Print-on-demand companies follow a dropshipping business model where you contract a print-on-demand provider to help you print books, artwork, t-shirts, mugs, customized items, and handmade items to sell in small batches as needed. You can even have your own brand name attached or your distinctive design printed on each item you sell through your own store online, blog, or social media handle.

In this article, we’ll examine the top 19 best print-on-demand services currently offered so you can choose the best one for your company.

What is Print on Demand?

Print-on-demand (POD) is a business that works with a supplier to customize white-label products such as t-shirts, mugs, covers, notepads, or any other customized merchandise. Once the product is manufactured, you can sell them, on a per-order basis, under your own brand.

This is a great home-based business idea to market your products with your own branding without worrying about inventory while eliminating the need for large print runs and reducing costs, making it ideal for creatives and small businesses.

POD enables businesses to produce high-quality products quickly and cost-effectively while also giving them the flexibility to adjust their production volume as needed. With POD, businesses can offer customers unique and personalized products that can be printed in just a few minutes.

There are two types of print-on-demand companies: print-on-demand marketplaces and print-on-demand service companies. Print-on-demand marketplaces are all-in-one platforms that host your online store on their platform, allowing you to sell the products on your website, build your brand, and grow your own customer base. POD service companies provide production, printing, and shipping services, making them the majority of recommended dropshipping partners.

Which Platform is Best for Print on Demand?

Printify is considered the best print-on-demand business, with over 800 items available in its inventory, including t-shirts, mugs, duvet covers, posters, accessories, and more. Among the services offered include a variety of printing choices, including direct-to-garment printing, cut-and-sew, sublimation, and embroidery.

It also helps businesses produce personalized goods quickly and effectively. It has an easy-to-use UI and is linked with popular online marketplaces like Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Squarespace, Wix Stores, eBay, and more, making it easier for businesses to offer their goods.

Choosing the Best Print on Demand Companies: Our Methodology

In assembling our top picks for print on demand companies, we at Small Business Trends utilized a systematic approach. Our evaluation scale ranges from 1 to 10, with 10 being the most crucial factor and 1 the least.

1. Quality of Products (Importance: 9/10)
   • High-quality final products are fundamental. We prioritized POD companies known for delivering excellent print quality and durable items.
2. Range of Products Offered (Importance: 8/10)
   • A diverse product range allows for greater creativity and market appeal, so we valued companies offering a wide variety of items to print on.
3. Ease of Integration (Importance: 7/10)
   • Companies that offer easy integration with popular e-commerce platforms ranked higher for their user-friendliness and efficiency.
4. Pricing and Profit Margins (Importance: 8/10)
   • Competitive pricing and reasonable profit margins are crucial for small businesses to ensure viability and growth.
5. Shipping Efficiency and Costs (Importance: 8/10)
   • We looked for POD companies with reliable and cost-effective shipping options, as this impacts customer satisfaction.
6. Customization Options (Importance: 7/10)
   • Greater customization capabilities allow for more unique and personalized products, adding value for both the business and its customers.
7. User Interface and Design Tools (Importance: 6/10)
   • An intuitive and feature-rich design interface makes the product creation process smoother and more accessible.
8. Customer Support and Service (Importance: 7/10)
   • Accessible and helpful customer support is essential, especially for businesses new to POD services.
9. Brand Consistency and Labeling Options (Importance: 6/10)
   • The ability to maintain brand consistency through custom labeling and packaging was a key consideration.
10. Environmental and Ethical Practices (Importance: 5/10)
    • We also considered the company’s commitment to sustainable and ethical practices, which is increasingly important to consumers.

By carefully balancing these aspects, we ensure our recommendations for print-on-demand companies are comprehensive, taking into account the diverse needs and priorities of small businesses and entrepreneurs. This meticulous approach guarantees we bring forward options that don’t just look good on paper but perform when it counts.

The 19 Best Print on Demand Companies

When looking for the best print-on-demand companies, you must consider a number of factors. These include quality of products, customer service, price, turnaround time, integration with dropshipping platforms, ease of use, and general satisfaction. We’ve compiled a list of the top 19 print-on-demand companies based on these criteria to help you make your choice.

We took into account a variety of factors, including their manufacturing capabilities, customer service, whether they serve a specific niche, turnaround time, and pricing. Each of these best print-on-demand companies provides a wide range of products, such as apparel, books, mugs, and accessories, so you can pick the best one for your requirements.

Most of them provide excellent customer service, so you can get answers to your queries quickly and easily. Whether you want a quick turnaround time or a low cost, these best print-on-demand companies will be able to provide you with the best options.

1. Printify

Printify is considered one of the most popular print-on-demand companies. Printify offers a catalog has over 800 quality products selling everything from t-shirts to mugs, duvet covers to posters, accessories, and more making it easy for businesses to create custom products quickly and efficiently. It comes with an intuitive user interface that allows users to choose a product, personalize it with their own design, and have it shipped directly to their customers.

With Printify, e-commerce companies can offer goods directly on their own site without using other online marketplaces. In addition, it is also integrated with major sales channels such as Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Squarespace, Wix Stores, eBay, and more making it easier for you to easily sell your products.

Pros: Offers integration with various platforms, comes with a mockup generator, offers shipping calculator, extensive product catalog.

Cons: According to some reviews, a number of customers have expressed dissatisfaction with the response time to their customer support inquiries, claiming that the service took too long to respond.

Pricing: Printify comes with a free plan where you can manage up to five stores and get unlimited product designs. Paid plans start at a monthly subscription of $ 24.99 and let you manage up to 10 stores per account and get up to 20% bulk discount on all products.

2. Printful

Printful is another option for those who are looking for a reliable and cost-effective print-on-demand service. It offers a wide variety of products and services, including custom t-shirts, hoodies, hats, mugs, tote bags, and more.

It offers intuitive design tools that let you create unique pieces, even if you have no design experience, while integrating with popular eCommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce. In addition, it offers a wide range of customization options, including printing, embroidery, and sublimation.

Pros: Offers discounts for bulk orders and monthly volume, promotes eco-friendly products, comes with mockup generator and pre-made designs.

Cons: Offers higher production costs than other print-on-demand companies; the product line on offer is more limited than other print-on-demand sites.

Pricing: Printify comes with a free plan where you pay only for the products you buy or sell after an order is made. If you want more features in addition to the free plan, Printify offers extra fees.

3. Sellfy

Sellfy is an e-commerce platform for creators who want to sell a variety of goods, such as hoodies, shirts, phone cases, bags, and more. In addition to physical products, they also sell digital products. It allows you to quickly launch your online business idea or print-on-demand merchandise store. It has a shopping cart feature that allows you to make more money by enabling your customers to add multiple items to their online shopping carts at once.

Even better, you can design a mobile-friendly checkout process and online store for desktop and mobile users. Additionally, it has some excellent marketing features, such as upselling, email marketing, and discount codes. More than 60,000 creators have used Sellfy to sell their goods since it launched in 2011, generating more than $100M in total revenue.

Pros: Sellfy offers multiple payment options, built-in marketing tools, and customizable online storefronts

Cons: There are a few integrations available.

Pricing: Paid plans start with monthly charges ranging from $19 to $99. There is also a 14-day free trial.

4. SPOD

SPOD is a print-on-demand company that lets you create and sell your print-on-demand products. With it, you can create a custom product line within minutes, print, and ship your merchandise in 48 hours or less, according to SPOD half of its orders ship within 24 hrs. You can start selling, printing, and dropshipping by uploading your designs or creating your own with SPOD’s free graphic library of over 50,000 designs.

The library lets you create and personalize over 200 print-on-demand merchandise items. SPOD integrates with WooCommerce, Magento, Squarespace, Shopify, and others- it even has its own mobile app.

Pros: 48-hour order fulfillment, vast graphic library, over 200 POD merchandise items

Cons: You can’t use it unless you have a Shopify account.

Pricing: When using SPOD, there are no ongoing costs. SPOD charges only the order value and the shipping costs of the items when an order is placed. The cost of shipping is determined by the order value, shipping type, and country.

5. CustomCat

CustomCat helps businesses to create and sell unique products from images they upload, and publish to their store. It allows anyone to create unique and high-quality custom goods whether ordering only one item or 1,000 items while at the same time offering a manual order feature for those without e-commerce experience.

With it, you can sync existing product listings from your online store to CustomCat seamlessly, create product templates and mass publish product listings with bulk tools, manage product listings, view stock status and edit fulfillment settings, and manage all aspects of orders and fulfillment. CustomCat also partners with e-commerce sellers such as Shopify, Etsy, WooComemrce, and BigCommerce and ships products globally.

Pros: CustomCat allows users to create product templates, manage listings, view stock status, and manage orders and fulfillment.

Cons: Most of CustomCat items are limited to apparel, accessories, and housewares.

Pricing: CustomCat is free to sign up for and use. When an order is placed in a store, customers pay for the base cost of the items plus the cost of shipping them to their customers. The PRO subscription comes with a $25 monthly fee and offers users 20-40% off CustomCat’s custom wholesale prices.

6. TeeLaunch

TeeLaunch is a print-on-demand e-commerce platform for art, prints, apparel, and more. It offers an affordable print-on-demand option for entrepreneurs looking to create unique merchandising. Teelaunch will accept orders from your web store, prints the product, and handles the fulfillment end.

Thanks to its user-friendly interface, it uses the power of Shopify to make mockups, and products and set up automatic order fulfillment in just minutes. Besides integrating with Shopify it also works well with other third-party platforms such as Etsy and WooCommerce.

Pros: There are no monthly costs, it has a simple-to-use interface, offers a good selection of merchandising options.

Cons: Some reviews complain of shipping delays.

Pricing: Teelaunch comes with a free plan where you pay only for the products you buy or sell after an order is made.

7. Zazzle

Zazzle’s print-on-demand service lets you create, sell, and buy T-shirts, hoodies, and other merchandise. With its easy-to-use design interface, you have access to a large selection of templates, apparel designs, colors, and sizes to customize the final product.- even if you’re not a designer. Creating an item on Zazzle is a simple process that can be completed in a few minutes.

To create a design, all you need to do is choose a template and add content. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as through text, and images. Once you’ve added content, you must choose a price and add your design to your account.

Zazzle however does not have direct integration for third-party e-commerce stores such as Shopify, but you can however use Zazzle’s Application Programming Interface (API) to integrate with other platforms.

Pros: Delivers good high print quality products, products can be customized by buyers, and affiliate marketing opportunities are available.

Cons: Does not integrate directly with e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce

Pricing: There is no cost to sign up. Designers can set their prices between 5% and 99% higher than Zazzle’s basic price.

8. SPOD

SPOD is a print-on-demand service company that lets you create and sell your print-on-demand products. With it, you can create a custom product line within minutes, and print and ship your merchandise in 48 hours or less, according to SPOD half of its orders ship within 24 hrs.

You can start selling, printing, and dropshipping by uploading your designs or creating your own with SPOD’s free graphic library of over 50,000 designs.

The library lets you create and personalize over 200 print-on-demand merchandise items. SPOD integrates with WooCommerce. Magento, Squarespace, Shopify, and others- it even has its own mobile app.

Pros: 48-hour order fulfillment, vast graphic library, over 200 POD merchandise items

Cons: You can’t use it unless you have a Shopify account.

Pricing: When using SPOD, there are no ongoing costs. SPOD charges only the order value and the shipping costs of the items when an order is placed. The cost of shipping is determined by the order value, shipping type, and country.

9. Redbubble

Redbubble is another option for independent artists looking to offer print-on-demand products through their existing website or through marketplaces such as Amazon, Etsy, and eBay. This print-on-demand solution gives you an easy-to-use interface with the tools you need to design products and works for artists of all skill levels from novices to experts.

Thanks to its built-in design maker you can create intricate, eye-catching designs and mockups for your products to sell on redbubble. It also offers a wide range of merchandising products from eco-friendly to premium clothing that includes stationery, wall art, home and living, accessories, apparel, and more.

Pros: Large customer base and traffic, anti-piracy features to protect artists’ artwork, has an affiliate program

Cons: Potential low-profit margins, high competition

Pricing: Redbubble charges a base price which includes a service fee for hosting the marketplace as well as the third-party manufacturer’s manufacturing fee.

10. GearLaunch

GearLaunch is another choice for a print-on-demand company that offers a dependable and cost-effective solution. It provides a simple, no-hassle printing experience, with no minimum order requirements and a wide range of materials including paper, canvas, and apparel.

GearLaunch functions in a straightforward manner: you create the designs and choose your ideal products and GearLaunch handles the manufacturing and delivery. You only pay the base price for products and if you want to integrate with Shopify you can opt to use its API.

Pros: A good selection of Print on Demand products, no minimum orders

Cons: Does not directly integrate with other platforms besides Shopify

Pricing: The GearLaunch platform is free, and Shopify has a free option as well. There is a $4.99 monthly fee involved with upgrading your Shopify platform.

11. Amazon Merch on Demand

Amazon Merch on Demand helps users sell their branded products created by them to be manufactured, sold, and shipped by Amazon. A key selling point here is that Amazon prints and ships products faster than most other POD fulfillment services. Because Amazon is both a massive marketplace and one of the most popular search engines on the internet, you should be able to reach more customers at Amazon Merch on Demand than anywhere else.

Signing up is easy as Amazon Merch on Demand is free to create an account, upload content, and free to sell on the platform. Amazon also offers Print on Demand and Amazon Custom where customers can buy customized goods. With the help of these services, customers can develop unique products with their own artwork, logos, and text, and have them printed and delivered within a few days.

Pros: Huge reach, high potential for conversion rate, perhaps the fastest shipping service

Cons: Limited branding options, high competition.

Pricing: Amazon Merch is an on-demand printing business where sellers make and list free t-shirt designs on Amazon. There are no out-of-pocket expenses, and you are paid royalties when a client purchases your shirt.

12. Sunfrog

Sunfrog is a print-on-demand service offering a wide range of products from clothing to accessories, flyers, notebooks, mugs, and banners. They offer high-quality prints, with quick turnaround times, and competitive prices offer high- print quality for a wide selection of designs. Once signed in as a seller Sunfrog will make promotional images for you at no cost so that you can promote yourself to your customers.

It also offers users campaign tracking codes to help you get on top of your marketing campaign. In addition, Sunfrog pays a 10% commission on all sales to artists and enables you to set your own prices. Each item, however, has a minimum and maximum price that can be charged. It is also integrated with major sales channels such as Shopify, Big Commerce, and Magento.

Pros: No minimum sales requirement to have the merchandise printed, comes with a featured artist section, to promote your work and increase sales, easy to use dashboard that displays real-time statistics such as traffic, sales, and conversion.

Cons: Initially, profit margins may be modest.

Pricing: SunFrog is completely free to use, and you make money by creating items and earning a 15% commission on sales. If you are an artist, you will also receive a 10% commission on each piece sold.

13. JetPrint

JetPrint is a print–on–demand company, offering over 400 products from shoes, jewelry, watches, and clothing to bags, rugs, shower curtains, and more. With JetPrint’s mockup generator, you can automatically create and publish products using you’re your artwork or your own custom design and even include your own logo.

You can also process orders automatically and even set a time limit that enables you to make changes or corrections if necessary. JetPrint offers integration with Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce, making it simpler and faster to promote and sell your unique merchandise.

Pros: Good selection of merchandising products, good custom design options, availability of payment integrations.

Cons: Lead times for production in some cases could take between three to five days.

Pricing: JetPrint charges a base price.

14. Teespring

Teespring initially began as the best print on demand for selling designed t-shirts. Today it has become a print-on-demand order fulfillment company, producing leggings, hoodies, décor, phone cases, and more.

Teespring is a free platform that allows creators and influencers to develop, promote, and sell products without incurring any costs or risks. Teespring offers order fulfillment, customer service, and shipping. In exchange, creators can determine the selling price and keep 100% of the profit.

Pros: Integration with social media platforms and other marketing channels, free-to-use, easy-to-use design feature.

Cons: Small margins for small volume production, Teespring makes more sense if you have a large volume of orders to fulfill.

Pricing: Spring is completely free to use. You determine the selling price and retain the entire profit.

15. TeeChip

TeeChip is a print-on-demand platform that lets users create their own unique merchandising and sell directly to their fans. With it, you can sell a wide variety of products including posters, mugs, hoodies, gats, phone cases, and t-shirts. Working with TeeChip, there is no risk because there are no upfront costs. When it comes to, the payment TeeChip accepts credit cards, debit cards, wire transfers, and PayPal.

Pros: A good selection of customizable products, simple sign-up procedure with no costs.

 Cons: According to Teechip orders are usually shipped within 5-20 working days.

Pricing: TeeChip deducts the base price from the purchase each time you sell and provides you the margin you specify.

16. Printy6

Printy6 is a print-on-demand service that makes it easy for businesses to create and order custom-printed products. Businesses can quickly design their own products with intuitive tools, upload artwork, and order high-quality prints in no time thanks to Printy6’s innovative technology and user-friendly platform.

Printy6 integrates with many online stores, including Shopify, Etsy, BigCommerce, Woocommerce, and Amazon. It offers professional-level image rendering services to make your images stand out thanks to its photorealistic rendering feature. It uses premium fabrics and an eco-friendly printing process and provides a money-back guarantee if there are any quality problems.

Pros: Easily integrates with your own online store, offers cheaper product costs compared to other print-on-demand , offers customized brand packaging

Cons: Some reviews complain about longer fulfillment times than other competing print-on-demand sites, and most of its products are focused on apparel.

Pricing: Printy6 app is free to use

17. Gelato

Gelato is a print-on-demand site for a range of products that include clothing, wall art, Mugs, Photobooks, Cards, Stationery, tote bags, and more. With more than 130 production partners spread across 32 nations, it makes it simple for customers to have their products produced and delivered without hassle while lowering their carbon footprint.

The option to select the shipping speed, live order tracking, shipping discounts, and more benefits are included. Additionally, it integrates with all of the leading online shopping carts, including Shopify. Platforms like Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, BigCommerce, and others are integrated with it.

Pros: Offers local production options, affordable pricing, has a mobile app, tracks shipments, and offers basic analytics.

Cons: Limited selection of product options with categories swaying more on apparel and basic stationery

Pricing: Gelato is free to join with no minimum purchases required and get access to integration with Shopify, Etsy, and WooCommerce. Paid plans begin at $ 14.00 per month, and you can get millions of stock photos, premium mockups, and 30% off standard shipping as well.

18. Gooten

Gooten is a dropshipping platform that specializes in print-on-demand services. It offers a wide range of products, from fashion and apparel to home decor, to wall art and accessories. It comes with a robust suite of tools and services to help users launch and scale their businesses. Its major selling points include its easy-to-use platform, extensive product catalog, and competitive pricing.

Gooten integrates with Big Commerce, Shopify, WooCommerce, and Etsy. Its automated order fulfillment system makes sure that orders are usually processed and shipped within 24 hours. It also offers a loyalty program ‘Very Important Merchant (VIM)’ where you get more tailored solutions and support to help grow your online business.

Pros: Versatile product catalog, integration with major platforms, and great loyalty program.

Cons: Its product mockups don’t look as good as those from other print-on-demand companies.

Pricing: The base cost of the item and the price of printing are both included in the prices listed in Gooten’s Product Catalog. You can charge and set your own margins, but don’t forget to factor in shipping and fulfillment costs.

19. Society6

If you are an independent artist or a creative Society6 can be a great option for a print-on-demand site. With it, you can sell a wide variety of products, including wall art, t-shirts, phone cases, and home furnishings. Users can also upload their own artwork to create truly one-of-a-kind items.

Similarly, Society6 has reasonable prices and a simple website. Its customer service is also well-known for its quick responses. Because of its extensive product selection, low prices, and excellent customer service, Society6 is an excellent choice for those looking for the best print-on-demand companies.

Pros: Great for newly emerging artists, helps to create marketplace visibility for your artwork and offers networking opportunities in its online artist community.

Cons: You are only able to sell your products through the Society6 website as it is unable to integrate with Shopify, Etsy, or other platforms.

Pricing: Society6, does not have any monthly fee, you receive a 10% commission on the base price of your artwork.

How to Choose the Best Print on Demand Company

There are many great print-on-demand companies out there, each offering its own unique services and features. it comes to choosing the right print-on-demand company, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Each print-on-demand business has its own distinct strengths, weaknesses, and features, but how can one choose the best print-on-demand business? Here are some features to consider:

• Offer quality products: For an enterprise to succeed, it will need to create products of the highest quality. So it is important to shortlist a few prospective print-on-demand suppliers and order test samples from them to get a sense of their quality standards.
• Speedy Shipping: Customers expect fast shipping times when shopping online. You will need to deliver on this promise if you want to establish a good reputation and earn repeat business. When choosing a print-on-demand company, it is important to consider the average shipping time. Ideally, customers should receive their products within one week of placing an order.
• Reasonable production costs and shipping: Business is all about generating enough revenues to help your business thrive and grow. Reasonable production costs and shipping rates come in handy for your business’s success. Choosing a print-on-demand company with high product and shipping fees may result in smaller margins, hindering growth. Look for a print-on-demand company that offers a reasonable production cost without compromising quality.
• Offer Customization and printing options: Good print-on-demand companies will offer different customization and printing options, depending on your needs. Great print-on-demand companies, in addition to this, will offer packaging options that suit your design and branding needs.
• Offer Integration with other platforms: Different print-on-demand companies allow you to sell through a variety of channels, such as your own website, Shopify, Etsy, eBay, Amazon, and other platforms. Make sure your print-on-demand company accords you with the means to grow your business by offering you these options.

It is important that you start your selection for the right print-on-demand partner from a pool of likely candidates while making sure not to make too many print-on-demand mistakes. Besides inquiring whether the provider provides the services you require and has a good track record with customers, you should check the company’s refund policy. Check to see if they can offer you cutting-edge technology at a reasonable price.

Here’s a numbered comparison table for choosing the best print-on-demand company:

Note that a check indicates that the company meets the criteria, while an X indicates that the company does not meet the criteria. The importance levels are subjective and may vary based on individual business needs. Conduct thorough research and compare multiple print-on-demand companies to find the best fit for your specific requirements.

Can You Make Money with a Print on Demand Business?

The demand for personalization on the part of consumers has helped the growth of print-on-demand sites. Today’s global consumer trends indicate people require more than just functionality and want to buy things that reflect their identities. Everything is tailored to our preferences, including literature, audio, food, cellphone covers, long sleeve t-shirts, and even the information we consume.

Today’s consumers demand a completely personalized internet shopping experience from your online store. They don’t want a straightforward mass-produced product; they want their purchases to reflect their personalities and print-on-demand sites are trying to meet the demand.

In an ever-connected world where personalization is a major buying decision-making factor, POD offers opportunities to expand your business by playing on the economy of scale and the capability that comes through the dropshipping model. Businesses today no longer need to have physical outlets to thrive.

By offering products tailored to your customers’ preferences, including books, cellphone covers, clothing, and other merchandising, you can create your very own niche. Additional perks include the ability to reduce expenses by using the made-to-order model to reduce inventory and production costs.

You don’t have to worry about managing orders, payments, or shipping because there are so many platforms available. All you have to do is concentrate on creating products that are in high demand.

Here’s a quick word from Joe Robert about the best print on demand companies on Etsy and Shopify you’ll want to check out after reading:

How print-on-demand companies work

Simply put, print-on-demand companies offer print-after-ordering services to artists, creatives, or businesses engaged in merchandising. Essentially they take orders for your products’ designs and handle the production and fulfillment aspects of the enterprise.

All you have to do is create your own designs and list your products, and start marketing them. When a customer buys a copy, the product is manufactured and mailed to them- the items are produced only after they are ordered for them.

This is a great way to market your products without worrying about inventory while eliminating the need for large print runs and reducing costs, making it ideal for creatives and small businesses. In addition, this print-on-demand model helps businesses to produce high-quality products quickly and cost-effectively while also giving them the flexibility to adjust their production volume as needed.

With POD, businesses can offer customers unique and personalized products that can be printed and delivered speedily.  With this new system, you can customize and create virtually any product, from apparel to mugs. Thus helping you to quickly establish an e-commerce business or make your side business ideas turn into a reality.

In our pursuit to navigate the vast sea of print-on-demand companies, we’ve established a set of criteria to dissect and evaluate each service, ensuring that we recommend options that genuinely cater to the needs of entrepreneurs and small businesses. Our methodology isn’t a secret magic formula but a transparent system that considers the various facets integral to a reliable, cost-effective, and quality print-on-demand service.

How to Make Money with Print on Demand

If done right, venturing into a print-on-demand business can be lucrative and comes with minimal risks. Print-on-demand offers low startup costs and quick setup without the need for inventory and storage, and is easy to experiment with product designs. It also offers you the ability to customize and sell your unique designs to a global market, scale, and test new products without financial risks.

Let’s also not forget that most print-on-demand businesses frequently provide discounts for bigger orders letting you to further increase your profit margins. Most importantly, it can boost your online store’s chances of success while at the same time making money by creating your own brand that is distinct.

Ultimately the amount of money you can earn with Print on Demand is dependent on the goods you offer, your target audience, and how well you advertise to them. Some great ways to make money with print-on-demand include:

• Partner with platforms that can boost your touch points: There are several platforms that can help you bring to scale your sales and boost your earnings. For example, platforms like Shopify, Etsy, and Amazon can increase your reach and help with some of the heavy lifting for you.
• Make the most of social media marketing: Social media offers a tremendously and powerful instrument for promoting your print-on-demand goods. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter not only increase your customer touch points but also add to your credibility and boost engagement with your target audience. With some effort, you can develop a loyal customer base that will keep coming back for more.
• Uniqueness and personalization sell: To succeed, you will need to fine-tune you’re branding and design so that you represent a distinct personality – this is what will make you stick out from the competition. Consider using unique typefaces and eye-catching graphics. Also, keep an eye on what is trending for print-on-demand goods to stay ahead of the curve.
• Create realistic mock-ups: It’s always a good idea to make mock-ups of your products on real individuals when offering a print-on-demand product. This enables you to demonstrate your products in real-world settings and doesn’t come off as a scam. This is also excellent for sharing on social media.
• Harness the power of testimonials and reviews: When it comes to promoting your print-on-demand goods, customer feedback can go a long way in terms of establishing your credibility. If you have satisfied clients who to sing your praises, make sure to clearly display their testimonials on your website or social media sites.

This is an excellent method to establish trust with prospective customers and demonstrate to them that your goods are worthwhile investments. Always remember reviews and testimonials are the new social proof!

Finally, it’s important to note that success with a POD company often requires patience and consistent effort. While some individuals and businesses have achieved significant success and generated substantial income through POD, others may experience more modest results. Like any business venture, there are risks and uncertainties, but with dedication, creativity, and strategic planning, you can increase your chances of success in the print-on-demand industry.

Best Print on Demand Services FAQ

There are several print-on-demand sites, and the best one for you will be determined by your particular requirements. You will need to consider the kinds of products you want to produce, the quantity required, the quality of the product, the turnaround time, and the expense without any hidden fees.

Can you start print on demand with no money?

Yes, you can start printing on demand with no money. You can build your own online store using a free platform like Shopify, or you can use a free tool offered by many print-on-demand service companies to help you with fulfilling your orders. When it comes to designing, print-on-demand companies come with free mock-up generators as well as free templates and designs online to use for your products.

If you are a creative designer you can offer designs in the form of digital products to others and receive royalties in exchange. In some cases, a good print-on-demand site will even help you calculate your business costs and help set a price to help set prices for a cozy profit margin.

Is print-on-demand risky?

Print-on-demand (POD) is a relatively low-risk business model compared to traditional retail ventures. It doesn’t require upfront investment in inventory, as products are printed only after they are ordered, minimizing costs related to storage and unsold stock.

However, it does have limitations in control over the fulfillment process and product quality, as these depend on third-party POD partners. Longer fulfillment and shipping times compared to traditional models are also a factor. Success in POD relies on strategic planning, quality partnerships, and adapting to market trends.

Which print on demand service is most profitable?

There are several print-on-demand service choices available in the market, each with its own set of benefits and disadvantages. Ultimately, the most profitable print-on-demand service will be the one that best meets your particular business’s requirements.

For example, Printful is an excellent choice if you want a print-on-demand service that is quick and simple to use. It also comes with a variety of custom products, so you can choose the ideal product to sell. Zazzle is another well-known print-on-demand business that has a broader selection of products and customization choices.

Is Print-on-Demand Still a Good Business?

There’s no doubt that print-on-demand (POD) continues to open markets for creatives, artists, and small businesses engaged in merchandising. It offers a quick, easy, and affordable way to print and distribute books, artwork, merchandising, and more on a global scale.

It is a great alternative for creatives who want to get their custom products into the hands of their fans without incurring the high costs of traditional printing, storage, and distribution. The major draw for POD is that it allows entrepreneurs much leeway in their manufacturing as production is on an as-needed basis.

What Are the Best Quality T-Shirts for Printing?

There are several factors to consider when looking for the finest quality T-shirts for printing. The first thing to think about is the sort of printing you want to do.

For example, if you want to screen print, you’ll need to use a material made of a thicker substance to keep the pigment from bleeding through the blouse. And if you want to do digital printing, you would want to opt for a T-shirt made from a thinner material to improve the ink clearly printed on the garment.

Is dropshipping better than print on demand?

Though both dropshipping and print-on-demand share many features print on demand has an edge over drop shipping. Doprshipping companies or eCommerce suppliers offer goods and services to online merchants and are limited to marketing, fulfillment, and transportation. The dropshipping industry is more cutthroat than the print-on-demand market as there is little differentiation among the products that are up for sale.

Print on demand, however, has an element of uniqueness when it comes to the product as they are designed by a particular artist, creative or small business. If you want to build a long-lasting and consistent image with customers and carve out your own niche then print-on-demand can be a good option.

Image: Envato Elements

The concept of a side hustle has evolved dramatically in recent years. Once seen as a temporary means to make ends meet, side hustles have now become a mainstream way for people to diversify their income streams, pursue passions, and achieve financial goals. As we enter 2024, the gig economy continues to expand, offering more opportunities than ever for people to earn extra income. Whether you’re looking to supplement your full-time job, save for a big purchase, or even transition into self-employment, there’s a side hustle out there for you. Here are the 11 best side hustles to take up in 2024.

1. Freelance Writing and Content Creation

As businesses increasingly rely on digital content to connect with customers, the demand for skilled writers and content creators has surged. Freelance writing offers flexibility, the opportunity to work on diverse projects, and the potential to earn a significant income. If you have a knack for storytelling, persuasive writing, or expertise in a particular niche, freelance writing could be an excellent side hustle.

• Platforms to Consider: Upwork, Fiverr, and Contently are popular platforms where you can find freelance writing gigs.
• Income Potential: Depending on your experience and the type of content, freelance writers can earn anywhere from $50 to $500 per article or more for specialized work.

2. Online Tutoring and Teaching

The shift towards online learning during the pandemic has created a sustained demand for online tutors and educators. Whether you excel in academic subjects, languages, or even skills like music or coding, online tutoring can be a lucrative side hustle.

• Platforms to Consider: Websites like VIPKid, Tutor.com, and Teachable allow you to connect with students and create courses.
• Income Potential: Online tutors can earn between $15 to $50 per hour, depending on the subject and your qualifications.

3. Dropshipping and E-commerce

E-commerce continues to grow, and with platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, starting your own online store has never been easier. Dropshipping is an attractive option because it allows you to sell products without holding inventory. You simply partner with suppliers who ship products directly to your customers.

• Platforms to Consider: Shopify, WooCommerce, and Oberlo for dropshipping services.
• Income Potential: The income from dropshipping can vary widely, but successful stores can generate thousands of dollars per month.

4. Social Media Management

With businesses increasingly relying on social media for marketing, the demand for social media managers has skyrocketed. If you’re savvy with platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn, you can help businesses grow their online presence, engage with their audience, and develop brand loyalty.

• Platforms to Consider: You can find clients through Upwork, LinkedIn, or by networking with local businesses.
• Income Potential: Social media managers can charge $300 to $1,500+ per month per client, depending on the scope of work.

5. Virtual Assistance

As remote work becomes the norm, the need for virtual assistants (VAs) has increased. VAs handle tasks like email management, scheduling, customer service, and even content creation. This side hustle is ideal for organized individuals with strong communication skills.

• Platforms to Consider: Upwork, Zirtual, and Belay are popular platforms for finding VA gigs.
• Income Potential: Virtual assistants can earn between $15 to $50 per hour, depending on their skill set and the services offered.

6. Podcasting

Podcasting has exploded in popularity, and it’s not just for entertainment—many podcasters earn money through sponsorships, advertising, and listener donations. If you have a passion for a particular topic and enjoy speaking, starting a podcast could be a rewarding side hustle.

• Platforms to Consider: Anchor.fm, Buzzsprout, and Patreon for monetization options.
• Income Potential: While it takes time to build an audience, successful podcasters can earn hundreds to thousands of dollars per episode through ads and sponsorships.

7. Stock Photography

If you have a good eye for photography, stock photography can be a passive income source. Websites like Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Getty Images allow photographers to upload their images and earn money each time someone purchases a license.

• Platforms to Consider: Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, and Getty Images.
• Income Potential: Earnings depend on the number of downloads your photos receive, but stock photographers can make anywhere from a few dollars to several thousand dollars monthly.

8. Blogging and Affiliate Marketing

Blogging remains a viable way to earn extra income, especially when combined with affiliate marketing. By creating content around a niche you’re passionate about, you can attract an audience and monetize through affiliate links, advertising, and sponsored posts.

• Platforms to Consider: WordPress for blogging, Amazon Associates, and ShareASale for affiliate marketing.
• Income Potential: Income can vary widely, but successful bloggers can earn anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per month.

9. Online Coaching and Consulting

If you have expertise in a particular field, offering online coaching or consulting services can be a highly profitable side hustle. Whether you’re skilled in business, fitness, life coaching, or another area, you can help others achieve their goals while earning extra income.

• Platforms to Consider: LinkedIn for networking, Zoom for virtual sessions, and websites like Coach.me.
• Income Potential: Coaches and consultants can charge $50 to $300+ per hour, depending on their expertise and the market demand.

10. Airbnb Hosting

If you have extra space in your home or a property you’re not using full-time, renting it out on Airbnb can be a lucrative side hustle. With the right location and amenities, you can earn a significant income by hosting travelers.

• Platforms to Consider: Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com for short-term rentals.
• Income Potential: Depending on your location and the property, Airbnb hosts can earn anywhere from $500 to several thousand dollars per month.

11. YouTube Content Creation

YouTube remains one of the best platforms for content creators to earn money. Whether you’re interested in vlogging, tutorials, product reviews, or any other niche, you can monetize your channel through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

• Platforms to Consider: YouTube for content hosting, and Teespring or Patreon for additional monetization.
• Income Potential: Successful YouTubers can earn anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000+ per year, depending on their audience size and engagement.

How to Choose the Right Side Hustle for You

With so many options available, it can be challenging to decide which side hustle is the best fit for you. Here are some factors to consider:

1. Time Commitment: Consider how much time you can realistically dedicate to a side hustle. Some opportunities, like freelance writing or virtual assistance, can be done part-time, while others, like running an Airbnb, may require more of your attention.
2. Skill Set: Reflect on your strengths and interests. If you’re a strong communicator, consider tutoring or coaching. If you’re tech-savvy, e-commerce or social media management might be a good fit.
3. Income Goals: Determine how much income you hope to generate from your side hustle. Some side hustles offer quick cash, while others may require more time to build but offer higher long-term potential.
4. Flexibility: Choose a side hustle that fits your lifestyle. If you need flexibility, look for opportunities that allow you to set your own hours or work from home.
5. Passion: Ideally, your side hustle should align with your passions. When you enjoy what you’re doing, it won’t feel like work, and you’re more likely to stick with it and succeed.

Conclusion

As we move further into 2024, the opportunities for earning extra income through side hustles are more abundant than ever. Whether you’re looking to build a full-fledged business or simply want to supplement your current income, there’s a side hustle out there that can help you achieve your financial goals. From freelance writing to Airbnb hosting, the options are diverse, and the potential for success is within reach.

Choosing the right side hustle involves considering your time, skills, and passions, but with the right approach, you can turn any of these opportunities into a profitable venture. So why wait? Start exploring these side hustles today and take control of your financial future in 2024.

If you find yourself diving deeper into the topic of WordPress, content management systems, and websites, a term you will quickly stumble upon is “PHP.” You will likely hear how crucial PHP is for the Internet and that it is what’s powering WordPress websites.

However, what exactly is PHP, and why is it so important?

The short answer is that it’s a general-purpose, server-side scripting language. That said, unless you are already knowledgeable in programming and web development, that probably doesn’t make things much clearer. 

In order to help you better understand this topic, we’ll cover PHP in detail below. You’ll learn what PHP is, why it matters, and how it relates to WordPress and pretty much everything you do online. We promise you’ll be surprised to hear how much you likely rely on PHP every day.

1. What is PHP? History, features, and benefits
   1. PHP features
   2. Benefits of PHP
2. How PHP works: Creating dynamic web content
3. PHP and WordPress: The CMS’ heart and soul
   1. Powering themes and plugins
   2. Without PHP, there would be no WordPress
4. PHP in everyday life: You rely on it more often than you think
   1. Other abilities of PHP
5. What is PHP? It is the web’s backbone

What is PHP? History, features, and benefits

The original developer of PHP was a Danish-Canadian programmer named Rasmus Lerdorf. He first created the language in the mid 1990s to build tools for his own website; that’s why PHP originally stood for “Personal Home Page.” Today, it stands for the recursive acronym “Hypertext Preprocessor” and development and support has been taken over by the PHP Group.

PHP features

PHP has some notable features, many of which are applicable to the way WordPress works:

Open Source: The first thing that is important to note is that, like WordPress, PHP is open source. That means it does not belong to any one business entity. It also means that it’s free to download and use for any purpose.

Also like WordPress, PHP is maintained by a number of volunteers around the world. The next major release, 8.4, will be available November 21, 2024.

Finally, both WordPress and PHP are community-funded––while WordPress has the WordPress Foundation, The PHP Foundation’s mission is to “ensure the long-term prosperity of the PHP language.” Automattic is a proud Platinum Sponsor of The PHP Foundation.

Server Side: PHP is a server-side language, which means it executes on the server and not in the user’s browser.

For example, PHP’s most frequent application is for creating HTML documents for websites. Even though there are PHP files on the server, the browser does not receive the PHP code; instead, it receives the finished HTML documents for display. This is different from client-side languages like JavaScript where the processing happens directly in the user’s browser after downloading the JavaScript files.

To make things clearer, server-side languages are a bit like going to a restaurant. You send an order to the kitchen, they prepare the meal, and it arrives at your table ready to eat. Client-side languages, on the other hand, are like meal-delivery services. While they provide you with all the necessary ingredients, you still have to put them together in your own kitchen.

General Purpose: PHP is also a general-purpose programming language. You can use it for command-line scripting, creating desktop applications, and more. However, its primary application is in web development. 

Ubiquitous: According to W3Techs, the language is present on 75.7% of all websites. That includes some famous ones, as you will see below.

In addition, it forms the backbone of many content management systems like Drupal, Joomla!, and—the most popular of them all—WordPress.

PHP is one of the biggest open source success stories, as much of the modern Internet depends on it to work.

Benefits of PHP

You might be asking yourself why the usage of PHP is so widespread. There are many good reasons for that, but here are just a few:

• Beginner-Friendly: PHP is relatively easy for beginners to learn due to its intuitive syntax. There are also plenty of tools and frameworks available to make coding easier.
• Wide Community: The language has a vast and active community of developers worldwide. This means there are loads of online resources, forums, and other places where users can seek help and find ready-made solutions to common problems.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: PHP is compatible with popular operating systems, including Windows, MacOS, Linux, and Unix. It also works on various web servers such as Apache, NGINX, and Microsoft IIS.
• Database Connectivity: In addition, it works with a number of different database formats, such as MySQL, MongoDB, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Oracle, and more. PHP can execute SQL queries, retrieve, update and delete data, and handle database connections and transactions.
• Cost-Effective: As we have already learned, the programming language is free to use, distribute, and modify. That eliminates the need for expensive licensing fees and reduces development costs, making it an economical choice for web development projects.
• Scalability: PHP is capable of handling high traffic loads and can easily scale. You can use it together with caching techniques and other optimization strategies to enhance performance. Plus, it’s generally faster than some other programming languages, such as Python.

How PHP works: Creating dynamic web content

One of the main reasons why PHP is so popular for web development is that it seamlessly integrates with various technologies and services commonly used in this area. Examples include HTTP, POP3, IMAP, and more. 

One of its main advantages is that it is highly compatible with HTML, the main language used to create and display websites. In fact, it’s possible to use PHP code in HTML files and vice versa.

Above you can see how both languages appear in the same file. The PHP markup is delineated by opening and closing brackets ( and ?>) so that the server knows where it ends and begins. However, the PHP code itself is inside an HTML  element. The _e function is a WordPress function used for localization, which allows for easy translations across the WordPress software.

The main benefit of this is that using PHP allows web developers to display dynamic content in otherwise static web pages. For example, PHP is able to pull content directly from databases, making it great for templating. You can create a fixed layout for all web pages but then display different content depending on the page a user is on.

This is vastly different from pure HTML, where the content needs to be hard-coded in the page file in order for the browser to show it. PHP, on the other hand, can add it on the fly as needed. That’s one of the main benefits of this programming language—the ability to dynamically combine and display content from different sources and of different kinds according to what the user requests.

PHP and WordPress: The CMS’ heart and soul

As a WordPress user, PHP is especially important. The programming language forms the basis of much of what WordPress can do. It’s what allows you to create, edit, and delete pages, posts, media, and other content. That’s why you see that a lot of files that end in .php when you look in the directory of any WordPress installation.

It’s also why, when installing WordPress on a server, the system requirements insist that PHP be present. In recent years JavaScript has been playing a bigger and bigger role in the WordPress ecosystem, mainly because of the adoption of the Gutenberg editor. That said, PHP is still the main workhorse in the background.

Powering themes and plugins

What are some of WordPress’ main tasks powered by PHP? Before the advent of block themes, WordPress themes were all written mostly in PHP, especially page template files. In fact, if you look at the template hierarchy, you can see that WordPress has PHP files for pretty much all pages and theme components.

Why? So we have the ability to create a single layout for one type of content and then dynamically display what’s saved in the database for a particular piece of content.

That way, if you have 300 pages of the same kind on your site, you don’t need a file for each as you would on a pure HTML website. Instead, you just need one single page template file; PHP can then populate each individual page with its specific content.

PHP also makes it easy to compartmentalize different parts of your theme. For example, it’s very common to not have the markup for a footer in each file. Instead you can create a separate footer.php file and call it into your templates where needed. That way, if you want to modify the footer layout, you only have to make changes in a singular place—the footer.php file.

The same is true for plugins, aka collections of PHP files that contain the necessary markup for adding extra functionality to your WordPress site. When you activate a plugin, it gets added to the rest of your website code and can provide the functionality you are looking for.

Without PHP, there would be no WordPress

All of the above is only made possible by the flexibility that PHP offers. Besides the benefits we have discussed before, this is the main reason why WordPress relies on PHP to the extent that it does; PHP offers a ton of flexible functionality specifically for web development. PHP’s capabilities in content management, working with databases, and its modularity all make it a perfect candidate for powering the most popular website builder there is.

This also means that if you know PHP, it opens up a lot more possibilities to modify your WordPress website. You can write custom plugins, make changes to (non-block) themes and page templates, introduce functionality to functions.php, and so much more. So, if you want to improve your WordPress skill set, learning PHP is not a bad place to start.

PHP in everyday life: You rely on it more often than you think

Besides WordPress, you might actually be unaware how much of your general everyday online interactions are enabled by PHP. There are a number of very well-known websites that use PHP to run and many common processes that the programming language performs online:

• Facebook: The largest social network in existence was initially built using PHP. While they have moved away from the programming language over time, it still plays a significant role in their infrastructure.
• Wikipedia: The world’s biggest online encyclopedia also relies heavily on PHP for its back end operations, content management, and user interactions.
• Tumblr: This microblogging and social networking platform employs PHP to power its vast network of user-generated content and social interactions. We’re actually in the process of migrating Tumblr’s backend to run on WordPress; if you’re interested in being a part of this exciting project, leave your information here.
• Slack: This widely-used team collaboration and communication platform utilizes PHP for its back-end operations, real-time messaging, and API integrations.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are countless other examples of well-known web staples that exist in part because of PHP.

Other abilities of PHP

Up until this point, we’ve mostly talked about PHP in the context of creating and outputting HTML markup; however, the programming language is involved in a lot more that you probably take advantage of on a daily basis:

• Form Processing: PHP can process and validate data submitted by users via forms. It’s also capable of performing actions such as storing data in a database, sending email notifications, or generating dynamic responses based on user input. Plus, it comes with encryption to keep the submitted data safe.
• User Authentication: It can also handle user authentication by verifying login credentials. PHP allows you to implement user registration and login/logout functionality, and it can control access to different areas of your website or application. For example: user roles.
• Session Management: PHP can also manage user sessions, store session data, and track user activity. Among other things, this allows you to save user preferences. PHP can also set cookies and receive cookie data.
• File Manipulation: The programming language provides a wide range of functions for file manipulation, such as reading and writing files, uploading files from forms, creating directories, and modifying file permissions. This comes in handy for managing files on the server through other applications (like WordPress).
• Email Handling: PHP comes with functions to send emails from a server. This allows you to build features like contact forms, email notifications, and automated email responses.
• Third-Party Communication: With PHP you can interact with external APIs and web services. It makes it possible to integrate with other applications, retrieve data from remote servers, and perform actions like posting to social media platforms.

What is PHP? It is the web’s backbone

If you’re an everyday WordPress user or non-developer, you probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about how much of your online experience is possible thanks to the humble PHP. However, the more you dive into this topic, the more you’ll realize how much you rely on it.

Who knew an open source solution was at the heart of what makes the World Wide Web tick? From the largest content management system in the world to well-known web entities, so much of what we take for granted exists because of it.

There are good reasons why it’s so widespread; from its powerful capabilities over its wide support system to ongoing development and support, there is a lot that speaks for PHP as the go-to solution for web projects.

Since it’s also beginner friendly, learning some PHP skills is definitely a good place to start if you want to dive deeper into the technical aspects of WordPress and web development.

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