New to print on demand? This beginner-friendly guide explains everything you need to know to start your POD business, even with zero experience.
Print on demand (often shortened to POD) is a way to sell custom products without ever buying or storing inventory. Here's how it works in simple terms:
The best part? You never touch the product, store inventory, or handle shipping. Everything is automated, making it perfect for beginners.
Start with zero investment. No need to buy inventory, rent storage space, or pay setup fees. With Papello, the seller dashboard is free forever.
You only pay when a customer orders. If something doesn't sell, you haven't lost any money on unsold inventory.
No special skills required. You can start with simple designs and learn as you go. Many successful POD sellers started with zero design experience.
Forget about tracking stock, managing warehouses, or dealing with unsold products. The POD company handles everything.
Try different designs and products without risk. If something doesn't work, simply remove it. No financial loss.
Start simple and improve over time. Many beginners find success with basic designs and gradually develop their skills.
Not necessarily! While design skills help, you can start with simple text-based designs, use free design tools like Canva, or even hire designers on platforms like Fiverr. Many successful POD sellers started with basic designs and improved over time.
With Papello, you can start with zero upfront costs. The seller dashboard is free forever, there are no setup fees, and you only pay when you place an order. The only optional cost is ordering a sample pack to verify quality (typically £20-50), which is highly recommended.
Print on demand works best for customisable products. Popular options include:
Popular places to sell print on demand products include:
You set the selling price for your products. When a customer buys, you pay the POD company their cost (printing, materials, shipping), and you keep the difference as profit. For example, if you sell a mug for £15 and the POD company charges £6, you make £9 profit.
Yes! The process is automated once set up. With Papello, you can create product lists in your dashboard and publish them directly to your store. When an item sells, we automatically charge your payment card and print and ship it for you. You don't need to do anything manually.
Create your free Papello seller dashboard. No credit card required, no setup fees, and it's free forever. This gives you access to all the tools you need to start selling.
Before selling, order a sample pack to see and feel the actual product quality. This builds confidence and helps you describe products accurately to customers.
Start simple! You can:
Don't worry about perfection - you can always improve designs later. Many successful sellers started with simple designs.
Pick a platform that suits you. Etsy is great for beginners as it has built-in traffic. Shopify gives you more control but requires more marketing. Start with one platform and expand later.
Create your first product listing:
Don't try to create 100 products on day one. Start with 5-10 products, learn what works, then expand.
Order samples before listing products. This ensures quality and helps you write accurate descriptions.
Sales don't happen overnight. It takes time to build listings, get reviews, and attract customers. Stay consistent.
Improve your designs, optimise listings, and learn from successful sellers. The POD community is helpful and supportive.
Join thousands of beginners who have successfully started their POD businesses with Papello. Zero upfront costs, no risk, and all the tools you need to succeed.
