Free to Start Business Models: Print-On-Demand Vs. Dropshipping

Print-On-Demand Business

Do you know what the easiest business to start is?

Well, in my opinion, it is really easy to start an online business. You need to not a lot of money and you do not have to do a lot of paperwork. There are different kinds of online businesses, but what is the easiest online business?

The answer is print-on-demand!

What exactly print-on-demand business is?

It is a business model where you as a seller create a product digitally, and sell the product through your store, and the print-on-demand company will create the product and ship it to the buyer. You pay the product-making cost and shipping cost to the company and keep the additional money for yourself.

What makes print-on-demand easy?

You pay only after the product is sold. You do not have to manufacture the product, you do not have to fulfill the order.

What skills do you need?

You need graphic designing skills to create designs for your product. If you do not have graphic design skills, you can also purchase designs from other individuals from digital marketplaces. You also need SEO and marketing skills. Without SEO and marketing, you cannot sell your products.

How much money do you need?

You need at least $100 to run ads so that you can generate sales.

Dropshipping Business

In order to start a dropshipping business, you need two things, one, a store where you will be selling products, and two, a supplier who will provide fulfillment. You can build your store by using premium software like Shopify, or use a free platform like woocommerce. If you do not have funds to create a store, you can even use facebook marketplace, instagram shop, ebay, etc. to sell. The products you see through these platforms wi; be fulfilled by your dropshipping supplier. There are a lot of dropshipping suppliers such as Aliexpress, Made in China, CG Dropshipping, etc. Marketing skills are essential.

Dropshipping Vs Print-On-Demand

Dropshipping and Print-On-Demand, both are similar kinds of business models. Similar in the sense that you do not have to create and manufacture products, you do not even have to buy products to sell. You do not have to fulfill orders, all you need to do is sell products from your store and you make money from the markup- cost. 

However, the question is between these two business models, which one is easier to make money? Or let’s say which business is easier to start Dropshipping or Print-On-Demand?

If you want to start Print-On-Demand, you need product designing skills because you will have to create your own designs that the Print-On-Demand company will use on the product that you intend to sell.

If you want to do dropshipping, you will be selling someone’s product from your store. You do not have to create or buy products, but you will have to work hard to build your own store (the platform where you are selling products).

Print-On-Demand also needs a store but you can use eCommerce marketplace like Etsy to sell. While you can also do dropshipping through eCommerce marketplace, a proper way to do dropshipping is through your own store. 

Which is the Best Business Model: Dropshipping Vs. Print-On-Demand

Technically speaking, Dropshipping and Print-On-Demand are not completely passive income sources. You will have to work actively to generate sales. You will not only have to add products to your store frequently but also have to do SEO and digital marketing regularly to generate sales. However, Dropshipping and Print-On-Demand are normally included as passive income sources because you do not have to work for hours every day. If some products start selling, they will continue to generate sales without having to promote again and again.

SEO and digital marketing, both are essential to generate sales. However, each of these methods also requires a different set of skills. While creating a dropshipping store requires web designing and development skills, creating print-on-demand products requires you to have graphic design skills. Print-on-demand stores can be integrated for free with ecommerce marketplaces like ebay and etsy, however, you will have to invest serious money in creating a dropshipping store.