Will Print On Demand Be Profitable In 2022?

E-commerce has come a long way since its inception in 1992. Now, the general public has access to all the doors of the craft. Many types of e-commerce have popped up throughout the years, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Print-on-demand is one of many e-commerce business ideas that can be lucrative. But, will print-on-demand be profitable in 2022?

As a relatively low-risk business venture, print-on-demand has the potential to be a gainful startup. But, as with every type of e-commerce business, you need to be serious about it and invest time and effort to make it work. 

In this post, we will share with you what factors to consider when aiming for a profitable print-on-demand business and what money you can expect to make with such a business venture. Let’s begin!

Profitability Factors For Print-On-Demand Business

The print-on-demand business is pretty much oversaturated these days, with many businesses falling in favor compared to more popular ones. Knowing the factors that influence the profitability of your print-on-demand business can give you a competitive edge.

Well-Targeted and Well-Made Design

Your product design is the bulk of your print-on-demand efforts. If you want to make a successful design, make sure that it’s unique and not present on popular e-commerce platforms like Amazon and AliExpress.

The above are just a few examples of what has been done many time before, and something to avoid when designing your merchandise.

Consider the niche you are targeting. For instance, if you target cyclists, make sure to create products that tailor to that niche - like water bottles and cycling jerseys.

If you aren’t well-versed in design, don’t hesitate to invest more money in a professional graphic designer. After all, this investment could give you more profitability in a long-term period!

Keep in mind that your designs should be simple rather than complex. Designhill states that simple design can convey a brand image more quickly and effectively.

Before deciding on a final design, make sure that you show it to your friends and family and people you can rely on for an objective opinion. If they like it, the design is possible to bring profitability to your print-on-demand business.

Proper Marketing

Marketing is essential for making your print-on-demand business profitable. After all, you are aiming to become a recognizable brand that people will search for. The most popular marketing channels for print-on-demand are:

• Facebook ads
• Instagram influencer marketing
• YouTube influencer marketing
• Google Ads

All you need to do is to create Facebook and Instagram pages and be consistent. Create posts, engage with the community, and be responsive. Once you build a community, you can reach out to influencers who can try out your merchandise and promote it. 

Of course, this is just one of the ways of properly marketing your print-on-demand business. This video is an excellent starting off point to check out more print-on-demand business marketing methods.

Searching relevant hashtags to what you want to sell is a great idea to gain inspiration on how to market your brand.

The Platform You Choose

To find out if print-on-demand is profitable in 2022, you will need to consider what POD platform you use. After all, these are all different when it comes to product quality, earnings, and user experience.

Of course, Shopify is a way to go when building an online store. Its drag-and-drop builder is tailored for every kind of user, and you even get a 2-week free trial! Keep in mind that it comes with a $29/month subscription, which isn’t that much.

After you set up your store, you can choose a POD platform to connect with your store. Some of the most popular POD platforms are:

• Printful
• Redbubble
• Teepublic

In the following sections, we will detail is print-on-demand profitable in 2021 for each of these platforms.

How Much Can I Make With Printful?

While Printful is one of the best POD platforms for ease of use and user experience, they can be pretty expensive. Their recommended profit margin is 40%, which may prompt some users to increase the product prices, driving away potential customers.

For instance, you sell a T-shirt for $20. Considering the profit margin of 40%, you would profit for $8 ($20 - $12). The $12 will be spent on third-party printing and shipping services.

So, if you are earning $8 per T-shirt, you would need to be sure that you will get tons of orders. This means that Printful may be a bit tough to earn initially, but as you work your way to the top of the chain, you can reap the rewards.

How Much Can I Make With Redbubble?

The default profit margin on Redbubble is 20%. You can always raise or lower it as you wish, but keep in mind that this profit margin is lower than on Printful.

Considering that you are using the default profit margin for a $20 T-shirt, you would be in profit for $4 ($20 - $16). The remaining 80% covers the manufacturing and shipping costs.

By the default profit margin, making money on Redbubble might be even harder than on Printful, so feel free to play around with the profit margin.

How Much Can I Make With Teepublic?

While Teepublic is quite simple to use, its main disadvantage is that you cannot set your custom profit margins. Because of that, it can be quite a rollercoaster to know what amount of money you will earn. In the long run, it may be a bit of a headache. On average, for printed products, their profit margin is 50%.

If interested, check out the Earnings chart on Teepublic.

 

Is print-on-demand profitable in 2021? While it is a saturated market, it can certainly be a profitable business venture with the right mindset around it. Keep in mind that you may earn $10 - $50 a month for quite a long period as you start. It takes time and effort to come to three or more figures, so don’t go expecting that print-on-demand will replace your full-time job just yet.

We recommend starting off with a few essentials, which are likely to have the highest demand at the start of your journey. For example, t-shirts or mugs. 

But still, if you keep on marketing and creating your products, you will surely reach a breakthrough and possibly even become a new Wholesale Ted in a few years! Consistency is king with print-on-demand!

 About Us

We're M.i.A, a growing international print-on-demand service with a huge product range, including items you haven't even thought about. 

• 150+ Product Range
• Global Locations
• Enterprise Support
• On-site Customisation

Check out our Youtube video here to see how simple print on demand is with our Shopify app!