With more than 90 million shoppers looking for unique, personalized products, Etsy is a lucrative marketplace to sell creative products. How can you enter this market if you don’t have enough money for tools and machines? Etsy print-on-demand (POD) is the answer for you! With minimal investment and inventory management, Etsy POD is one of the most beginner-friendly ways to start an online store in 2025.
Here’s everything you need to know to start and succeed in a competitive market like Etsy POD in 2025!
What is Etsy Print-on-Demand?
Like other POD business models, Etsy print-on-demand (POD) allows sellers to create and sell custom-designed products without stocking inventory. POD products like t-shirts, mugs, or phone cases are made only when customers order. Once an order is received, a third-party POD provider prints the design onto the selected product and ships it directly to the buyer.
The Etsy POD provider manages everything from production to fulfillment. Thus, Etsy POD sellers can focus solely on designing and marketing their products.
Etsy POD vs Shopify POD
Regarding print-on-demand, both Etsy and Shopify offer unique benefits but cater to different business needs. Let’s find out which platform is more suitable for your POD business.
Etsy is a more straightforward, lower-risk option for beginners who want to test POD without a large upfront investment. It’s ideal for those looking to start small but may not be the best choice for merchants wanting full control and scalability.
On the other hand, Shopify offers greater flexibility and customization, making it a better choice for those who want to grow and build a distinct brand.
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Besides, Foxify comes with 150+ ready-to-use templates for all niches to pick a suitable one for your store. Customizing these prebuilt templates is the fastest way to build a stunning, high-converting website that matches your brand identity.
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Who Should Do Etsy POD?
From the features mentioned above, Etsy POD is suiatble for these types of sellers:
- Beginners: Etsy POD is perfect for beginners who don’t want to manage a full-scale eCommerce store. With its built-in customer base and easy-to-use platform, Etsy offers a lower barrier to entry.
- Niche designers: Etsy caters to shoppers looking for unique, handmade, or artistic products. Thus, if you specialize in creating niche or creative designs, connecting with buyers who value individuality is easier.
- Low investment sellers: Etsy’s pay-as-you-sell model is a great option for those who want to avoid the upfront costs of a custom website and paid marketing. With minimal listing fees and transaction costs, it’s ideal for those looking to keep their initial investment low.
- Part-time sellers: Etsy POD is also suitable for part-time sellers who want to run a side business. You can manage your store with minimal commitment, as you don’t need to handle the inventory and logistics.
- Sellers with a small library of products: If you only have a few designs or products, Etsy is a great place to start. It requires fewer fees and inventory management to maintain your business than Shopify.
How to Sell print-on-demand on Etsy
The average profit margin of POD is 25-50%. Lucrative, right? However, its success rate is just around 24%. Thus, to step into a risky market like Etsy print-on-demand, you must research and prepare carefully. Here is an easy step-by-step guide for you to learn from:
1. Create an Etsy seller account:
The first step to selling Etsy POD is creating an Etsy seller account. You can follow these steps:
- Sign up: Go to Etsy's landing page for sellers and sign up for a seller account.
- Set up your shop: After signing up, you can follow Etsy's guidelines to enter details like your shop name, language, currency, location, and product category. When naming your shop, you can choose something that reflects your brand or niche, which will help attract the right audience. Explore best business name ideas ⇒
By completing these steps, you’ll have an Etsy store, setting the foundation for your Etsy POD business.
2. Choose Etsy print-on-demand partners
Partnering with the right Etsy print-on-demand partners is key to your success. Good Etsy print-on-demand partners will handle printing, packaging, and shipping. So you can focus on designing and marketing your products.
Here’s a quick review of popular Etsy print-on-demand partners for you to choose from:
Printful
Printful is one of the most well-known Etsy print-on-demand partners, offering a wide range of products, from apparel to home décor.
Pros:
- Printful offers a wide range of products, including apparel, accessories, and home decor.
- This Etsy POD supplier is known for high-quality printing and materials, ensuring satisfied customers.
- It is easy to integrate with Etsy. This streamlines your order and fulfillment processes.
- There are no upfront costs or subscription fees, making it budget-friendly for beginners.
- Global fulfillment centers help reduce shipping times.
- Excellent mockup and design tools help create professional-looking product images.
Cons:
- The base product costs of Printful are higher than other Etsy print-on-demand partners. Thus, it can affect your pricing strategies.
- Shipping costs can add up, especially for international orders. This high shipping fee may impact your profit margins.
- Profit margins may be slimmer if you're selling lower-priced items.
Printify
Printify is also one of the most popular Etsy print-on-demand partners that integrates smoothly with the platform. It offers a flexible approach by partnering with multiple print providers, allowing you to choose the best option based on your needs.
Pros:
- Printify offers more products as it works with many different print partners.
- Flexible pricing depends on the print partner you select.
- A free plan is available for low-budget Etsy POD businesses. For larger stores, Printify also offers an affordable premium plan.
- The premium plan offers discounted rates on products, increasing profit margins.
- This supplier integrates well with Etsy and other eCommerce platforms.
Cons:
- Product quality is less consistent than Printful as it varies depending on the print partners.
- Some fulfillment partners may have longer shipping times, affecting customer satisfaction.
- You have less control over product quality and production processes.
Gooten
Gooten is another reliable Etsy print-on-demand provider. It offers various products, including unique options like puzzles and pet products. It’s an excellent choice for sellers looking for something different.
Pros:
- Gooten has an extensive product range, including unique items such as candles, puzzles, and pet products.
- Gooten features a strong integration with Etsy, making the selling process smoother.
- This supplier offers more competitive pricing than Printful, giving you better profit margins.
- With automated order processing, you can enjoy a hands-off fulfillment experience.
Cons:
- Shipping times are generally slower compared to Printful and Printify.
- Product quality can vary depending on the production partner.
- Gooten has no in-house printing, which may limit quality control.
Teelaunch
Teelaunch is an Etsy print-on-demand provider specializing in apparel. It’s a solid option for sellers looking for straightforward fulfillment at competitive prices.
Pros:
- Teelaunch offers a good selection of products, particularly in apparel.
- It’s easy to integrate with Etsy for smooth order processing.
- Competitive pricing, especially for clothing, makes Gooten an affordable choice.
- Some items have fast production times, helping to reduce shipping delays.
Cons:
- There are fewer customization tools than providers like Printful, limiting design flexibility.
- Teeluanch has a smaller product catalog than Printify or Gooten.
- Shipping costs can vary widely depending on location, making it harder to predict expenses.
AOP+ (All Over Print)
AOP+ is an Etsy print-on-demand provider specializing in all-over print designs, making it ideal for sellers focused on custom apparel.
Pros:
- Specializing in all-over print designs, AOP+ is perfect for custom apparel like t-shirts and leggings.
- AOP+ offers unique product options with a focus on high-quality apparel.
- It features an easy and reliable integration with Etsy to streamline the fulfillment process.
- This supplier is UK-based, providing faster shipping within Europe.
Cons:
- AOP+ has a smaller product range than larger Etsy print-on-demand partners like Printful or Printify.
- International shipping is limited to certain products.
- For customers outside of Europe, shipping time is slower.
- These Etsy print-on-demand partners have different ways of integrating with Etsy, so you can follow their guidelines to integrate after choosing a suitable one. The integration will automatically sync products and manage order fulfillment when customers purchase from your Etsy POD store.
🔥 Read More: The Best Australian print-on-demand Companies for Entrepreneurs in 2025
3. Choose and design your products
Now that you've selected the right Etsy print-on-demand partners, it’s time to choose and design the products you’ll sell on Etsy.
Choose Products
- Identify your audience: You should start by considering who your target audience is, such as pet lovers, fitness enthusiasts, or film lovers. Understanding their preferences will help you choose the right products.
- Research trends: After identifying your audience, you must discover your niche's trending products, keywords, and design styles. You can research using Etsy’s search bar or tools like Marmalead or eRank. These tools will give you insight into what’s popular on Etsy.
- Select products: Based on your research and audience, you can choose products that resonate with your niche. Popular options for Etsy POD include t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and wall art. They depend on what appeals to your audience.
📚 Related Articles: Best-Selling Products to Stock Your Store on Black Friday Cyber Monday 2024
Create Design
- For artists and designers: Here are some actionable tips to create designs by yourself. Remember to develop high-resolution artwork (300 DPI) with transparent backgrounds, especially for items like clothing. After that, you must test your designs on sample products to ensure format and quality. You also must keep your designs consistent in style and branding.
- For non-designers: If you don't have design skills, you can use tools like Canva or Placeit. These tools offer many customizable templates that require no professional expertise. Alternatively, you can hire freelance designers from platforms like Fiverr or buy pre-made designs from creative marketplaces. Simple text-based designs, stock art, and mockups from your Etsy POD providers can also help you create visually appealing products with minimal effort.
4. List your products on Etsy
Once you’ve chosen and designed your products, it’s time to get them in front of potential buyers on Etsy. A well-optimized listing can make all the difference in attracting shoppers and converting sales.
Price Your Products
Pricing your Etsy POD products competitively is key to maintaining profitability while covering all your costs. Here are the main factors to consider:
- Cost of production: Factor in the price charged by your Etsy POD provider.
- Design costs: If you pay for designs, include these expenses in your pricing strategy.
- Etsy fees: Remember that Etsy charges $0.20 per listing, a 6.5% transaction fee on the total order value (including shipping), and payment processing fees.
- Market pricing: Research the average price of similar products in your niche to ensure pricing stays competitive.
Optimize your listings
Creating an optimized product listing is crucial to reaching the right Etsy audience. Here’s how you can ensure your listings are fully optimized:
- Use relevant keywords: Research popular keywords using tools like Marmalead or eRank and include them naturally in your product title, description, and tags. You should focus on long-tail keywords specific to your niche, like "Personalized wedding gift mug."
- Clear product titles: Write descriptive titles with important keywords upfront. Remember to make them readable, not keyword-stuffed, to attract buyers.
- Detailed descriptions: Provide clear, concise descriptions of your product, including size, materials, and customization options. A good description should naturally incorporate keywords while highlighting key features.
- High-quality images: Use high-quality mockups or photos, including lifestyle images, to showcase your product from different angles and in various contexts.
- Tags and attributes: Use all 13 tags to cover variations and related keywords. Fill in attributes like color, size, and material to ensure your product is categorized correctly.
5. Promote Your Store
Once your products are listed, it's time to promote your Etsy POD store and attract customers. Here are some effective strategies:
- Run Etsy ads: Etsy ads help boost the visibility of your products directly within the Etsy marketplace. You can set a budget and let Etsy's system automatically promote your listings to a broader audience. This strategy can significantly increase your leads and sales by placing your products in front of more potential buyers. Check out this guide to learn more about setting up and optimizing Etsy Ads: Etsy Ads Guide.
- Leverage social media: You can use social platforms to showcase your products and drive traffic to your Etsy POD store. Instagram and Pinterest are especially useful for visually showcasing your designs, while Facebook can be great for joining groups or running ads. You engage your audience by sharing high-quality images, behind-the-scenes looks, or customer reviews. For more insights on using social media for retail, check out this Social Retail Guide.
- Build an email list: An email list is a powerful tool for promoting your store. You can use it to announce new product launches, highlight seasonal designs, and offer special discounts or sales. Keeping your customers informed can drive repeat business and build long-term customer loyalty. Find out the best email marketing strategies for your store.
Wrapping Up: Your Path to Etsy POD Success
Starting an Etsy print-on-demand business can be a great opportunity for creative entrepreneurs and those new to POD. However, you need more than an innovative product to grow a successful Etsy POD store. You need the right strategy and consistent effort to become a thriving Etsy POD business and turn your designs into profits.
This ultimate guideline will help you have a solid foundation to succeed. From selecting the right Etsy POD partners, finding potential products, and optimizing your listings, you can start your Etsy POD business well. We also guide you on promoting your store through Etsy Ads, social media, and email marketing to drive traffic and boost sales.
Following this guideline, you can build a successful Etsy POD business and turn your creativity into a successful online venture. Let’s start your journey now!
