Is Print-on-Demand Profitable? Key Insights for Entrepreneurs and Brand Owners

Looking to start your own business and want to know if print-on-demand is profitable? You’ve come to the right place. We’ll share all the tools and knowledge to help you launch your print-on-demand business today. 

Discover key insights about the print-on-demand model, learn the crucial steps for your business to make money, and look at four real-life examples of profitable print-on-demand businesses.

Profitability and print-on-demand: An overview

If you're considering starting a print-on-demand business, understanding its earnings potential is essential. 

From average success rates to market projections and profit margins, here’s what you need to know about the print-on-demand model in 2025. 

Is print-on-demand profitable?

Yes, the print-on-demand business model is profitable and will remain so in 2025—especially for sellers with strong niches, standout designs, and smart marketing.

The POD market is expected to hit $67.5 billion by 2032, with an annual growth rate of 26.7%. Profit margins generally range from 20%-40%, with some niches earning even more.

While competitive, the POD business model has solid potential. Print-on-demand stores thrive when focused on design, fulfillment and product quality, and customer experience.

Is the print-on-demand market saturated?  

Not yet. Despite growing competition, demand for unique, personalized products is still rising, driven by changing shopper habits. The personalized gifts market alone is projected to grow from $30.7 billion in 2023 to almost $54 billion by 2032.

More and more people are shopping online. The global ecommerce market hit $26 trillion in 2023 and is expected to grow by 18.9% through 2030, opening up opportunities for print-on-demand sellers.

That said, standing out in the print-on-demand industry means focusing on a specialized market segment and offering original designs. 

Successful print-on-demand sites continually refresh their listings to keep up with trends and capture attention in a fast-moving market. The top 1% of POD sellers add an average of seven new products a day to stay competitive.

Is print-on-demand good for passive income?

Absolutely. Print-on-demand lets you sell custom products without holding your own inventory or managing fulfillment, simplifying operations compared to traditional ecommerce.

You’ll need to create designs, choose a print-on-demand partner, open your online store, and implement marketing strategies to drive sales. 

But once everything’s set up, you can automate much of the process. Your POD partner, like Printful, will handle order processing, printing, and shipping. That means your print-on-demand business can generate income around the clock—even while you sleep.

Valuable read: 11 Proven Ways to Get Sales with Print-on-Demand

How to make your print-on-demand business profitable in 2025

Making your print-on-demand business ideas profitable involves a few key factors—creativity, market insight, and a solid game plan.

From smart marketing strategies to exceptional customer service, here are the steps to make your print-on-demand company profitable.

1. Choose a reputable print-on-demand supplier

Since your print-on-demand partner handles fulfillment and manages the product and print quality, your choice directly impacts your reputation. 

A reliable supplier helps you consistently meet customer expectations, from quality and shipping speed to support responsiveness.

When researching print-on-demand suppliers, consider their reprint rates, reviews, and product variety. These are critical indicators of their reliability and service quality. At Printful, our reshipment rate is only 0.24%, thanks to a vigorous 3-step quality check.

Another important factor is whether the print provider owns the entire production process. At Printful, we’re fully responsible for product selection, inventory management, and fulfillment. 

Last but not least, partner with a print-on-demand provider that offers exceptional customer service. This significantly impacts your business reputation, customer satisfaction, and profit potential. 

2. Pick the right pricing strategy

The right pricing strategy for your print-on-demand business should cover your costs while generating a healthy profit margin. 

To set a retail price, calculate your total expenses (including production, shipping, and any dedicated ecommerce platform fees) and add a percentage markup—we recommend a 30%-40% margin. 

Your pricing strategy should balance affordability for customers with business growth. To boost conversions, consider incorporating shipping costs into your retail price so you can offer free delivery.

Here’s a simple formula for pricing your on-demand products:

Product price* + Your profit margin = Retail price

*(including shipping, possible taxes, and any extra fees)

Want higher profits? Unlock lower product prices with Printful Growth. Try it free for 14 days and continue for $24.99/month. If your annual sales hit $12K, we won’t charge your subscription for a whole year.

Learn more about how pricing at Printful works.

Choose products with high profit margins

High-margin products help offset marketing expenses and operational costs while maximizing revenue. To justify a higher price point, consider how you position and describe your products.

Think about its unique selling point. How much buyers are willing to pay depends on the perceived value, quality, trendiness, and exclusivity.

Valuable read: 11 High Profit Margin Dropshipping Products + Examples

Choosing the right print provider also plays a role. Reliable partners offer higher-quality products and consistency that justify premium pricing.

Turn regular print-on-demand products like custom t-shirts and custom hoodies into premium pieces by: 

• Using premium-feel decoration techniques, like unlimited color embroidery.

• Crafting limited, one-of-a-kind designs that customers can’t get anywhere else.

• Choosing eco-friendly or upcycled materials.

Need design inspiration? Check out these resources:

• 39 Hoodie Design Ideas to Get You Inspired

• 56 T-Shirt Design Ideas That Are Seriously Next-Level

3. Focus on a target audience

Focusing on a defined target audience helps you tailor your designs and marketing efforts to their specific needs, preferences, and behaviors—improving your chances of driving sales. 

To lock in a profitable niche, research what’s in demand and who you’re selling to. Identify demographics, interests, and industry trends.

Use these insights to create designs they’ll love and choose marketing channels where your audience is most active. The more tailored your approach, the stronger your brand and the higher your chances of long-term success.

Valuable read: 32 Useful Market Research Tools for Startups and Established Businesses

Actively engage with your audience through social media, surveys, and direct feedback. This helps you understand their evolving preferences and needs. Build a community around your brand to cultivate loyalty and encourage repeat purchases. 

By continuously adapting your product lines and marketing efforts based on real-time insights, your online business remains relevant and primed for growth in the print-on-demand industry.

4. Create unique designs

Creative and original custom designs make your POD business stand out. Justify your premium pricing by increasing the perceived value of your offerings.

Need design inspiration to create custom products? Here are a few places to look:

• Trending topics and social media: Follow viral hashtags and influencers on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

• Customer feedback: Use surveys and social media to learn what your audience wants.

• Niche forums: Explore Reddit and online communities related to your niche market.

• Art and design sites: Browse Behance, Dribbble, and Pinterest for fresh ideas.

• Culture and history: Draw inspiration from art movements and historical periods.

• Publications: Flip through books and fashion magazines to explore style evolution.

Pro tip: Use our free Design Maker to easily create stunning designs and sell custom products.

To really profit and stand out, don’t just chase trends. Offer something fresh, exciting, and aligned with your niche. Unique designs not only grab attention but also let you charge more and build a brand people want to come back to. 

5. Experiment with different marketing tactics

The answer to the question of whether print-on-demand is profitable often comes down to how well you market.

Promoting your print-on-demand company effectively requires testing different strategies to see what resonates with your audience. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula—success depends on your products, niche, and customer preferences.

Valuable read: How to Develop an Effective Marketing Strategy

Here are three proven tactics to try:

• Social media advertising: Promote your print-on-demand products through targeted paid ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Social commerce revenue in the US is expected to grow by over $50 billion in the next 5 years, making this a powerful channel for visibility and sales.
  
  

• Email marketing: Use emails to re-engage customers with personalized updates, discounts, or product drops. With an average ROI of $36 for every $1 spent, it’s one of the most cost-effective strategies for driving repeat purchases to your POD business.
  
  

• SEO optimization: Improve your store’s ranking in search engine results to attract organic traffic for free. Focus on keyword research and optimizing product descriptions and blog content to build visibility.

4 profitable print-on-demand store examples

Now that we know POD is a profitable business model, let’s look at some real-life examples of successful print-on-demand businesses.

1. FIERCEPULSE

Source: Fierce Pulse

FIERCEPULSE is a highly profitable online store that uses the print-on-demand business model to sell bright, eye-catching leggings, tops, swimwear, and other apparel.

“We’re going for quality and doing what our competitors haven’t done before. We’re just going the extra mile.”

Nenad, CEO and co-founder of FIERCEPULSE

As a community-focused print-on-demand business, they emphasize customer reviews on their website and social media. This strategy builds trust with potential print-on-demand customers by showcasing real-life testimonials and engagement with their products. 

Highlighting positive feedback and innovative designs helps reinforce the brand’s commitment to quality and customer service. By leading with real shopper experiences, FIERCEPULSE strengthens its reputation in a genuine and compelling way.

Read more: Building and growing a FIERCE brand with Printful

2. Dogecore

Source: Dogecore

Dogecore is a print-on-demand business that sells fun, meme-driven merchandise.

Dogecore was built on a nearly decade-old meme page on Facebook, and social media still drives the majority of traffic and revenue to this day. 

The owners of Dogecore found the print-on-demand business model to be the perfect fit—low risk, no upfront costs, and built to scale fast without the usual headaches.

“Print-on-demand is great for low-capital, high-risk sales. I could run a very successful t-shirt company, but I’d always entertain the idea of using print-on-demand services to try out new designs. It reduces the scary thought of having 400 t-shirts piling up in your garage that you can’t sell.”

Dominic, Dogecore co-founder

Another highly successful marketing tactic for the brand is email, with an astounding 42% open rate. Their approach is backed by sales data, which shows a correlation between targeted email campaigns and spikes in conversions. 

Dogecore’s success highlights how humor, connecting with your audience, and authenticity can lead to remarkable results and customer loyalty.

Read more: Dogecore: Success through Humor and Authenticity

3. Match Kicks

Source: Match Kicks

Match Kicks is an online store where customers can find apparel and accessories that perfectly match their favorite sneakers.

The brand didn’t start as a print-on-demand business. When Match Kicks first launched, founders Jose and Kody thought it would be cheaper and better to print everything in-house. 

But keeping up with inventory, managing employees, and dealing with operational hurdles like broken printers was challenging. 

After deciding to switch to print-on-demand fulfillment services, Match Kicks’ founders tried three or four printing services before eventually landing on Printful. 

“There are some things we might be able to do in-house, but in the end, we’re never going to match the type of service that [Printful] can bring to the table.”

Jose and Kody, founders of Match Kicks

Read more: Why This 7-Figure Ecommerce Shark Partnered with Printful

4. Itsjusta6

Source: Itsjusta6

Itsjusta6 is an automotive-focused brand with a massive audience of 1.4M YouTube subscribers that makes content about racing, building, and breaking cars.

For the itsjusta6 creators, building a clothing brand was as integral to their online business as their YouTube journey. 

In the early days, they packed t-shirts from a college bedroom. But as demand exploded, that DIY setup couldn’t keep up. That’s when they shifted to print-on-demand—and scaled without missing a beat.

“I wanted something that easily integrated with Shopify. And after going through 6 or 7 different options, Printful was the Goldilocks fit—it met all of my requirements. The user interface was friendly, which is a big deal. It may not seem like a big deal, but having a good, easy-to-navigate user interface is incredibly important for internal operations. So honestly, just from my own research, and after getting hands-on with the software and trying it out, Printful stood out as by far just the best option.”

Nic, one of the itsjusta6 co-founders

Partnering with Printful gave this brand the freedom to experiment without financial risk. With full flexibility, itsjusta6 can drop new products in minutes and keep up with demand—no overstock, no stress.

Read more: How itsjusta6 Scaled While Staying Flexible with Printful

Your path to profitability

So, is print-on-demand profitable? Absolutely, especially for entrepreneurs looking to build a brand with low risk and minimal upfront investment. 

Thanks to a growing market and rising demand for custom products, print-on-demand is a great way to start selling online. And with providers like Printful handling fulfillment, it’s even easier to focus on what really drives sales.

The key to profiting in this saturated market is having a clear plan, niche focus, standout designs, and sharp marketing. The tools, knowledge, and resources are at your fingertips—now it’s about turning your vision into a thriving print-on-demand business.

Read next: Is Etsy Print-on-Demand Profitable in 2024?