Print On Demand Business

How Profitable Is A Print On Demand Business? (Updated for 2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 5th, 2024

How Profitable Is A Print On Demand Business? (Updated for 2024)

So you want to start a print on demand business?

And the first question that came to your mind was, “well, are print on demand businesses actually profitable?”

With a market size of $45.7B - there’s plenty of business to go around.

Especially considering:

You could start a print on demand business with as low as $1,000
Based on our data, print on demand businesses generate an average of $4.94M per year
You could see gross margins as high as 12% with print on demand businesses

There’s money to be made. Don’t worry.

But, I don't want to spoil it all. Below we’ll cover everything you need to know when it comes to the profitability of a print on demand business.

Let’s dive in!

Is a print on demand business profitable?

Yes, a print on demand business is generally a profitable business. However, you still need to consider several factors since these things always impact the overall outcome.

For instance, since average revenue is $4.94M per year with an estimated gross margin of 90%, you could expect to recover your investment within 7 months or even less.

But of course, it all comes down to how much you earn compared to the potential revenues of your print on demand business.

To determine whether your business is profitable, you should earn more than your expenses in the beginning months. However, while you're in your first month, it can be challenging to know what to expect.

Therefore, you should maintain a record of your monthly expenses and income to determine whether you're meeting your goals. By doing this step, you can see how your print on demand business is doing and if any changes or adjustments need to be made to enhance or maintain your efforts.

Is a print on demand business worth it?

If you’re wondering if a print on demand business is worth it, the answer is a big YES. With print on demand businesses, you have the potential to earn $4.94M per year (this is based on data reported by real founders).

Further, you could have your initial investment back within months. Simply put, it’s a business worth a shot, especially if you have the resources and make the necessary efforts to achieve or surpass the target.

With a market size of $45.7B, it will be possible for you to build something that grows and turns into a flourishing business. As such, it’s the type of business you might want to consider starting.

Of course, you must learn and understand every aspect of running a print on demand business to ensure success. Still, as long as you have the initial investment and can endure a few months before your actual gains, this business could be worth it.

You might want to consider reading more specifics about successful print on demand businesses case studies.

Examples Of Profitable Print On Demand Businesses

Here are a few examples of profitable print on demand businesses, and a few more details about them:

1. JetPrint ($8.4M/year)

Inspired by a childhood fascination with CMYK printing, Mark ventured into the print-on-demand industry in China after discovering Printful in 2015. Leveraging his software development background, he launched JetPrint, now generating $700,000 monthly and prominently featured on Shopify.

Is it profitable? Yes
What's the gross margin? 12%
How much money it makes: $8.4M/year
How much did it cost to start: $750K

How I Started A $8.4M/Year Print On Demand Company [From China]

JetPrint is a Chinese print-on-demand company that offers customizable products to global e-commerce sellers, with watches and balls being their featured products. In a short amount of time, they went from starting with a few thousand US dollars in monthly income to making $700,000, and their app was approved by Shopify and recommended in the Shopify App Store. They attribute their success to service quality, innovation, and accurate audience targeting.

Read this case study

Read by 2,179 founders

2. Underground Printing ($36M/year)

UGP co-founders Rishi Narayan and Ryan Gregg started their business in 2001 as a t-shirt company called A-1 Screenprinting. They focused on providing exceptional customer service to college students and quickly expanded their production capabilities by acquiring another screen printer, which led to a name change to Underground Printing. They opened their first retail storefront in 2008 and have since grown to 35+ locations nationwide, generating over $1 million in revenue in their first year. Their commitment to customer service and investment in manufacturing and technology has propelled their success.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $36M/year

How I Started A $3M/Month Custom Printed Apparel Company

National custom printing apparel and promotional products provider, Underground Printing, shares their start-up success story which has led them to be ranked amongst Inc. Magazine’s 5000 fastest-growing companies for three years running, with a customer-centric business model driving strong word-of-mouth promotion.

Read this case study

Read by 9,452 founders

3. Sheedo Paper ($480K/year)

Gonzalo and Gala, founders of Sheedo, came up with the idea for their sustainable paper business while researching plantable tags for an espadrilles brand. They realized that no one was producing printable plantable paper in Spain, so they took it upon themselves to create it. Now, Sheedo has grown into a successful business, generating around 40K€ per month and working with big brands like Coca-Cola and Sony.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $480K/year
How much did it cost to start: $0

How Our Sustainable Corporate Merchandising Became a $40K/Month Business

Spanish-based startup Sheedo is making waves in the traditional merchandising industry with its seed-infused, tree-free and non-toxic paper concept and pulling in €40k in monthly revenue, supplying customers including Coca-Cola, Inditex, Sony, Deloitte, and Air France.

Read this case study

Read by 6,177 founders

Learn more about starting a print on demand business:

Where to start?

-> How much does it cost to start a print on demand business?
-> Pros and cons of a print on demand business

Need inspiration?

-> Other print on demand business success stories
-> Marketing ideas for a print on demand business

Other resources

How much can you make with a print on demand business?

With a print on demand business, you can make an average of $4.94M revenue per year (based on data reported by real businesses).

You can start with an initial investment as low as $1,000. Then, with proper knowledge and sustained effort, you could have an ROI (return of investment) within 7 months.

How much does a print on demand business make a week?

Based on our data, average weekly revenue for a print on demand business ranges around $103K. As such, you could see monthly revenues of $411K.

To know if your print on demand business achieves the weekly profit target, you need to keep track of the total earnings you get per day. Afterward, you'll want to consider subtracting the expenses you have daily.

Learning your weekly profit can also show whether you're hitting your target goal for your print on demand business.

How much do print on demand businesses owners make?

The income of a print on demand business owner can vary depending on various factors such as location, size, competition, and the owner's business skills.

But to give you some idea, the weekly revenue of an established print on demand business is about $103K. But this can be lower or higher depending on so many factors - it's almost impossible to say exactly.

While the potential for earning a good income as a print on demand business owner exists, success in this field requires a commitment to providing quality products and services and building a strong reputation within the community.

Print On Demand Business Profit Margins

Generally speaking, a print on demand business can expect profit margin of around 90%. Profit margins refer to the percentage of revenue that remains after deducting all expenses associated with running a business. In the case of a print on demand business, profit margins can vary depending on various factors, such as the type and quality of products sold, the size of the store, and the level of competition in the area.

However, these figures can vary depending on the pricing strategy, inventory management, and overall efficiency of the business. To maintain healthy profit margins, print on demand business owners must focus on managing costs, negotiating favorable supplier terms, and providing high-quality products and services to attract and retain customers. By doing so, print on demand business owners can ensure long-term sustainability and profitability for their business.

Print on demand business owner salary

The salary of a print on demand business owner is an unpredictable figure. It's significantly influenced by numerous factors, including the store's location, its size, and the degree of competition. An owner of a well-established print on demand business, in a prime position, might see an average weekly salary around the ballpark of $92.5K.

But it's worth noting, such numbers aren't always consistent. The earnings can vary wildly, potentially swinging by as much as 80% either way.

Achieving consistent success and maintaining a reliable income stream in this industry requires a deep commitment. It's imperative to offer high-quality products, deliver impeccable customer service, and nurture a trusted bond with the community you serve.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, based on many of our examples, a print on demand business may be a promising business to start - but the success of your print on demand business mostly depends on your effort and your approach.

If you focus on these, you'll have a much higher chance of a profitable print on demand business.

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