17 Pros & Cons of Print on Demand (Is It Still Worth It?)

Plenty of business models exist, but print on demand (POD) stands out as one of the most popular.

With this model, you can sell custom products without worrying about inventory, making it a great starting point for beginners.

However, like any business model, POD has its pros and cons.

So, let's consider the advantages and the challenges to see if it aligns with your business goals.

Pros and cons of POD: An overview

Below, you will find an easy-to-follow overview of all the pros and cons of print on demand:

Pros of print on demand	Cons of print on demand
No need to keep inventory	Limited control over shipping times, packaging, and overall process
Low upfront costs	Longer production and fulfillment times
Your supplier handles production and shipping	Potential issues with product quality
Easy to test new designs and products	Tough competition, making it hard to stand out
Quick to set up and scale	Lower profit margins compared to buying in bulk
Total creative freedom with product designs	Handling returns and refunds can be tricky
Sell globally with your supplier	You’re dependent on your supplier’s reliability
No need for storage space

Advantages of print on demand

Print on demand offers many great perks, such as only paying when you make a sale and not having to deal with shipping.

Let’s take a closer look at why so many entrepreneurs choose print on demand as their starting point:

1. No inventory needed

Here's print on demand's first pro: you don’t need to manage inventory.

While managing inventory has benefits, it can also be risky.

If you're unsure how well your products will sell or how your audience will respond, you could end up with unsold stock.

With print on demand, you only pay for products when a customer orders. There is no need to buy in bulk or worry about storage.

Pretty convenient, right?

Of course, there are some trade-offs (which we'll cover later), but the real advantage here is that you can test products without the risk.

If something doesn’t sell, you can move on without being stuck with leftover inventory.

2. Low startup costs

One of the key benefits of print on demand is affordability, allowing you to start a business with minimal upfront investment.

To put it in perspective, purchasing a bulk order of custom t-shirts could cost hundreds of dollars.

But with POD, you can begin selling custom designs with no upfront costs, making it much easier to start.

3. Easy to start

Another significant advantage of print on demand is that the provider handles everything!

They print, package, and ship the products for you.

This means you can focus on designing and marketing your products while the POD supplier handles the rest.

Of course, there is a downside: you won't see the product before it ships, which means there could be potential quality issues (we'll dive into that later).

On the upside, you can easily add new designs and products to your store without worrying about inventory management or storage space.

4. Global reach

You can sell your products to the entire world with print on demand.

Why?

Because most POD suppliers offer worldwide shipping, meaning you don’t have to handle international shipping logistics.

Check with your supplier before targeting a new country, as some may have restrictions on where they can ship.

Plus, you can find POD suppliers in countries like the US or Europe, which can offer faster shipping times.

If you’re using suppliers based overseas, shipping may take a bit longer, so it’s essential to plan for it.

5. Creative freedom

Regarding design and product options, print on demand gives you much creative freedom.

With POD, you can create custom product designs, such as t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and phone cases.

You can upload your artwork or use built-in design tools to create products.

Some POD suppliers also allow you to customize packaging and labels.

6. Eco-friendly production

Print on demand is an excellent choice for businesses looking to minimize waste, overproduction, and carbon emissions—something that’s not always achievable with traditional retail models.

POD only produces items when ordered, meaning there’s no excess inventory or waste.

Many POD services also partner with eco-friendly manufacturers that use sustainable materials:

7. Easy design and product testing

One key advantage of POD is quickly testing new designs.

Since there’s no need to bulk order products upfront, creators can launch various designs with minimal investment.

This allows POD businesses to experiment with trends, gather customer feedback, and adjust their offerings without financial risk.

Fast design testing helps brands stay competitive in the market!

9. Product personalization

Print on demand also makes it easy to offer personalized products, allowing customers to add their touch to items.

So, what exactly is product personalization, and why is it so great?

Personalization lets customers customize items with names or designs, like t-shirts, mugs, or phone cases.

This makes each product feel unique, helping to create a stronger connection with your brand.

If you're wondering how to add personalization to your products, we have an article to help you get started.

10. Work from anywhere

Unlike traditional businesses, you can do everything from your computer; your location doesn't matter.

You can set up an online store and start selling your designs from anywhere worldwide!

Disadvantages of print on demand

Now that we’ve covered all print on demand pros, let’s move on to the cons.

Many people promoting POD often skip over these and instead call it "a simple way to make money."

But there are some challenges you'll need to be aware of.

This brings me to the first con: profit margins.

1. Lower profit margins

The hidden cost of print on demand is the lack of bulk pricing.

You’ll typically pay more per item than buying products in bulk, leading to lower profit margins.

Since POD suppliers handle individual production, storage, and shipping for each order, they must charge more for single units.

This covers their costs for materials, production, and handling.

Unlike wholesalers, who offer lower prices for bulk orders, POD providers can’t reduce prices for single items, making each product more expensive and affecting your overall profits.

2. Quality control issues

The only things you control with print on demand are the designs and the prices of the products you sell.

For example, you don’t have control over:

• Product quality. Since you aren’t producing the items yourself, you rely on the supplier to meet quality standards, including shipping times.
• Shipping times. Depending on your supplier, shipping can take longer, especially for international orders.
• Packaging. Most POD suppliers handle everything, so some don't allow you to customize the packaging or add personal touches like thank-you notes.

This also means that if a customer complains about product quality, late deliveries, or damaged items, you can’t fix the issue directly since it’s outside your control.

How to handle this?

If you’re starting, don’t worry too much. Many POD businesses deal with these challenges.

The key is to choose a reliable supplier to minimize issues:

As your business grows, you might consider working with a higher-quality POD provider or managing fulfillment for better control over quality, packaging, and shipping times.

This way, you can create a better customer experience and build a stronger brand!

3. Longer production times

As mentioned, you don’t have control over several things with print on demand.

The same goes for production times.

If your product suddenly becomes a bestseller, your supplier might take longer to fulfill orders.

This delay happens because each item is made on demand, which takes time.

Luckily, this is an easy issue to manage!

You can solve it by setting clear shipping expectations with your customers and working with suppliers that offer faster production and delivery options.

4. Limited control over branding

With POD, you lose some control over packaging and presentation.

Since the supplier handles shipping, you can’t add personal touches like branded boxes or custom inserts.

This might make it harder for your brand to stand out and create a memorable unboxing experience.

Related article: Enhancing Your POD Business: The Power of Branded Packaging

5. High competition

Most people struggle with their print on demand store because they’re not unique.

So many entrepreneurs are learning about POD and launching stores right now, leading to market saturation.

For example, search 'print on demand' on Google Trends:

Do you see how popular it’s become?

Everyone wants in because it’s often marketed as an easy way to make money online.

But here’s the problem:

Many sellers don’t make any effort to stand out.

They use the same designs, product descriptions, and images as everyone else, which makes it hard to compete.

Without originality, it’s tough to succeed in such a crowded market!

6. Handling returns

If you choose your print on demand supplier wisely, handling returns can still be an issue.

Since each item is made to order, shipping times can take longer, especially for international customers.

This delay and the fact that you don’t control the product quality can lead to more returns or refund requests.

If customers are unhappy with the product or the delivery time, the chances of processing returns increase.

7. Harder to build brand loyalty

Building brand loyalty with POD can be tricky.

Because you don’t manage the packaging or shipping, it's tough to create that personal connection through a special unboxing or unique packaging.

Without those little extras, it can be more challenging for customers to feel connected to your brand, so they might not return as often.

When should you choose POD?

POD is perfect if you’re just starting and want to sell without worrying about inventory or shipping.

It’s a great fit when you want to test new designs or ideas without spending much money upfront.

If you're curious about what to look for in a POD supplier, check out our guide here.

Summary

Before we go, we've created a quick summary of this article for you so you can easily remember it:

• Print on demand lets you sell products without inventory, reducing upfront costs.
• You only pay for items when customers order.
• POD allows you to easily customize and test new designs.
• Suppliers handle global shipping so that you can sell internationally with ease.
• Profit margins are lower due to higher production costs for single items.
• Building customer loyalty is more complex, with limited control over packaging and personalization.

Conclusion

So, there you have it—the pros and cons of print on demand that you should know before starting your business.

If you're still excited about POD after reading this, I wish you the best on your journey!

If you have second thoughts, check out these successful POD stores for inspiration and motivation.

Thank you for reading, and have a great day!

Want to learn more about POD?

Ready to move your print on demand store to the next level? Check out the articles below:

• 6 Tips to Diversify Your Print on Demand Store in 2025
• 8 Best Print on Demand AI Tools in 2025 (Free & Paid)
• Is Print on Demand Saturated in 2025? (Should You Start?)
• ​​25 Print on Demand Product Examples to Start Selling (2025)

Plus, don’t forget to check out our in-depth how to start a print on demand business guide here!