Selling Print-on-Demand T-Shirts with Shopify

Print on demand (POD) means a provider prints your design on a T-shirt, hoodie or mug only after a customer orders it, then ships it directly. You don't buy stock or equipment, so you can launch a clothing brand with little upfront cost. The trade-off is lower margins and less control, which is why brand and quality matter so much.

How it works with Shopify

1. Install a print-on-demand app from the Shopify App Store.
2. Upload your designs and place them on products in the app's editor.
3. Generate mockups and publish the products to your store.
4. When a customer orders, the order goes to the provider automatically.
5. The provider prints, ships and sends tracking back to Shopify.

Choosing a provider

• Print locations close to your customers, for faster delivery and fewer customs issues
• Product range and blanks: fabric weight, fit, brands of garment
• Print methods: DTG, embroidery, screen printing for larger runs
• Quality and consistency: order samples
• Costs: base price, shipping rates, any subscription
• Branding options: custom labels, packing slips, inserts

Always order samples

Check print quality, colour accuracy, fabric, sizing and washing durability yourself. Samples also give you real photos for your store, which look far better than mockups alone.

Price for profit

Add up the base product cost, printing, shipping you don't pass on, payment fees and an allowance for returns and reprints. Then add the marketing cost of winning an order. Use our profit calculator to check the numbers before launch.

Design rules

• Only use designs, fonts and images you own or have licensed.
• Avoid trademarks, characters and lyrics you don't have rights to.
• Prepare files at the provider's recommended size and resolution.
• Test how colours print on different garment colours.

Build a brand, not a random shop

Thousands of stores sell generic slogan T-shirts. Stand out with a niche (a hobby, profession, community or place), a consistent style and a voice your audience recognises. A focused collection is easier to market and more likely to get repeat customers.

Marketing ideas

• Real photos and short videos of people wearing the designs
• Communities and creators in your niche (selling on social)
• Limited drops to create launch moments
• Email for new designs and restocks

Related: selling personalised products and dropshipping. Want a branded store built around your designs? See our store setup service.