The question I hear most often is "which Print-on-Demand company is the best" or "which POD company should I start with?" I'm going to get the disappointing answer out of the way quickly....there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer out there. I can break down some considerations when choosing a print-on-demand company though.
You need to start with this question: what kind of products fit in with your business plan? Do you need a company that ships wall art prints and paper goods or what about clothing items or kitchenware products or even baby items? Frequently people get sidetracked because they begin looking at the catalog of products offered and immediately veer from their plan because they're excited about the potential of what's being offered. So the first and most important thing is to go into your research with a list of identified products you want to include in your business model, not the other way around. (The one exception for this is to review some product catalogs during your business plan process if you need some ideas on the types of products that are available- to help you create a stronger business plan.)
Once you know which main product types you want to offer, search for a list of print-on-demand companies that offer those specific products. Then you can go in to each company's catalog and see what they offer. You should also read reviews to see what other people experience with their products. If the reviews are bad, believe them. But also take note of the issues they are having, as not everyone knows what is important in a review. (ooh, maybe I should do a post on how to do a proper helpful review.)
Next, you gotta do some quick math and research. Add up your costs with shipping to get the item to your customer and don't forget to add in transaction and processing fees where applicable. I quickly found that some of the lowest priced items with certain POD providers weren't actually the lowest once you accounted for shipping and fees. Then see what those types of products are selling for in common marketplaces to see if you'll be able to make a profit.
This goes right into the next point~ make sure the product's quality matches what you will have to charge to make a profit. This is hands down my biggest complaint with print-on-demand products, that their quality isn't always the best. The only way to know for sure is to order a test sample. Hold the product in your hand before you list it anywhere. I know you're excited to get your new product out into the world. But taking the extra week or two to receive the item before listing can save you a lot of headache. (And you can always offer the sample item as a freebie to gain social media followers as a way to use the expense in more than one way.)
The last thing I will say is that you aren't limited to using only one company. I use several. I love Printful for mugs, clothing, hats, and some wall art. I love Printify for cards, wall art, glassware, & a larger variety of goods. (Note: Printful & Printify recently merged, so we will have to wait & see if they keep the best parts of each business.) Society 6 just recently went to an approval only model, cancelling a lot of accounts with sellers. Redbubble is good for stickers, mugs, & t-shirts. I would also start by checking your marketplace, whether it's somewhere like Etsy, Amazon, Shopify, or your website host, etc and see which POD providers integrate easily with them. Some work easier than others.
Print-on-Demand is an amazing system that helps simplify your workflow. It's why I teach it in the membership. It gives you the flexibility of offering a variety of products without having to hold inventory or ship products yourself.
Hopefully that'll help you think through a few things before you get started. But the great thing about POD is that it's all super easy. If you create an account & don't like one thing, you can try another product or another company and you're only out the cost of one item.
Warmest regards,
P.S. I do go over POD companies in detail in the membership and members get direct access to ask me anything. I also do a deep dive comparison on products in our monthly releases.
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