Print On Demand - How To Start A Business
Create and Sell High Quality Cards and Puzzles with QPMN Print on Demand
- Zero MOQ
- Zero Inventory
- Zero Monthly Fees
What Is Print On Demand
Print on Demand (POD) is a business model that allows you to custom-design high-quality products using your artwork and sell them globally online. The most commonly printed products include apparel (such as t-shirts), cups, cards, and puzzles. Once your product is sold, the order is sent to a print-on-demand supplier who prints your design, packages the product, and ships it directly to the customer on your behalf. This allows you to focus solely on the business aspects.
How To Start A Print on Demand Business
Here are the 5 steps to Print on Demand
1. Choose a Supplier: Select a print-on-demand supplier and connect it to your eCommerce store for automated order processing.
2. Set Up Your Store and Integrate: Customize your online store with your branding and important pages (e.g., About, Contact, FAQs) and connect it to your supplier to automate the fulfillment service.
3. Create Products: Upload your artwork to the supplier’s platform to create and customize your products.
4. Launch and Sell: Once your store is live, customers can place orders.
5. Order Fulfillment: The supplier prints, packages, and ships the product directly to your customer when an order is received.
Pros And Cons Of Print On Demand
Take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of print on demand
PROS:
- Significantly Lower Investment Ris.: No need for minimum order quantities (MOQ), no need to hold inventory, and you only pay when you receive an order.
- You Design the Product: Add your artwork to high-quality products, making your offering unique.
- Zero Packaging and Shipping Costs: These fees are typically included in the product cost, and the print-on-demand supplier handles the entire fulfillment process.
- Quick to Start: You can use existing designs or purchase designs to start selling immediately.
- Easy to Set Up: Starting a print-on-demand business is as simple as installing a plugin with just a few clicks.
CONS:
- Significantly Lower Investment Ris.: No need for minimum order quantities (MOQ), no need to hold inventory, and you only pay when you receive an order.
- Limited Product Customization: Aside from uploading your artwork, there are few other customization options. Some suppliers may offer additional customization features.
- No Control Over Shipping: Shipping costs are set by the supplier, and you may not be able to create a unique unboxing experience.
- Longer Production Time: Since products are only printed when an order is placed, there is additional wait time compared to selling pre-made stock.
Ready To Start Your Print On Demand Business?
What Are The Differences Between Print On Demand And Dropshipping
Print on demand and dropshipping share many similarities, such as low investment risk, no need for inventory, and the fact that fulfillment is handled by a partner supplier.
However, here are some key differences:
|
Feature
|
Print on Demand
|
Dropshipping
|
|---|---|---|
|
Product Customization
|
Able to upload your artwork/design and in some cases alter the material
|
No Customization
|
|
Lead Time
|
Longer Lead time as printing start when order is received
|
Almost No lead time
|
|
Quality of Products
|
High quality thanks to customization
|
May be lower quality based on business model to sell cheaper goods
|
|
Competition
|
Unique product, lower competition
|
Zero uniqueness in product, high competition
|
|
Gross Profit
|
Custom products can lead to higher profits
|
Limited due to competition and supplier costs
|
Sell Your Custom Products Online
Choose the right online marketplace to sell your products
FAQ Print on Demand
To ensure compliance with copyright laws, we only accept and print custom trading cards with original artwork.
We highly encourage our customers to use their own designs or obtain licensing and permissions for any copyrighted content they wish to include.
Respecting intellectual property rights is essential, and QPMN is committed to upholding these standards.
If you can verify that the image is indeed copyright free and truly free to use as under the CC0 license then you may use it on your Print on Demand products.
While print on demand and dropshipping share similarities—such as selling third-party products, eliminating the need to manage inventory, and outsourcing fulfillment to the supplier—they differ significantly in key areas like product customization, lead times, market competition, and profit margins.
We have a very robust and strict policy with users uploaded artwork/designs.
We ensure that no other partner can produce the same image without written authorization from the owner and we do not share any of the artwork/designs to any third parties.
Yes, with the right resources—such as a reliable print-on-demand partner, compelling and unique artwork, and a strong marketing strategy—you have the potential to build a profitable business.
In terms of growth as a market, its predicted to reach USD 45.6 billion by 2031 compared to to USD 6.3 billion in 2022.
Are You Ready To Start Your Print On Demand Business?
Complete the form, and we will pair you with an experienced growth manager who will lead you through the process and help you establish your store.