One of the biggest appeals of print on demand is the low barrier to entry compared to traditional retail — no inventory needs to be purchased upfront. But “low cost” doesn’t always mean “free.” This guide breaks down what starting print on demand actually costs, depending on which setup path is chosen.
The $0 Starting Point (Marketplaces Only)
Selling through marketplaces like Redbubble or similar platforms, using free design tools like Canva, can come very close to a $0 start. Marketplaces don’t charge a monthly fee — instead, they take a percentage commission from each sale. The only real out-of-pocket cost happens when a sale occurs, since the supplier still charges for production and shipping at that point.
Etsy sits slightly above pure $0, since it typically charges a small per-listing fee each time a product is published, along with a one-time account setup fee for new sellers. This is still a minimal cost compared to traditional inventory-based selling.
The Budget Starting Point ($150–$300)
Most beginners taking a slightly more serious approach — combining a marketplace with better design tools or a small paid app — land in the $150 to $300 range. This typically covers:
- A few design tools or asset packs beyond free options
- Marketplace listing fees for an initial batch of products
- Minor branding elements (a logo, basic store graphics)
This range is enough to test a niche seriously without committing to a full independent store.
The Branded Store Starting Point ($300–$1,000+)
Sellers who want more control over branding and the customer experience — rather than relying entirely on a marketplace — typically set up a self-hosted store using a platform like Shopify, connected to a fulfillment partner like Printify or Printful. Costs in this range usually include:
- Store platform subscription — commonly around $20–$100 a month, depending on the plan
- Domain name — a small annual cost, often under $20
- Apps and integrations — connecting the store to design tools, POD fulfillment, and marketing tools
- Optional business registration — setting up an LLC or similar structure, often in the $50–$150 range in the U.S., though not required to start selling
Ongoing Monthly Costs
Beyond the initial setup, most self-hosted stores carry ongoing monthly costs, commonly landing somewhere between $30 and $100 a month, covering the store platform, any paid apps, and basic tools. Marketplace-only sellers typically spend less monthly — often under $50 — since fees are mostly tied to individual sales rather than a flat subscription.
Costs That Are Easy to Overlook
A few costs don’t show up in the basic “getting started” estimate:
- Design costs, if paying for custom or professional artwork rather than creating designs independently
- Advertising spend, if choosing to run paid ads to drive traffic rather than relying purely on marketplace search or organic reach
- Payment processing fees, which apply to every sale regardless of platform
- Currency conversion fees, relevant for sellers with international customers
A Realistic Starting Budget
For most beginners testing print on demand as a side hustle, a starting budget in the $150 to $300 range — using a marketplace or a low-cost store platform combined with free or low-cost design tools — is enough to launch a first collection of products and start gathering real sales data. A larger, more branded investment usually makes more sense after a niche has already shown some traction, rather than before the first sale.
The Bottom Line
Print on demand can genuinely start close to $0 using marketplaces and free tools, though most beginners find a modest budget of a few hundred dollars gives more flexibility for design tools, listing fees, and basic branding. The bigger investments — a fully branded store, paid advertising, business registration — are usually better suited to a later stage, once a niche and product line have already proven worth scaling.