How to Start a Print On Demand Business With No Money or Experience: The Free Guide
Oh hey there dreamers and aspiring entrepreneurs!
Have you ever imagined owning your own online store? Do you constantly daydream about running your own business? Do you wish you could finally figure out how to make money online but have no clue where or how to get started? If you want to run your own successful business in 2024 and are short on cash/ have no idea where to begin, a Print on Demand Business might be the best option for you!
In this post, I’ll be doing a deep dive into the world of Print on Demand and how to start with no money. I’ll break down how to pick the perfect products and suppliers, what tools to use to make your own designs, how to make your very own creations (even if you’ve NEVER designed anything before), and how to conduct market research! So hold onto something because I'm about to show you how to kickstart your Print on Demand journey without spending a single penny!
I am about to spill all the tea on this business model so get your pen, paper, notes laptops, or whatever you need to get to get all this information down!!
But before we begin and get into the nitty gritty, let me introduce myself! Hey there I’m Shay Lynn! I am a top 1% Etsy Seller, am the proud owner of a multi-six figure Print on Demand and Etsy Business, and creator of the Print on Demand Playbook (click the link to check out my playbook). In 2023, I did $250,000 in sales running my very own Print on Demand business. Check it out 👇👇👇
It took me months of trail and (mostly) error to accomplish this in 2023 but I can confidently say I know a thing or two about Print on Demand 😉
So without further ado, let’s get started!
This post is all about how to start a print on demand business when you have no money!
So what in the world in Print on Demand any how??
Print on Demand, or POD for short, is a business model where you as a business owner partner with a print provider that handles all the production and shipping of your products for you. All you need to do is set up an online store, create your designs, integrate your print provider to your shop, upload said designs, and when someone places an order for a product with your design, the printing company takes care of everything for you!
The concept is insanely simple: you create designs (they don’t even need to be complicated! Some of my best sellers are just plain fonts) for different products like t-shirts, sweaters, tote bags, hoodies, or mugs, and when a customer places an order, the product is printed and shipped directly to them! How easy is that?!
This means you don’t ever have to worry about upfront costs, inventory (or running out of inventory) or large overhead costs. It’s a great option for creative entrepreneurs who want to turn their designs into profitable products without breaking the bank. You also don’t spend a dime until someone purchases a product so to set this all up doesn’t cost ANYTHING to start!
By utilizing popular platforms like Etsy and Shopify, you can easily set up your own online store within hours! These platforms provide a storefront for your products, built in payment processing options, and the ability to sell an unlimited number of products. Plus, they are trusted platforms that millions of people are visiting everyday!
Why Choose Print On Demand Over Other Business Models in 2024??
Well, let break it down for you. According to Emarketer Insider Intelligence, “e-commerce retail sales will reach an estimated $6.91 trillion in 2024, up 9.5% from total e-commerce retail sales in 2023 ($6.31 trillion). Projections indicate that value will increase to $8.03 trillion in 2027.”
The e-commerce market is RAPIDLY expanding and has no intentions of slowing down. Personally for me, I definitely want a piece of that 7 TRILLION (with a “t” not a billion with a “b” or million with a “m”) repeat 7 TRILLION dollar pie!
Unlike traditional business models, Print On Demand requires NO upfront inventory costs. You only have to pay for the product once a sale has been made! This means you don’t need to worry about storing or managing stock, and you only pay for the products when a customer makes a purchase.
It’s an incredibly low-risk way to start your own business while testing out different designs and products to see what works and what doesn’t without having to invest THOUSANDS of dollars to get started.
With the rise of e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Etsy, it’s easier than ever to start your own print on demand business! These are trusted platforms that are extremely user-friendly and have millions of people already searching for items!
And the ABSOLUTE best part about having a POD Business is that you don’t have to worry about making, packaging, or shipping ANY INVENTORY because the print on demand service provider handles EVERYTHING (including refunds for damaged goods). This means that all you really have to focus on is creating fun awesome designs that appeals to your target audience.
It’s a win win win if you ask me!
This Sounds To Good To Be True. Are there any Disadvantages??
I am not going to paint this crazy picture of all rainbows, butterflies, and unicorns for you about Print on Demand. Just like with any business, there are going to be hangups. Luckily with Print on Demand there aren’t too many but I did want to share them with you so you can really understand the business concept.
1) One major drawback is the lack of control over the fulfillment process. Because you are putting all of your trust into a Print Provider to fulfill you orders, you are on their time, inventory, and printing protocols. Because of this sometimes you may have less say in the quality and timing of your products because you rely on a third party service to fulfill you orders.
2) You definitely are paying a little bit more for your products because you are paying for them to be print, packaged, and shipped. This does result in slightly lower profit margins compared to other business models.
3) And Finally, competition is growing in the print-on-demand industry. To really make it it will take you CONSISTENLY making new items weekly. So if you don’t really have the drive this could be really difficult for you to get started because this DEFINITELY is not a get-rich-quick scheme.
This portion of the post is not meant to scare you or be a downer. I just want you to know upfront the pros and cons of running a POD Business so you can make your best-educated decision on if this is right for you 😊
Now let’s get down to business…
How to Start a POD Business When You Have No Money!
Step One: Pick your Niche
Picking the right niches is crucial and critical if you are starting a POD business without any money.
Niches are specific markets/customers that you can target with your products. If you are starting with no money you really need to hone in on your specific audience and learn what they like to buy. By focusing on niches that have high demand and low competition, you increase your chances of success!
So think about your target audience or group you are trying to make a product for and ask youself “what will this particular person or group of people gravitate to and want to buy?” Once you have an idea of what niche you want to get into and what products could be successful you have to do market research to see if there is truly a demand for these products!
Free Research Tools:
In order to run a successful POD business you must validate your products to confirm that there is in fact a demand and that your product isn’t currently over-saturated in the niche marketplace of your choosing. To do this, POD business owners use these powerful tools to see what direction they should take in order to minimize wasted time, effort, and money!
SALES SAMURAI- This tool is hands down the best to work with! If I had to pick just one research tool to use for the rest of my life, this would be the one! This tool does it all. It does deep-dive research into what is currently trending, niches to get into, and how to track your competition! It also provides keywords, google trends, and a pricing calculator! You get a free 3-day trial and 20% off using code SHAY20 to test out Sales Samurai to see if it’s the right fit for you before making a purchase!
EVERBEE- This tool is AMAZING. It is a chrome extension that allows you (in real time) to track everything about a product to see if it is successful and if there is a demand! Again, there is a free trial so you can test it out and play around with you to see if you like it before buying it but I will say from experience, this was a total game changer for my business so I highly recommend getting this!
I do a deep dive in my course The Print On Demand Playbook on how to use these tools to your advantage and exactly how to find unsaturated products to sell!
Step 2: Designing Products
Once you have chosen your niche and have researched what products you want to sell, it is time for the fun part! It’s time to start designing!!!!
This is my favorite part about running a Print on Demand Business! Every day I get to be super creative and come up with my unique designs to sell to the world. Nothing beats the feeling of creating your own design, putting it out in the world, and having it turn into a best seller!
There are 2 design programs that I use and are completely free to sign up!
1) Canva- This is the ultimate tool for creators of all levels! Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, Canva's got your back with its intuitive interface and vast array of templates, fonts, and images. With just a few clicks, you can whip up stunning designs for your print on demand products that are sure to turn heads and make you some money!
And here's the cherry on top: Canva offers a free plan, giving you access to tons of features without spending a dime!
2) Kittl- Kittl is a completely revolutionary design software program that elevates your designs to the next level! Kittl is beyond user-friendly and has an extensive range of features, ranging from Mockup creation to AI design! Its templates are on a whole other playing field and the fonts offered are unmatched by any design software program on the current market (including Canva). I use this for seasonal designs because their pre-built templates are absolutely stunning!
And the best part: Totally free to sign up! Click the link to sign up and get started for FREE!
Step 3: Choosing a Print Provider
You’ve done your niche research, validated your ideas, and have designed your product! Now it is time to bring your designs to life by uploading your artwork to your products using your chosen Print Provider!
When your first starting out, choosing the right print provider for your products is crucial. You want to ensure that you are producing quality products so your customers will be more inclined to leave 5 star reviews!
You want to look for suppliers that have a wide range of products to choose from, so you can offer your customers a variety of options in your shop. It’s also important to consider the supplier’s production times, customer service, pricing, shipping options, and quality. You want to make sure your supplier can fulfill orders promptly, provide support if any issues come up, and make sure that you as a business owner are taken care of.
You’ll also want to choose a POD print provider that integrates seamlessly with your chosen selling platform. The two selling platforms I suggest are Etsy or Shopify.
The following are the print providers that I use in my shop and are what I recommend to beginners. Oh and they are all COMPLETELY FREE to sign up!
1) Printify- This tool is the king of print providers. Their inventory, shipping times, and quality are out of this world. They not only have a diverse amount of products to choose from but an award winning customer support staff that truly cares about your business and are happy to help all hours of the day! For my own print on demand shop, I would say I use Printify 40% of the time for most of my products!
3) Teelaunch- This print provider is small but mighty! I specifically use them for kind of a “miscellaneous” product category. They have products from Jewlery to unique displays that other print providers don’t offer. The quality of products is superb and the interface to track your orders is extremely easy to use. If you are looking to start with some really unique products that could help you break free from your competition, I would definitely start here!
Step 4: Choose a Platform to Sell Your Products
There are a few things to consider when you are choosing the right platform to sell your print on demand products on.
First, it’s important to explore popular marketplaces like Amazon, Ebay, Etsy, or Walmart, as they offer a wide reach and potential customer base. These are trusted platforms that have people already searching for products on so you don’t have to run ads or do the footwork to get traction in your shop.
It's essential to thoroughly look into all of the features, fees, and audience reach of each platform before making your decision, making sure it aligns seamlessly with your business objectives and goals. And most importantly you need to select a platform that integrates smoothly with your chosen print on demand supplier because this will streamline your business operations significantly. When you first start out, I would only focus on selling on one platform to start. It will prevent you from stretching yourself too thin and allowing you to focus your efforts effectively. Personally, I would recommend starting with Etsy. Once your shop gets enough traction and you have a big audience, you can then move your business over to your own e-commerce website like Shopify.
Frequently asked Print on Demand Questions that beginners typically have:
Is it truly possible to start a POD business without spending a dime?
ABSOLUTELY! When I was first starting I used every free trial period and free program I could get my hands on. I only upgraded once I started making sales.
So yes, it is possible to start a print on demand business with no money! I’ll be honest, you have to be very business savvy and make educated decisions but this is very possible. By utilizing free platforms and tools, such as Printful, Printify and Etsy, you can easily start your business on a serious no-frills spending budget. Don’t forget you can also leverage social media and content marketing to promote your products without spending a dime on advertising.
Is a print on demand business model right for you?
Deciding if a print on demand business model fits your needs hinges on several factors that depend on your business goals and financial circumstances. Here's what to consider:
Your Budget: With limited funds for inventory or production equipment, a print on demand model offers a budget-friendly solution. You pay only for items when ordered, eliminating upfront investment needs.
Versatility: Print on demand lets you offer a whole diverse product range without managing inventory, allowing for experimentation and flexibility with different designs and products without committing to large quantities.
Time: Once your POD business is up and running you can work less that 20 hours a week and it will run itself. I currently work on average 15 hours a week (5 hours when it’s slow and 30 hours around Christmas). Launching a print on demand venture demands time and dedication, especially in designing and marketing products. However, once your store is up and running smoothly, it can free up more time to focus on business growth.
Creativity: If you love creativity and design as much as I do, a print on demand business offers the perfect outlet for artistic expression. You get to make art and money at the same time!
In Conclusion:
Starting a POD business with no money may sound hard and challenging, but the truth is, it is definitely doable! By using the free resources and platforms in this post, you can start selling your own unique designs without any upfront costs!
The great thing about Print On Demand is that success your POD business’ success is not solely dependent on financial investment, but rather on creativity, determination, perseverance, and CONSISTENCY. It is one of the only business models on the planet where a lack of funds can’t hold you back! So if you have the drive and are ready to commit, you can most CERTAINLY start a POD Business with no money.
As stated earlier, I teach a course on exactly how to do this. This guide provides all the necessary tools you will need to start however, if you are more of a visual learner (like myself) I have over 8 hours of course videos and live tutorials showing you step by step how to set up your own shop, validate a product, make a design, and list your products, and how to run your POD business to make 6 figures!
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This post was all about how to start a print on demand business with no money: The Free guide
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