All venturesWhichVenture Score
E-commerceWV Researched
Print-on-Demand
Design products that are printed and shipped only when ordered, with no inventory.
44WV
Startup cost
£0–£500
Weekly hours
10 hrs
Difficulty
2/5
Income potential
2/5
What is it?
Print-on-demand lets you sell custom-designed apparel, mugs and accessories. A supplier prints and ships each item only after a customer orders, so you carry no inventory.
Who it's best for
Designers and creative marketers who can build a brand and drive traffic.
Who it may not suit
People who dislike design and marketing, or expecting high margins per sale.
How to get started
- 1Choose a niche with a passionate audience
- 2Create 10-20 original designs
- 3Connect a Printful or Printify store to Shopify or Etsy
- 4Drive traffic through ads or social content
- 5Test designs and keep winners
Main advantages
- No inventory risk
- Low cost to start
- Hands-off fulfilment
Main disadvantages
- Thin margins
- Very competitive
- Requires design and marketing skill
Risks & considerations
Margins are thin after print and platform fees. Volume and a strong brand are essential to make it worthwhile.
Tools required
Printful or PrintifyShopify or Etsy storeDesign tool (Canva, Photoshop)
WhichVenture verdict
Overall Score: 44/100. This venture has been researched but not yet tested by us.
Score calculated from the eight evaluation factors. Evidence status: WV Researched.