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Imagine:

A business where you don’t need to stock any inventory.
You never have to pack boxes, print shipping labels, or run to the post office.
You don’t even need to manufacture your own products.

And get this--you don’t need to be a professional graphic designer either.

Sounds way too good to be true, right? I used to think the exact same thing.

Like, come on… how could you possibly sell real, physical products without dealing with, well, any of the hard stuff?

But guess what? This unicorn of a business does exist. And it’s called Print on Demand. 🦄✨

The first time I heard about it, I honestly thought it was some weird techy thing that only “real artists” or influencers could do.

Nope! It’s actually one of the most beginner-friendly ways to make passive income online, even if you’re starting from scratch.

If your looking to make money from your designs as a beginner, start a passive income business or build a brand with no inventory > This is the guide you need

In this post, I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know--from how it works, to which platform is best for you, to setting up your first design. Oh, and if you’re looking for even more low-cost passive income ideas, definitely check out this blog post right here.

Let’s dive in, because your side hustle journey is about to get a whole lot more exciting. 🚀

So… What Is Print on Demand?

Print on Demand is basically like having your own online store, but without the inventory headaches. You upload your designs to products (like shirts, mugs, posters, blankets - you name it), and when someone buys it, a third-party company prints and ships it for you.

You don’t have to deal with boxes, labels, or buying 100 shirts upfront.

It’s especially perfect for:

• Creatives who love designing

• Entrepreneurs looking for low-risk businesses

• Busy folks with only a couple hours a day

As an artist myself, I absolutely love the creative process - designing, experimenting, and bringing ideas to life.

But when it comes to shipping orders, managing inventory, or stressing over whether every customer gets the perfect product on time… that’s where the joy starts to fade.

The perfectionist in me aims to give my customer the best service, the perfect product > But not always possible< And that Stresses me Out!

Thus, Print on Demand is exactly what I needed to share my art with the world and see people enjoying it --wearing it, using it, living with it without the Inventory and shipping troubles.

If this resonates with you too, then Print-on-Demand (POD) might be the perfect path. It lets you focus on creating while the rest is taken care of.

And for non-Artist

Thanks to tools like AI image generators (yup, you can literally describe your design and let AI create it for you), it’s never been easier. 🙌

If that sounds intriguing, I have another blog post coming soon that teaches you how to use AI to design your own products. You don’t want to miss that. Subscribe to my Newsletter

Besides using AI you can also hire freelancers to make professional designs or just drag and drop elements to make designs form templates available on Canva and Kittl.

Seems like Print on Demand can be for Everyone

How Much Time Does It Take to Build a Print On Demand Store?

The beauty of POD is its flexibility. You can build it slowly around your full-time job, parenting schedule, or even school.

Plan to dedicate at least 1–2 hours a day to designing, uploading, learning SEO, and tweaking your store. It may sound small but trust me > those consistent hours build up over time.

Like any business, it’s not “set it and forget it” at the start. But stick with it, and it can snowball into something amazing. ✨ Replacing your full time income!!

Is It Print On Demand Really Low-Cost to Start?

Yes! That’s why it’s such a popular passive income stream. Here's what you'll need to consider:

What’s cool about Print on Demand is: you only pay for the product when someone buys it. That means you don’t have to hold inventory and start with low investment.

Depending on which platform you choose the cost would be different.

But personally, I would say that the budget to start should be ~ $100 And as the brand grows the cost of starting would be covered by sales.

I completely understand the desire to start a business with the lowest risk and cost possible --because that’s exactly what led me to explore passive income in the first place.

Compared to launching a traditional business with physical inventory or opening a café that requires handling perishable goods and paying $$$$ THOUSANDS in rent, building passive income streams felt like a smarter, leaner way to begin.

It requires far less upfront investment yet still holds the potential to grow into something meaningful and profitable.

So, I truly believe that if you want to start a business that is low cost with high potential, print on demand would be one of it.

If you want to find out what are the other low-cost income stream, do check out this blog :

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Choosing the Right Platform for YOU

There are many ways to start Print on Demand > Let’s break it down, so you can pick what fits your personality and goals.

1. Market places such as Redbubble – Easiest Way to Get Started

Redbubble is like training wheels for print on demand. 🧸

I personally started here and sold my first “hibiscus” sticker within a week (still can’t believe someone bought it). You just upload your design, pick products, add tags, and done.

🧾 Things to Know:

• Redbubble is one of many print on demand marketplaces

Redbubble alternatives are Teespring, Zazzle, Merch by amazon

(You can use the same design on multiple platforms to optimize the sales potential of each design)

• No upfront costs

(Marketplaces will take a percentage for each sale, you set your own profit margin)

• Built-in audience = no need for marketing

(You can build your social media to bring traffic to your shop, Pinterest works too)

• Redbubble fees are higher, thus, to be competitive you might want to set a lower profit margin. I started with 20%
  
  

• You earn maybe $2–$10 per sale, depending on markup
  
  

💡 Best for: Artists, illustrators, or anyone testing if their designs can sell.

One of the easiest and most risk-free ways to dip your toes into print on demand is through Redbubble. Since it’s completely free to start, I always tell people: why not just give it a try? 🙌 Just sign up with your email, upload a few designs, and start exploring how the platform works.

Redbubble takes care of everything—from printing and packaging to shipping and customer service. You literally just upload your design, choose the products you want to sell (like stickers, T-shirts, mugs, etc.), and Redbubble does the rest.

💡 That said, there are a few things to keep in mind:

While Redbubble is beginner-friendly, their fees and profit margins can be on the lower side. Because you're sharing the platform with so many other artists, your product prices may be higher (thanks to base costs), which can sometimes make it harder to compete. Most sellers set a profit margin of around 20%, meaning you might earn under $10 per sale depending on the product.

Also, Redbubble tends to favor trending and viral designs, so if you’re posting niche or subtle artwork, it may take longer to gain visibility unless you promote it outside of the platform.

Still, if you're an artist, designer, or just curious about trying print on demand with zero upfront cost, Redbubble is a fun and low-pressure place to start. It’s a great sandbox to test what types of designs people love--and gain some passive income along the way. 🎨💸

2. Etsy + Printify/Printful – More Control, More Profit 💰

This is my favorite combo. Etsy has a huge customer base, and when you connect it with a POD service like Printify or Printful, you get to sell all kinds of cool stuff (blankets, mugs, hoodies, even pet accessories 🐾).

You also get to choose your own print provider, which means more control over:

• Packaging
  
  

• Product quality
  
  

• Shipping speed
  
  

📦 Perks:

• Higher profit margins than Redbubble
  
  

• More product types to sell
  
  

• Custom branding options
  
  

• Slightly more setup and customer service involved
  
  

💡 Best for: People who want to build a strong store with branding potential and are willing to invest a little more time upfront.

If you're anything like me and marketing isn't exactly your strong suit, then starting your print on demand journey on a marketplace like Etsy might be the perfect path for you. 🛍️

Etsy already has millions of shoppers actively searching for unique, creative products—which means you don’t need to become a social media wizard just to make your first sale.

You get the benefit of built-in traffic, and if you optimize your listings with high-quality photos, keyword-rich titles, and clear descriptions, your products can start showing up in searches even without ads.

📝 Pro tip: Make sure your product listings are informative, visually appealing, and SEO-friendly. This will help you rank higher and increase your chances of making sales organically.

But keep in mind -- because Etsy is a marketplace, you'll be competing alongside other sellers in similar niches.

That means standing out with a strong design, niche, or customer experience is super important.

Also, while Etsy requires less effort upfront in marketing, you’ll still need to continuously improve your listings and respond to customer inquiries to maintain a solid shop rating.

Still, for many beginners, Etsy is a fantastic way to test your designs, get early sales, and build confidence -- without the stress of setting up a full-blown website. 🙌

Setting Up: Step-by-Step Check List for Beginners

Step 1: Pick Your Niche 🎯

Don’t try to sell to everyone. Niches that do well include:

• Funny quotes & puns
  
  

• Aesthetic lifestyle (boho, vintage, minimalist)
  
  

• Hobby-based (gaming, coffee lovers, pet parents)
  
  

• Trending memes (be cautious with copyright!)
  
  

• Seasonal collections (Halloween, Christmas, etc.)
  
  

👉 Want help picking a niche? I wrote a whole guide on choosing the right niche

Step 2: Create Your Designs

Even if you’re not a designer, you can still create cute stuff

🛠 Tools to try:

• Canva – beginner-friendly with templates
  
  

• Kitly – AI-powered design generator (double-check licensing rules if you want to sell)
  
  

• Procreate (for iPad users)
  
  

• Leonardo.ai, Midjourney or DALL·E for AI-generated art
  
  

Just a heads up about copyright:
If it’s not your original idea, don’t use it.

Even if it’s “just a joke” or remix of something popular--if the design resembles something protected by copyright, you risk getting your listing removed or your account banned. 😬

I would stay away from popular franchises and brands such as Disney, Swedish fish, Coca Cola, McDonalds, etc.

Do check on the Brands’s copyright policy to be sure before uploading

Step 3: Upload to POD Platform

Once your design is ready:

1. Choose your product (tote bag, shirt, mug, etc.)
   
   

2. Upload your design on Printify or Redbubble
   
   

3. Write a clear, fun description with keywords
   
   

4. Set pricing and mockups
   

5. Publish and promote!

   > Save this blog for later
   

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Tips for Getting Sales 🛍️

📌 Use Pinterest as a visual search engine (not social media!) to drive traffic

Most people think of Pinterest as a place to pin pretty recipes or home decor inspiration, but it’s actually a powerful search engine.

Yup--people go there specifically looking to buy or discover ideas.

By pinning your product images (especially mockups or lifestyle shots) and linking them back to your shop, you can drive free, highly targeted traffic over time.

Make sure to use searchable titles, descriptions, and Pinterest-friendly vertical pins. Think of it like SEO for your visuals!

Add trending tags and keywords in your listings

Whether you're on Etsy, Redbubble, or your own site, keywords are everything.

They help your listings show up when customers search for something specific.

Use tools like Etsy’s search bar, Erank, or even Google Trends to find what people are actually typing in.

Don’t just stuff random tags -- use relevant keywords that describe your niche, style, and product type so the right audience finds you.

To find out how to use Erank > Click on this Blog on selling digital product on Etsy

🎥 Create TikToks or Reels showing your design process

Short-form video is GOLD right now.

People love seeing behind-the-scenes content — especially creative stuff like design time-lapses, packaging clips, or funny commentary over your mockups.

Even if you’re shy on camera, you can show your screen or product visuals with music and captions.

One viral TikTok or Reel can seriously spike your traffic and lead to a bunch of sales overnight!

📧 Build a small email list or Instagram following to engage with your audience

You don’t need a huge following to make sales -- you just need a connected one.

Even a few hundred followers who love your style can become repeat customers.

Start by posting consistently, sharing your creative process, and offering mini value like discounts or early access.

Collect emails using tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit (some are free!) so you can keep your audience updated on new drops and launches.

⏳ Offer limited edition drops to build urgency

Ever wonder why people rush to buy certain products the second they launch?

It’s because scarcity creates urgency.

Try offering your designs as "limited-time" or "limited quantity" drops.

You can even do seasonal collections or themed product lines that disappear after a week or two.

This not only encourages quick sales—it also makes your products feel exclusive and special.

Final Thoughts: Is Print on Demand Right for You?

If you’re looking for a way to blend creativity and entrepreneurship--and don’t want to deal with physical inventory--print on demand could be the perfect fit.

It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, but with consistent effort, a bit of design fun, and some marketing magic, it can grow into a real passive income stream.

✨ And if you want even more passive income ideas with low startup costs, don’t forget to check out my other blog post here for more inspiration.

Got questions or want to share your POD journey with me? I’d love to hear from you in the comments or via DM. 💌

Happy creating and good luck with your print on demand adventure!

HOW TO FIND A NICHE

Here’s a simple guide to narrowing down your ideal customer

Get in touch

Contact me for questions or just to say a few nice words, I won’t mind at all.

This blog made everything about passive income so much easier to grasp. The way it’s written is super clear and beginner-friendly.

Clarice Turner

I’ve always heard about passive income, but I never really understood how it worked—until I read this blog.

Brian Moten

★★★★★

★★★★★

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