How to Start a Print on Demand Shopify Store in 2023

Launching a print-on-demand (POD) Shopify store is one of the best low-risk ways to enter e-commerce. You don’t need a warehouse, inventory, or large startup budget — just creativity, a good niche, and the right tools. Whether you want to sell T-shirts, mugs, phone cases, or home décor, POD allows you to design products digitally and have them printed and shipped automatically to your customers. Success in print-on-demand often depends on understanding the broader eCommerce world, especially when comparing business models like affiliate marketing vs dropshipping: which is more profitable.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know — from understanding how print-on-demand works to setting up your Shopify store and marketing it for profit in 2023.

What Is Print on Demand (POD)?

Print on demand is a fulfillment model where products are printed only after a customer places an order. You create digital designs (like slogans, graphics, or artwork), upload them to products in your Shopify store, and when someone buys, your POD supplier prints and ships it directly to the buyer.

You never handle the product or manage stock — making it perfect for entrepreneurs who want a low-investment start. You earn profit from the difference between your selling price and the supplier’s base cost.

For example, if your POD partner charges $12 for a shirt and you sell it for $25, your profit is $13. This simple model allows you to test unlimited ideas without upfront inventory costs.

Why Choose Shopify for Your Print on Demand Business?

Shopify is the leading e-commerce platform for print-on-demand businesses for several reasons:

Ease of use: No coding required — Shopify’s drag-and-drop builder makes store setup fast.
POD app integrations: Connect directly with Printful, Printify, Gelato, Gooten, or SPOD in one click.
Scalability: Handle hundreds or thousands of orders as you grow.
Marketing tools: Built-in SEO, email campaigns, discounts, and multi-channel selling.
Reliable support: 24/7 customer support and a huge ecosystem of apps.

In short, Shopify handles the technical and logistical side so you can focus on branding and marketing.

Step 1: Choose a Profitable Print on Demand Niche

Your niche determines your products, audience, and marketing strategy. The best niches balance passion + demand + profit margin.

How to Pick a Niche

Follow interests you know well — sports, pets, travel, or motivation.
Check trends on Google Trends or TikTok for rising topics.
Evaluate competition — use Etsy or Redbubble to see what designs sell.
Ensure product variety — T-shirts, tote bags, mugs, posters, etc.
Target a community — teachers, gamers, fitness lovers, or pet owners.

Examples of Evergreen POD Niches

Fitness motivation apparel
Pet lovers’ gifts (custom dog/cat prints)
Minimalist home décor
Travel & adventure designs
Inspirational quotes & typography
Funny memes & pop-culture art

Choosing a defined audience helps you create designs that emotionally connect and sell consistently.

Step 2: Plan and Create Your Designs

Your design quality defines your brand. Even if you aren’t a designer, there are easy ways to produce professional artwork.

Design Creation Tips

Use Canva, Adobe Express, or Photopea for easy design tools.
Keep designs simple and bold — clean fonts and minimal elements perform best on apparel.
Research color psychology (e.g., red evokes passion, blue feels calm).
Always design in high resolution (300 DPI) for sharp printing.
Test multiple versions and ask for audience feedback before launching.

Where to Find Designers

If you prefer outsourcing, use:

Fiverr – hire affordable freelance designers.
Upwork – find professionals for long-term projects.
Creative Market – buy ready-made graphic packs and mockups.

Remember, your brand identity starts with your visuals — make them recognizable and niche-specific.

Step 3: Set Up Your Shopify Store

Setting up your Shopify store takes less than an hour.

Create a Shopify account – visit Shopify.com and start the free trial.
Choose a store name – short, catchy, and relevant to your niche.
Select a theme – try free ones like “Dawn” or explore paid themes for customization.
Add your products – connect a POD app (like Printful or Printify).
Set up payment gateways – Shopify Payments, PayPal, or Stripe.
Configure shipping settings – sync automatically through your POD provider.
Add essential pages – About Us, Contact, Refund Policy, Privacy Policy.
Launch your store – preview, test checkout, and publish.

Keep your homepage clean and professional — strong branding builds trust immediately.

Step 4: Connect and Configure a Print on Demand App

Shopify’s App Store offers many POD integrations that automate your business. Here are some of the top options for 2023:

1. Printful

One of the most trusted POD partners. Offers premium print quality, global fulfillment centers, and branding options like packaging inserts.

2. Printify

Ideal for affordability — connects you with multiple printing suppliers worldwide so you can choose by cost or location.

3. Gelato

Focuses on fast global delivery with 130+ production partners. Great for eco-friendly printing.

4. SPOD

Known for 48-hour average shipping times and affordable base pricing.

5. Gooten

Offers automation and product variety beyond apparel, including stationery and lifestyle goods.

Choose one based on pricing, product range, and where most of your customers are located.

Step 5: Add Products and Create Mockups

Once your POD app is connected, add your designs to products.

Select product type (shirt, mug, hoodie, etc.)
Upload your artwork to the template
Adjust placement and size
Set your selling price (consider at least 40% margin)
Generate product mockups — these appear as your store’s product photos

Use lifestyle mockups showing real people using or wearing your products; they convert much better than flat images.

Step 6: Set Up Payments, Taxes, and Shipping

Payment Gateways

Shopify supports 100+ gateways worldwide. The most popular include:

Shopify Payments
PayPal
Stripe

Keep checkout simple with as few steps as possible to reduce cart abandonment.

Taxes

Shopify automatically calculates most tax rates based on customer location, but verify with your country’s regulations if you’re selling internationally.

Shipping

Your POD provider typically manages shipping rates automatically.
You can offer:

Free shipping (bake cost into product price)
Flat-rate shipping (e.g., $4.99 per order)
Real-time calculated rates

A “Free Shipping on Orders Over $50” banner can increase average order value.

Step 7: Optimize Your Store for Conversions

Your store should inspire trust and guide visitors toward purchase.

Optimization Checklist

Use clear product titles with benefits (e.g., “Soft Cotton Cat-Lover T-Shirt”).
Add persuasive descriptions — focus on lifestyle, not just material.
Display social proof — reviews, testimonials, or trust badges.
Offer discounts or bundles (Buy 2, Get 1 Free).
Include high-quality photos and mockups.
Ensure fast loading speed — use compressed images.

Remember, design attracts visitors — but user experience converts them.

Step 8: Market Your Print on Demand Store

You’ve built your store — now you need traffic. Marketing is where the real success happens.

1. Social Media Marketing

Promote products on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. Visual content performs best. Post lifestyle images, behind-the-scenes clips, and trending Reels related to your niche.

2. Paid Ads

Start small with Facebook or TikTok Ads targeting your niche audience. Test multiple creatives before scaling.

3. Influencer Collaborations

Collaboration with micro-influencers who align with your brand tone. Offer them free products or commission per sale.

4. Email Marketing

Use Shopify Email or Klaviyo to collect leads with a discount popup (e.g., “10% off your first order”). Send product updates or design drops weekly.

5. SEO & Blogging

Write niche-related blog posts to attract organic traffic. For example, “Top 10 Gifts for Dog Lovers” can drive relevant visitors to your pet-themed POD store.

6. Retargeting

Install Facebook Pixel or Google Tag to retarget visitors who didn’t purchase — this often doubles conversions.

Step 9: Manage Orders and Customer Service

Your POD supplier automatically fulfills orders, but you still need to manage communication.

Send confirmation and shipping emails promptly.
Respond to queries within 24 hours.
Handle refunds professionally — customer trust matters more than one sale.
Gather feedback and reviews to improve credibility.

Shopify dashboards allow you to track analytics: sales trends, traffic sources, and product performance. Use this data to optimize pricing and design focus.

Step 10: Scale Your Print on Demand Business

Once your store starts selling steadily, it’s time to scale.

Scaling Strategies

Expand product range — add hoodies, tote bags, posters, or accessories.
Test new niches — if pet designs work, try related niches like wildlife or nature.
Use upsells and cross-sells — “Pair this T-shirt with our matching mug.”
Run seasonal campaigns — holidays, back-to-school, or Valentine’s Day.
Automate workflows — use apps for email, reviews, and analytics.

A consistent marketing plan, new product launches, and good customer experience are what turn a small POD shop into a thriving brand.

Pros and Cons of Print on Demand

Pros

No upfront inventory costs
Low risk and fast to start
Wide product variety
Full creative control over design
Automatic fulfillment

Cons

Lower profit margins than bulk buying
Limited control over shipping times
Dependence on third-party suppliers

Even with these limitations, the flexibility and low barrier to entry make POD one of the best online business models for new entrepreneurs.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Skipping niche research – targeting everyone means converting no one.
Poor mockup quality – low-resolution images lower trust.
Overpricing without perceived value – keep a balance between profit and affordability.
Ignoring customer feedback – bad reviews kill long-term growth.
No clear brand identity – cohesive colors, fonts, and tone are essential.

Avoid these pitfalls and treat your store like a real brand, not a side project.

Final Thoughts

Starting a print on demand Shopify store in 2023 offers a simple yet powerful way to build an e-commerce business without major investment. With creativity, consistent marketing, and the right niche strategy, you can transform unique designs into profitable products that customers love.

If you’re ready to begin your journey into online entrepreneurship, DropshipHubs can be your trusted guide — offering expert insights, tutorials, and strategies to help you build, launch, and scale your Shopify business with confidence.