Your 2025 Plan to Make $100K in Print on Demand
Building a six-figure print-on-demand (POD) business in 2025 is entirely possible — but it requires structure, strategy, and consistency. This guide breaks down a four-part plan designed to help you start from scratch, scale efficiently, and build long-term income from your online store.
Part 1: Laying the Foundation
Choose the Right Selling Platform
Print-on-demand allows you to create and sell products without holding inventory or managing production. The key is choosing a platform that matches your goals and skill level.
- Etsy – Best for beginners due to its built-in customer base and organic traffic. You don’t need to run ads to start getting views and sales.
- Amazon Merch, Redbubble, Teepublic, Zazzle – Great options for diversification later on, once your main shop is profitable.
When using Etsy, partner with a print provider like Printify. They handle printing, packing, and shipping your products directly to customers, letting you focus on design and marketing.
Select a Profitable Product Line
Start small with proven product types before expanding. Focus on best-sellers such as:
- T-shirts
- Hoodies and sweatshirts
- Mugs and tumblers
Keep your focus narrow — one or two product categories are ideal for beginners. This helps you maintain momentum without spreading your efforts too thin.
Find Profitable Niches
Choosing the right niche is what separates successful POD stores from the rest. Use tools and resources to research what customers are actively buying.
- Merch Informer – Tracks top-selling T-shirt designs and trending keywords on Amazon, giving insight into what’s performing well in the market.
- Free resources – Browse Etsy, Pinterest, or Google Trends to identify trending topics, hobbies, and phrases.
Look for evergreen themes — those that sell year-round — and balance them with seasonal trends for consistent revenue.
Part 2: Creating High-Converting Designs
Streamline the Design Process
You don’t need to be an artist to create great designs. Use templates and tools to speed up production while maintaining quality. Platforms like Placeit provide ready-to-edit design templates for shirts, mugs, and more.
- Customize existing templates to fit your niche.
- Reuse successful design layouts with new phrases or colors.
- Study competing shops to identify popular fonts, colors, and styles.
Avoid copying other sellers directly — instead, take inspiration from what’s working and add your own unique twist.
Create Eye-Catching Mockups
Your product photos are what make shoppers stop scrolling. Use mockups that showcase your designs on real people and high-quality backgrounds. Again, tools like Placeit can help you generate professional mockups without needing Photoshop skills.
Part 3: Uploading and Scaling Strategically
Focus on Momentum, Not Perfection
Consistency beats intensity. Many new sellers burn out by trying to upload dozens of products in one go. Instead, create a manageable routine such as:
- 2 new listings per day (about 10 per week)
- 60 new listings per month
- 100+ listings within your first three months
This gradual approach builds momentum and allows you to adapt to market trends as you go.
Analyze and Double Down
Once you begin making sales, study what’s working. Identify which niches, designs, or products are performing best, then create variations of those winners.
- Track which listings generate the most sales or traffic.
- Expand on successful designs within the same niche.
- Experiment with new ideas while continuing to grow proven ones.
Part 4: Building Long-Term Success
Treat It Like a Real Business
Success in print-on-demand doesn’t happen overnight. Set clear working hours, track performance, and continuously refine your processes. Use spreadsheets or dashboards to monitor:
- Profit margins and sales
- Traffic and conversion rates
- Best-performing product categories
Invest in Tools and Education
While POD is low-cost to start, investing in a few key resources can dramatically accelerate growth:
- Research tools for finding profitable niches
- Design suites like Placeit or Canva
- Mockup generators for product images
- Courses or workshops for continued learning
Pick one reliable tool in each category and stick with it — the best tool is the one you use consistently.
Avoid Common Pitfalls
- Always check trademarks before uploading designs.
- Balance trending products with evergreen ones.
- Don’t copy competitors — innovate within your niche.
- Stay consistent even when sales are slow.
Final Thoughts
Print-on-demand is a marathon, not a sprint. The designs you upload today can bring in sales months or even years later. Aim for your first 100 listings — this milestone proves your commitment and gives your shop enough exposure to start generating real results.
Stay focused, keep learning, and build steady momentum. With the right systems and persistence, reaching $100K in print-on-demand revenue in 2025 is entirely within reach.