How I Earn $1,500 a Month With My Print-On-Demand Shop

Do you want to learn how to start a print-on-demand business?

Print-on-demand lets you design and sell custom products—t-shirts, mugs, phone cases and more—without holding inventory or handling fulfillment.

Below is an interview with Jessica Roop, who has run a successful print-on-demand side hustle for several years. She designs and sells her own products and recently launched a course called I Love Print on Demand.

Jessica typically earns between $500 and $1,500 per month in profit from her print-on-demand business and has completed over 6,000 product sales.

This interview covers practical questions many new sellers have, including:

• What is print-on-demand and how does it work?
• Which print-on-demand products can you sell?
• How much can a beginner realistically make?
• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Can someone with no tech experience start a print-on-demand business?

If you’re considering a flexible side hustle that scales, this interview offers a clear, realistic introduction to getting started.

How To Start a Print-On-Demand Business

Read the full interview below for step-by-step advice and realistic expectations for launching a print-on-demand side hustle.

1. Background: How did you get started and how much do you earn monthly?

Hi—I’m Jessica. I’ve worked online full-time since 2017 across niches like food blogging and virtual assistant work. In 2020, during the extra downtime of the pandemic, I became interested in e-commerce and decided to pursue it as a side hustle. My first attempt involved stocking and shipping physical inventory, which quickly became overwhelming in my small apartment.

Out of necessity, I revisited the idea of print-on-demand. I had experimented with a few print-on-demand items years earlier but never committed. In May 2022 I launched my first print-on-demand product on Etsy and soon had a best-seller. Since then I’ve focused on print-on-demand as an ongoing side income and creative outlet.

My profit typically averages $500 to $1,500 per month. I treat it as a side hustle alongside my main income streams, and it’s a low-stress way to earn extra money and exercise creativity.

2. What is print-on-demand and how does it work?

Print-on-demand (POD) means products are produced only after an order is placed. Instead of stocking inventory, you upload a digital design to a production partner. When a customer orders, the partner prints the design on the chosen product, packages it, ships it, and provides tracking. You never touch the physical product.

For example, if you sell a t-shirt on Etsy: you upload a design to your production partner, list the shirt on Etsy, a customer buys it, the order is sent to the partner who prints and ships it, and you earn the difference between the sale price and production costs after platform fees.

This model removes inventory risk and fulfillment work, making it an accessible e-commerce method for many creators.

3. What print-on-demand items can you sell?

Almost anything. Production partners continually expand their catalogs, and product variations are extensive—different mug sizes, materials, apparel cuts, home decor options, and more. Common POD products include:

• Mugs and tumblers
• T-shirts and sweatshirts
• Tote bags and makeup bags
• Wall art and blankets
• Desk mats and phone cases
• Ornaments, stickers and puzzles
• Pet bowls and can coolers

If you can imagine a product, there’s a good chance a POD partner offers it or a close variation.

4. How much can a new seller make?

With consistent effort, earning around $500 per month in profit on Etsy within 3–6 months is attainable. Jessica hit that range within a month thanks to an early bestseller. For a part-time seller, $500 to $1,500 monthly is realistic; a focused full-time seller on Etsy could see $40,000 to $70,000 per year in profit. Sellers who run their own stores and invest in ads or social media can scale much higher—some achieve multi-six-figure incomes.

5. What does it cost to start and run a print-on-demand business?

Startup and ongoing costs vary by platform and tools. For an Etsy-based approach, typical expenses include:

• Etsy: $0.20 to list a new item, plus transaction fees (6.5% of the sale)
• Adobe Illustrator (design software): around $22.99/month (many sellers also use Canva, which can be less expensive)
• Creative Fabrica (fonts and graphics): about $3.99/month
• Printify (production partner): free plan available; optional Premium plan around $24.99/month for lower product costs if you scale

These are common tools, but you can adapt choices to your budget—many sellers start with minimal upfront investment and scale tools as they grow.

6. What do you like about print-on-demand? Is it worth it?

Print-on-demand is ideal for creators who want low risk and flexible effort. You can publish many designs quickly, test ideas without major cost, and iterate if something doesn’t sell. Jessica also values the creative side—designing products became an enjoyable hobby that produces income.

Overall, it’s worth it for most people: POD can fund vacations, small purchases, or debt repayment, and it can grow into a full-time business with the right focus and investment.

7. How do sellers get customers?

Etsy is a popular starting point because it offers a built-in customer base—millions of active buyers search the marketplace specifically to purchase items. Optimizing your listings for Etsy SEO helps your products get discovered. Alternative customer channels include organic social media, paid ads, and platforms like Shopify or TikTok Shops. TikTok Shops lets customers buy directly in-app, though sellers must meet platform shipping and fulfillment timelines—many production partners now support those requirements.

8. Can someone with no tech skills do this?

Yes. You don’t need advanced technical skills—just a willingness to learn. Graphic design isn’t mandatory either; many successful products are text-based or use pre-made assets from marketplaces like Creative Fabrica. Tools and tutorials make the process accessible to beginners.

9. Which print-on-demand platform is best?

Two major players are Printify and Printful. Jessica uses Printify because she prefers its pricing and product selection. Both platforms are solid choices—select one based on product options, pricing, and shipping locations that match your target market.

10. Steps to get started selling print-on-demand

For an Etsy-based launch, follow these core steps:

1. Create a Printify account (or another production partner)
2. Subscribe to a resource like Creative Fabrica for fonts and images
3. Choose one or two product types to start with (mugs are a common first choice) and download the design templates
4. Use design software (Adobe Illustrator, Canva, etc.) to create your designs
5. Upload designs to your production partner
6. Open an Etsy shop and connect it to your production partner
7. Publish your product listings on Etsy
8. Promote your listings and begin selling

Beyond these steps, successful sellers research niches, refine design styles, and optimize listings to improve visibility and conversions.

11. About the course

I Love Print on Demand is a course Jessica created to streamline the learning curve and help new sellers avoid the mistakes she made. It focuses on the most effective product types and the practical steps needed to launch a profitable POD business faster. The course keeps the process simple and actionable so you can start seeing results without getting overwhelmed by every possible product option.

There’s also a free ebook available listing 17 hot-selling print-on-demand product ideas to help you decide where to begin.

Do you want to learn how to start a print-on-demand business? What would you sell?

Note: Print-on-demand is supported by many marketplace and e-commerce platforms and a wide range of unique designs. Over the years, many buyers have purchased POD products across apparel, accessories, and home decor, and the market continues to grow. Using channels like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and paid ads can help scale your business, increase sales, and improve profit margins. With consistent effort and smart promotion, success is achievable.

Recommended reading:

• Printify Review: Can You Actually Make Money From Printify?
• How To Start a Print On Demand Side Hustle With $0
• How I Make Money Selling Printables On Etsy
• How I Make $2,000+ Monthly Selling Canva Templates
• 22 Ways To Make Money Online Without Paying Anything
• How I Make $400,000 Per Year Selling Educational Printables
• 14 Best Low Maintenance Businesses to Start Today
• 16 Best Things To Sell On Etsy To Make Money
• How To Sell On Etsy Successfully: A Beginner’s Guide