website, newsletter or community. Marketplaces bring built-in traffic but charge fees and have competition. Your own store gives more control over branding and customer data but requires you to bring traffic. Many sellers combine both, connecting several channels to the same fulfilment provider.

How do I choose a fulfilment provider?

Compare providers on product catalogue, base prices, print quality, production times, shipping options and locations, integrations with your sales channels, branding options and customer support. Order samples from several providers before committing. Some sellers use different providers for different products or regions to improve quality and delivery times. Read each provider's policies on reprints, returns and damaged items.

How should I price products?

Start with your total cost per item, including the provider's base price, shipping you absorb, platform fees, payment processing and an advertising allowance. Then add the profit you need. Research what similar products sell for in your niche, but avoid racing to the lowest price. Original designs for passionate audiences can often support higher prices than generic designs.

Worked example: break-even on advertising

Suppose a mug costs you 8 to produce and 6 to ship, a total of 14. You sell it for 24 including shipping, and fees take 2, leaving 22. Profit before advertising is 22 minus 14, or 8 per mug. If you spend 100 on advertising, you need to sell 13 mugs to cover it, because 12 mugs earn 96 and 13 earn 104. If you raise the price to 26, profit per mug becomes 10 and break-even falls to 10 mugs, a 25 percent improvement in profit per sale. Figures are illustrative. The percentage calculator on this site helps test your pricing.

Why should I order samples?

Samples let you check print quality, colours, sizing, materials and packaging before customers see them. They also give you real product photos, which often perform better than mockups. Order samples whenever you add a new product or provider, and periodically re-order best-sellers to check quality remains consistent.

What about shipping times and returns?

Because items are made after ordering, delivery includes production time plus shipping. Publish realistic delivery estimates on your store, especially during busy seasons. Most providers reprint items with production errors under their policies, but returns for buyer's remorse or wrong size are often your responsibility. Create a clear returns policy that matches your provider's terms and local consumer laws.

Do I need to handle sales tax or VAT?

Depending on where you and your customers are, you may need to collect and pay sales tax or VAT. Some marketplaces and providers collect tax in certain regions, but responsibilities vary. Research the rules where you sell and consult a professional if unsure. Keep records of all sales and expenses for income tax as well.

How do I market a print on demand store?

Marketing is what separates stores that sell from stores that do not. Use social media content that shows products in real life, build an email list, collaborate with creators in your niche, use search-friendly listing titles and descriptions and test small advertising campaigns. Engage with your niche community genuinely rather than only posting promotions.

Common beginner mistakes

| Mistake | Better approach |

|---|---|

| Copying popular designs | Create original work |

| Using trademarked phrases | Check databases and stay original |

| Skipping samples | Order and inspect every product |

| Underpricing | Count all costs and fees |

| No marketing plan | Build content and an audience |

| Too many products | Start small and expand |

How long does it take to make money?

Many sellers take months to make their first consistent sales, and some never earn meaningful profit. Success often requires many designs, testing, steady marketing and learning from data. Treat early months as an experiment and track which designs and channels work. The salary calculator on this site helps you compare store income with other work.

How do I avoid scams?

Be wary of courses promising guaranteed print on demand income, sellers offering design bundles that include protected characters, tools claiming to find trending trademarked phrases safely and fake support messages asking for login details. Use only official sites and apps.

Reader questions

Questions about selling online? Send them through the Ask page on this site.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not legal or tax advice. Platform policies, fees and laws vary and change. No income is guaranteed.

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