How Much Can You Make With Print-On-Demand: 2023 Breakdown

So, you’re scouring the internet for your next online business and you stumbled across print-on-demand. I take it you’re wondering, “How much can you make with print-on-demand?” Well, I’m here to answer that question.

Print-on-demand is just like other e-commerce models, but not only do you get the benefits of dropshipping, but you also get to customize your products. Taking top-notch product ideas and customizing them makes this a recipe to stand out in a crowded market.

And this isn’t just some side gig. I’m sure you’ve seen the success people have had with dropshipping. Now imagine the success you could have with unique products. It’s a game-changer.

Ready to know the secrets of How Much Can You Make With Print-On-Demand? Let’s jump in!

Understanding How Much Can You Make With Print-On-Demand

Before I dive into the numbers, let’s set the stage with a brief introduction to the financial side of running a POD business.

Running a print-on-demand business is not just about creating attractive designs and waiting for the money to roll in. It involves understanding your costs, setting the right prices, and effectively marketing your products.

But don’t worry, we’re here to break it all down for you.

Potential Earnings

The amount you can make with print-on-demand in 2023 varies greatly depending on several factors. Let’s jump into the potential profits you could see.

Profit Margins

An evaluation of Shopify, a multinational e-commerce company, shows that print-on-demand stores can earn a 15% – 20% profit margin. This means that for every product sold, after deducting the costs, you could retain 15% – 20% of the selling price as profit. Let’s look at some examples to see how this looks.

Examples

Suppose you’re selling t-shirts. The base cost of the t-shirt, including printing, might be around $10. If you sell this t-shirt for $25 on your own website or through print-on-demand sites, your profit per t-shirt would be $15.

After deducting platform fees and other costs, your profit margin could be around $3.75 – $5 per t-shirt sold.

Now, if you sell 100 t-shirts a month, you could make $375 – $500 in profit. If you manage to sell 1000 t-shirts a month, that’s a profit of $3750 – $5000. And remember, this is just for one product, and you can have as many as you’d like.

While selling 1000 of one product might seem outlandish (while it is possible), realistically you just need to sell 50 different products 20 times each. When you think about how simple it is to add new products, it becomes a lot more manageable and can lead to very substantial incomes.

Now that you understand the potential, let’s take a look at what your costs will look like.

Cost Factors For Your Business

Just like any other business, there are several costs you need to factor in when determining your potential profits. I’ve broken down the basics for your business so you can get a better idea of what you can expect.

Product Cost

The product cost is a significant factor in your business. This includes the cost of the blank product and the cost of printing your design on it.

For instance, if you’re selling t-shirts, the product cost would include the cost of the blank t-shirt and the printing cost. Some POD companies also charge extra for larger, more complex prints, as well as if they offer embroidery.

Different companies offer different pricing, so it’s essential to compare and choose a print-on-demand website that offers high-quality products at a reasonable price. The choices you have are also sometimes limited to the products you want to sell.

For example, if you plan on selling candles, you might want to find a print-on-demand candle-specific company.

Remember, the lower your product cost, the higher your potential profit margin. So put some time in and choose the right print-on-demand platform for you.

Check out our top picks, Printful and Printify for a solid combo of quality and price.

Platform Fees

If you’re using marketplace platforms to sell your products, they may charge a fee. These fees can vary widely depending on the platform.

For example, let’s take a look at Etsy: They charge a listing fee for each product you list ($0.20), and a transaction fee for each sale you make(6.5%). or a subscription fee for using their platform. Some platforms also charge a subscription fee or upgrade plans.

It’s crucial to understand these fees.

Marketing Costs

Now that you’ve got all your required fees, let’s take a look at more optional costs.

To make more sales, you’ll need to invest in marketing or your business will grow very slowly or not at all. This could include social media ads, search engine optimization (SEO) to drive organic search traffic, email marketing, and more.

The amount you spend on marketing will depend entirely on your marketing strategy and your budget.

Keep in mind that while expensive, effective marketing can significantly increase your sales, making it a worthwhile investment.

Design Costs

Another cost you could incur is for designs. If you’re not creating your own designs (which I recommend in the beginning), you may need to hire a graphic designer. The cost will depend on the complexity of the design and the designer’s rates. This can be extremely costly which is why I recommend creating your own.

While these costs can be daunting at first, they aren’t too bad, and with good management, you can even make more money selling print-on-demand products.

Revenue Factors For Your Business

So, what factors determine total revenue?

Product Sales

This is how many people buy your products. Depending on your marketing strategies, product quality, and design quality this can vary greatly. It is important to note even if your marketing is top-tier if your products suck, people won’t buy them.

You need to ensure your products, designs, listings, marketing, and customer service are all top-tier to ensure the best sales.

Product Price

This is the price you set your products at. You need to do some competitor research to determine a few factors. What are they pricing theirs at? Are your designs and products of higher quality? Is yours embroidered?

You should also consider people’s mindset. If you price yours higher or lower would it make it appear as a cheap or luxury product? That can also bring a whole different audience.

All of these questions will help you develop a price to set your products at to be competitive and attract customers. It’s a delicate balance that you’ll need to find for your specific products and target market.

Now that you’ve got all the numbers and factors in your head. What can increase the earnings from

Successfully Earning From Your Print-On-Demand Business

Running a successful print-on-demand business involves more than just creating and selling products. Here are some key factors to consider:

1. Quality of Designs: The attractiveness of your designs is a major factor in your success. Whether you’re a graphic designer creating your own designs or you’re hiring a designer, ensure that your designs are unique, appealing, and suitable for your target audience.

2. Choice of Products: While t-shirts are a popular choice for print-on-demand, there are many other products you can sell. From phone cases to art prints, the products you choose can have a significant impact on your earnings. Consider your target audience and what products they would be interested in.

3. Pricing Strategy: Your pricing strategy can affect both your sales volume and your profit margins. Price your products too high, and you might not make many sales. Price them too low, and your profit margin might be too small. Consider your costs, your competition, and what your target customers are willing to pay when setting your prices.

4. Marketing and SEO: To make more sales, you need to get your products in front of your target customers. This can involve paid advertising, social media marketing, email marketing, and search engine optimization to drive organic search traffic to your online store.

5. Customer Service: Providing excellent customer service can help you attract and retain customers. This can involve responding promptly to customer inquiries, resolving issues effectively, and ensuring that your customers are satisfied with their purchases.

6. Use of Multiple Platforms: Selling on as many platforms as possible can help you reach a wider audience. This could include your own website, print-on-demand websites, and marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon.

By considering these factors and implementing effective strategies, you can increase your chances of running a successful print-on-demand business and maximizing your earnings.

In the next section, we’ll discuss how to take your print-on-demand business to the next level.

How to Increase Your Earnings

Once you’ve established your print-on-demand business and started making sales, you might be wondering how you can increase your earnings. Here are some strategies to consider:

Expand Your Product Range

Expanding your product range is a great way to attract a wider audience and increase your sales. When you add more products to your POD store, you’re not only offering more choices to your existing customers but also potentially attracting new customers who are interested in these products.

For example, if you’re currently selling art prints, consider adding other products that can feature your designs, like phone cases, t-shirts, or even home decor items like pillows or mugs.

This way, you’re not only catering to art enthusiasts but also to people looking for unique, personalized items for their homes or as gifts.

Remember, the key here is to ensure that the new products you add are relevant to your target audience and align with your brand. Also, consider the quality of the products.

High-quality products can lead to more satisfied customers, positive reviews, and ultimately, more sales.

Improve Your Designs

The success of your POD business largely depends on the attractiveness of your designs. If you’re not seeing the sales you’d like, it might be time to revisit your designs.

Consider getting feedback from your customers. You can do this by conducting surveys, asking for reviews, or even directly reaching out to your customers.

Understanding what your customers like or dislike about your designs can give you valuable insights into how you can improve.

If you’re not a designer yourself, consider hiring a professional graphic designer. They can help you create more appealing and professional-looking designs. Remember, investing in your designs is investing in the success of your POD business.

Optimize Your SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a powerful tool that can help you attract more organic search traffic to your store. This involves optimizing your product descriptions, using relevant keywords, and building backlinks to your store.

Start by researching relevant keywords. These are words or phrases that potential customers might use when searching for products like yours.

Incorporate these keywords into your product descriptions, titles, and meta tags.

Building backlinks, or getting other websites to link to your store, can also improve your SEO. You can do this by collaborating with bloggers, influencers, or other businesses in your niche.

Remember, SEO is a long-term strategy.

It might take some time before you start seeing results, but the potential benefits in terms of increased traffic and sales are well worth the effort.

Invest in Additional Marketing

If you’re not already investing in marketing, now might be the time to start. Marketing can help you reach a wider audience, attract more customers, and increase your sales.

There are many different marketing strategies you can use, depending on your budget and your target audience. This could involve running paid ads on social media or search engines, improving your social media presence, or starting an email marketing campaign.

Remember, effective marketing is about reaching the right people with the right message at the right time. So, take the time to understand your target audience and what kind of marketing messages will resonate with them.

Improve Your Customer Service

Providing excellent customer service can help you attract and retain customers. Happy customers are more likely to become repeat customers and recommend your store to others.

Consider ways you can improve your customer service. This could involve responding to inquiries more quickly, resolving issues effectively, or offering a better return policy.

Remember, every interaction with a customer is an opportunity to build a relationship and enhance your brand’s reputation. So, make sure every customer feels valued and appreciated.

What is Print-On-Demand?

Print-on-demand is a business model where products are created and sold only after a customer places an order. In this model, you, as the business owner, collaborate with a POD supplier like Printify.

These suppliers, including companies that make candles, phone cases, t-shirts, and more, print your designs on various products only when a customer buys from your online store.

What’s so great about this? It wipes out the need for inventory management, a major roadblock for many traditional retail businesses.

No more fretting over unsold stock or storage space. Plus, it opens up a world of possibilities for offering a wide range of products with your unique designs. It’s a dream come true for artists, graphic designers, or anyone with a knack for creativity.

Reasons You Need to Know About Print-On-Demand

If you’re still on the fence about whether the POD business is for you, let’s delve a little deeper into why this model is gaining so much traction.

1. Low Startup Costs: Unlike traditional businesses, starting a POD store doesn’t require a hefty investment. You don’t need to buy inventory upfront, which significantly reduces the financial risk.

2. Flexibility: You can run your POD business from anywhere in the world. All you need is a good internet connection and a laptop.

3. Unlimited Creativity: Whether you’re an artist, a graphic designer, or someone with a knack for creating catchy slogans, POD allows you to monetize your creativity.

4. Scalability: With POD, you can start small and grow your business at your own pace. As your designs gain popularity and your sales increase, your income grows too.

5. Passive Income: Once your designs are uploaded and your store is set up, you can make money while you sleep. Your POD supplier handles the printing and shipping, leaving you free to focus on creating more designs and marketing your store.

Now that you understand why POD is such an attractive business model, it’s time to explore how you can make it work for you.

Alternatives to Running Your Own Print-On-Demand Store

While running your own print-on-demand store can be a lucrative venture, it’s not the only way to make money online.

Here are some alternatives to consider:

1. Other Printing Methods: If you are into the printing game but want a more hands-on approach there are several other types of printing. Printing the products yourself will lead to higher profit margins and more control over your products, however, you are sacrificing time in return.

2. Affiliate Marketing: This is a business model that allows you to make money selling others’ products. From software to outdoor products, everyone needs marketing and some will pay you to advertise their products. Overall it’s a great way to get into making money online.

3. Dropshipping: Similar to print-on-demand, dropshipping involves selling products without holding any inventory. However, with dropshipping, you can sell a wider range of products, not just those that can be printed on.

Wrapping Up How Much Can You Make With Print-On-Demand

Running a print-on-demand business can be a rewarding and profitable venture. However, to make money with print-on-demand, requires effort, creativity, and a strategic approach.

It’s important to remember that the amount of money you can make with print-on-demand can vary greatly.

Some people make a full-time living from their POD stores, while others use it as a side hustle to earn some extra cash. Your earnings will depend on various factors, including the quality of your designs, your marketing efforts, and the demand for your products.

If you’ve made it this far I’m sure you like the sound of the business. Jump into my detailed guide to learn more about starting your own print-on-demand business.