Start a print on demand business
With print on demand, a partner prints your design on a shirt, bag or poster after each order, so you hold no stock. This guide covers who the idea suits, what you need, how to choose a print partner, how to price and how to sell online.
The idea, step by step
How to start a print on demand business in five steps
Print on demand sells on the design and on a print that matches the photo. Each step says what to get right and where your Tanqory store does the work.
It suits designers and people with an audience
The idea suits illustrators, designers and anyone who knows a group of people well, such as a club, a hobby or a city. You spend your time on designs and marketing, while the partner handles printing and often packing.Describe your designs in one sentence and the AI store builder makes a store you can review before you order a single sample.See the AI store builder
Print-ready designs and a print partner
Prepare each design as a high-resolution file sized for the product, and pick a print partner whose products, print methods and shipping regions fit your buyers. Use only artwork, fonts and names you have the rights to, and check the rules where you sell.In Tanqory, sizes and colours are variants of one design in one catalog, grouped into collections such as shirts, bags or prints.See how the catalog works
Order samples before you list anything
Order each product yourself to check the fabric, the print colours and the size chart, and wash it a few times. Shoot your own photos from the samples, and keep notes on which partner product each listing uses.AI writes the product copy from your notes and edits product images, so every listing reads and looks the same.See AI product content
Price from the partner's cost per item
Start from what the partner charges to print and ship one item, then add payment costs and the margin your design is worth. Compare with printed products of a similar quality, and price bundles so a second item is easy to add.Tanqory adds a 0% transaction fee with any payment provider you connect, and never marks up your provider's own rate.See how payments work
Tell buyers when it ships and where to find it
Say on every listing that each item is printed after it is ordered and how long that takes. Then go where your audience already is: social media, marketplaces and the community the designs are for.Sell in your store and, from the same admin, on Amazon, eBay, TikTok Shop, Facebook and Instagram, with product feeds to Google Merchant Center.See sales channels
Your store
Open a print on demand store that runs with you
Three parts of Tanqory take the routine work, so your hours go into the designs.
A store ready to sell from one sentence
Describe your designs. The AI store builder makes the brand, theme, pages and first products for you to review and change.See the AI store builder
An assistant that acts in the admin
Ask about orders or customers and let the assistant do the work, with your confirmation. Everyday chat with it uses no credits.See the AI assistant
0% transaction fee on every sale
Connect your own Stripe, PayPal or Braintree account. Tanqory adds no transaction fee and never marks up your provider's rate.See checkout
More ideas
More business ideas
The same five questions, answered for other ideas.
Sell online courses
Lessons, workbooks and kits for a skill you already teach well.Read the ideaStart a candle business
Wax, wick and scent: test burns, safe labels and gift-ready packing.Read the ideaSell pottery and ceramics
Mugs, plates and vases: batches, glazes, pricing and safe packing.Read the idea
Selling print on demand products online: questions
Do I need stock to start print on demand?
No. The print partner makes each item after it is ordered, so you pay for samples, not stock. The trade-off is a lower margin per item and a longer wait for the buyer than with stock you hold.
Can I use any design on my products?
Only designs you made or have the rights to. Characters, logos, band names and other people's artwork belong to their owners. Rules on trademarks and copyright apply wherever you sell, so check them first.
Can I try print on demand products as a store before I buy stock?
Yes. Describe the idea in one sentence and the AI store builder makes a store with a brand, theme, pages and first products for you to review and change. Plans start with 3 days free before your first charge.
Does Tanqory take a cut of each sale?
No. Tanqory adds a 0% transaction fee on every plan with any payment provider you connect, and never marks up your provider's own rate.
Where can I sell print on demand products online?
In your own Tanqory store first, and from the same admin on Amazon, eBay, TikTok Shop, Facebook and Instagram, with product feeds to Google Merchant Center.
Start your print on demand store
Describe your designs in one sentence and review a store ready to sell.