Print-on-Demand: Everything You Need to Know

Print-on-demand (POD) has become one of the easiest and most affordable ways for entrepreneurs, artists, and creators to launch their own online stores without the need for upfront inventory. POD services allow you to design products like t-shirts, mugs, phone cases, and more, which are only produced and shipped after a customer places an order. This model eliminates the need for inventory management, warehousing, or the risks associated with unsold stock.

Two of the major players in this space are Printful and Printify, both of which provide robust platforms for designing, producing, and shipping custom products.

In this blog post, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about using Printful and Printify, what’s involved, taxes you should be aware of, and the pros and cons of each platform.

What is Print-on-Demand?

Print-on-demand is a fulfillment method where products are printed and shipped to customers only after they are purchased. Here’s how the process works:

1. Design your products: Upload your custom designs to various products like apparel, home decor, and accessories.
2. List products on your store: Connect the POD service to your online store (Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, etc.) and list your products.
3. Customer places an order: When a customer orders from your store, the POD service prints and ships the product on your behalf.
4. You make a profit: You pay for the product cost, and keep the profit margin you’ve set.

How Do Printful and Printify Work?

Both Printful and Printify are platforms that integrate seamlessly with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, and others. They allow you to create and sell custom-designed products without worrying about production, inventory, or shipping.

Here’s a brief overview of both platforms:

Printful

• Printful is known for its high-quality products and in-house printing facilities. They handle everything from printing to packaging and shipping.
• Pros: Excellent product quality, fast shipping, and in-house fulfillment mean higher control over quality.
• Cons: Slightly more expensive than Printify, which can cut into profit margins.
• Pricing: No upfront fees; you only pay when you make a sale. However, premium plans start at $49/month for additional features like carrier-based shipping and custom packaging inserts.
• Product Range: Apparel (shirts, hoodies, leggings), accessories, home decor, and more. They also offer embroidery and engraving for certain products.
• Print Quality: High. Printful is often praised for its consistent, high-quality prints.
• Customer Service: Excellent customer service with easy-to-navigate resources and fast response times.

Printify

• Printify operates as a print network, meaning they outsource production to third-party manufacturers. You choose the manufacturer based on product availability, cost, and shipping time.
• Pros: Generally lower costs than Printful because you can choose from multiple print providers. This flexibility allows for a larger product selection and better pricing options.
• Cons: Print quality and shipping times can vary depending on the provider you choose, making quality control more difficult.
• Pricing: Free to start, with an optional $24.99/month subscription that offers up to 20% off product prices.
• Product Range: Extensive product catalog with everything from apparel to home goods and more.
• Print Quality: Varies depending on the print provider you choose, so you may need to sample products before settling on a provider.
• Customer Service: Decent, but slower compared to Printful, as you’re dealing with multiple third-party manufacturers.

Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started with Printful or Printify

1. Choose Your Platform

• Both Printful and Printify integrate easily with platforms like Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, and more. Choose an e-commerce platform that fits your business needs and budget.
• You’ll also need to decide whether to use Printful or Printify based on their pricing, product offerings, and your preferences for quality and shipping.

2. Create Your Products

• Design products using the drag-and-drop design tools on Printful or Printify. You can upload your own designs or use design tools like Canva to create custom artwork.
• Be sure to optimize your designs for the product type (e.g., ensure your t-shirt designs are in high resolution).

3. Connect to Your Online Store

• Once your products are ready, connect your POD platform to your online store. Both Printful and Printify offer easy integrations with popular e-commerce platforms.

4. Set Up Payment & Shipping

• Set up payment gateways on your online store (e.g., Stripe, PayPal). For shipping, you can either charge the customer based on location or offer free shipping and include it in the product price.

5. Launch Your Store

• Once everything is connected, you’re ready to start promoting your store! Be sure to use digital marketing strategies like social media and email marketing to drive traffic to your products.

Taxes You Should Be Aware Of

Running an online store involves more than just selling products—you need to consider the following tax responsibilities:

Sales Tax

• In the U.S., if your store operates in a state that requires you to collect sales tax (and you meet that state’s threshold for sales), you’ll need to collect and remit sales tax.
• Printful: Automatically calculates and charges sales tax if you’re shipping to a state where sales tax is required.
• Printify: You’ll need to set up sales tax collection manually for your store, depending on your region and platform.

VAT (Value-Added Tax)

• If you’re based in Europe, you’ll likely need to charge VAT on your sales. Platforms like Shopify offer built-in tools to help calculate VAT based on the customer’s location.

Common Issues You Might Face

While POD platforms simplify a lot of processes, there are still challenges you need to be aware of:

1. Shipping Delays: Since products are made-to-order, shipping can take longer compared to pre-stocked products. Consider offering clear shipping timelines on your store.
2. Product Quality Control: Particularly with Printify, quality can vary between print providers. It’s recommended to order product samples before committing to a specific provider.
3. Profit Margins: The convenience of print-on-demand comes at a cost. Each product includes a production and shipping fee, so your profit margins can be slim unless you price products strategically.

Returns and Exchanges

When running a print-on-demand (POD) business, handling returns and exchanges can be a bit different from traditional e-commerce. Because each product is custom-made when ordered, you can’t simply restock returned items. Here’s what you need to know about managing returns and exchanges with Printful and Printify.

Printful: Return and Exchange Policies

Printful’s return policy is designed to cover issues related to manufacturing defects or mistakes. As the seller, here are key points to keep in mind:

• Defective or Damaged Products: If a product arrives with a defect, printing error, or gets damaged during shipping, Printful will cover the return or replacement at no cost to you or your customer. Customers must submit a return request within 4 weeks of receiving the product.
• Wrong Size or Buyer’s Remorse: For issues where the customer ordered the wrong size or changes their mind, Printful does not cover the return or exchange. The seller is responsible for setting up their own return or exchange policy, so it’s important to clearly communicate your policy on your website.
• Return Address: If any packages are returned, Printful allows you to use your own return address or theirs. If Printful’s address is used and the package is returned, you will be notified and responsible for providing instructions on what to do next.

What Sellers Should Do:

• Set clear expectations on your website about who handles return shipping costs and the conditions for returns or exchanges.
• Encourage customers to double-check size charts and product details to minimize returns due to sizing issues.
• Use Printful’s built-in tools to handle returns for defective items, and communicate directly with your customers for other returns.

Printify: Return and Exchange Policies

Printify acts as a middleman between you and third-party print providers, so their return policies may vary slightly depending on the provider. However, the general policy covers defective items or errors made during printing:

• Defective Products or Shipping Errors: If there’s a mistake with the print, a defect in the product, or shipping damages, Printify will typically replace the item at no additional cost to you or your customer. You’ll need to file a complaint within 30 days of receiving the item to be eligible.
• Wrong Size or Buyer’s Remorse: Printify, like Printful, does not offer returns or exchanges for buyer’s remorse or incorrect sizing. You, as the seller, are responsible for handling these situations. You’ll need to decide whether you want to offer refunds or exchanges in such cases and cover any related costs.
• No Centralized Return Process: Since Printify uses a network of different print providers, they do not manage returns directly. You will need to coordinate with the provider to resolve any return issues, or handle it yourself by reshipping new items to the customer.

What Sellers Should Do:

• Clearly communicate your return policy to customers, especially around sizing issues or customer remorse.
• Encourage customers to double-check size charts before placing their order.
• For defective products or shipping errors, contact Printify within the 30-day window and they will coordinate a replacement with the print provider.

General Recommendations for Sellers:

• Set a Clear Return Policy: Since both Printful and Printify only cover manufacturing defects or shipping errors, you’ll need to decide how to handle other types of returns. Will you offer exchanges for wrong sizes? Will you refund customers who change their mind? Make sure this information is clear on your website.
• Use Size Charts and Product Descriptions: To reduce returns, always include accurate size charts, product descriptions, and photos. Clear communication upfront will help avoid misunderstandings later.
• Customer Support: Be prepared to handle customer support related to returns and exchanges. This could involve offering discount codes, free shipping for the next order, or other incentives to keep your customers happy.

By understanding how returns and exchanges work with Printful and Printify, you can plan your customer service policies accordingly and minimize the hassle of handling these situations. Be sure to communicate these policies clearly with your customers to maintain a positive buying experience.

Pros and Cons of Printful vs. Printify

Which Platform Should You Choose?

• Choose Printful if: Quality control is your top priority, and you’re willing to pay slightly higher fees for faster shipping and in-house production.
• Choose Printify if: You’re looking for more flexible pricing options and are willing to manage multiple print providers to get the best deal.

Conclusion

Printful and Printify both offer excellent options for starting a print-on-demand business with minimal upfront costs. The right choice for your business will depend on factors like budget, desired product range, and your preference for quality control versus price flexibility.

Whether you’re an artist looking to monetize your designs or a small business owner expanding into custom merchandise, print-on-demand offers a low-risk way to get started. Just remember to factor in shipping times, profit margins, and potential taxes when planning your e-commerce venture.