Starting a business from scratch can be daunting, especially when you’re just beginning. But what if I told you that you could launch a business that generates real income with minimal investment? It’s possible, and the proof is in companies like Crown & Paw, who turned a simple idea into a multi-million-dollar business within months. In fact, they were making over $100,000 in their first few weeks — that’s $3,225 a day!
This guide will walk you through how to start your own Print-on-Demand (POD) business, using the same methods that helped Crown & Paw reach incredible heights. While $3,225 a day is an ambitious goal for a beginner, we'll target a more realistic goal of earning $225 a day to begin with — and build from there.
Why Print-on-Demand is a Great Business Model for Beginners
Print-on-Demand (POD) is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to start an online business. You sell custom products like t-shirts, mugs, and posters without ever holding inventory. When someone places an order, a third-party company prints and ships the product for you, so all you have to focus on is creating and marketing your designs.
In 2022, the POD market was valued at $5.4 billion, and it’s projected to grow to $39 billion by 2031. If you can capture even a small portion of this massive market, you’re on your way to building a profitable business.
Step 1: Choose the Right Platforms to Sell Your Products
The first step in starting a POD business is deciding where you’ll sell your products. Different platforms cater to different types of audiences, so it’s important to choose the ones that align with your business goals. Here are a few options:
Etsy – Great for unique, handmade, and custom products. It has a dedicated community of shoppers looking for personalized items.
eBay – A global marketplace with a diverse audience. Perfect for reaching a wide range of customers.
Your Own Website – If you want full control over branding and customer experience, setting up your own e-commerce site with Shopify, Wix, or WooCommerce is the way to go.
Pro Tip: Diversifying across multiple platforms can increase your chances of success. Sell on Etsy, eBay, and your own website for maximum exposure.
If you’re just starting, Shopify is an excellent platform for beginners. You can launch your store for just $1 for the first month, and it integrates seamlessly with Printify. Get started with Shopify here and watch this step-by-step tutorial to help you set up your store and connect it to Printify.
Step 2: Select Your Print-on-Demand Provider
Once you’ve chosen your platform(s), it’s time to pick a Print-on-Demand provider. Printify is one of the most popular options and offers an extensive catalog of products like t-shirts, mugs, and posters. It’s also beginner-friendly, making it an excellent choice for those just starting out.
Why Printify?Printify has a vast range of customizable products, excellent customer service, and it integrates smoothly with platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce.
Get Printify Premium for 1 Month Free: Sign up for Printify here and use promo code ROCKSTARACADEMY for a free month of premium access.
Step 3: Choose a Profitable Niche
When it comes to POD, your niche will determine how successful your business is. The most successful POD businesses cater to specific, targeted audiences. Here are three popular niches that are currently thriving:
Pets and Animals – Pet owners love to buy personalized items for their furry friends. This was the niche Crown & Paw tapped into, creating portraits of pets in historical costumes, which quickly went viral.
Social Causes and Activism – People love to buy products that align with their values, like eco-friendly items, mental health awareness, and animal rights.
Humor and Memes – Products featuring funny sayings or internet memes are always in demand, especially when they tap into viral trends.
Once you’ve decided on your niche, you can begin designing your products and optimizing your listings.
Related video
Step 4: Research Popular Products and Keywords
Before you start creating designs, it’s essential to do some research to understand what’s selling well in your chosen niche. Use tools like Google Trends, Marmalead (for Etsy), or eBay’s keyword tool to find popular products and trending keywords.
For example, if you’re selling pet-related products, search for “pet mugs” or “custom pet gifts” on Google or Etsy to see what’s trending. The goal is to identify high-demand products and keywords that will help your listings show up in search results.
Keyword Tip: To boost your search visibility, use keywords like “funny cat mugs” or “personalized dog gifts” when listing your products on platforms like Etsy, eBay, and your own website.
Step 5: Create Eye-Catching Designs
Design is the heart of your POD business. Whether you're creating custom t-shirts or mugs, your designs need to stand out to attract customers. For beginners, tools like Canva are perfect for creating simple designs. But if you want to take your designs to the next level, I recommend Kittl, a platform that lets you create professional-quality graphics with ease.
Create Stunning Designs with Kittl: Get started with Kittl here and use promo code ODETTAYT for a 25% discount on your first month of the Kittl Pro Plan.
With Kittl, you can create designs like those from Crown & Paw, who combine historical art styles with custom pet portraits. Crown & Paw's success came from creating unique and shareable designs, and you can do the same.
Step 6: Launch and Market Your POD Business
Once you’ve set up your store, added products, and optimized your listings, it’s time to launch your business! But getting sales isn’t just about having great products — you also need to market them.
Here are a few strategies to help you drive traffic to your store:
Social Media Marketing: Use Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to share your designs and engage with your target audience. Instagram is especially great for visual products like POD items.
Paid Ads: You can run Facebook or Google Ads to drive traffic directly to your store. Use precise targeting to reach your ideal customers.
SEO: Optimize your product titles, descriptions, and tags to appear in search results on platforms like Etsy and Google.
Final Thoughts: Take Action and Stay Committed
Building a successful POD business takes time, effort, and perseverance. However, with the right strategy and the tools mentioned in this guide, you can start earning $225 a day and potentially scale to even higher profits, just like Crown & Paw did.
Related video
Comments