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This post is all about how to start a print on demand business on Etsy.

If you’ve ever dreamed of creating your own online shop but didn’t want to have to deal with managing inventory, shipping products, or investing a bunch of money upfront, a print on demand Etsy business might be your perfect match. Etsy is home to millions of buyers who have their wallets in hand, and are already searching for unique, personalized, and trendy items—and with print on demand, you can meet that demand without ever touching a product.

Starting a print on demand business on Etsy changed everything for me. As a military spouse and entrepreneur, I needed a flexible business that I could run from anywhere. When I discovered POD and how seamlessly it integrates with Etsy, I knew I’d found what I was looking for - flexibility, a creative outlet, and the potential to create a profitable business.

Here’s exactly how to start a print on demand business on Etsy—step by step—plus the tips, tools, and inspiration you need to get started confidently.

What Is Print on Demand and Why Etsy?

Print on demand (POD) is a business model where you sell custom-designed products like t-shirts, mugs, and tote bags online without keeping any inventory yourself. When someone places an order, your print on demand provider (like Printify) prints and ships the item directly to your customer. Your products are only printed and created when a customer buys one of your products - that’s where the “on demand” part plays in.

Etsy is an ideal platform for starting a print on demand business because buyers are already looking for creative, niche-specific, and unique products. The search engine built into Etsy makes it easy for new sellers to get discovered—especially when you learn the basics of SEO and how to find profitable niches to sell in.

For me, Etsy felt less intimidating than building a full ecommerce site from scratch. Creating a Shopify store for example, is much harder to get started in if you don’t already have an audience to send to your website. Etsy comes with a built-in audience - you just have to hone in on it by selling in the right niches, creating attractive products, and making sure the right people are able to find what you’re selling.

Best Print on Demand Products to Sell on Etsy

There are endless print on demand ideas to choose from, but some products tend to perform better than others on Etsy. Some popular options for new sellers include:

Tee shirts
Coffee mugs + other drinkware
Tote bags
Sweatshirts + hoodies
Stickers
Phone cases

The best selling products on Printify (the POD platform that I use and recommend) are typically products in these categories.

✨ If you need help deciding what to sell, you can take the “Find Your Product Quiz” here!

As far as what niches to sell in, I recommend focusing on a specific niche or audience when you’re starting out. For example, I started by creating healthcare apparel, since that was my previous profession. That connection made it easier to design products and market them authentically.

I always recommend starting in a niche that you’re familiar with. Once you get into the swing of things and have your listing processes down, is when you should start expanding into other niches.

Step-by-Step: How to Start a Print on Demand Business on Etsy

✅ Here’s your free checklist to launch your first product! ✅

Step 1: Create Your Etsy Seller Account

Go to Etsy.com and click "Sell on Etsy" to get started, or you can just follow this link. Follow the prompts to name your shop, choose your currency, and fill in shop preferences. Make sure you’re familiar with their policies and terms for being a seller on Etsy.

Step 2: Choose a Print on Demand Partner (like Printify)

Printify is the platform that I personally use and that I recommend for people starting an Etsy POD business - it’s super easy to navigate and integrates directly with Etsy. Once you create a free Printify account, you can connect it to your Etsy shop with just a few clicks.

Step 3: Design Your First Product

You don’t need to be a graphic designer! Canva is a great tool for creating simple designs - which are all you need to be successful in POD. Think about your niche and what they would want to wear, drink from, or display, depending on your chosen product type. Oftentimes, the more complicated your design, the less likely it is to sell. You can’t go wrong with keeping it simple!

Step 4: Publish Your Product Listing on Etsy

Use SEO-friendly titles, tags, and descriptions. This is how your products gain traction and the people that you want to find your products are able to find them. Your SEO tells Etsy who to show your products to.

You want to find specific keywords that people are searching for that ideally have a high search volume and lower competition (i.e. fewer people are selling items for that keyword). That way you get as many eyes on your listing as possible but have less competition to compete with.

Step 5: Set Your Pricing, Shipping, and Policies

Make sure your pricing includes your production cost (what you’re paying Printify for each product), shipping costs, Etsy fees, and leave room for your ideal profit margin.

For example, if you’re selling a tee shirt that costs you $17 to produce with Printify, you may price it at $27 when selling it on Etsy so that you can profit ~$7 once your Etsy fees are subtracted from the total sale price.

If you run strategic sales in your shop, you need to consider that as well when pricing your products. Be sure to set realistic processing times and clear shop policies as well to build trust with your customers.

Step 6: Launch and Share!

Hit publish, then share your new product on social media or Pinterest. Etsy gives you visibility, but a little extra marketing goes a long way. Be sure to tell your friends and family too!

My first sale was to my mom and I’m not ashamed to say it! Getting your first sale under your belt is a big deal - it shows Etsy that people actually want to buy what you’re selling (so they’ll show it to more people) and it gives you the opportunity to go through the process of fulfilling an order.

Tips for Growing Your Etsy Print on Demand Shop

Nail your mockups: Use high-quality mockups to make your product listings stand out.
- I highly recommend investing in a set of quality mockups from Etsy and not using Printify’s default mockups. This doesn’t need to break the bank - you can find a good set of mockups for $5-$15. It’s well worth the investment, trust me. Your listings will convert exponentially better on Etsy if you use great mockup images.

Be consistent: Add new products regularly and stay active in your shop. Etsy rewards you for consistently listing and selling products.
SEO is key: Use targeted, intentional keywords in your titles, descriptions, and tags.
Build a brand: Create a cohesive aesthetic with your shop banner, logo, product designs, and even your handling of customer service.

Print on Demand Success Stories (Yes, It’s Possible!)

When I launched my Etsy POD shop, I made my first organic sale within two weeks. It wasn’t a best-seller or a viral hit, but it gave me confidence. That confidence pushed me to keep working. You just need that first sale to give you that confidence boost to be able to turn one sale into a thousand sales.

You don’t need to be an expert to get started—you just need the right foundation, a little bit of hustle, and a strong mental game.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Skipping product research: Make sure your product idea actually has demand on Etsy.

Generic designs: Try to add a unique twist or focus on a specific audience.
Low-quality mockups: Your listing photo is the first thing buyers see—make it count!
Underpricing: You deserve to make a profit. Don’t race to the bottom.

Free Resources to Help You Get Started

Want a little extra help getting set up? I’ve got you covered:

Starting a print on demand Etsy business is one of the most accessible ways to dip your toes into entrepreneurship. It takes a lot of hard work, especially in the beginning to lay the groundwork for your shop. But with the right mindset, tools, and support, you can build a shop you’re proud of—even if you’re brand new to all of this.

You don’t need to be techy. You don’t need to be artsy. You just need to take that first step.

So, what will you create first?

How to Start A Print On Demand Business on Etsy in 2025

This post is all about how to start a print on demand business on Etsy.

What Is Print on Demand and Why Etsy?

Best Print on Demand Products to Sell on Etsy