How to Start a Print-on-Demand Business with Ready-Made Designs

How to Start a Print-on-Demand Business with Ready-Made Designs

Starting a print-on-demand (POD) business has never been easier—or faster—especially if you're working with ready-made designs. You don’t need to be a designer, and you don’t need to invest in inventory. Whether you want to launch a side hustle or grow a full-time business, this guide will walk you through the steps to launch your POD store with pre-made designs that are ready to sell.

 

1. What is Print-on-Demand?

Print-on-demand is a business model where products like t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and phone cases are printed only after someone places an order. This means you don’t need to hold inventory or handle shipping—your POD provider takes care of that.

It’s a low-risk, high-reward model that allows you to experiment with different product ideas and designs without big upfront costs.

 

2. Why Use Ready-Made Designs?

Not everyone has the time—or the skillset—to create custom artwork for their products. That’s where ready-made designs come in.

Using pre-made graphics can:

  • Save hours of design work

  • Help you launch your store faster

  • Give you access to professional-looking artwork

  • Allow you to test product ideas and niches easily

This is perfect if you're just starting out or if you want to focus more on marketing and selling rather than designing.

3. Choose Your Niche Wisely

One of the most important steps is picking a niche. A niche helps you stand out, connect with your audience, and guide your product design choices.

Here are some examples:

  • Dog lovers

  • Gamers

  • Yoga enthusiasts

  • Bookworms

  • Coffee addicts

Tip: Choose a niche you're familiar with or passionate about—it’ll make your marketing more authentic and fun.

4. Where to Find Quality Ready-Made Designs

There are many platforms where you can buy or license ready-to-use graphics. Look for platforms that provide commercial licenses so you can legally sell products using their artwork.

Some great places to start include:

Be sure to check the licensing terms before using any design for commercial purposes.

5. Pick a Print-on-Demand Platform

There are several popular POD services, each with its strengths. Here are a few to consider:

  • Printful – Great quality and branding options

  • Printify – Lower prices, more suppliers

  • Gelato – Wide international reach

  • Teespring/Spring – Good for creators who want to focus on content + merch

Choose one that integrates well with your selling platform (Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, etc.).

 

6. Set Up Your Online Store

You’ll need a storefront to display your products. Here are your main options:

  • Shopify – Easy to use and highly customizable

  • Etsy – Built-in audience but competitive

  • Sellzzy – Great if you want a sleek, digital-friendly POD setup and sell digital goods too

Choose a store name that reflects your niche and brand, and make sure your site looks clean and professional.

 

7. Upload Products Using Ready-Made Designs

Now it’s time to create your product listings using those ready-made designs. Use the mockup tools provided by your POD platform to showcase how your designs look on real products.

Tips:

  • Keep your mockups consistent

  • Use lifestyle photos when possible

  • Write clear, benefit-focused product descriptions

  • Set prices that cover your base costs and offer a good margin

 

8. Marketing Your POD Business

Your store is live—now it’s time to bring in traffic. Here are some beginner-friendly marketing methods:

  • Instagram & Pinterest – Great for visuals and niche targeting

  • TikTok – Viral potential if you create short videos about your niche or products

  • Email Marketing – Build a list early; offer a freebie or discount to sign up

  • Niche Communities – Facebook groups, subreddits, and forums are great places to connect with potential customers

You don’t need to do everything—just start with one or two platforms and grow from there.

 

9. Managing Orders and Customer Service

Once orders start rolling in, your POD provider will take care of printing and shipping. Your job is to:

  • Respond to customer inquiries

  • Handle any issues quickly and professionally

  • Monitor reviews and gather feedback

  • Keep customers updated on delivery status

Good service = good reviews = more sales.

 

10. Scaling Your Business

Once you’ve got some traction, it’s time to scale:

  • Add more products or designs

  • Test new niches

  • Run ads on Meta, Google, or Pinterest

  • Hire a VA to help with admin or customer support

  • Expand to platforms like Amazon, Redbubble, or eBay

Keep experimenting, tracking what works, and reinvesting your profits into growth.

 

Conclusion

Starting a print-on-demand business with ready-made designs is one of the easiest and most accessible ways to launch an online business in 2025. You don’t need design skills, huge capital, or a warehouse—just a smart niche, great designs (like the ones from Designpuller), and a little persistence.

So why wait? Pick a niche, grab some high-quality artwork, and get your first product online today.

Back to blog