Print-on-Demand Side Hustle: How to Start With $0 in 2025
Want to Start a Side Hustle With No Money? Try Print-on-Demand
Looking for a low-cost way to make money online? In 2025, print-on-demand (POD) remains one of the easiest, most profitable side hustles for beginners.
With POD, you don’t buy inventory, manage shipping, or handle customer service. You just upload your design, list the product, and get paid every time someone buys it.
All you need is a laptop, a few hours a week, and an idea.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to start a print-on-demand side hustle with $0, using free tools like Printify, Printful, and Canva — no design skills required.
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend platforms we’ve personally tested or genuinely believe can add value to your business.
What Is Print-on-Demand?
Print-on-demand is a business model where products are printed only after a customer orders.
You create custom designs for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, phone cases, and more. When someone buys one, your POD platform prints and ships it automatically.
This means:
- ✅ No inventory costs
- ✅ No packaging or shipping
- ✅ No upfront investment
You just focus on creating and promoting your products, while Printify or Printful handle production and fulfillment.
Step 1: Choose a Profitable Niche
Choosing a specific niche is the foundation of your print-on-demand business. A niche helps you stand out and attract the right audience.
Popular print-on-demand niches in 2025 include:
- Dog and cat lovers
- Teachers and educators
- Funny quotes for moms or coworkers
- Fitness and wellness themes
- Outdoor and travel lifestyle
- Mental health and motivation
Tip: Use keyword tools like Everbee or EtsyHunt to see what’s trending before picking your niche.
Step 2: Create a Free Print-on-Demand Account
Next, sign up for a free POD platform. Two of the best options in 2025 are:
Printify
- Free to join
- Huge product catalog
- Multiple print providers for global reach
- Lower base costs = higher profit margins
Printful
- Premium quality products
- Fast shipping
- Custom branding (labels, packaging, and inserts)
Both integrate easily with Etsy, Shopify, and WooCommerce.
How you make money:
- A customer buys your product for $30
- Printify/Printful charges $15 for production + shipping
- You keep the $15 difference (minus platform fees)
You only pay when a sale is made — so it’s a true $0 start side hustle.
Step 3: Open Your Online Store
You have two great options for your store:
Option 1: Start on Etsy (Beginner-Friendly)
Etsy is perfect for beginners because it has built-in traffic and an easy setup process.
- No monthly subscription
- Millions of active buyers
- $0.20 listing fee per product
Go to Etsy.com, create a seller account, name your shop, add a logo and payment info, and you’re ready to go.
Option 2: Try Shopify (For Brand Builders)
If you want to build your own branded website, Shopify offers a $1 trial for 30 days — enough time to test your first few products before committing to the full plan.
Step 4: Design Your Products for Free (No Experience Needed)
You don’t need to be an artist to create best-selling products.
Here’s how to design POD products for free:
- Canva – Easiest for beginners; free templates and text designs
- Kittl – Great for advanced fonts and retro-style graphics
- Creative Market – Buy editable design packs to customize
- AI tools like Ideogram, Midjourney, or Leonardo.ai – Generate unique art using text prompts
Simple text-based designs like “Coffee First, Teach Later” or “Dog Mom Energy” consistently perform well on Etsy.
Once your design is ready, upload it to Printify or Printful and use their auto-generated mockups to preview your products.
Step 5: Publish and Optimize Your Listings
When your mockups look great, publish your listings to Etsy or Shopify.
Every listing should include:
- Title: Use high-search keywords (e.g., Funny Dog Mom Mug – Gift for Pet Lovers)
- Description: Write detailed info about the product, materials, and who it’s for
- Tags: Use all 13 Etsy tags with relevant keywords
- Mockups: Use lifestyle images or model photos for higher click-through rates
Aim to launch with 10–15 listings to start. The more designs you upload, the higher your visibility in search.
Step 6: Promote Your POD Store for Free
Paid ads aren’t necessary when starting out. Here are free traffic strategies that still work in 2025:
- Pinterest: Create optimized pins linking to your Etsy store. Use keywords like “funny gift ideas” or “custom t-shirt shop.”
- TikTok & Instagram Reels: Show your design process, unboxings, or customer reviews.
- Facebook Groups: Join niche communities and share your designs naturally (follow group rules).
- Etsy SEO: Research long-tail keywords and refresh old listings monthly.
- Email marketing: Offer a freebie or discount code to start building your email list early.
Pro tip: Pinterest traffic can become passive over time — perfect for a side hustle.
Step 7: Test, Learn, and Grow
The secret to success in print-on-demand is consistent experimentation.
Keep testing new ideas:
- Different product types (hoodies, mugs, stickers)
- Seasonal themes (Christmas, Halloween, Mother’s Day)
- Trending sayings and memes
Monitor which listings get the most clicks and favorites on Etsy, and double down on those styles.
As profits grow, reinvest into professional mockups or paid design templates to scale faster.
Frequently Asked Questions About Print-on-Demand
Can I start a print-on-demand business with no money?
Yes! You can launch for free using Printify, Printful, and Canva. You only pay production costs after a sale.
Do I need a business license?
Not usually. You can start selling on Etsy as an individual and register later if you scale.
What if I’m not creative?
Use Canva templates or AI tools for design inspiration. Many top-selling shops use simple text-only graphics.
How much can I earn with print-on-demand?
It varies, but beginners often make $200–$1,000/month with consistent uploads. Successful sellers with viral niches can earn much more.
Start Your $0 Print-on-Demand Side Hustle Today
Print-on-demand is still one of the best ways to build a low-risk, passive income stream online in 2025.
You don’t need experience, money, or a big following — just persistence and a willingness to learn.
Here’s your quick start plan:
- Choose a niche
- Create a free Printify or Printful account
- Design your first product in Canva
- Publish your listing on Etsy
- Promote it on Pinterest or TikTok
Start today — your first sale could be just one design away.
Related content:
- Print-on-Demand to Make Money Online with No Inventory
- Printify vs. Printful (2025): Which Print On Demand Platform Is Best for You?
- How to Make Money Online with Etsy
- How to Use Canva for Print-on-Demand in 2025
Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools and platforms that we’ve personally tested, researched in-depth, or genuinely believe will help our readers succeed with their print-on-demand businesses. Your support helps us keep publishing free, practical content for side hustlers and entrepreneurs.
