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Sell first. Print second.

What is print on demand – and how does it work?

Print on demand enables you to sell custom products without holding a single unit of stock.

Choose from thousands of products, upload your designs and list them in your store. We'll print and ship each order as it comes in – directly to your customer via our global fulfilment network.

500K+

Custom products

100+

Print hubs

20+

Countries served

80%+

Dispatched in 1–2 days

Example pod UI

What is print on demand?

Print on demand (aka POD) is a fulfilment model that enables anyone to sell made-to-order products online. No stock to buy, no minimums to fulfil, no money to pay until you make a sale.

And with print on demand companies like Prodigi, you can access thousands of custom products at the click of a button. Simply choose the product you want to sell, create your product mockups and upload them to your online store or website.

When a customer places an order, it goes straight to the nearest production facility in our global fulfilment network for printing, packing and dropshipping. We'll deliver your order directly to your customer in plain packaging, so all they see is your product.

You keep the difference between your selling price and the cost of production – without ever wrestling with packing tape, managing a shipment or getting stuck with unsold stock.

Whether you're selling wall art on Shopify, personalised mugs on Etsy or custom apparel on Amazon, Prodigi enables you to sell print on demand products without the overhead of traditional manufacturing.

Get started

Why start a print on demand business

Traditional product businesses demand capital before you've made a single sale. Print on demand flips that. You sell the product first – then it gets made.

Profits

Zero upfront cost

Prodigi is free to use – no setup costs or subscription required. You only pay when a customer places an order and it goes to print.

Boxes

Nothing to store or ship

No warehouse, no packing table, no trips to the post office. We handle everything behind the scenes, so you can focus on running your business.

Globe

Global from day one

Our global fulfilment network spans 100+ print hubs across 20+ countries. Every order routes to the facility closest to your customer.

Hands-off fulfilment

Once a customer checks out, we take over. Our integrations enable automatic order processing, so orders flow straight into production without you lifting a finger.

Test ideas for free

List a new design, see if it sells, remove it if it doesn't. No minimum runs, no write-offs, no risk. Iteration is free.

Sustainable by design

Print on demand means nothing goes to waste. Every product is made to order, so there's no overproduction, no excess stock and no unsold units heading to landfill.

Who is print on demand for?

If you have a design and an audience, and you want to sell without buying stock, managing fulfilment or taking on financial risk – print on demand is for you.

Artists & photographers

An original sells once, to one person. With print on demand, that same work becomes a product you can sell again and again.

Marketplace sellers

Connect Prodigi to your Etsy or Amazon store and enjoy hands-off order processing. You do the selling – we'll handle the rest.

Digital entrepreneurs

Whether you sell on Shopify, Squarespace or Wix, Prodigi integrates directly with your website. Configure your products, then leave the fulfilment to us.

Content creators

Turn your brand into custom merchandise without buying a single unit upfront. List it, share it, see what sells – no financial risk.

Brands & enterprises

Need to fulfil large volumes or integrate into an existing platform? Use our print API to fully automate your print on demand orders.

Print on demand vs traditional retail

With traditional retail, you buy stock before you've made a sale. With print on demand, nothing gets made until a customer places an order. Here's what that difference looks like in practice.

Factor Print on demand Traditional retail
Startup cost Check mark icon Free – no upfront investment required Close icon Significant capital needed for stock
Inventory risk Check mark icon Zero – products made to order only Close icon Risk of unsold stock and write-offs
Minimum orders Check mark icon None – order what you need, when you need it Close icon Often requires 100–500 (short run) and 1,000+ (traditional offset)
Product range Check mark icon 500K+ products – ready to customise and sell Close icon Limited to the stock you own
Fulfilment Check mark icon Fully managed by Prodigi Close icon You manage the printing, packing and shipping
Testing new designs Check mark icon Free – list and remove products at any time Close icon Requires minimum production run
Sustainability Check mark icon No overproduction or waste Close icon Stock often ends up discounted, destroyed or in landfill

Frequently asked questions

Your print on demand questions, answered

What is print on demand?

Print on demand is a way of selling custom products online without the usual overhead. You list and sell the product, we print, pack and ship it via our global fulfilment network. Nothing is produced until an order comes in, and you don't pay a penny until an order comes in.

How does print on demand work?

You choose which products you want to sell, create mockups for them using your designs, then list the products in your online store or on your website. When a customer places an order, it goes straight to the nearest production facility for printing, packing and shipping.

Is print on demand profitable?

It can be. Your margin is the difference between your selling price and the cost of production. Prodigi provides downloadable price sheets so you can plan your margins before you list a single product.

Do I need to hold stock?

No, never. Every product is made to order. You never buy inventory upfront and never risk being left with stock that doesn't sell.

Which platforms can I sell on?

Prodigi integrates with Etsy, Amazon, Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, TikTok and more. Developers can also connect via our print API for fully automated fulfilment.

How long does fulfilment take?

Over 80% of Prodigi products are ready for dispatch within 24–48 hours. Delivery time then depends on your customer's location and the shipping method chosen.

Is print on demand sustainable?

Yes, more so than traditional retail. Print on demand products are only made when they're sold, which eliminates overproduction. You can read more about our sustainability initiatives here.

How much does it cost to get started?

Nothing. Prodigi is free to join – no setup costs or subscription required. You only pay when a customer places an order and it goes to print.

An artist studio

Thinking of starting a print on demand business?

Monetise your designs with Prodigi – the greener, cheaper, faster way to sell custom products online.