If you are a beginner in e-commerce or are in search of a low-risk business model for yourself, chances are you came across print-on-demand (POD). A buzzword that has been circulating for a while, offering the possibility to sell customized products without the need for inventory and without having to make a huge investment in advance.

However, the most highly asked question by the beginners is: What do print on demand sellers make

In this detailed article, we will cover everything you need to know including answers to common questions, information about how profitable it can be, and what you can realistically expect as a beginner entering the POD space.

What Is Print-on-Demand, and How Does It Work?

Now, before we get into the earnings, let me explain what print-on-demand is. POD P stands for Print, All you do is create a Project Designs (this can be t-shirt, mugs, phone cases or hoodies) and find a vender who Prints and ship the project once a customer order.

Everything is on-demand so you do not need to purchase inventory in advance or manage warehouses.

Here’s the basic process:

1. Design Creation: You design a graphic or slogan (or hire someone to do it).
2. Platform Setup: You upload your design to a POD platform like Printful, Teespring, or Redbubble and list it for sale on your online store (e.g., Shopify, Etsy, or Amazon).
3. Customer Orders: A buyer purchases your product.
4. Fulfillment: The POD supplier prints the item and ships it directly to the customer.
5. Profit: You keep the difference between the base cost (what the supplier charges) and your selling price.

Sounds simple, right? But the real question is: How much money can you make doing this?

How Much Do Print-on-Demand Sellers Make?

POD sellers make anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars a month or even more, with differences resulting from some factors such as niche, marketing strategy, quality of designs, and effort. So, let us break this down in realistic tiers for beginners and tip you off what can increase paycheck.

Beginner Sellers: $0 to $500/Month

When you are gaining experience, do not expect to earn thousands in a single night. In the initial 3-6 months of getting started, the majority of beginners will only generate between $0 (yes, $0) and a few hundred dollars a month. Why? And that is why success in POD depends so much on:

• Learning: It will take ages to understand the design tools, marketplaces, and marketing.
• It Takes Trial and Error: It is not an overnight phenomenon to find a niche that sells and create designs that are profitable.
• Minimal Traffic :Without an existing audience or marketing spend, sales come in very slowly.

For example, if you sell 50 products a month at a $15 profit each, that totals $750. Throw in some seasonal rises (like Christmas) or hits, and you might reach $2,000–$5,000.

Intermediate Sellers: $500 to $5,000/Month

Once you’ve got some experience say, 6 months to a year you can scale up. Intermediate sellers often report earnings between $500 and $5,000 monthly. At this stage:

• Niche Mastery: You are probably entering a hot niche (e.g., apparel for a “cat mom” or gamin merch).
• Skills with Marketing: You are employing social media ads, SEO, or email campaigns to bring in traffic.
• Different Products: You have ventured into items like mugs, hoodies, or posters in addition to t-shirts.

Let’s say you sell 50 products a month at a $15 profit each—that’s $750. Add in seasonal spikes (like Christmas) or viral designs, and you could hit $2,000-$5,000.

Top-Tier Sellers: $10,000+/Month

The elite POD sellers—those making $10,000 or more monthly—are the exception, not the rule. These are the pros who:

• Dominate Niches: They’ve built a brand around a specific audience (e.g., fitness buffs or pet lovers).
• Invest Heavily: They spend thousands on ads, influencer collabs, or professional designers.
• Scale Smart: They sell on multiple platforms (Etsy, Amazon, their own Shopify store) and offer dozens of products.

For instance, a top seller might move 500+ units a month across various products, earning $7,500-$15,000 in profit. Some even report six-figure annual incomes, but this takes years of hustle, reinvestment, and luck.

How Much Are POD Sellers Earning on Amazon?

Earnings vary widely based on experience, niche, marketing, and effort. Let’s break it down into beginner, intermediate, and top-tier levels, focusing solely on Amazon.

Beginner Sellers: $0 to $500/Month

If you’re new to Amazon POD, expect modest earnings at first—anywhere from $0 to $500 per month. Why so low initially?

• Merch by Amazon Limits: Beginners start at Tier 10, meaning you can only upload 10 designs. If they don’t sell, you earn nothing.
• Learning Curve: Figuring out Amazon’s algorithm, keywords, and design trends takes time.
• No Marketing Control: With Merch by Amazon, you rely on Amazon’s organic traffic, not paid ads.

For example, a t-shirt on Merch by Amazon might have a base cost of $13.99, sell for $19.99, and earn you a $6 royalty. Selling 20 shirts a month nets $120—doable, but not a windfall.

What Factors Affect Print-on-Demand Earnings?

Beginners often wonder why earnings vary so much. Here are the key variables:

1. Niche Selection

The niche you carve out for yourself is the most important factor that will determine your success. And forget selling an average run-of-the-mill mug that says “I Love Coffee!” in an oversaturated market. But aiming at a niche (like “I Love Coffee and My Dachshund”—true story) can be bringing obsessed purchasers ready to pay a premium. Use Google Trends or Etsy search box to see which trending niches are out there.

2. Design Quality

A blurry, uninspired design won’t sell. Beginners often ask, “Do I need to be a graphic designer?” No, but you need decent designs. Use free tools like Canva or pay a freelancer on Fiverr ($10-$50 per design) to create eye-catching graphics.

3. Pricing Strategy

If you bid too low, your margins dry up. Put it too high, and buyers are scared away. Lower pricing is a classic beginner mistake: charging $20 for a t-shirt sounds reasonable, but if the base price is $12, you are only making $8. You should shoot for a 50-100% markup (meaning you sell each shirt for $25 to $30 for a profit of $20 each) to have the perfect balance of profit with competitiveness in price.

4. Marketing Effort

Want to make some sales?Answer = How Do I Get People to Buy My Stuff? is a top beginner question. The answer: marketing. While Pinterest or Instagram posts fall under the realm of organic methods and are free of charge, they require time and patience. Paid ads (Facebook or Google Ads) : $50-$500/month, faster results And even the best designs collect digital dust without traffic.

5. Platform Fees

The POD platform (or marketplace) will take a share, hojas de cálculo. Etsy costs $0.20 per listing plus a 6.5% transaction fee. Shopify charges the monthly subscription ($39+) and payment processing fees. Consider these in your profit calculations.

6. Seasonality

On the other hand, POD loves trends and holidays. Sellers are commonly asked by new sellers, why am I not selling? That is why you are going to start peddling Christmas sweaters in July. Leverage major seasons such as Halloween, Christmas, or Mother Day to drive income.

FAQ

Let’s tackle the questions every newbie asks when starting a POD business.

1. How Much Does It Cost to Start?

Good news: POD has a low barrier to entry. You can start for:

• Without Charge: You can use Redbubble or Teespring, They will never ask for a fee in the beginning.
• $50-$100: Buy a domain, a basic Shopify plan, or some professional designs.
• $500+: Scale using paid ads or premium tools.

2. Do I Need to Be a Designer?

No! You have options — use free tools, purchase ready-made designs, or hire freelancers. But to have a seemingly competitive advantage you need to have a basic design skill (Canva is a good start).

3. How Long Before I Make Money?

It varies. Some see sales in weeks; others take months. Expect 3-6 months to turn a consistent profit as you refine your approach.

4. What Products Sell Best?

T-shirts dominate but just don’t sleep on hoodies, mugs, phone cases, or wall art. Experiment with products to discover what your audience enjoys

5. Can I Really Make a Full-Time Income?

Yes, but it’s not guaranteed. Full-time (3,000–5,000/month) POD sellers treat it like a business (time/money/energy) In the beginning, it is a side activity for the majority.

6. What’s the Biggest Mistake Beginners Make?

Not marketing enough. You can’t just upload a design and wait. Success comes from driving traffic and testing what works.

Real-Life Examples of POD Earnings

For a better idea, here’s how some sellers report (from public forums and case studies):

• Jane, Etsy Newbie: $15 per sale on 5–10 funny pet shirts / month Makes $75-$150 a month after 3 months.
• Mike, Shopify Hustler: Operates a fitness niche store, $200/month in ad spend, clears $2,000/month after one year.
• Sarah, Multi-Platform Seller: Sells on Redbubble, Etsy, and Amazon She nets $12,000/month at peak seasons after 3 years.

These aren’t guarantees—just snapshots of what’s possible with effort and strategy.

Tips to Maximize Your POD Earnings

Ready to start? Here’s how to boost your chances of success:

1. Research Niches: Use tools like Merch Informer or browse social media for trends.
2. Start Small: Test 5-10 designs before going all-in.
3. Optimize Listings: Use keywords (e.g., “funny cat t-shirt”) in titles and descriptions for SEO.
4. Tap into Free Traffic: Add a Pinterest or a Reddit or even a TikTok buyers will follow.
5. Invest back Profits: Spend initial profits on ads or better design

Conclusion

Print-On-Demand sellers can be grossing how much, exactly? The answer depends on you. For the beginner this means that you can realistically target $100-$500/month with minimal investment and for the seasoned seller you can scale to thousands or even tens of thousands with time and strategy. While not necessarily a quick way to wealth, it is a very low-risk way to make an online business a reality.

POD can be rewarding if you are willing to learn, try and promote the goods you sell. Just do it on a small scale, be imaginative, and do not despair if sales do not pick up at the start. Have more questions? Just get in there, put your toe in the water and see where this process takes you!