I have enjoyed the POD business since I started doing it. Unlike other side hustles that I’ve taken on, it’s much more sustainable and consistent. But it also has some downsides. Here are some of the notable pros and cons of the Print-on-Demand business:

Pros

1. No need to have your own product

POD saves you from the risk of stockpiling products on your shelf. I can’t imagine storing over 1,000 mugs in my house. Where would I keep them? In the basement?

POD removes this burden, making it less risky for you to operate. The product will be made to order. The supplier produces the products while you take care of sales.

2. No need to ship products

POD saves you from the stress of having to ship products to customers on your own. The supplier handles the shipping process for you.

3. No need to pay the production cost upfront

Imagine making an upfront payment for 1,000 shot glasses and

selling just 17 units after 4 months. That’s a loss! A huge loss!

POD saves you from this, because production is not initiated until an order is available.

Cons

1. You can’t control quality

Since you can’t see the products, you cannot really verify the quality of the product delivered to your buyers. However, one way to tackle this is to go for a supplier with good reviews. Gearbubble, Printful, and Printify are good options.

2. No customer list

You don’t have a defined clientele in the POD business. This can affect your chances of building a long-term relationship with your buyers.

3. Relies mostly on the marketplace

Most of what makes the POD business thrive is heavily dependent on the marketplace. From the heavy buyer traffic to the product display, it’s all about the marketplace.

However, some of these problems can be fixed by creating your store. I’ll explain this later in the scaling chapter.

Okay, now you have basic knowledge about the Print-on-Demand business.