Question 1

What is print on demand?

Accepted Answer

Print on demand (POD) lets you sell custom products without holding inventory. Your POD supplier prints, packs, and ships every order, so you can skip fulfillment and inventory hassle. It’s a smart start for beginner entrepreneurs and indie sellers who want to own more of what they make and focus on the fun part: creating.

Question 2

How does print on demand work?

Accepted Answer

On demand printing works like magic: connect your shop to a print on demand platform like Printful, Printify, or theprintspace. You’ll pick your products, upload your designs, set your prices, and sell. Your POD platform prints each product per order, packs it, and ships it to your customers. Print on demand orders let you keep full creative control—without the overhead.

Question 3

How can I start a print on demand business?

Accepted Answer

Starting a print on demand business is easy: pick your products, customize them with your designs, set your prices, and let a POD provider handle printing, packing, and shipping for every sale. Big Cartel’s low-cost platform helps indie sellers and first-time entrepreneurs own their brand, keep their profits, and grow business—the perfect home for POD success. Just connect your Big Cartel shop to one or more of our trusted providers: Printful, Printify, or theprintspace (keep scrolling FAQs to learn more).

Question 4

Is print on demand profitable?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Print on demand success comes from low startup costs, no inventory fees, and full pricing control. It allows you to start a business without the startup inventory costs or minimum orders. Choosing an affordable ecommerce platform with low fees, like Big Cartel, helps make print on demand even more profitable.

Question 5

What’s the difference between POD and dropshipping?

Accepted Answer

In short: all POD is dropshipping, but not all dropshipping is POD. POD is a type of dropshipping focused on custom, branded products you design. Every item is made to order with your artwork, logos, or messaging, so you maintain creative control and brand recognition. Traditional dropshipping usually involves generic, pre-made products you resell with little control over design and quality.

Question 6

Which POD provider should I choose: Printify, Printful, or theprintspace?

Accepted Answer

Each print on demand platform has its perks:

Question 7

How can I migrate a POD store to Big Cartel?

Accepted Answer

You can keep your accounts, designs and products within your POD provider. Simply connect your existing POD account to your Big Cartel store and you’re ready! Your designs and product catalog stay intact. Learn more here.

Question 8

What are the best products for print on demand?

Accepted Answer

Apparel is a great entry to print on demand. Items like t-shirts or hoodies allow you to flex your designs on an easy to order item. You can also expand to mugs, tote bags, stickers, wall art, posters, and canvas prints—all popular choices for starting and scaling your business.

Question 9

Do print on demand providers take a cut of your sales?

Accepted Answer

Most POD suppliers charge per product, not per sale. That means you keep control of pricing, profits, and brand—exactly why indie sellers love print on demand platforms.

Print on Demand, Done Your Way

Set up & Sell

Open shop

Customize it

Pick your provider

Sell your stuff