Want to start a business and wonder “Is print on demand profitable in India“? Check out these tips and a platform to get started!
This article will explain the basics of print-on-demand, share important steps to help your business generate money, and look at the best site for successful print-on-demand businesses.
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Is Print on Demand Profitable in India?
Is a print-on-demand business profitable in India? Print-on-demand is a profitable business in India and will keep growing in 2025, especially for people with unique ideas, great designs, and smart marketing. You can usually make a profit of 25% to 40%, depending on the type of product and niche.
Print-on-demand market revenue is projected to reach $43.4 billion by 2030, growing at 28.8% annually.
The industry is competitive, but it has good potential for beginners. About 1 in 4 print-on-demand businesses are successful. By focusing on outstanding designs, high-quality products, and happy customers, you can create a successful store.
What Is the Size of the Pod Market in India?
Market Segmentation in Print-on-demand India
The Print-on-Demand India market (2020-2032) is segmented into six major segments:
| Category | Segments |
| By Branded Merchandise | Corporate Apparel, Promotional Products |
| By Distribution Channel | Offline, Online |
| By End User | Art & Creative, Corporate, Education, Fashion & Apparel, Furnishing, Others, Publishing |
| By Platform | Service, Software |
| By Product Category | Accessories, Baby & Kids’ Items, Books & Printed Materials, Customizable Apparel, Decor, Drinkware, Pet Accessories, Stationery |
| By Technology | Digital Printing, Offset Printing, Screen Printing |
What Is Helping the Print-on-Demand (POD) Market in India?
In India, what is helping to drive the growth of the Print-on-Demand (POD) market?
1. Growing Population Creates Demand:
India has over 1.3 billion people, and this large population means there are many potential customers for customized products. Different age groups and lifestyles make it easy for POD businesses to cater to unique tastes and preferences.
2. Rising Disposable Income:
As people in India earn more money, especially the middle class and city dwellers, they are spending more on unique, personalized products. They want items like custom clothing, home decor, and accessories that match their style.
3. Expanding Middle Class:
More than 200 million Indians will be middle class by 2025. This will increase demand for customized products as more people have extra money to spend on things they love.
Challenges in India’s Print-on-Demand (POD) Market
1. Transport and Delivery Issues:
India’s large size and tough terrain make it hard to create smooth transport systems. This causes delays and higher shipping costs.
2. Storage Problems:
Limited warehouse space and poor storage facilities make it difficult to handle and deliver orders quickly.
3. Internet and Power Issues:
Many areas, especially remote ones, don’t have reliable internet or electricity. This slows down work and affects how POD businesses run their websites and fulfill orders.
4. Government Efforts:
The Indian government is working on improving roads, warehouses, and internet services. These upgrades will help solve these problems and allow POD businesses to grow faster.
Opportunities for Print-on-Demand (POD) in India
1. Rise of Online Shopping
The growth of online shopping in India has been a big help for POD businesses. Websites like Flipkart and Amazon allow these companies to show their products to more people and sell them easily.
2. Smartphones and Internet
As more people use smartphones and the internet, it’s become simple for customers to find and buy customized products online.
3. Targeted Marketing
E-commerce platforms make it easier for POD companies to reach people who are interested in personalized items through ads and promotions.
4. Better Operations
By linking with tools like Shopify or WooCommerce, POD businesses can handle orders and deliveries faster, improving customer satisfaction.
5. New Growth Opportunities
Overall, the rise of e-commerce has made it easier for POD companies in India to grow, sell more, and connect with more customers.
What Is the Future of Print-On-Demand in India?
The Print-on-demand market in India has grown a lot in recent years and is predicted to grow even faster, with a yearly growth rate of 27.8% between 2023 and 2031.
Print-on-demand is a way to print books or papers only when someone orders them, instead of printing a lot in advance. This became possible with digital printing, which made it cheaper to print just one copy. Before digital printing, making a single copy using old techniques like offset printing was too expensive, so businesses couldn’t use this approach.
Key Points
- Clothing was the top-selling product category.
- Software was the most popular platform in the market.
Which Is the Best Print-On-Demand Company in India?
Blinkstore is the best print-on-demand site in India for beginners who want to start a print-on-demand business without spending money upfront. It has a simple dashboard where you can design and sell t-shirts, phone cases, mugs, and more.
Features:
- Easy Dashboard: You can quickly manage orders, make new products, and check your sales.
- No Stock Needed: Products are made only when someone buys them, so no extra risk.
- Custom Items: Sell cool items like t-shirts, mugs, and posters.
- Beginner-Friendly: Perfect for people selling for the first time.
Pros:
- Free to Start: Great for startups or small businesses.
- Good for Creative Sellers: Great for selling your custom designs.
Cons:
- Limited Options: Fewer product choices than some others.
- Simple Tools: Not great for detailed designs.
Pricing:
- Free to Use: No upfront costs, but you pay for the product and shipping after a sale.
How to Calculate Print-on-demand Profit?
To find the profit margin for a print-on-demand business, you can use this formula:
Profit Margin = [(Selling Price – Base Price) – Platform Fee] ÷ Selling Price × 100
Example Calculation:
Base Price: Your print partner charges ₹400 for making and shipping a Hoodie.
Selling Price: You sell the Hoodie for ₹799.
Platform Fee: The platform takes 10% of the selling price as a fee. So, 10% of ₹799 = ₹79.90.
Profit Margin Calculation: Profit Margin = [(₹799 – ₹400) – ₹79.90] ÷ ₹799 × 100
= ₹319.1 ÷ ₹799 × 100
= 39.9%
Make Print-On-Demand Profitable in India in 2025 with Blinkstore
To make print-on-demand profitable in India, we will go through the process step by step using a print-on-demand platform.
We’ve been using Blinkstore since the start. Blinkstore is a print-on-demand service that lets you create and sell products like clothes and home decor. It’s easy to use, affordable and works with online stores like Shopify and WooCommerce.
1. Product Selection
We chose Blinkstore mainly because they have a lot of different products to choose from, like t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and phone cases. This helps us offer many options to our customers without worrying about keeping stock or handling shipping.
2. Printing Quality
One more reason to use Blinkstore is its great printing quality. They have top-notch methods like direct-to-garment (DTG) printing and embroidery to make sure the product looks good and lasts a long time. We had heard their mugs were really good, so we ordered a few samples to try them out.
3. Product Pricing
Blinsktore has good prices that are similar to other print-on-demand services. They’re also offering more discounts for stores that grow, so we’re interested to see how that turns out.
4. Shipping Locations
We chose Blinkstore because we live in UP, but most of our customers are in different regions in India.
Blinkstore delivers products all over India, including cities and small towns. They work with different delivery companies like India Post, BlueDart, and Delhivery to make sure items reach customers on time, no matter where they are in the country.
This means our customers get their orders faster, and the products have a smaller impact on the environment.
5. User-friendly
Once you have the design, you can easily add it to the product in Blinkstore and make a template. Then, download images of your design on different products you want to sell. These images can be used in your Etsy listings or anywhere else you like to sell.
Do Print-On-Demands Make Passive Income?
Print-on-demand is a great way to make passive income, but it still needs some effort. With this model, you can sell custom products without worrying about keeping stock or shipping them because the POD service takes care of production and delivery for you.
Starting a thriving POD business takes time at first. You must make unique designs, pick a good POD partner, set up your online store, and use marketing to get customers. But once all that is done, you’re set up for success.
To make money consistently, it’s important to automate sales as much as you can. By using social media ads, SEO, and email campaigns to keep bringing in new customers.
To give you an example, email marketing can give a huge return, like $36 for every $1 spent, making it a strong way to boost sales once your store is running.
Which Print-on-Demand Products Will Be the Most Profitable in 2025?
Here are 5 popular POD product ideas for 2025 that will grab your customers’ attention and boost sales.
1. T-shirts
T-shirts are popular and easy to design, making them perfect for a print-on-demand business.
Here’s why:
- Everyone wants them: T-shirts fit in almost anyone’s closet, so they’re easy to sell to different people.
- Great for promotion: Companies and events often need custom t-shirts, which means big orders.
- Good profit: T-shirts are cheap to make, so you can make a good profit, especially in bulk.
- Easy to grow: As your business gets bigger, it’s easy to make more t-shirts without a lot of extra costs.
2. Mugs
Mugs are a popular and profitable item in print-on-demand stores.
Here’s why:
- All year round: Mugs are always in demand, whether for holidays or everyday use.
- Great gifts: Personalized mugs are perfect for birthdays, holidays, or special occasions.
- Easy to design: You can add text, images, or even QR codes.
- Affordable and profitable: Mugs are cheap to make and can be sold for a good price.
3. Hoodies
Custom hoodies are popular in 2024 for lounging, the gym, or fashion.
Here’s why they’re great:
- High value: Custom hoodies can sell for more because they’re seen as premium, personalized items, giving you good profits.
- All-year wear: Hoodies are great year-round. You can offer light ones for summer and warmer ones for winter.
- Brand collaborations: Partnering with brands like Champion adds extra appeal.
- Hooded blankets: Hooded blankets are trending, combining hoodie comfort with blanket coziness.
4. Phone Cases
Phone cases are popular because they offer both protection and personalization.
Here’s why they work well for print-on-demand stores:
- Lots of Customization: You can choose from different materials (silicone, plastic, leather) and designs to fit any style.
- Protection and Style: Phone cases protect phones from drops and scratches while looking good.
- Constant Demand: New phone models mean new cases are always needed, so people buy them regularly.
- Great Gifts: Custom phone cases make awesome, thoughtful gifts.
5. Sipper Bottles
Sipper bottles are popular for being eco-friendly and are a great product for your store.
Here’s why:
- Seasonal demand: People buy more sipper bottles in the summer, especially for outdoor activities and fitness. Plan your marketing for these times to boost sales.
- Variety: Sipper bottles come in many styles, like tumblers and stainless steel ones. You can also sell extras like reusable straws.
- Branding: Companies love custom sipper bottles for promotions, so offering bulk options can attract business customers.
Conclusion
To conclude, we have answered the question “Is print on demand profitable in India”.
POD is a low-risk, low-cost way to start a business. With high demand for custom products and services like Blinkstore handling orders, it’s an easy way to try e-commerce.
To succeed in a crowded print-on-demand market, you need creativity, a clear niche, great designs, and smart marketing.
FAQs on Is Print on Demand Profitable in India
What is a reasonable profit margin in India for print-on-demand?
An ideal profit margin for print-on-demand businesses in India usually falls between 25% and 40%. This range ensures you can cover expenses such as printing, shipping, and marketing, while still generating a profit. However, the exact margin depends on factors like your niche, the perceived value of your products, and the level of brand recognition.
Does India still have a market for print-on-demand?
Print-on-demand is still profitable? You can earn money with print-on-demand (POD) by designing items like t-shirts, phone cases, and mugs. Platforms like Blinkstore let you upload your designs for free, so you don’t need to spend any money upfront.
How much does print-on-demand pay?
You can earn more than 25% profit with print-on-demand. It’s a great business idea, but your success depends on factors like how you market your products, the variety you offer, your prices, and most importantly, how good your designs are.
Can Dropshipping products make a profit in India?
A reasonable profit margin for dropshipping in India is usually between 25% and 40%. However, it can change based on the product’s quality, cost, demand, where you sell it, and your marketing efforts. If you only sell cheap items, your profit margin will likely be smaller. To make the most money without losing customers, you must understand your expenses and know what people want to buy.
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