How to Start a Print on Demand Business in India (2025 Guide for Beginners)
Ever wondered if it’s really possible to make money selling T-shirts without holding a single piece of stock? Well, welcome to the wild world of Print on Demand (POD). It’s booming globally, and yep, even here in India, people are cashing in. But before you dive into designing mugs and hoodies, let’s slow down and walk through the basics of how to start a print on demand business in India—the right way.
What Even Is Print on Demand?
Print on Demand, or POD, is a way to sell your own custom-designed products—like T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, tote bags, phone cases—without keeping any stock at home.
Here’s how it works, step-by-step:
- You create a design – This could be a quote, artwork, or a funny graphic.
- Upload it to your online store – Either on your own website or a marketplace.
- Customer places an order – Someone likes your product and buys it.
- POD partner prints & ships – Your supplier prints your design on the product and ships it directly to the customer.
You never have to touch the product, deal with inventory, or pack boxes. You just focus on designing, uploading, and promoting your stuff.
It’s similar to dropshipping, but with your own personal creative touch. And the best part? You only pay for the product after someone buys it—so you don’t need a big budget to start.
Why Even Start a POD Business in India?
Let’s be real—India is a sleeping giant when it comes to custom merch. Young population, increasing internet access, mad obsession with memes and pop culture… the opportunity’s just sitting there.
Plus:
- No warehouse needed.
- Can sell globally.
- Super low investment. Just your time, a bit of creativity, and some hustle.
People want unique, relatable products. And if you figure out how to start a print on demand business in India properly, you’re positioning yourself at the right place at the right time.
What Do You Actually Need to Start?
Good news—you don’t need a fancy office, a big team, or loads of money to start a Print on Demand business in India. It’s super beginner-friendly. Here’s what you actually need to get going:
- A phone or laptop – Just something to create and manage your store.
- Internet connection – Fast enough to upload designs and talk to customers.
- Design tool – Canva (free and beginner-friendly) or Photoshop if you’re more advanced.
- POD platform – Like Printrove, Blinkstore, or Qikink to handle printing and shipping.
- Basic idea or niche – Something you want to create designs around (like funny quotes, travel themes, pet lovers, etc.)
Optional stuff:
- GST number – Some platforms need it, some don’t. You can start without it in many cases.
- Logo or brand name – Nice to have, but don’t overthink it. You can improve later.
You don’t need to be a business expert or a designer. Just start with what you’ve got and improve along the way.
Which POD Platforms Work Best for Indian Sellers?
This part can get tricky. Not every international platform works well in India, especially when it comes to payouts, shipping, or customer support. So here’s a breakdown:
Indian POD Platforms:
- Printrove – Chennai-based, great for T-shirts, hoodies, phone cases.
- Qikink – Offers wide product range, supports Shopify integration.
- Blinkstore – You can set up your free store in minutes.
International Platforms (if selling abroad):
- Printful – Amazing quality, integrates with Shopify and Etsy.
- Redbubble / Teespring – Marketplace-based, no need for a separate store.
- Gelato – Offers global printing partners.
You can choose based on your target market. If you’re focusing only on India, stick to local PODs first—they’re cheaper and easier to deal with.
But... What Should You Sell?
This is where it gets fun. The golden rule? Don’t try to sell to everyone. You’ll end up selling to no one. Instead, go niche.
Here are a few niche ideas for Indian audiences:
- Desi humor (yes, people love meme merch)
- Astrology & spiritual quotes
- Travel and adventure lifestyle
- Feminist or social awareness tees
- Regional language designs
When figuring out how to start a print on demand business in India, choosing the right niche might just be your make-or-break move.
How to Find the Perfect Niche for Your POD Store in 2025
“I Can’t Design!”—No Worries
You don’t need to be a Photoshop wizard. Tools like Canva, Kittl, or MidJourney (for AI art) can help even non-designers create decent-looking stuff. A few quick tips:
- Keep it simple. White text on black tees still sells.
- Avoid copyrighted content (no Marvel or Bollywood dialogues).
- Use mockups to see how the design really looks on products.
Setting Up Your Store: Should You Go Website or Marketplace?
Once you’ve got your designs ready, the big question is—where should you sell? Do you build your own website or use an existing marketplace?
Let’s break it down
Option 1: Sell on Marketplaces
Platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, Redbubble, and Meesho already have tons of visitors. You can list your products and start selling without worrying about traffic.
Pros:
- Instant visibility
- No need to build a website
- Trusted platforms = more buyer confidence
Cons:
- Lots of competition
- Less control over branding and pricing
- You pay platform fees
This is great if you’re just starting out and want to test if your products sell.
Option 2: Create Your Own Website
You can build your own store using platforms like:
- Shopify – Easy to use, paid, good for scaling
- WooCommerce – Free plugin for WordPress, more control
- Blinkstore – Free Indian POD platform that gives you a mini-store
Pros:
- Full control over design, pricing, and brand
- No direct competition on your site
- You build your own customer base
Cons:
- You’ll need to bring your own traffic (marketing required)
- Some setup and learning involved
What Should You Pick?
If you’re a beginner → Start with marketplaces or Blinkstore (super easy and low-risk).
If you’re serious about building a brand Go with Shopify or WooCommerce once you’re confident.
You can even do both—test on a marketplace, and once you’ve got some sales, move to your own site for more control.
Legal Stuff – Do You Need a GST Number?
This is a common question, and the answer really depends on how and where you’re selling. If you’re using platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, or Shopify (with Indian payment gateways), then yes—you’ll most likely need a GST number. These platforms often require it during the account setup process. It’s part of doing business legally in India.
However, if you’re just testing the waters on platforms like Blinkstore or creating simple mockups to share on Instagram or WhatsApp, you can usually start without a GST number. Some Indian POD platforms don’t require it upfront, especially if you’re not generating big revenue yet.
That said, once you start making regular sales or want to run ads, open a business bank account, or deal with bulk orders, it’s a smart idea to register for GST early. It makes you look more professional and keeps you tax-compliant.
Also, if you plan to sell internationally or scale your business, having your GST and PAN in place will make things much easier.
So in short: Not always needed to start, but important if you’re serious about growing.
Marketing Time – How Do You Get Your First Sale?
Posting once on Instagram and hoping for the best? That’s not gonna cut it. If you’re serious about how to start a print on demand business in India and grow it, you need a marketing plan. Some simple (and cheap) tactics:
- Create reels and short-form content showcasing your products.
- Use trending hashtags related to your niche.
- Start a niche meme page and plug your products occasionally.
- Ask friends and fam to support your first launch (they actually might).
Paid ads? Great—but don’t start there unless you’ve tested your designs organically.
How to Use Social Media to Promote and Sell Digital Products
What Challenges Do POD Sellers Face in India?
Starting a Print on Demand business in India is exciting, but it’s not without a few bumps in the road. Many beginners jump in expecting quick success, only to feel frustrated when things don’t go as planned. That’s why it’s important to understand the common challenges upfront—so you’re better prepared to handle them.
- Shipping Delays and Coverage Issues
Not all POD platforms have fast or nationwide shipping. Some regions, especially rural areas, might face delays or limited delivery service. This can lead to unhappy customers and refund requests. - Quality Control Problems
Since you’re not packing or shipping the product yourself, you’re relying 100% on your POD supplier. Sometimes, products may arrive with misprints, poor fabric quality, or incorrect sizes. And you usually won’t know until the customer complains. - Low Profit Margins
If your pricing isn’t calculated smartly, you may end up with very thin profits. Remember, your POD partner takes a cut for printing and shipping, and platforms may charge fees too. That leaves you with less unless you price your products well or sell in volume. - Limited Branding Options
Most Indian POD platforms don’t offer full white-label solutions. That means you might not be able to add your own brand labels, thank-you cards, or packaging unless you scale up or use premium plans. - Customer Service Headaches
Even if the printing or shipping delay isn’t your fault, the customer will reach out to you. Handling complaints, exchanges, or refund requests can be stressful—especially when the POD supplier is slow to respond. - No Control Over Inventory or Timelines
You can’t predict stock availability or delays from the supplier side. If a product goes out of stock, you may lose orders. Similarly, festive seasons often bring delays that you can’t control. - Heavy Competition in Common Niches
Popular niches like “funny quotes” or “motivational tees” are crowded. If you’re not offering something unique, it’s tough to stand out and get consistent sales—especially without paid marketing. - Technical Setup and Marketing Learning Curve
If you’re building your own store, there’s a learning curve—connecting payment gateways, setting up products, running ads, managing analytics. It’s not super difficult, but it takes time and trial-and-error.
Despite these challenges, many Indian sellers are doing really well with POD. The key is to stay patient, keep learning, and adapt your strategy as you go. Most problems have solutions—you just need to stick around long enough to figure them out.
How Much Can You Actually Earn?
There’s no fixed number here. But here’s a rough idea:
- You make ₹150–₹300 per sale on average.
- With consistent marketing, even 30–50 orders/month can give decent side income.
- Scale up = More designs + Better ads + Building a brand.
Many Indian sellers have scaled POD stores to ₹50k–₹1L/month in profit. But again, you gotta treat it like a business—not a side hustle you check once a week.
Ready to Start?
Starting a POD biz might seem overwhelming at first, but it’s honestly one of the most beginner-friendly online business models in India right now. Low risk, high creative potential, and scalable.
Here’s the thing—you’ll never have all the answers before you start. And that’s okay. The real magic happens when you take action, test, fail a bit, and try again.
So if you’ve been sitting there Googling how to start a print on demand business in India, maybe it’s time to stop reading and start building. Your first design won’t be perfect. Your first sale might take time. But trust me… when it comes, it feels damn good