Is Print on Demand Worth It in 2025?

The short answer is: yes, it can absolutely be worth it—but only if you go in with the right expectations. You’re not going to get rich overnight. But if you’re willing to learn, test, and treat it like a real business, print on demand (POD) can be one of the best low-risk models for starting an online brand.

Let me walk you through everything I’ve learned so you can decide if it’s right for you.

What is Print on Demand?

Print on demand is a business model where products like shirts, mugs, posters, or tote bags are only made after a customer places an order. There’s no upfront stock, no warehouse, and no packing boxes at home. You create the design, upload it to a supplier’s platform, and they handle the rest—from production to shipping.

This is how the basic POD process works:

Step	Description
1. Create a design	Use tools like Canva, Photoshop, or hire a designer
2. Upload to supplier	Platforms like Printful or Printify let you add designs to products
3. Sync with store	Integrate with Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce
4. Customer orders	They pay you upfront
5. Supplier fulfils	The order is printed and shipped directly to your customer
6. You earn a profit	You keep the margin between retail and base cost

This setup makes POD attractive to beginners. No big investment, no logistics headaches, and low startup costs.

The Pros of Print on Demand

From my experience, there are some strong upsides to POD. It’s not all passive income, but it offers enough flexibility and scalability to make it a solid ecommerce model—especially for testing product ideas.

Here’s what makes POD appealing:

Low startup costs
You can launch a store for under £100. There’s no need to bulk buy inventory or rent storage space.
No shipping or inventory
Your POD supplier prints, packs, and ships each order. That means fewer logistics and less customer service work.
Fast product testing
You can test dozens of design ideas without committing to large stock runs.
Endless niche potential
Anything with a fanbase—dogs, fishing, coffee lovers—can work if your messaging is right.
Integrates with major platforms
Most POD tools integrate directly with Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce.

Here’s a quick list of platforms that connect with POD suppliers:

POD Supplier	Compatible Platforms
Printful	Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, WooCommerce
Printify	Shopify, Etsy, Wix, Squarespace
Gooten	BigCommerce, WooCommerce
Gelato	Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce

The Cons of Print on Demand

Now for the other side of the coin. There are real downsides to POD that you need to understand before jumping in. This model isn't for everyone.

Here are the common challenges:

Thin profit margins
The base cost of POD items is high. For example, a hoodie might cost you £20–£25 before shipping. If you’re selling it for £35, you’re not left with much after marketing and transaction fees.
Ad spend adds up quickly
Paid traffic is almost always required unless you have an organic following. Facebook and TikTok ads aren’t cheap—and beginners often lose money before they figure it out.
Design quality matters
Low-effort or generic designs just don’t sell. If your graphics look like everyone else’s, you’ll struggle.
Shipping times can be slow
If your supplier’s based in the US and your customer is in Europe, delivery can take 2–3 weeks. That leads to more complaints and refund requests.
Customer service is still your job
Even if someone else prints and ships the product, your customer still deals with you when something goes wrong.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison:

Pros	Cons
Low cost to start	Low profit margins
No inventory to manage	Long shipping times
Easy to test new products	Hard to stand out
Fully automated fulfilment	Customer complaints still come to you

Who is Print on Demand Good For?

Based on everything I’ve seen, print on demand works best for a few specific groups of people. If you’re in one of these categories, POD could be worth it for you:

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Beginners in ecommerce
If you’re brand new and want to learn the ropes, POD is a great entry point. It lets you build a store, learn traffic strategies, and test products without big upfront investment.
Designers and artists
If you’ve got original artwork, illustrations, or typography, POD gives you a platform to monetise them with almost zero hassle.
Niche communities
Serving a tight-knit group (like chess players, plant lovers, or pitbull owners) makes your marketing cheaper and more effective.
Influencers or content creators
If you already have an audience on YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram, launching POD merch is a low-effort way to monetise that audience.

It’s not ideal for:

People chasing quick cash
Anyone who’s unwilling to learn paid ads or SEO
Those expecting passive income from day one

What Kind of Products Work Best?

Not all POD products sell equally well. From my own research and some market testing, these are the top performers:

T-shirts – Still the bread and butter. Simple, easy to design, widely accepted.
Hoodies and sweatshirts – Higher price point, good for winter and streetwear niches.
Mugs – Great for gifts, especially in hobby or job-related niches (e.g. “World’s Best Nurse”).
Tote bags – Popular in eco-conscious or fashion-forward audiences.
Wall art – Especially in home decor and inspirational quote niches.
Phone cases – Trendy, but saturated.

And here are some rising trends in 2025:

Product	Niche
Embroidered hats	Sports teams, dad jokes
All-over print apparel	Streetwear, graphic art
Eco-friendly products	Sustainability-conscious buyers
Planners & journals	Self-help and productivity crowds

Stick to a few products at first. It’s better to get one product right than launch 20 mediocre ones.

How Much Can You Realistically Make?

Let’s break it down.

Assume you're selling a t-shirt for £25.

Base cost from supplier: £12
Shipping: £3
Platform fee (e.g. Shopify + Stripe): £2
Ad spend per sale: £5

Your profit = £3 per shirt.

Now let’s say you sell 300 shirts a month. That’s £900 profit. Not bad for a beginner side hustle, but not enough to quit your job yet.

The big earners in POD either:

Have high AOV (average order value) with upsells and bundles
Use organic traffic (e.g. SEO or social media virality) to reduce costs
Sell in a niche with strong emotional triggers that drive repeat purchases

If you're consistent, reinvest your profits, and build a real brand, it’s possible to hit £3,000–£10,000 per month in 12–18 months.

But I’ve also seen people lose hundreds in ad spend and never make a sale. Execution matters more than the idea.

How to Make POD Actually Worth It

Here’s what separates winning POD stores from the rest:

Niche selection
Don’t sell to “everyone”. Pick a focused group with a strong identity or interest.
Quality designs
Use original art or hire a designer. Avoid overused templates and clipart.
Strong product descriptions
Write like a human. Focus on benefits, emotions, and personality.
Build an audience
Use TikTok, Instagram Reels, or email marketing to grow a customer base outside of ads.
Offer bundles and upsells
Increase your average order value with multi-product offers or accessories.
Focus on customer experience
Clear delivery timelines, responsive support, and quality packaging go a long way.

Here’s a checklist you can follow:

Choose a profitable niche
Test 5–10 unique designs
Launch with 2–3 products max
Set up Shopify or Etsy store
Drive traffic via paid or organic content
Collect emails and retarget visitors
Optimise based on analytics

Final Thoughts: Is Print on Demand Still Worth It in 2025?

Print on demand is still a legit business model if you understand its strengths and limitations. It’s not passive. It’s not instant. And it definitely isn’t a shortcut to six figures.

But if you treat it like a proper business, learn how to drive traffic, and stay patient—it’s one of the lowest-risk ways to start earning online.

The question isn’t just is print on demand worth it, but am I willing to do what it takes to make it worth it?