Welcome Back To Side Hustle Weekly!

I’m excited to share with you another great side hustle you can start today! Today we will be discussing how you can scale your print on demand business to well over $10k a month.

Printing To $10k

How to Grow and Maximize Income From a Print-On-Demand Business

Turn a few winning designs into a fully automated brand that can generate $10K–$30K+ per month.

Print-on-demand (POD) is often marketed as a “side hustle,” but when done correctly, it becomes a real, scalable business. The magic of POD is simple: you don’t touch inventory, you don’t ship products, and you don’t handle manufacturing. Your job is to build a brand, create demand, and let systems do the rest.

If you already have a POD store—or you’re past the beginner stage—this guide will show you how to multiply sales, automate operations, and scale income without burning out.

1. Double Down on Winning Designs

The fastest way to grow a POD business isn’t by creating endless new designs—it’s by identifying what already sells and scaling it.

Look at your data and ask:

• Which designs sell consistently?

• Which products have the highest profit margins?

• Which niches convert best?

Once you identify a winner:

• Create color variations

• Put the design on multiple products (shirts, hoodies, mugs, hats)

• Create bundles and limited-edition versions

One winning design can easily generate thousands per month when fully leveraged.

2. Expand Into Multiple Sales Channels

Relying on a single platform limits growth. Successful POD businesses sell everywhere.

Key platforms to expand into:

• Etsy for organic marketplace traffic

• Shopify for full brand control

• Amazon Merch for massive exposure

• TikTok Shop for impulse purchases

• Pinterest for evergreen traffic

Each channel acts as an additional income stream, increasing sales without increasing workload.

3. Build a Brand (Not Just a Store)

Branding separates serious POD businesses from hobby shops.

Strong branding includes:

• A clear niche identity

• Consistent fonts and colors

• A recognizable tone of voice

• A story customers connect with

• Branded packaging inserts or thank-you cards

People don’t just buy shirts—they buy identity, humor, pride, or belonging. When customers connect emotionally, conversions skyrocket.

4. Increase Average Order Value

More income doesn’t always require more customers.

Boost your average order value by:

• Offering bundle discounts

• Creating matching sets (shirt + hat)

• Adding upsells at checkout

• Offering limited-time exclusives

• Running “Buy 2, Get 1” promos

A $5–$10 increase per order can add thousands per month in revenue.

5. Automate Fulfillment and Customer Service

POD becomes powerful when you remove yourself from daily operations.

Automation tools to use:

• Printify or Printful for hands-off fulfillment

• Shopify Flow or automation apps

• Gorgias or Zendesk for customer support

• QuickBooks for accounting

• Zapier to connect workflows

Once set up, orders flow from customer → printer → shipment without your involvement.

6. Hire a Team to Scale Faster

To grow beyond $5K–$10K/month, you need people.

Key Roles to Hire

• Graphic designers – Create new collections weekly

• Virtual assistants – Manage listings, customer messages, and order tracking

• Video editors – Repurpose content for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts

• Ads manager – Optimize paid traffic campaigns

• Store manager – Oversees day-to-day operations

With a team, you shift from “creator” to business owner.

7. Hire a Sales & Outreach Team for Automated Growth

Most POD sellers never do this—and that’s why it works.

A sales/outreach team can:

• Contact influencers for collaborations

• Secure brand shoutouts

• Pitch bulk orders to businesses, teams, and organizations

• Reach out to niche communities

• Build wholesale or group-order deals

Sales reps can work commission-based, meaning you only pay when they close deals. This unlocks consistent, automated growth.

8. Use Paid Ads to Scale Predictably

Organic traffic is powerful—but ads let you scale fast.

Best ad platforms for POD:

• TikTok Ads

• Facebook & Instagram Ads

• Pinterest Ads

Start small, test creatives, and scale winning ads. Even a modest ad budget can turn a winning product into a reliable cash machine.

9. Reinvest Profits Like a Real Business

Instead of cashing out early, reinvest to compound growth:

• Launch new collections

• Expand into new niches

• Improve creatives

• Hire better talent

• Increase ad spend

Reinvestment is how POD businesses reach $20K–$30K+/month.

Estimated Monthly Income Potential

Here’s what a scaled POD business can realistically generate:

Growing Stage

• Multiple platforms

• Consistent content

• Small team
  $5,000–$10,000/month

Advanced Stage

• Strong brand

• Paid ads

• Automated systems
  $10,000–$25,000+/month

Authority Brand

• Wholesale deals

• Influencer partnerships

• Multiple niches
  $30,000–$50,000+/month

Requirements to Scale

• Willingness to delegate

• Reliable POD supplier

• Marketing systems

• Budget for reinvestment

• Consistent branding

Pros

• No inventory or shipping

• Highly scalable

• Easy to automate

• Global market

• Strong profit margins

• Flexible lifestyle

Cons

• Competition in popular niches

• Requires testing to find winners

• Ads require optimization

• Branding takes time

Summary: How to Grow a Print-On-Demand Business

1. Scale winning designs instead of constantly reinventing.

2. Sell on multiple platforms to increase traffic.

3. Build a recognizable brand customers connect with.

4. Increase average order value with bundles and upsells.

5. Automate fulfillment and customer service.

6. Hire designers, VAs, and managers to scale faster.

7. Add a sales and outreach team for influencer and bulk deals.

8. Reinvest profits to compound growth.

When done correctly, print-on-demand evolves from a simple side hustle into a fully automated e-commerce brand that generates consistent, scalable income—without warehouses, shipping headaches, or burnout.

That’s A Wrap

I hope you enjoyed today’s post and if you have any questions about the post, upcoming posts, how to advertise, or anything else, feel free to reply. See you next time with another money-making post, helping you boost your income!

Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational and educational purposes only and reflects the opinions of its editors and contributors. The content provided, including but not limited to real estate tips, stock market insights, business marketing strategies, and startup advice, is shared for general guidance and does not constitute financial, investment, real estate, legal, or business advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided. Past performance is not indicative of future results. All investment, real estate, and business decisions involve inherent risks, and readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence and consult with qualified professionals before taking any action. This newsletter does not establish a fiduciary, advisory, or professional relationship between the publishers and readers.