Passive Income: How I Started Print On Demand with $0 (STEP BY STEP)
People are making thousands of pounds every month selling products that don't even exist until someone places an order. This video tests if this is a realistic side hustle by attempting to make and sell a print-on-demand product with zero budget, a fake name, and a 24-hour launch window.
THE PRINT-ON-DEMAND PROCESS
Print on demand (POD) is a business model where you partner with a company that prints and ships your product only when a customer places an order. This means you don't need to hold any inventory. The process involves creating a design, finding a POD supplier, setting up an online store, and marketing your products.
FINDING A SUPPLIER AND PRODUCT
Gelato was chosen as the POD supplier due to its global fulfillment centers and user-friendly software. To find a profitable product, market research was conducted using TikTok. The strategy was to identify accounts consistently selling the same product, as this indicates strong demand. Wall art emerged as a promising product category for several reasons:
- Market Demand: A large market of aspiring entrepreneurs seeks motivational artwork for their spaces.
- Profit Margins: Wall art is inexpensive to produce but can be sold at a higher price point, leading to good profit margins.
- Scalability: The business can be scaled by expanding into premium artwork or different product lines.
DESIGN CREATION
Due to time constraints, designs were outsourced to freelancers on Fiverr. The brief requested entrepreneurial and motivational poster designs in a 30x40 cm (12x16 inch) size. The goal was to find unique quotes and themes that would appeal to the target market.
SETTING UP AN ONLINE STORE
Etsy was selected as the selling platform due to its low barrier to entry and existing customer base. While platforms like Shopify offer more brand control, Etsy is suitable for quickly launching a product-based business. The designs from Fiverr were then uploaded to Gelato, and mockups were created using Gelato's built-in mockup studio to present the products professionally.
PRICING AND MOCKUPS
After creating mockups, the next step was pricing. A price of $49.99 was set for the wall art. This price is higher than many competitors on Etsy, but it aims for a profit margin of around 50%. The product chosen was a wooden framed poster with premium matte paper, in a 30x40 cm size with a black frame, as these were identified as best-sellers and a good neutral option.
RESULTS AND ANALYSIS
After a few days, 11 sales were generated, totaling £54.98. The costs involved were:
- Design Costs: £0.77
- Etsy Fees (6.5%): £35.74
- Product & Shipping Costs: £371.69
After deducting all expenses, the profit was £81.69. Considering the setup was completed within 24 hours and the designs are now available, this was deemed a success. The quality of the products and the 3-day shipping time were also noted as positives. A discount code for Gelato is available for viewers who want to try the service themselves.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Print on demand allows selling products without holding inventory.
- Market research, especially on platforms like TikTok, is key to finding profitable products.
- Choosing the right supplier (like Gelato) and platform (like Etsy) is important for a smooth start.
- Professional mockups and strategic pricing can significantly impact sales.
- Even with a zero budget and a tight deadline, it's possible to generate sales with print on demand.
