Guide to Choosing the Right Printful Integration for Your Business

Learning how to start a print-on-demand business is just the beginning. You find a niche, choose some trending products to sell, and add your unique twist with personalized branding. And just like that, the first cornerstone of your new empire is set! 

Of course, as with anything that seems easy at first glance, there are tricky obstacles to overcome. No worries, though—we’re here to guide you through.

One key decision you’ll face is choosing the right integration. Which platform or marketplace should you use to sell your dropshipping products? In this article, we’ll explore the options available when selecting Printful as your print-on-demand provider. Every business is unique, so it’s important to align your goals, vision, and business model with the most compatible integration.

3 things to consider before choosing your Printful integration

Before exploring platforms, it’s important to evaluate a few key aspects of your business model. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, so consider each platform based on your unique needs and goals.

1. Your audience and ways of reaching it

Knowing your audience is key to successfully running any type of business. Understanding your customers’ interests and habits will allow you to reach them more effectively and, therefore, make more sales. 

Source: Shopify

Established audience

If you already have an established audience, choosing an ecommerce platform like Shopify or WooCommerce allows you to use your brand identity and customer relationships, thanks to all the customization options they offer. 

These platforms are highly cooperative with businesses that have built their following and want to maintain control over customer interactions. Your communication style can stay as is without any forced limitations. 

Tapping into an existing audience

Perhaps you plan to tap into an existing audience, skipping the complicated starting period of finding and establishing a solid customer base. In such cases, trying marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon is a good idea. Both of these platforms combined offer more than 400M customers overall. Why not grab a slice of that pie? 

Source: Statista 

The already built-in customer base searching for specific products is a possible advantage if you’ve just started a print-on-demand business and want to start selling immediately. Of course, it’s important to remember that the competition here is neck and neck, so you’ll have to find a way to stand out. 

Building your audience

If you’re aiming to build an audience from scratch, you’ll need a platform that offers robust tools for brand development and customer acquisition. In addition, it’s always a good idea to put some work into your social media channels to build a dependable customer base who follow and support your brand. 

Source: Printful

Building an audience is a challenge that requires patience and consistent effort. It’s better to take your time to explore all the platform options instead of rushing to make a decision. Each one comes with its pros and cons, which we’ll get more into further in this blog.

2. Your website-building experience

Nowadays, building your site doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be a professional developer. In fact, some tools make it so easy that anyone can create a website. Of course, the more complicated options come with more room for customization. Choosing the right platform relies heavily on your business model and needs.

Beginner-friendly platforms

If you’re new to website building, platforms like Wix and Squarespace might be the perfect match. These platforms offer drag-and-drop functionality, user-friendly interfaces, and integrated tools that simplify setting up a professional-looking store without coding knowledge. This primarily benefits entrepreneurs who want to focus on selling trending products rather than dealing with technical setups.

Source: Squarespace

Advanced website builders

If you already have some technical background in site building, why not try something more customizable to give your site an authentic spark? WooCommerce, built on WordPress, is a powerful platform that provides complete control over your website’s design, functionality, and SEO. It’s most compatible with businesses that require a highly personalized online store. 

Source: OSTraining

3. Budgeting

Budgeting often makes all the difference in your business choices, especially in the starting stages. Staying on top of your finances goes hand in hand with success.

Monthly fees

Although most platforms require monthly subscription fees, there are also free options. Consider what each platform’s plan includes, such as ecommerce features, marketing tools, and customer support, before selecting the right one for your business. 

Transaction fees

When choosing the best integration tool for your business, another important factor to consider is transaction fees. Some platforms charge listing fees, payment processing fees, and transaction fees on each sale, which can add up over time. That’s why it’s important to weigh out your possibilities and options before making the final decision.

Best integrations if you’re just starting

The first group of integrations is particularly compatible but not limited to fit the needs of new businesses. Even if you’ve already been selling your merch for a while and want to try a new integration, one of the options below might just be what you’re looking for.

1. Shopify

Shopify is a versatile and robust ecommerce platform that’s particularly well-suited for beginners looking to grow their business quickly. 

It’s simple to use, meaning anyone can open a shop, even if their experience with print-on-demand and ecommerce is close to none. Shopify has a 10-step guide that can be completed after signing up, so learning this platform is easier. In addition, they offer plenty of other educational resources to help new business owners soar.

Source: Shopify

Reputation and quality come with a price, however. If you’re starting from scratch, choosing this platform will require a larger budget, as the subscription fee is slightly higher than that of Wix and Squarespace. Shopify also doesn’t offer email hosting, meaning you’ll need a third-party email hosting service to send emails from a custom domain address. 

Shopify’s monthly plans start at $29, and transaction fees apply unless you opt for Shopify Payments.

2. Etsy

Etsy is a large marketplace where entrepreneurs and artists sell handmade, vintage, and unique products. With millions of active buyers, this platform offers immediate access to an active audience. 

This makes Etsy especially effective for new sellers looking to capitalize on trending products without needing to manage a website. As long as you have products to sell, Etsy will provide people searching to buy them.

Source: Etsy

However, Etsy’s fee structure can be challenging, particularly for sellers with narrow profit margins. The platform charges a listing fee, a transaction fee, and a payment processing fee on every sale. Another thing to keep in mind is the competition. The number of sellers has grown from 4.3M to 9M since 2020, making most popular niches highly competitive.

Regarding pricing, there’s no monthly subscription but several fees instead. For example, Etsy’s listing fee for each product you post is $0.20. Keep in mind that fees may vary depending on your location, so it’s a good idea to check out their finances page before starting to sell.

3. Printful Quick Stores

Printful Quick Stores is a new tool created for print-on-demand beginners who have an established audience and want to dive into selling without the complexity of setting up a full ecommerce site.

This option is fast to set up and easy to manage, making it great for experimenting with new products and gradually growing your business. The best part is that it’s completely free, so in case the first months don’t bring in as much revenue, the budget won’t be affected as much.

Source: Printful

There are some tradeoffs to the simplicity, however. The limited customization options might feel restrictive if you aim to build a distinctive brand or require more advanced ecommerce features. With Quick Stores, you can sell only Printful products, however, there are over 340 items to choose from.

Setting up Printful Quick Stores costs $0 and has no fees.

Disclaimer: Currently, the Quick Stores tool is only available for merchants in the US, and products can only be delivered to US addresses.

4. Wix

Wix is a popular website-building platform that offers a wide selection of designs and simple management tools for creating a professional online store.

It also provides robust ecommerce features, including payment processing, SEO tools, and marketing integrations, making it a strong choice for beginners entering the ecommerce space. For someone trying to find a place among more experienced competitors, this can be pivotal. 

Source: Wix

Although there are plenty of innovative tools, Wix’s ecommerce capabilities are less advanced than those offered by platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. That might limit your options as your business expands and your needs become more complex.

Wix’s pricing is slightly more affordable than that of Shopify and Squarespace, starting at $16 per month when paying annually.

5. Squarespace

Squarespace is an intuitive and easy-to-use website-building platform. A trusted option among online business owners worldwide.

One of Squarespace’s most valuable advantages for beginners is how easy it is to learn it. They don’t rely on many third-party apps; instead, they create their own solutions. This helps them stand out among other competitors quite a bit.

Source: Squarespace

One thing to be aware of is that this platform is slightly more limited in its customizability, particularly when it comes to making significant changes to the layout or functionality of your website. On top of that, there’s no autosave and version history functionality, so you need to be more careful when making changes to your storefront.

Monthly costs for running an online store on this platform start from $18.

Best integrations if you have a social media following

Having a social media following is one key factor in successfully selling your merch. If you already have built a community around your brand, you’re more than likely to bring in some good numbers. Here are some integrations that fit great in such cases.

1. TikTok Shop

TikTok Shop is a feature that allows selling directly on the TikTok app. It’s an effective way for creators to monetize their social media reach.

Integrating Printful directly with TikTok allows you to sell products within the app, making it easy for followers to purchase your print-on-demand merch. Such a shopping experience can significantly boost conversions and sales, especially for trending products that resonate with your audience.

Source: TikTok

However, it would be best to remember that TikTok Shop is still evolving, and its features may not be as robust as those offered by ecommerce platforms or marketplaces. Additionally, success on TikTok requires consistent content creation and engagement, which can be very time-consuming.

There are no subscription fees for launching and using TikTok Shop, but a 3.78% fee applies for each transaction. There are other fees, too, so it’s worth checking out TikTok Shop Academy before signing up.

2. Printful Quick Stores

Printful Quick Stores offer a hassle-free way for creators with a social media following to start selling products. You can link your store directly on your social media profiles, making it easy for your followers to purchase your merch. This is a great option for those who want to capitalize on their existing audience without investing in an entire ecommerce site.

3. Shopify

Shopify is an excellent platform for creators with a solid social media presence. It integrates seamlessly with social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, allowing you to sell products directly through these channels. Shopify’s app ecosystem also includes tools for managing social media marketing, which can help you grow your audience and drive sales.

Best integration if you’re advanced at building websites

Although programming skills are not necessarily needed to launch your online store, they might come in handy. Especially if you wish to make something unique and maximize your brand’s identity.

1. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is an open-source ecommerce plugin for WordPress. Built on WordPress, it’s best suited for advanced users who want complete control over their online store. WooCommerce offers a lot of customization options, allowing you to add custom code, use thousands of plugins, and optimize your site for SEO. 

Source: WordPress

This flexibility makes WooCommerce perfect for businesses that need a highly tailored ecommerce solution or have specific technical requirements. This platform offers a chance to stand out among competitors by creating a unique and customized online store.

However, all this freedom comes with complexity. Unlike all-in-one platforms such as Shopify or Squarespace, WooCommerce requires you to manage hosting, security, and maintenance, which can be challenging for those without technical expertise. 

WooCommerce is free, but you’ll need a hosting provider, which is a paid service typically starting at $2.99 per month. You can check out more detailed information here. 

Best integrations if you’re scaling

But what if you have been running an online store successfully for a while and wish to expand further? By selling on the world’s largest marketplaces, you can take advantage of their popularity and tap into major existing audiences. 

1. Amazon

Amazon is the world’s largest online marketplace, making it an attractive option for businesses looking to scale. With access to millions of potential customers, Amazon offers great exposure and trust. 

his platform is especially beneficial for trending product sellers, enabling you to reach a vast audience quickly and efficiently. With over 2.7B unique monthly visitors, Amazon is a standout option for anyone looking to improve their sales numbers.

Source: Amazon

However, selling on Amazon comes with challenges, including intense competition, strict seller guidelines, and several fees. Standing out in such a crowded marketplace can be challenging, so a solid marketing strategy is necessary. 

When it comes to grabbing their slice of pie, Amazon makes it simple. You can pay $0.99 per item sold or $39.99 per month. Choosing between these options depends on how many products you plan to sell on this marketplace.

2. eBay

eBay is a global marketplace with extensive reach, trusted for decades by sellers looking to scale internationally. 

It’s especially useful for selling one-of-a-kind, collectible, or trending products, as its auction format can help maximize profits on rare or highly sought-after items. With support for various product categories, eBay is helpful for sellers with products in many different categories.

Source: eBay

eBay’s auction-based selling can lead to unpredictable pricing, which may not suit all sellers. The platform charges various fees, ranging from 2.35% to 15%, including listing fees, final value fees, and PayPal transaction fees. These fees can add up and significantly reduce profit margins.

3. Walmart

Walmart Marketplace, an extension of the Walmart superstore, offers access to millions of shoppers in the US. Particularly popular among older adults and women.

Walmart’s strong brand reputation builds trust, potentially leading to higher conversion rates. For sellers aiming to scale, Walmart provides a platform with tools for inventory management, order fulfillment, and customer service, helping streamline operations as your business grows.

Source: Pinterest

The application process to become a Walmart Marketplace seller is complicated. Not all applicants are accepted, and due to high competition with popular brands, this platform is better for large-name businesses known by most people. Less experienced sellers might just not survive in such a saturated marketplace. 

Seller fees depend on the product category and price, starting at 5% for cheaper apparel items and up to 15% for multiple other categories. You can find more detailed information here. 

Find your platform by understanding your needs

Choosing a suitable Printful integration for your business depends on several key factors, including your audience, technical expertise, budget, and growth goals. 

For those just starting, integrations like Shopify, Etsy, and Wix offer user-friendly interfaces and the ability to tap into existing audiences or build your own. If you have an established social media following, selling on TikTok Shop or Printful Quick Stores can help you better monetize your audience. 

For advanced users, WooCommerce provides unmatched customization capabilities. Meanwhile, marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Walmart offer the scalability needed to reach a vast audience. The choice of platform should align with your specific business objectives and the resources available to you. Carefully weighing the pros and cons of each integration will help you make an informed decision that supports your business goals.

Ultimately, the right integration will help you set the foundation for long-term success in the print-on-demand and dropshipping industry, allowing you to grow your business and reach your target audience more effectively.