Thinking of starting a side hustle with no stock and low risk? Print-on-demand might be your thing.
Here’s the plain truth: If you’ve got a decent eye for design or even just a good slogan in your back pocket, print-on-demand (POD) lets you turn that into income—without stuffing your wardrobe full of unsold t-shirts.
This article walks through how to get a print-on-demand hustle off the ground in 2025, what it’ll cost, where the money can come in, and what sort of traps to watch out for. No fluff. Just straight-up guidance from someone who’s mucked around with plenty of side gigs.
What Is Print-on-Demand?
It’s simple. You upload a design to a product—like a shirt, mug, tote bag, or hoodie—and when someone buys it, a supplier prints it, ships it, and takes their cut. You don’t touch a single product. You’re the ideas person. They’re the printer and postie.
Think of it like a bakery that only makes cupcakes when someone places an order. No waste, no fridge full of spoiled icing. Just the one cupcake, made to order.
Why It’s a Good Hustle in 2025?
No upfront stock: You don’t need to buy boxes of shirts hoping they’ll sell.
- Low start-up cost: You can get going with next to nothing.
- Work from anywhere: Got Wi-Fi? You’re good.
- Creative freedom: If you’ve got humor, style, or a niche interest, you can design for it.
- It’s a side hustle that doesn’t need you to break your back or dump $1,000 into tools. Just your brain and a bit of patience.
What You’ll Need to Get Started?
Here’s the bare-bones checklist:
- A computer or tablet.
- Internet connection.
- A basic design tool (free ones like Canva or Photopea work fine)
- An account with a print-on-demand site (more on that in a sec)
- An idea or niche to target.
If you can run Facebook on your laptop, you can run a POD store. And you don’t need to be Picasso. Clean, bold text designs sell surprisingly well.
Picking Your Print-on-Demand Platform.
There are heaps of platforms, but here are the common ones that work in 2025:
- Printful: Integrates well with Shopify, Etsy, and more. Good quality. Aussie-friendly.
- Printify: Cheaper options. Bigger range of suppliers and products.
- Redbubble: Built-in audience. Great for artists and graphic tees.
- TeeSpring (now Spring): Simple setup. Good for social media selling.
- Gelato: Quick shipping across Australia and Europe. Eco-friendly vibe.
Best pick if you’re just starting: Redbubble or Printify. You don’t need a website, and they’re easy to test designs on.
Step-by-Step: Getting Your POD Hustle Rolling!
1. Find a Niche You Actually Like.
Don’t just make generic “funny dad” shirts. That space is flooded. Pick something you know or enjoy—dog breeds, Aussie slang, gym motivation, nurses, tradies, fishing jokes, whatever. The more specific, the better.
Your niche should be something people are passionate about. That way, when they see a mug or hoodie that “gets them,” they’ll actually buy it.
2. Make Simple, Bold Designs.
Use free tools like Canva, Kittl, or even Google Fonts. Big, clear text on a plain background sells. Don’t overthink it. Start with 5 to 10 designs.
Design ideas that often work:
- Funny sayings
- Clean typography
- Aussie humor
- Retro-style logos
- Motivational quotes
Tip: Stick to black or white shirts first. They’re cheap to produce and most buyers prefer them.
3. Set Up Your Shop.
If you’re using Redbubble, it’s as easy as signing up and uploading your design. If you’re using Printify, you’ll need to connect it to something like Etsy or Shopify. Etsy has lower upfront costs and gets organic traffic, so it’s good for testing.
Avoid setting up your own website right away unless you’ve got a few wins under your belt. Stick to marketplaces where buyers are already hanging out.
4. Price It Right.
Don’t just race to the bottom. A basic tee costs you around $10–$14 to produce depending on the site. Sell it for $25–$35. People will pay more if the design speaks to them.
You’re not competing with Kmart. You’re selling an idea, a laugh, a feeling.
How Much Can You Make?
Here’s the straight answer: it depends on traffic, trends, and your niche.
$50–$200/month is common for folks just testing things with 10–20 designs
$500–$1,000+/month if you hit a niche that clicks and keep building
$2,000/month+ is doable once you scale with hundreds of designs or run paid ads smartly
It’s slow at first. You’ll upload stuff that never sells. That’s normal. The winners start to show up over time.
Tips to Increase Sales.
Use trending topics: Seasonal stuff (Christmas, Aussie summer, footy finals) can spike traffic.
Post on social media: TikTok, Instagram, or Pinterest can drive free eyeballs to your designs.
Use keywords: Think like a buyer. If you made a “funny electrician shirt,” include that in your title and tags.
Mockups matter: Don’t just show a flat shirt. Use mockups with models so people can picture wearing it.
Costs and Ongoing Expenses.
Let’s keep this tight:
Design software: Free or $15–$30/month if you go premium
Marketplace fees (Etsy): $0.20 per listing, plus commission on each sale
Ad spend (optional): Can test $5/day on Etsy or Meta ads once you’ve got traction
You can get started with zero budget, but spending a bit on pro tools and ads later can help you grow faster.
Pros and Cons (No Sugarcoating)
Pros
✅ No stock or shipping hassle
✅ Easy to start with free tools
✅ Creative and fun if you like design
✅ You can run it from anywhere
Cons
❌ Takes time to get momentum
❌ Some niches are very competitive
❌ Profit margins aren’t huge unless you scale
❌ Customer service is still on you if you sell through Etsy or Shopify
Real Talk Before You Start.
Print-on-demand isn’t “get rich quick.” It’s “build slow and smart.” You might sell nothing the first few weeks, and that’s okay. Keep uploading. Learn what people actually buy. You don’t need to be a designer. You just need to be willing to test ideas and not quit too early.
This hustle won’t replace a full-time wage overnight, but it can turn into a steady earner on the side—especially if you stack it with other gigs.
If you’ve got an hour or two a night, a bit of patience, and a brain for trends or good humor, you’re already ahead of half the crowd.
Next Steps if You’re Keen:
Set up a Redbubble or Printify account
Make your first 5 designs (use Canva or Kittl)
Upload, tag them right, and keep going
Watch what sells and build off that
Don’t expect magic—stick at it!
Got questions about what to sell or how to market your stuff? Hit me up in the comments or check out the rest of the guides here on Side Hustle Quest. I’ve made plenty of mistakes already, so you don’t have to.
Catch ya later,
Kim
Founder of SideHustleQuest.com
Plain talk. Smart hustle.
