Find print-on-demand suppliers, tools and guides

Print-on-demand is a way to sell custom products without buying stock. You provide the designs, and a supplier prints each item only after a customer orders it, then ships it. Our beginner's guide explains the model in detail.

A customer orders from your store or marketplace listing, the order goes to your supplier, and the supplier prints, packs and ships the product. You don't pay for stock upfront, but you handle the designs, listings, prices, marketing and customer service, and you have less control over production and delivery. Our print-on-demand business guide explains the business model.

Choose a niche and a few products, then decide where to sell. A marketplace such as Etsy brings existing buyers; your own store, for example on Shopify, gives you more control, but you have to bring in visitors yourself. Then connect a supplier, order samples and set prices that cover all your costs. See our comparison of print-on-demand sites and our Shopify store guide.

There is no stock to buy, but starting is not free. You pay for samples, and for every order you pay the supplier for the product, printing and shipping. On top come marketplace or store fees, payment fees and, if you use them, paid apps, design tools and ads. Some suppliers also offer paid plans that lower product prices.

It can be, but profit is not guaranteed. You keep the sale price minus product, printing, shipping, platform and payment fees, returns and marketing, and with low prices or a lot of advertising little may be left. Our $100 example shows where the money from a sale goes.

Common choices are T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, posters, phone cases, tote bags and stickers, and many suppliers offer more, such as wall art or jewelry. What you can sell depends on the supplier. Our supplier directory lets you filter suppliers by product.

Check that the supplier makes your products, produces close to your customers and connects to your store or marketplace. Compare the total price including shipping and, if you need them, branding options such as your own labels or packaging. Order samples first, because quality varies by supplier and product. Our guide to choosing a supplier and the supplier directory help you compare.

It depends on the supplier, the product, where it is made and where it goes. Production and shipping are separate steps: check the supplier's current production time and the shipping estimate for your customers' country, and allow extra time in busy seasons. Suppliers that produce close to your customers usually deliver faster; the supplier directory shows where each one produces and ships.