Want to cut right to the case? The best print-on-demand eCommerce platform right now is Nexcess.
The eCommerce industry and technology have grown immensely over the last few years, with new platforms rising and affecting how online businesses make their money—one of the most popular ways being print-on-demand. With the best print-on-demand eCommerce platforms, people can quickly go online and create a t-shirt, mug, or hoodie design to sell over the internet all remotely. Have a clever quote or comeback that you think could sell?
The time to tap into print-on-demand services is at an all-time high, with innovative products constantly coming out onto the market. You might ask, “How do I get started with print-on-demand?” First, find a platform that specializes in print-on-demand services. This article is the ultimate guide to making money with the best print-on-demand eCommerce platforms. But, what is print-on-demand?
What is print-on-demand?
Print-on-demand is a low-risk method to sell custom merchandise such as apparel, houseware, posters, stickers, and more. Whether you’re a designer, entrepreneur, or have a passion for online selling, launching an eCommerce store that sells physical products is an amazing way to monetize and optimize your creativity.
Print-on-demand eliminates the hassle and need to house and manage inventory in-house or through an externally hired 3PL. There is also a greater risk involved with handling inventory and can be pretty time-consuming.
By choosing a print-on-demand eCommerce platform, there is more time for creativity and at a fraction of the cost.
How does print-on-demand work?
It begins with finding a supplier who specializes in white-label products that can have a custom branded design applied with no extra heavy lifting on your part. Many suppliers offer eCommerce functionality, which makes it the perfect all-in-one package.
First, design and upload the product designs to the eCommerce site. Once the online store that sells physical products goes live, a customer can visit the site, select the desired product, and proceed with checking out.
Next, the chosen third-party supplier works with a fulfillment center to print and ship the purchased items if they don’t already have one.
The product is not yet printed until an order is placed. So this is something online retailers rarely have to worry about since the supplier team covers it, allowing you to focus on product development and sales.
It is that easy! When it comes down to pricing, most print-on-demand services only take a percentage of the profits when an actual sale is made with no upfront costs.
Pros and Cons of print-on-demand
As convenient and efficient as print-on-demand eCommerce websites are, it is essential to remember that a third party is still managing the sold products. There are plenty of perks to this eCommerce solution, but keep in mind that there are a few limitations.
What are the Pros?
+ Quick and easy to set-up
Many of the print-on-demand eCommerce platforms are extremely easy to navigate and understand. It’s as simple as signing up, creating an account, and uploading product designs. The entire process can take as little as just a few minutes.
+ Little to no inventory management, packaging, and shipping
Hands down, one of the most favored perks of print-on-demand services is removing the stress of handling inventory from printing to fulfillment to shipping.
The partnered supplier takes care of these responsibilities and it’s a cost-saving solution. There is also no worry about having excess stock to sell or the fear of not having enough inventory to sell.
+ Low investment and reduced risk
Since there is no physical inventory being held by the online retailer selling the products, the cost to run a print-on-demand shop is significantly low. Additionally, it makes it easier to add and remove products, run prototypes, and adapt the product vision based on customer behavior and feedback.
What are the Cons?
– Low-profit margins
The cost per good is higher than if you were to buy wholesale. Depending on how each item is priced and the customer demand, these print-on-demand products have a lower profit margin.
The print-on-demand supplier subtracts a percentage of the sales since they are the ones who are doing the heavy lifting, such as shipping, fulfillment, printing, and inventory management.
– Product quality
Since a third-party supplier manages the inventory, online sellers cannot see first-hand every product being made and shipped out.
Therefore, some minor setbacks can occur due to human error. It is critical to the reputation of an online business to choose a reputable and trusted print-on-demand supplier who excels in quality product design. The last thing anyone wants is an upset customer over an issue that was out of your control.
– Not much customization can be done
Besides uploading the artwork for the product design, you cannot alter the product itself in any way other than printing said design on the product. Suppose the products being sold require extra customization.
In that case, it’s important to keep in mind that some printing techniques may not allow that flexibility as some products might have a limited selection of colors, sizes, and shapes to work with that cannot be changed.
eCommerce Platforms for Print-on-Demand Services
Launching an online storefront has never been easier. With plenty of print-on-demand companies on the market, it might intimidate at first when deciphering which platform is the best for an online business that sells physical goods. With that said, we have broken down the industry’s best eCommerce platforms for print-on-demand to help scale and empower any online brand.
Here are the best eCommerce platforms for print-on-demand:
- Nexcess WooCommerce Hosting – Best All-In-One Hosting
- Printful (Shopify app) – Best for multiple integrations
- Gooten – Best for simplicity
- Zazzle – Best for most dynamic
- Society6 – Best for complete control
- Redbubble – Best for customization and convenience
- CafePress – Best for most extensive catalogues
- Spreadshirt – Best for beginners
- Teepublic – Best for independent creators
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1. Nexcess WooCommerce Hosting – Best All-In-One Hosting
To get the best out of your Print-on-Demand business, it is not enough to have a good platform that offers Print-on-Demand services; you should also ensure that your store is hosted on a good eCommerce platform.
Our recommended hosting solution is Nexcess WooCommerce hosting and here’s why: Nexcess lets you host any kind of website and enjoy premium features, plugins, and customizations to get the best out of your business. Your hosted store on Nexcess WooCommerce can be integrated with Print-on-Demand services such as Printful, such that every order on your store automatically gets sent to Printful.
Hosting your store on Nexcess WooCommerce provides added benefits such as sales performance monitoring, ultra-fast loading speed for your website, cart abandonment technology to track uncompleted orders, advanced analytics, and numerous automations. You also enjoy built-in image compression, auto-scaling to handle high traffic, and integrated CDN. With features such as one-click staging sites, malware monitoring, free SSL certificates, and automatic daily backups, you are guaranteed top-tier security and maintenance of your store.
2. Printful – Best for multiple integrations
Printful is a Shopify application you can use alongside a Shopify store but not required. They offer more than just traditional t-shirt printing and make eCommerce easy for their users. There is no need to stress over inventory management, equipment, and shipping.
Printful is well-known for providing over 270 high-quality products that include anything from apparel to accessories to home goods. Whether it is custom prints, embroidery or custom engraved products, Printful prints, packs, and ships it all.
Printful offers an impressive amount of key features, including no upfront costs, complete control over profit, quality items, product personalization, and so much more. First, to get started with Printful, connect a Shopify store with the Printful application and add the product listings. As soon as a customer places an order, it they process it for fulfillment and ship it to the customer, complete with full branding.
Printful can also integrate with eBay, Etsy, Amazon, Wish, and Storenvy. Since 2020, Printful is used by well over 362k+ active customers with fulfillment centers in the United States, Australia, and Europe, to name a few. There are at least 21 integrated eCommerce and marketplace platforms available to sell personalized products on.
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3. Gooten – Best for simplicity
Gooten is another incredible eCommerce platform that specializes in print-on-demand services. If there’s a platform that caters to all and helps elevate online businesses to their greatest potential, it’s Gooten.
This unique platform helps set you apart from the competition with tailored access to dedicated resources that enforce scalability and efficiency. The longer an online business is partnered with Gooten, the more perks received through their VIM loyalty program.
Gooten is compatible with large eCommerce platforms such as BigCommerce, Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, and more. With just a few clicks and app installation, any online business will be ready to launch in a matter of seconds.
Not only does Gooten help take print-on-demand services to the next level, but they also make it easy to do so. Some of their most popular products are tumblers, mugs, t-shirts, yoga mats, bags, and wall art.
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4. Zazzle – Best for most dynamic
Zazzle takes print-on-demand to new heights with exclusive items such as custom invitations, even collateral, business supplies, electronics, clothing, skateboards, and party supplies.
Zazzle is the place where creativity, customization, and connection unite through unique products and designs.
Their selection of goods includes over 1000 different physical products, making it one of the most dynamic print-on-demand companies. A few legendary brand partners that work with Zazzle include Disney, Getty Images, and the Armed Forces.
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5. Society6 – Best for complete control
Looking to design and sell custom artworks, apparel, memorable gifts, and decor? Society6 is the perfect print-on-demand solution.
When partnering with Society6, the seller keeps complete control over the rights of the artwork being sold, which is something not all platforms offer and is an enormous advantage.
From throw pillows, tote bags to framed prints, and everything in between, Society6 is home to a thriving community of artists, designers, and art-aficionados who have a passion for sharing beautiful art with others.
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6. Redbubble – Best for customization and convenience
Founded in 2006, Redbubble has become a trailblazer for print-on-demand companies. They supply a vast array of quality products to design from apparel, masks, phone cases, stationery, accessories, and much more.
If you’ve thought of it, Redbubble most likely has it. Redbubble creates with purpose and distributes millions of meaningful works of art on over 70 high-quality products. To top it off, Redbubble takes pride in offering socially responsible production values that help offset all carbon emissions. Go green!
Redbubble’s goal is to provide a world of self-expression to independent artists with a purposeful way to sell their online creations. As of today, Redbubble has helped connect over 700k+ passionate artists and designers with millions of dedicated fans from around the world.
The platform offers a substantial amount of customization options to sell any creative item. Redbubble has a marketplace that makes it simple to get a product in front of a vast audience.
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7. CafePress – Best for most extensive catalogues
CafePress’s mission is to create a special human connection through self-expression. This platform is one of the oldest print-on-demand services out there and has one of the most extensive product catalogs to market custom designs.
Their rapidly growing marketplace features a wide selection of products, from t-shirts to stylish home decor. If you’re looking to make a lasting impact, CafePress is a great place to start a conversation, express yourself, and perfect for every passion.
The engaging community built around CafePress is inspiring. One of the best features of CafePress is the Fan Portal that grants artists the opportunity to design merchandise for their favorite movie, television show, and more.
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8. Spreadshirt – Best for beginners
Spreadshirt is one of the best print-on-demand services for beginners. It’s easy to use and offers a quick turnaround with its product. However, it’s important to note that Spreadshirt is not as diverse as some of its counterparts, such as Printful or Redbubble.
Spreadshirt offers fewer product options to choose from. To get started, create a shop account in their marketplace and start uploading products to convert into profit. They mainly offer apparel items such as t-shirts, bandanas, sportswear, baby clothes, hats, with a few accessories.
Spreadshirt specializes in quality-made fabrics that can make any creative design shine. Most commonly used by YouTube Influencers and large agency brands, Spreadshirt delivers top-quality prints, apparel, and accessories that help spread the word about your brand.
As of today, Spreadshirt is one of the best eCommerce platforms for print-on-demand products. As limiting as their product selection is, they excel in servicing their customers. Once your product designs become popular on Spreadshirt, you can begin the transition to a Spreadshop where more perks are available.
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9. TeePublic – Best for independent creators
TeePublic is one of the largest marketplaces in the world designed for independent creators. TeePublic offers over 100 different product types to choose from and starts an online business in the print-on-demand market.
Unlike some platforms with an in-house fulfillment center, TeePublic partners with third-party fulfillment centers to print, package, and ship custom-designed products.
Since its founding days in 2013, TeePublic features over 1.2 million designs from creative artists and influencers. A few of their favored products include tapestries, phone cases, t-shirts, and stickers.
Additionally, TeePublic helps the environment by working with printing partners who use sustainable and toxin-free production techniques.