Scale Your Print on demand

Print-on-demand (POD) is one of the best low-risk, high-reward business models. However, many entrepreneurs hit a ceiling where their revenue stalls. The key to breaking through and scaling to $10K, $50K, or even $100K+ per month is automation, delegation, and smart marketing strategies.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to grow and maximize the income of your POD business, from increasing product offerings to hiring a team and making it run on autopilot.

1. Expand Your Product Line to Attract More Buyers

More product options = more sales opportunities. Instead of just selling t-shirts, diversify your catalog with:

• Hoodies & Sweatshirts – Higher price point = bigger profit margins.

• Phone Cases & Mugs – Everyday use items with high demand.

• Wall Art & Posters – Great for home décor buyers.

• Tote Bags & Stickers – Affordable and highly customizable.

• Embroidered Hats & Apparel – Premium feel attracts higher-paying customers.

Offering a variety of high-margin products helps you increase order values and attract different customer types.

2. Optimize Your Pricing Strategy for Maximum Profits

You don’t want to overprice and scare away buyers, but you also don’t want to undercut yourself.

Best Pricing Formula:

(Base Cost + Transaction Fees) x 2.5 = Retail Price

Example Pricing:

• T-Shirt Cost: $12

• Selling Price: $30

• Profit Per Sale: $18

For premium products like hoodies or embroidery, increase prices to 3x or 4x the base cost.

Pro Tip: Bundle Discounts & Upsells

• Offer Buy 2, Get 1 Free to increase average order value (AOV).

• Use apps like Honeycomb Upsell or Bold Upsell to add related product recommendations at checkout.

This ensures you’re maximizing revenue per customer.

3. Scale Traffic with Paid Advertising

Your biggest growth hack? More eyeballs on your store. Investing in paid traffic is the fastest way to scale.

Top Ad Platforms for POD Businesses:

• Facebook & Instagram Ads – Best for targeting niche audiences (ex: dog lovers, gamers, fitness enthusiasts).

• TikTok Ads – Trending platform with low-cost, high-converting ads.

• Pinterest Ads – Works great for home décor, fashion, and inspirational designs.

• Google Shopping Ads – Capture high-intent buyers actively searching for products.

Start with a $5-$10 daily budget, test different audiences, and scale profitable ads once you find what works.

4. Automate Order Fulfillment & Customer Service

To scale past $10K+ per month, you can’t manually handle every order or answer every email. You need automation.

How to Automate Your POD Business:

• Use Printful, Printify, or Gelato – These platforms print & ship automatically.

• Install Chatbots for FAQs – Use Tidio or Zendesk to automate customer support.

• Auto-Reply Emails – Set up email sequences for order updates, promotions, and abandoned carts.

• Outsource Customer Service – Hire a virtual assistant (VA) to answer emails and handle refunds.

This allows you to free up time and focus on scaling, not micromanaging.

5. Hire a Team to Grow Faster

At a certain point, you can’t do it all alone. Hiring a team helps you scale faster and manage higher order volumes.

Who to Hire & When:

• Virtual Assistants (VAs) – Manage customer service & emails ($5–$8/hour).

• Graphic Designers – Create unique & trending designs ($10–$25/hour on Fiverr/Upwork).

• Marketing Specialists – Run your ads & grow social media ($500–$2,000/month).

• Sales Team – Reach out to businesses for bulk orders & collaborations.

Hiring smart allows you to focus on growth instead of daily tasks.

6. Secure Bulk Orders & Business-to-Business (B2B) Deals

Most POD sellers focus only on individual buyers, but bulk orders can skyrocket revenue overnight.

How to Get B2B Clients:

• Reach out to local businesses & schools – Offer custom-branded merch.

• Partner with Influencers & YouTubers – Print merch for their audience.

• Work with Event Organizers – Sell custom shirts for conferences & festivals.

• Offer Corporate Gifts – Companies need custom swag for employees & clients.

Landing one bulk order of 500+ units can bring in $5,000–$10,000 in a single sale.

7. Expand to Multiple Sales Channels

To grow revenue past six figures, don’t rely on just one platform. Sell on multiple marketplaces.

Best Multi-Channel Selling Options:

• Your Own Shopify Store – Full control & highest profits.

• Etsy – Best for artistic, custom, and niche designs.

• Amazon Merch – Massive audience & trusted brand.

• Walmart Marketplace – Growing platform with less competition than Amazon.

• TikTok Shop – Sell directly to TikTok’s highly engaged audience.

The more places you sell, the higher your exposure and sales potential.

Potential Monthly Earnings at Scale

By implementing these strategies, here’s what realistic earnings look like:

• Beginner POD Store: 100 orders/month @ $15 profit = $1,500/month

• Scaling Business: 300 orders/month @ $20 profit = $6,000/month

• Fully Automated Business: 700 orders/month @ $25 profit = $17,500/month

• B2B & Bulk Orders Included: 1,000 orders/month @ $30 profit = $30,000+/month

Scaling isn’t just about more sales—it’s about bigger profits per order.

Pros and Cons of Scaling a POD Business

Pros:

✅ No Inventory Risks – Products print & ship only when ordered.
✅ Automatable – Fulfillment & customer service can be outsourced.
✅ Scalable – More designs & ads = More sales.
✅ Multiple Income Streams – Sell on Etsy, Amazon, Shopify, TikTok, and more.
✅ B2B Growth Potential – Bulk orders = large paydays.

Cons:

❌ Ad Costs Increase – Paid ads can get expensive without proper testing.
❌ Competitive Market – Requires strong branding & marketing.
❌ Profit Margins Can Be Low – Need high-volume sales for big earnings.
❌ Shipping Times – Customers may expect fast delivery like Amazon.

Summary: How to Grow and Maximize Your POD Business

1. Expand Your Product Line – Offer high-ticket items like hoodies & wall art.

2. Optimize Pricing & Upsells – Increase average order value (AOV).

3. Run Paid Ads – Scale with Facebook, TikTok, and Google Ads.

4. Automate Operations – Use chatbots, email sequences, and VAs.

5. Hire a Team – Delegate customer service, design, and marketing.

6. Target B2B Bulk Orders – Work with companies, influencers, and schools.

7. Sell on Multiple Platforms – Shopify, Etsy, Amazon, TikTok Shop.

Conclusion

Scaling a print-on-demand business is about working smarter, not harder. By diversifying sales channels, automating processes, and hiring a team, you can grow beyond $10K/month and turn POD into a fully automated business.

If you haven’t already please take our survey this helps us curate the best side hustles and business ideas to best fit your needs.

Advertise With Us