Print-on-Demand Starter
No inventory, no shipping, real margins — if you pick a niche and publish volume. Costs, per-sale math, platform picks, and your first 30 days.
The real costs
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Store/marketplace | $0–$30/mo | Etsy listing fees (~$0.20 each) or Shopify basic |
| Samples | ~$50 | Order your own designs once — quality surprises kill stores |
| Design tools | $0–$15/mo | Free tools suffice; subscriptions speed things up |
| Mockups/ads to start | $0 | Free mockup generators; no paid ads until organic proof |
Per-sale margin math (typical tee)
- Sale price: $24.95–$29.95 (the tested sweet spot)
- Production + shipping: −$12–$15
- Marketplace fees: −$3–$5
- Your profit: $5–$12 per shirt
At $8 average profit, 100 sales/month = $800/month. Hitting 100 sales takes most beginners 2–4 months of consistent publishing — or one design that catches a trend.
Your first 30 days
- Days 1–7: pick ONE niche. Specific beats broad: not "funny shirts" but "gifts for left-handed guitarists." Browse bestsellers for proof of demand.
- Days 8–14: publish 20 designs. Simple text + graphic combos. Volume is the strategy early — data beats taste.
- Days 15–21: order samples. Check print quality, fit, and colors on your top 3 designs.
- Days 22–30: double down. Kill zero-view listings, make variations of anything with traction, learn basic listing SEO (titles carry the weight).
Trademark warning: no band names, show quotes, sports teams, or brand parodies "close enough" to fool anyone. Marketplaces ban first and ask never. Original or licensed only.
Quick answers
How much to start?
$0–$100. No inventory; budget ~$50 for samples before scaling.
How much can you make?
$100–$1,000/month profit in 3–6 months at $5–$12 per sale — with consistent niche publishing.