How to Launch a Profitable Remote Print-on-Demand Side Hustle in 2023

In 2023, the world of e-commerce continues to boom, and print-on-demand services are becoming an increasingly popular way for individuals to monetize their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. With print-on-demand, you can create custom products such as t-shirts, carpets, and stickers without investing in inventory or equipment upfront.

In this blog post, we'll share insights to help you start and launch a successful online business. Also, we'll help you select the right niche and suggest some common platforms to start your eCommerce store.

Whether you're a graphic designer, illustrator, or simply someone passionate about creating unique products, this post is for you. So, get ready to learn everything you need to know to launch your very own print-on-demand business in 2023!

It's time to make passive income with your own business.

What is Print-on-Demand?

In the print-on-demand model, products are only manufactured when a customer places an order, and a third-party provider handles the production and shipping. When a customer orders, the product is printed on demand and shipped directly to the customer.

Businesses and individuals can use the print-on-demand concept to produce and sell unique goods like shirts, pet products, and jewelry with little to no initial investment in inventory or manufacturing facilities.

The benefits of the print-on-demand business model include:

  • The startup costs of a print-on-demand business are significantly lower than traditional retail models.

  • Print-on-demand sellers allow customers to order and sell small amounts, making them suitable for startups and market testing.

  • Vendors can create custom designs and products tailored to their niche or target audience.

  • It allows entrepreneurs to work from anywhere in the world without needing a physical storefront or office space.

How Do I Start a Print-on-Demand Side Hustle?

A print-on-demand side business may be lucrative and enjoyable if approached with the appropriate mindset and technique. 

Here are six steps to start a profitable print-on-demand business in 2023 and beyond.

  • Research your market: Before you start creating designs, it's essential to research your target audience and identify your niche. Look for gaps in the print-on-demand market and determine the popular product types and designs.

  • Choose your products: Select the products you want to offer in your store, such as shirts, athletic wear, or baby clothes. Consider your target audience and what products are likely to appeal to them.

  • Create your designs: Use design software or outsource to a professional designer to create high-quality designs that reflect your brand and target audience.

  • Set up your store: Choose a print-on-demand platform to host your eCommerce store, such as Shopify, Etsy, or Printful. Customize your store's layout and design to reflect your brand.

  • Add your products: Add your designs to your store and set prices for each product. Ensure your product descriptions and images are compelling and accurately represent your products.

  • Set up payment and shipping: Configure your payment and shipping options. Most print-on-demand platforms offer integrations with popular payment gateways, and the provider typically handles shipping.

Start your entrepreneurial journey with your own web store.

How Can I Select a Profitable Niche?

Without a clear understanding of your target audience and their interests, creating designs and products that resonate with them can be challenging. Niche research is crucial to giving potential buyers a way to identify your products and make them want to buy from you instead of the competition.

To select a profitable niche, start by identifying your interests and passions. What topics or activities do you enjoy? Consider how you can translate those interests into designs and products that would appeal to others.

The next step is to investigate your market to learn what items and layouts they purchase. Find gaps in the market and think of ways to fill them.

By combining your interests with market research, you can identify a profitable niche that aligns with your passions and has the potential to generate sales. Remember, the key to success in print-on-demand is to create designs and products that are both unique and in demand.

What are the most successful print-on-demand niches?

When it comes to print-on-demand, you have many options to pick from. But as we just saw, selecting the right niche is important to establish a solid brand and implement marketing strategies.

These are popular niches you can explore to get started:

Fitness and wellness

The fitness and wellness niche includes products like gym wear, water bottles, and yoga mats. This niche is always popular with people looking to improve their health and fitness.

Pet lovers

The pet lovers' niche includes pet beds, collars, and t-shirts with cute pet-themed designs. With over 85 million households owning pets in the US alone, this niche has plenty of potential customers.

Travel and adventure

The travel and adventure niche includes products like travel-themed phone cases, luggage tags, and travel journals. With more people than ever before traveling the world, this is a growing niche.

Pop culture

The pop culture niche includes products like t-shirts and phone cases featuring popular TV shows, movies, and musicians. This niche is constantly changing and evolving, making it exciting and dynamic.

Hobbies

The hobby niche includes products like crafting supplies, gaming gear, and puzzles. This large market segment has profit potential because it can serve various consumers.

Careers and professions

The careers and professions niche includes products like mugs and t-shirts with job-specific designs. With people proud of their careers, this niche has the potential to cater to a wide range of professions.

Inspirational quotes

The inspirational quotes niche includes products like posters and wall art featuring motivational messages. This niche can appeal to many customers, making it potentially lucrative.

Local pride

The local pride niche includes t-shirts, stickers, and hats with city-specific designs. This niche is particularly popular with people with strong connections to their hometown or city.

Environment

The environment niche includes products like reusable shopping bags, water bottles, and t-shirts with eco-friendly designs. With people becoming more conscious of the environment, this niche has plenty of potential.

Family

The family niche includes products like baby clothes, family-themed t-shirts, and personalized gifts for grandparents. Anyone from expecting mothers to retirees can be reached by this market sector.

What are the most wanted print-on-demand products?

Print-on-demand has become a popular way for entrepreneurs to start their businesses without significant investments in inventory and equipment. With the growth of e-commerce and the ability to reach customers worldwide, POD has also opened up a wide range of products that can be customized and sold.

Here are some of the most wanted print-on-demand products:

  • Print-on-demand carpets: You can create a unique design or pattern that reflects your brand style and preferences and print it onto a high-quality, durable carpet.

  • Print-on-demand candles: Scented candles with personalized designs and labels.

  • Print-on-demand baby clothes: It allows customers to create adorable and one-of-a-kind outfits for their little ones.

  • Print-on-demand athletic wear: Customized athletic wear with unique designs is a great option for fitness enthusiasts looking to add a personal touch to their workout gear.

  • Print-on-demand pet products: Customized pet products are fun to spoil furry friends with personalized collars, bowls, and pet tags. Customers can choose from various designs and messages to make their pet's belongings unique.

  • Print-on-demand puzzles: Print-on-demand puzzles are ideal for customers who want to spend time with loved ones and make a fun and special gift.

  • Print-on-demand dresses: Customized dresses with unique designs for people who love stylish options for a unique, personalized outfit.

  • Print-on-demand wrapping paper: Help your clients add a personal touch to any gift with unique designs and patterns.

  • Print-on-demand journals: For people who want a fantastic spot for writing their thoughts and ideas. These personalized journals can be designed with particular artwork and text to express the writer's style.

  • Print-on-demand shirts: Customized shirts with unique designs and personalized messages to add a personal touch to the wardrobe.

  • Print-on-demand jewelry: Print-on-demand jewelry is a great way to add a customized touch to any outfit. Customers can choose from various designs and messages to create a truly unique piece of jewelry.

  • Print-on-demand stickers: These customizable stickers can feature unique designs and messages that reflect the customer's style and preferences. They can decorate laptops, water bottles, notebooks, and more.

What Are the Best Print-on-Demand Sites?

Many Print-on-Demand (POD) sites are available for individuals looking to sell their custom products online. Here is a brief description of some of the most popular POD sites:

Etsy

An Etsy store allows individuals to sell handmade and vintage items, including custom-printed products. It's free to join, but there are listing and transaction fees. Sellers can offer a wide range of products, including shirts, accessories, and home decor.

Printful

Printful is a print-on-demand dropshipping company that allows individuals and businesses to create and sell custom-designed products online. They integrate with several popular e-commerce platforms, including Shopify and WooCommerce. Their products are of high quality but can be more expensive than those of other POD services.

Printify

Printify is an on-demand printing and dropshipping service that aims to simplify and streamline the profit-making process. With their help, you can create your own goods and manage your company from the convenience of your own home. They'll manage manufacturing and distribution to end users on your behalf.

Gooten

Any business, from the smallest startup to the most well-known industry leader, can use Gooten. If you don't want to or can't have inventory on hand, Gooten's POD service is the way to go. Gooten's service comes with a variety of practical tools, such as a product catalog with categories, an ordering menu, and shipping restrictions.

Teelaunch

Teelaunch is a POD app that only works with Shopify stores. Instead of selling on their provided platform, you link the Teelaunch app to Shopify and add your design to the available goods. They have a user-friendly platform and offer competitive pricing. However, they only offer shipping to a limited number of countries.

Redbubble

Redbubble is an online marketplace where customers may buy original works by independent artists. Over seventy unique items, including mugs, art posters, and more, are available for customization using artist-uploaded designs. They have a large customer base and offer a user-friendly platform.

Zazzle

Zazzle is an American e-commerce platform that connects independent manufacturers with designers and consumers. You can upload artwork and earn a royalty from the company's print-on-demand service. Alternatively, you can use Zazzle's Maker Agreement to create and sell tote bags and t-shirts.

Society6

Society6 is an online print-on-demand marketplace that makes it simple for artists and designers of all skill levels to set up online stores to sell everything from posters and canvases to tote bags and even furniture.

Merch by Amazon

It's a free service that helps sellers list their t-shirt designs on Amazon. There are zero initial outlays, and you will earn a royalty from each garment sold. All you have to do is upload your design, select your colors, and decide on pricing, and Amazon will handle the rest.

Spreadshirt

It's a global marketplace that connects buyers and sellers and focuses on offering custom apparel and accessories. You can customize clothing, accessories, and more to sell on their platform.

Your side hustle can eventually become a rewarding full-time job.

How Can I Fund My Print-On-Demand Side Hustle?

There are several ways to fund your Print-On-Demand (POD) online store. You can get started with the following ideas:

Online paid surveys

Many websites offer paid online surveys to help you earn extra income. Companies use these surveys to gather feedback on their products and services. We recommend joining Forthright for paid surveys. If you want to make money efficiently and reliably, join the Forthright community to increase your income.

Freelance Writing (link to the blog post /how-to-start-a-writing-side-hustle)

If you have excellent writing skills, you can consider freelance writing as a way to earn extra cash before starting your print-on-demand business. Many companies require content for their blogs, websites, and social media platforms. You can find freelance writing jobs on various job portals and freelancing platforms.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing model in which you promote other companies' products and earn a commission for each sale made through your referral link. You can sign up for the affiliate programs of various companies that sell products related to your POD side hustle. You can promote these products through social media, blog posts, or email marketing.

Are You Ready to Get Started With Your Print-on-Demand Side Hustle?

Launching a profitable remote print-on-demand side hustle in 2023 is an exciting and lucrative opportunity that anyone can pursue with the proper knowledge and tools. Using print-on-demand technology, you may leverage your artistic abilities to build a successful business that provides you with flexible, remote employment.

If you're ready to take the first step towards launching your own print-on-demand business, we invite you to start exploring the various platforms and tools available online.

Take action today and turn your creative passions into a profitable print-on-demand side hustle in 2023 and beyond!