- Adam Ravona
- Dec 25, 2025
- 13 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Turn your ideas into sales and start selling with Wix eCommerce→
Selling print-on-demand t-shirts is one of the easiest ways to turn custom merch into a real business—without inventory, upfront costs or production headaches. With an idea, a design and the right setup, you can start selling fast. This guide breaks down how print-on-demand works, how to design and price your shirts and how the Wix website builder brings your site, payments and growth tools together in one place.
TL;DR: How to sell print-on-demand t-shirts
You’ll learn the full process of selling print-on-demand t-shirts, from picking a niche and designing shirts to creating a website, setting up payments and choosing a print-on-demand partner. You’ll also discover how branding, pricing, customer support and marketing work together to help your store grow into a reliable way to make money online.
Ready to launch your eCommerce business? With Wix eCommerce, you can build a professional online store that attracts customers, drives sales and grows your brand. Enjoy full customization, built-in SEO and powerful marketing tools, all in one platform. Start today and turn your vision into success.
You'll learn:
How print-on-demand works and why it’s beginner-friendly
How to turn ideas into custom merch people actually want
How to start a website and sell using a website builder
How to connect printing, payments and fulfillment
How to price your t-shirts and manage orders smoothly
How to promote your store and build a brand that lasts
Wix offers a comprehensive print-on-demand solution through its Printful integration, giving you everything from product sourcing and custom design to printing, shipping and order management.
Learn more:
How to sell print-on-demand t-shirts in 10 steps
The global print-on-demand market is growing fast and expected to jump from $10.8 billion in 2025 to $57.49 billion by 2033. Knowing how to start a print-on-demand business can be an exciting and lucrative venture.
Follow these ten steps to turn your t-shirt ideas into a successful online store.
01. Select your t-shirt niche
Finding your niche is about identifying a specific audience for your t-shirts. Think about passions, hobbies or communities you're a part of. Selling to a targeted group, like dog lovers or vintage car enthusiasts, helps your brand connect with customers on a deeper level.
For example:
Unify Game Wear nails their niche. They serve youth sports leagues by offering custom team gear that’s all about spirit, identity and teamwork. Their focus on a clear audience helps every marketing move feel personal and effective.
Like what you see? Build your own POD t-shirt store using this same template.
Template name: Sportwear store website template
Research different print-on-demand business ideas to see what's trending. Are people looking for funny slogans, artistic designs or shirts related to a specific cause? A well-defined niche makes your marketing efforts more effective and helps you create designs that people will love.
Everything you need to know about how to make a business website
02. Create your t-shirt designs
Now for the fun part: creating your designs.
Choose your canvas; shirt types, materials and fits
Here’s where your personality and brand vision really get to shine. When it comes to creating your t-shirt designs, think beyond just the graphic on the front. Consider the type of shirt, the material and the fit that will deliver the experience you want for your customers.
First, explore the types of t-shirts you can offer. Classic crew necks and V-necks are always popular picks, and there’s room to play with long sleeves, crop tops or relaxed fits if your brand calls for it.
Materials matter and soft, breathable cotton works great for daily wear, while tri-blends offer a comfy, vintage feel that’s perfect for casual collections. Offering size ranges that include inclusive sizing, like XS to 5XL, means more people can enjoy your designs.
Get creative with your designs
Next, get creative with your design options. Logos are a go-to choice for brand-centric tees. Illustrations and hand-drawn artwork can add a personal, artistic touch, like a line-art flower for a botanical brand or funky doodles for kids’ tees. Photo prints are also trending, letting you turn a bold snapshot or a quirky pet pic into wearable art.
If you love designing, try tools like the Wix logo maker to bring your ideas to life. Need a pro’s touch? You can always hire a freelance graphic designer to refine your vision. Whichever route you choose, make sure your design files are high-resolution, so your prints look crisp and professional.
Remember, sometimes less is more. A clever slogan on a plain tee can be just as catchy as a detailed illustration. With the right combo of fabric, fit and artwork, your t-shirts can quickly become favorites in your customers’ wardrobes.
Learn how to design a logo
03. Choose a professional website builder
The first step to making a website is selecting the right platform for your business website. A good website builder makes it easy to create an online store, manage products and accept payments. Look for a drag-and-drop website builder so you can customize your site's look and feel without needing to know how to code.
In addition to their website builder, Wix offers a comprehensive print-on-demand solution—from product sourcing and custom design to printing, shipping and order management. You can choose from hundreds of professional eCommerce website templates and customize them to match your brand. With Wix, you can easily design, sell and dropship print-on-demand products all from one place.
Check out how to start dropshipping and the best dropshipping website builders
04. Choose your domain name and web hosting
Your domain name is your website's address on the internet, so choose one that’s memorable and reflects your brand. Many print-on-demand business names are catchy and short. Check if your desired name is available and buy a domain name.
Web hosting is what makes your site accessible online. When you build your site with a platform like Wix, free website hosting is included with all plans. This simplifies the setup process, since you won't need to find a separate eCommerce hosting provider.
With Wix, you can easily find and secure a custom domain that reflects who you are and what you do. Whether you’re launching a business, blog or portfolio, your perfect domain is just a few clicks away. Start building your online presence and claim yours today.
05. Create your online store
Your eCommerce site is the foundation of your print-on-demand business. It’s where your brand comes to life and customers connect with your products. Start with a homepage that grabs attention. Use bold visuals, a clear tagline and a prominent call-to-action like “Shop the Collection.” Make sure to highlight your bestsellers, new arrivals or special promotions.
Landing pages can spotlight your best-selling t-shirt designs or limited-edition collections. Use them to showcase high-quality images, highlight unique features of your designs and include a clear call-to-action like “Shop Now” to drive sales.
For example:
Mama Dragons uses their homepage to showcase their mission of supporting parents of LGBTQ youth, creating an emotional connection with their audience while making it easy for visitors to start shopping.
Like what you see? Build your own POD t-shirt store using this same template.
Template name: Women empowerment NGO website template
Include key pages to provide a complete shopping experience:
Your print-on-demand shop should include several key pages to engage customers and drive sales. Include a homepage that grabs attention with bold visuals, a clear tagline and a prominent call-to-action like “Shop the Collection.” A shop page is a must with products organized into categories, like “Graphic Tees” or “Seasonal Favorites.” Make sure to include filters for sizes, colors and price points to enhance the shopping experience.
An "About Us" page, sharing your story and mission, helps customers connect with your brand on a personal level. For easy communication, include a "Contact Us" page with a form, email address and social media links. A FAQ page is also a good idea with common questions about shipping, returns, sizing and product care. Lastly, a up-to-date blog can help with content marketing, letting you share behind-the-scenes content, styling tips or stories that resonate with your audience.
It's also important to optimize your product pages to increase purchasing and minimize returns. High-resolution images, detailed product descriptions, reviews and ratings, return policies, stock availability and a clear sizing guide gives customers the confidence they need to hit "Buy Now."
06. Pick a print-on-demand service
Learn how to connect your online store with a print-on-demand partner to handle the printing and order fulfillment.
Integrate with a POD partner
Your print-on-demand partner or dropshipping suppliers will handle the printing and shipping. It’s important to choose from reliable print-on-demand companies to make sure your customers receive high-quality products on time. Popular choices include Printful and Printify.
With Wix, integrating with Printful is seamless and efficient. Once a customer places an order for a Printful product on your Wix store, the system automatically sends a payment request to Printful. After you complete the payment, Printful takes over by creating the custom product and shipping it directly to your customer. This ensures a smooth and hands-free fulfillment process.
Manage, track and fulfill orders
You can set up a Printful Wallet or add a payment method, allowing payments and fulfillment to occur automatically. Orders containing Printful products are clearly marked in your Wix dashboard with the Printful logo and a "Fulfilled by Printful" label, making it easy to track them.
Customers are notified when orders ship, receiving shipping confirmation emails branded with your store's brand as well as tracking numbers. Important information like tracking numbers can be viewed via both the Wix and Printful dashboards, ensuring transparency and easy order management.
If you prefer manual control, you can fulfill orders manually by confirming and paying for them directly in the Printful dashboard. This flexibility allows you to manage your store in a way that best suits you and your workflow.
“Wix and Printful take the heavy lifting out of launching a print-on-demand business. You can go from idea to online in a matter of hours using built-in tools for design, fulfillment, marketing and growth. It’s a full solution for anyone serious about turning their creativity into a real business.” - Chava Katz, PMM for Wix Pages at Wix
Check out these print-on-demand Wix success stories
07. Set your prices
Pricing your t-shirts correctly is a balance between covering costs and making a profit. Your price should include the base cost of the t-shirt from your supplier, shipping fees and any related transaction fees. From there, add a margin that reflects the value of your designs.
Research what similar t-shirts in your niche are selling for. This will give you a good idea of what customers are willing to pay. Your dropshipping pricing strategy will directly impact your business's profitability, so take the time to get it right.
Get a better understanding with these print-on-demand statistics
08. Order product samples
Before you start selling, order samples of your t-shirts. This allows you to check the print quality, material and overall feel of the final product. It's an important quality control step that makes sure your customers will be happy with their purchase.
Wearing and washing the samples will also give you an idea of their durability. You can take high-quality photos of the samples for your product pages, which can look more authentic than the mockups provided by your supplier.
“Samples aren’t just for quality control—they’re your first marketing asset. Use them to build trust, create excitement around your brand and show customers exactly what they’re getting.” - Chava Katz, PMM for Wix Pages at Wix
Get inspired by these dropshipping business ideas
09. Promote your t-shirt business
Getting eyes on your t-shirt business is easier when you make the most of smart marketing moves. Think social media sharing, Google Ads and joining communities that vibe with your niche. But don’t forget SEO (search engine optimization). By using eCommerce SEO strategies, like adding relevant keywords to your product pages, creating helpful blog content for your audience and making sure your site loads quickly, you'll boost your chances of being found on Google and other search engines.
Wix SEO makes it easy to put these best practices into action, giving your store extra visibility and helping you reach even more customers searching for something fresh. With just a few adjustments to your site’s metadata and structure, you can make a real impact on how your t-shirt brand appears in search results.
You can also drive more conversions by creating dedicated landing pages to spotlight special promotions or new collections. Using a landing page builder makes it easy to design pages that are focused, eye-catching and optimized for turning visitors into customers.
Content marketing, like blogging or sharing your creative process, helps you connect with your crowd. Email marketing is also a great way to keep your best customers in the loop about new launches.
For example:
TOAT Studio markets their eye-catching collections by embracing print-on-demand to reduce waste and support more sustainable shopping. When you tell a story your audience cares about, you're one step closer to building a loyal following.
Like what you see? Build your own POD t-shirt store using this same template.
Template name: Sport merchandise store website template
Running a print-on-demand business involves more than just selling t-shirts. Pay attention to customer feedback and look for ways to improve your products and service. Keep an eye on your sales data to see which designs are popular and which aren't.
As your eCommerce business grows and you discover more about how to make money with print-on-demand, you can explore new products to offer, like hoodies, mugs or tote bags. Wix automates dropshipping with order routing and tracking, giving you more time to focus on growth and new creative ideas. Continue to learn and adapt, and you'll be on your way to building a successful brand.
Learn more about:
10. Manage and grow your business
Now it's time to take your t-shirt business to the next level by analyzing performance and exploring new growth opportunities.
Analyze your performance and connect with customers
Once your t-shirt business is rolling, focus on what keeping things moving forward by seeing what works and what doesn’t. Track your sales to see which designs are a hit, when shoppers are most active and how your profit margins look. Use these insights to guide your next steps, like picking new styles, timing promotions or adjusting prices.
Stay close to your customers by encouraging reviews and asking for feedback on designs, sizing or shipping. An email list is a great way to share new launches, exclusive offers or limited-time sales. Genuine conversations and social proof, like testimonials, can build trust and excitement around your brand.
Try promoting your best-sellers with ads, or partner with influencers and online communities that fit your brand’s vibe to reach new fans.
Check out these print-on-demand business ideas and the best print-on-demand products to sell on your online store.
Expand and optimize
Think about expanding what you offer when you spot a demand, such as new t-shirt cuts, colors or even non-t-shirt products, like hoodies, mugs or stickers. Limited edition and seasonal releases can drum up some hype and keep shoppers coming back.
Make life easier by automating order fulfillment and keeping tabs on things like shipping times, fees and any customer questions. Check in with suppliers regularly, so you’re always on top of ensuring the best possible experience for your shoppers and you.
Your brand is more than just the shirts. Bring it to life with a consistent style, a memorable story and thoughtful designs. Small details, like a heartfelt thank you note or cool custom mailers, can leave a lasting impression.
Keep experimenting and growing. Explore new marketing channels like Pinterest or TikTok, test out different website layouts or product descriptions and watch trends in your niche. Every new idea is a chance to connect, improve and have more fun building your brand.
Learn more:
Legal tips for running a print-on-demand t-shirt store
Before you launch your print-on-demand store, it’s a good idea to understand the legal requirements. You can register your business according to local regulations whether that’s forming an LLC, sole proprietorship or other entity. A registered business protects you legally, allows you to open a business bank account and ensures you can pay taxes correctly. You’ll also want to check local tax rules for online sales, including VAT or sales tax, especially if you sell internationally.
If your designs use logos, trademarks or copyrighted material, make sure you have the rights to sell them. Copyright infringement can result in takedown notices, fines or even legal action. Stick to stock graphics, original artwork or licensed designs to be on the safe side. It's also smart to review your POD provider’s terms—some platforms have rules on the types of products or designs you can sell.
Finally, think about contracts and agreements with freelancers, designers or fulfillment partners. Clearly outline payment terms, ownership of designs and responsibilities.
Shipping and returns strategy for print-on-demand t-shirts
Even though your POD provider handles the heavy lifting, you'll want to communicate shipping times clearly to your customers. Most providers offer standard expedited and international shipping. Be sure to display estimated delivery dates on product pages in confirmation emails and on checkout pages.
Returns and exchanges are another area to plan. POD products are often custom-made which can limit returns. Establish a clear return policy covering defective items, sizing issues or misprints. Add this policy to your product pages and store FAQ.
For international sales, keep in mind customs, import taxes and delivery delays. It's a good idea to show customers any extra charges before they complete a purchase. You can build trust and improve the shopping experience by providing tracking numbers and proactive notifications.
How to brand and package your print-on-demand t-shirts
Create a consistent visual style with your logo, color palette, typography and tone of voice. Apply your branding across your website, social media and marketing materials to build a cohesive identity. Customers are more likely to remember and recommend a brand that feels polished and authentic.
Custom packaging adds value to the unboxing experience. Branded boxes, tissue paper, thank-you cards or stickers make a lasting impression even for POD products. Small touches like these can encourage repeat purchases and social sharing. If your POD provider offers branded inserts or packaging options, take advantage of them.
Include clear labeling on your shirts with care instructions and size guides. This reduces confusion, lowers return rates and reinforces your professional image.
Customer support for your POD store
Respond to inquiries quickly via email, social media or live chat. Answer questions about sizing, shipping and product details clearly.
Create self-service resources like an FAQ page, size charts and care instructions. This helps reduce repetitive inquiries and allows customers to make confident buying decisions. Make it simple for customers to track orders and get updates.
Monitor customer feedback and reviews regularly. Address negative experiences constructively and quickly. Taking a proactive approach to service builds credibility and trust.
How to sell print-on-demand t-shirts FAQ
Is print-on-demand t-shirts profitable?
Yes, a print-on-demand t-shirt business can be profitable. Because you don't have to invest in inventory, startup costs are low. Profitability depends on your pricing, the quality of your designs and your marketing efforts. By finding a popular niche and creating designs that connect with your audience, you can build a successful business.
How much does it cost to start a print-on-demand business with Wix?
The cost to start a print-on-demand business with Wix can be quite low. You'll need a Wix Business Premium plan to accept payments online. Other potential costs include a custom domain name and any fees for design software or freelance designers. However, many print-on-demand services are free to integrate and you only pay for products when a customer places an order.
How do I find a niche for my t-shirt business?
To find a niche, think about your own interests and passions. What topics do you know a lot about? You can also research trending topics on social media or online marketplaces to see what's popular. The key is to find a group of people with a shared interest and create designs that they'll love.
Can I sell other products with print-on-demand and dropshipping?
Yes. Print-on-demand and dropshipping aren’t just for t-shirts—you can expand your store with a variety of products to attract more customers and grow your brand.
Comments