Imagine your artwork on t-shirts, your designs on posters, or your logo on backpacks and water bottles. How about turning your writing into a self-published book? With print on demand, it's easy to design or customize everyday items and sell them online. Visit for more information Online Printing Factory

This guide explores print on demand, a business model that's grown in popularity in recent years. Below, find essential tips on launching your print-on-demand business, including links to some of the best print-on-demand services.

What is print on demand?

Print on demand is a business model where products, such as clothing, accessories, or home décor, are designed by the seller and produced by the supplier once an order is received. When a customer places an order, the product is printed, packed, and shipped by a third-party print-on-demand service. For sellers, this eliminates the need to purchase and manage inventory.

Products commonly sold through print on demand include t-shirts, mugs, posters, and books. The method appeals to many sellers because it enables them to test different designs and product ideas without a big financial investment.

You can use a print-on-demand service to:

How print on demand works

1. Create a design

Start by creating a unique design. Use the design tools in your print-on-demand app to develop a logo, image, or pattern that complements the product you want to sell.

This could mean adding a printed image of a meme to a t-shirt, or an embroidered illustration to a bag. Think about what will resonate with your target audience.

Next, browse a print-on-demand catalog and choose which items to add your designs to. Most apps offer a range of options across categories like clothing, accessories, stationery, and home goods.

3. List products for sale

When your print-on-demand products are ready, list them in your online store. You'll need to write clear product descriptions, set prices, and add product images that showcase your items in detail.

Make your online store visually appealing and easy to navigate, so customers can easily find what they're looking for.

4. Customer makes a purchase

When a customer decides to buy one of your products, they place an order through your online store's checkout.

5. Order is sent to the print-on-demand company

Order details are then sent to your print-on-demand provider. This process can be automatic if you connect your online store with a print-on-demand app.

6. Printing, packing, and shipping

The company prints the product, packages it, and ships it directly to the customer. Depending on the service you use, customers may also be able to send returns back to your print-on-demand partner.

Pros and cons of print on demand

If you're looking for other inventory-free selling options, try connecting with established Shopify brands to sell their products.

Getting started with print on demand

It's a great time to start using print on demand. Whether you want to create hoodies for your social media followers, tote bags to promote your brand, or new custom products for your store, print on demand has become an established way to produce and sell products.

With Shopify, you can connect print-on-demand apps directly to your store. When you make a sale, the order is automatically forwarded to your print-on-demand partner for production and shipping.

3 popular print-on-demand services

Think about product selection, shipping speed, and pricing when choosing a partner. A great deal on shipping costs might lose its appeal if your customers need to wait three weeks to receive their orders.

Printful is a popular choice among print-on-demand sites because of its wide selection of high-quality products and brands (Gildan, American Apparel, etc.). It has a free trial, an easy-to-use mockup generator, and options for adding your own branding to the unboxing experience.

Printify is another print-on-demand service that features a large selection of t-shirts, hoodies, and popular products. It also has an international vendor network with a number of white-label products, such as jewelry, shoes, and water bottles.

With a network of more than 140 printing partners in 32 countries, Gelato offers a wide range of products to customize and sell, including a focus on stationery and wall art.

11 Best Print on Demand Companies and Sites (2025)

Here's the Shopify guide to the best print-on-demand companies. Compare the top 11 print-on-demand sites and apps for designing custom products.

Tips for starting with print on demand

Using a print-on-demand service is often easier than managing your own inventory, but there are unique considerations to be aware of.

As a seller, you should feel confident about the quality of the products you offer to your customers—even when they're sourced from a third party.

The best way to ensure your products look and feel as intended is to order samples. Place sample orders through your online store to test out your entire shopping experience, from browsing to delivery.

Some print-on-demand services, like Printful, offer a sample discount to help sellers validate their design choices.

Beyond ensuring product quality, samples can also be useful for taking product photos for your website and social media profiles.