How to start a print-on-demand business

Whether you’re looking to start a business for the first time, or subsidise your existing side hustle, 2025 is a great time to tap into the booming print-on-demand (POD) market.

Unlike traditional retailers, print-on-demand businesses only pay for the products once a customer places an order, reducing startup costs and making the business model a low-risk and potentially high-reward option for entrepreneurs.

However, while anyone can start a print-on-demand business, there are many strategies you can take to ensure your venture is fit to print — from developing a niche that separates your business from its competition to utilising a variety of channels to market products.

If you’re interested in entering the print-on-demand market, we explain what steps you can take to get your business hot off the press. We also cover what tools and funding you need in preparation to make sure you’re fully equipped for your big launch.

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What is a Print-On-Demand business and should I start one?

A print-on-demand (POD) business is an ecommerce model. The name refers to customisable products sold, like wall art, posters, calendars, and photobooks. These are printed after a customer places an order.

POD businesses rely on third-party print-on-demand services, like Gelato, to print, package, and ship products. As a result, business owners don’t need to invest in costly equipment, find storage for surplus stocks, or spend tons of time managing commercial processes.

This reliance on third-party software to manage key commercial processes, along with the ‘made-to-order’ basis that lies at the heart of the business model, makes starting a POD business a particularly flexible and low-risk option for entrepreneurs to undertake — specifically in comparison with launching a traditional online store.

Don’t let its low barrier to entry fool you, either — print-on-demand businesses still have big earning potential. Not only can your designs reach global audiences, but if they’re a hit with customers, the business model is capable of scaling fast because they allow entrepreneurs to expand product lines without shelling out too much capital up front.

It’s a crowded market, though, so, if you’re expecting to earn big by slapping a generic logo on a crew neck, think again. Successful entrepreneurs will need to be smart to stand out in the ranks. Beyond stellar designs, you’ll also need a killer brand identity to beat competitors.

Is a Print-On-Demand business worth it?

That would be a big, fat yes. In fact, 2025 is a great time to start a print-on-demand business, and you don’t just have to take our word for it.

According to insights from Grand View Research, the print-on-demand UK market is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.4% and is expected to be worth $1.8bn by 2030. These figures reflect an upward trend taking place in the industry internationally, with Market US predicting that the global POD market will be worth around £46bn by 2033.

But what’s driving the boom? Well, despite the dominance of digital media, lots of consumers are going against the grain by expressing increased interests in tangible, printed goods.

This is especially the case when it comes to merchandise. From mugs adorned with a loved one’s face to custom-designed wall art, print-on-demand businesses are capable of doing something larger retailers can’t — producing personalised products.

It’s their ability to create one-of-a-kind products that give POD businesses a leg up over other online businesses, specifically those selling overly generic, cookie-cutter products.

Simply put, as long as you have the right business acumen and ideas, it’s definitely worth launching a print-on-demand business in 2025.

How to start a Print-On-Demand business in 7 steps

Ready to throw your personalised hat in the ring?

Here, we lay out how to start a print-on-demand business in simple steps, from identifying market trends to reaching your right audience.

Step 1: Develop your niche and target audience

As with any venture, choosing a niche is one of the most crucial steps in starting a POD business. Not only does a well-honed and clearly defined niche help you stand out from the competition, but it also makes it easier to build a loyal customer base, resulting in a higher chance of repeat buying down the line.

If you’re still searching for your USP, we recommend conducting market research to identify some gaps in the competition. This could include browsing popular print-on-demand marketplaces like Amazon or Etsy to understand UK market trends, conducting keyword research to find terms with high search volumes, or studying the successes of established POD stores.

In addition to establishing your niche, mastering target marketing makes it heaps easier to connect with the right audience, leading to more effective marketing campaigns and a higher chance of converting leads to sales.

Step 2: Create a solid business plan

Once you’ve identified your USP, it’s time to create a business plan. Novice entrepreneurs, rest assured — this step isn’t as hard as it sounds.

A business plan is simply an official document that outlines key information about your business, including its goals, market analysis, operations and logistics details, and financial projections. Creating a plan helps provide POD businesses with a clear roadmap for success and can also demonstrate the potential of your venture to investors.

Business plans help you think through the key elements of your business, so we wouldn’t recommend skimping any details. As a general rule of thumb, it should take anywhere between a day to two weeks to create a business plan for a POD enterprise, depending on the complexity of your needs.

The good news? You’re able to streamline the task using a business plan template. Simply do the research, fill the draft with relevant information, and you’re good to go.

Step 3: Register your business

After you’ve ironed out (or on) the details of your print-on-demand business, you’ll need to register it.

Registering a POD business is a key step in establishing its legitimacy, forming legal protection, and helping you manage taxes and comply with relevant regulations.

To register your business, you’ll have to:

1. Choose your business structure
2. Register with HMRC
3. Choose and register a company name
4. Register for VAT, depending on your expected sales

Step 4: Choose a print-on-demand partner

Your chosen print-on-demand partner will be doing a lot of heavy lifting for your business. So, when it comes to selecting a POD platform to work with, there are several important factors to consider.

You’ll want a print-on-demand partner with a track record of producing high-quality products. You’ll be able to determine its quality by ordering product samples, reading customer reviews, and checking what printing companies the platform works with (this will also give you an opportunity to check out the selection of products each one has available).

It’s also worth prioritising partners with a global reach and fast delivery times to maximise selling potential and to ensure customer satisfaction is high. Lots of POD platforms integrate seamlessly with ecommerce platforms too, so it’s worth checking if the partner connects with your chosen builder before moving forward.

While there are plenty of credible print-on-demand partners out there, one standout option is Gelato. It operates the world’s largest print-on-demand network, with over 140 print partners across 32 countries, so you can sell globally but produce locally. Products are printed and shipped close to customers, with 90% of orders fulfilled within the buyer’s region. The result? Faster delivery times, lower shipping costs, and a smaller carbon footprint.

Beyond its local-first model, Gelato is also dedicated to sustainability and guarantees consistent product quality through the Gelato Standard. Best of all, it’s completely free to use, with no order minimums — making it an ideal low-risk choice for new POD businesses aiming to scale efficiently and sustainably.

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Step 5: Design your products

Once you know who your print-on-demand partner will be (and therefore, what product selection is available), you’ll be able to start designing your stock.

The success of your print-on-demand business will hinge on the quality of your designs. Whether you’re embellishing t-shirts, hoodies, or mugs, your chosen designs will need to stand out from the competition and align with the desires of your target audience.

There are three courses of action you can choose when it comes to designing your products: do it yourself, hire a designer, or use pre-made designs.

• Do it yourself – If you’re a creative person with access to basic design software such as Canva or Adobe Photoshop, you should consider creating DIY designs. By having full autonomy over your designs, you’ll be able to create highly unique products that reflect your brand’s identity.
• Hire a designer – If you don’t have tons of design experience, you can outsource the task to a professional. While this option is more expensive than creating them from scratch, you’ll still have full control over the design specifications, and it’ll ensure they’re made to the highest quality.
• Use pre-made designs – If you want to save money and time, you can also choose from a selection of pre-made designs available at Gelato, or on websites like Etsy. To help your products stand out from the crowd, you can also collaborate with local UK artists or designers, as long as you’ve granted their permission first.

Step 6: Set up your online store

Print-on-demand businesses need an online store to showcase their products and establish their brand identity. If you haven’t already got a website live, you’ll need to build one using an ecommerce website builder.

Ecommerce website builders simplify the process of creating and managing an online store. They’re code-free and easy to use, lending themselves well to beginners, and also very cost-effective compared to hiring a third-party developer.

Our research found that the best options for retailers are Wix, Shopify, and Squarespace (all of which also integrate with our recommended POD partner, Gelato). However, the right platform for your print-on-demand business will depend on a variety of factors, including monthly costs and whether it’s able to integrate with your fulfillment provider.

Another option is to set up an Etsy shop. Etsy is a very popular marketplace for POD because it already has a massive, built-in audience actively searching for unique, custom, and handmade-style products — exactly the kind of items that POD sellers can offer.

By launching a POD business on Etsy, you tap into a global marketplace without needing to drive all the traffic yourself. And yes, many print-on-demand platforms integrate directly with Etsy (Gelato is rated one of the best PODs for Etsy) allowing you to automate order fulfilment and focus more on designing and marketing your products.

Step 7: Market your products

Once your site is live, it’s time to spread the world.

The success of a marketing strategy has the potential to make and break any POD business. So, to make sure your products get in front of the right people, we recommend following a number of marketing blueprints.

With 79% of the population using social media, social media marketing is a great way to increase your brand’s visibility and engage with your target audience. If you’re willing to splurge a little to gain results, leveraging influencer marketing and collaborating with local content creators could also be an efficient way to get more eyeballs on your brand.

Paid advertising is also a useful way to connect your product with a wider, targeted audience quickly, while investing in your website’s SEO strategy takes more patience but tends to provide more organic, longer-term growth.

Don’t neglect more traditional marketing channels, either. Learn more about print marketing benefits here.

What else do I need to start a Print-On-Demand business?

Print-on-demand platforms are capable of carrying out most of the legwork for small businesses. However, this doesn’t mean it’s the only software you’ll have to invest in at the start of your print-on-demand journey.

If you’re creating designs yourself, it’s worth subscribing to a tool like Adobe Photoshop or Canva, depending on your budget and level of expertise. While the quality of your design should be paramount, there are lots of free alternatives, too, like Inkscape, while POD services like Gelato offer design tools in-house, preventing you from needing to pay extra.

But even if you create the most beautiful designs, it won’t matter if no one can see them. This is why investing in marketing software is so important.

From advertising platforms and social media management platforms to SEO tools like keyword trackers and backlink analysers, your ideal software will depend on your specific marketing strategy and target audience. However, as a general rule of thumb, we recommend leaning on more than one platform if you’re serious about maximising your business’s reach.

Haven’t developed a marketing plan? Creating a blueprint for your business using the best free marketing templates.

If you haven’t created an online store yet, investing in a high-powered ecommerce website builder should be your first port-of-call. Key features to look out for when shopping for a website builder include omnichannel sales features, SEO capabilities, and chatbot integrations to ensure you’re able to deliver a high standard of customer service to buyers.

How much will it cost to start a Print-On-Demand business?

It’ll cost you anywhere from £100 to £1,000 upfront to set up a basic print-on-demand business. However, the total amount you can expect to pay depends on a variety of factors, including the scale of your website, your design method, and the quality of your materials.

We break down these factors and their costs next:

• Website setup – building a website can cost anywhere from £1.99 to over £100 per month, depending on your chosen website builder and plan. Free options are available too, but you’ll have to be willing to sacrifice some basic features. Learn more about how much a website costs for a small business.
• Type of design – unless you’re using a free design platform, you’ll have to invest in software to create your designs. Premium software like Adobe Creative Cloud starts at around £20 per month, while hiring a designer will cost substantially more.
• Marketing method – there are loads of powerful free marketing platforms out there, but the best email marketing, social media management, and SEO platforms cost anywhere from £5 to £100 per month, depending on your business’s needs.
• Sample products – ordering sample items to test the quality can cost anywhere from £15 to £100, depending on what stock you sell and what materials are used. Gelato makes this simpler by offering 50% off on all orders placed within two days of sign-up.

There are always ways to trim down costs, however. If you’re intent on spending as little as possible, we’d recommend relying on free software where possible and using POD partners like Gelato, which offer no order minimums and let you design in-house.

Turn your prints into profits

The truth is, while taking the leap may feel daunting, there’s no better time to launch a print-on-demand business. The ‘made to order’ model POD businesses rely on helps to keep risks and start-up costs low, while global platforms, like Gelato, are capable of giving your products a worldwide stage.

However, to avoid painting (or printing) yourself into a corner. Carving out a product niche, building a strong website, and perfecting your marketing campaign are essential. You’ll also have to be patient with results, as POD success stories rarely happen overnight.

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