Start a Print-on-Demand Business from Home in India (2025)

Small Business Deep Dive Series – Post #2

Learn how to start a successful print-on-demand business from home in India. Setup tips, COD challenges, supplier strategy & marketing insights included.

Introduction: A Business That Feels Easy… Until It Isn’t

Print-on-Demand (POD) looks like the dream business: no inventory, no logistics, and creative freedom. You design t-shirts, mugs, phone cases — and someone else prints and ships them when a customer places an order.

But here’s the reality most creators discover too late:
If you don’t offer Cash on Delivery (COD), you’ll lose 70% of your Indian customers. But if you do offer COD, returns will eat into your profits.
Also, popular POD platforms take a big cut, and unless you market smartly, your amazing design may never get seen.

So, let’s dive into what this business really involves, how to make it profitable, and what traps to avoid.

What is Print-on-Demand (POD)?

POD is a business model where products are manufactured only after an order is placed. You upload your design to t-shirts, mugs, or other items. Once a customer buys, your POD partner prints the item and delivers it.

Your role is to:

Choose products and designs
Market your store/brand
Manage customer experience

It’s an online-first, creator-driven, low-risk business — if done the right way.

Real Startup Costs & Earnings

Item	Estimated Cost (₹)
Branding (logo, designs)	₹1,000 – ₹3,000
Domain & Website (optional)	₹2,000 – ₹4,000/year
Sample products (for testing)	₹500 – ₹2,000
Ads & Marketing	₹3,000 – ₹10,000

Start with ₹5,000–₹10,000
Expect monthly profits of ₹5,000–₹25,000 in initial 3–6 months (with effort)

Why COD is Necessary — and Risky

In India, over 65–75% of online orders come via Cash on Delivery. If you don’t offer COD, you’ll miss most of your market.

But here’s the problem:

Issue	Impact
High return rate	15–30% orders returned (some unclaimed)
You pay delivery charges	Even on returned products
Loss of packaging, margin	No sale, but full cost incurred

Example: If a t-shirt costs you ₹400 and you sell it for ₹699 with COD:

Order placed → Product shipped
Customer refuses to accept
Delivery cost (₹80–₹100) + product loss = ₹400+ loss on one return

Solution:

Offer prepaid discounts
Use RTO insurance or partial payment COD models
Track return-prone pincodes and block them

Platform vs Local Supplier: The Margin Dilemma

Most beginners use platforms like:

These are easy to set up, but come with higher base costs and lower profit margins.

Scenario	Average Profit per Product
Printrove/Online POD platform	₹100–₹150
Local Supplier (no platform fees)	₹200–₹300

A Better Strategy:

Tie up with a local printer near your city
Keep a small stock of blank t-shirts/mugs
Get them printed only when order comes
You or a delivery partner handles shipping (via Shiprocket or India Post)

This hybrid model gives:

Better quality control
Higher profit margins
Faster delivery for local orders

Product Selection: The Game Changer

Not every product works. Most people blindly start with t-shirts — and face huge competition. Product selection can make or break your POD business.

How to Choose the Right Product:

Criteria	Tips
Niche relevance	Does it solve a problem or express identity?
Everyday utility	Will they use it daily or gift it?
Lightweight to ship	Avoid heavy or fragile items initially
Personalization option	Can you offer names, quotes, or dates?

Product Ideas That Work in India:

Printed tote bags for women
Coffee mugs for dog lovers
Sipper bottles for gym lovers
Cushion covers with Indian quotes
Stationery kits for students

Start with 3–5 categories and test what sells

Digital Marketing – Your Business Lifeline

You can’t make sales if people don’t discover your store. Digital marketing is not optional — it’s your core business activity.

Platforms You Should Focus On:

Platform	Use Case
Instagram	Build brand presence, post reels/stories
Facebook	Join groups, target by interest/location
YouTube Shorts	Product teasers, behind-the-scenes
WhatsApp Business	Broadcast offers to loyal buyers
Google Ads	Search visibility (for specific product types)

How to Start Marketing:

Start an Instagram brand page
Post daily reels, memes, and designs
Use carousel posts to showcase new collections
Offer COD + first-order discount
Collect reviews and repost them

Cost of Paid Ads (Basics):

Platform	Budget Range	Tip
Instagram/Facebook	₹300/day and up	Target interest + age group
Google Ads	₹500–₹1000/day	Use for keyword-based searches
Influencer Deals	₹500–₹5000	Target nano-influencers

Start with organic, then scale with paid once you know what sells

Pros & Cons – Real Edition

Pros	Cons
Low startup cost	High competition, low visibility without marketing
No inventory needed	High return rates in COD mode
Creative control over design	Poor profit margins with known platforms
Great for homemakers, students	Need consistent content and customer handling
Highly scalable with niche focus	Refunds, exchanges reduce profit predictability

Who Should Start This Business?

Great for:

Students, homemakers, creative freelancers
Anyone who enjoys design, niche branding, and social media
Low-capital online business seekers

Avoid if:

You expect passive income without effort
You can’t deal with customer returns or complaints
You’re not willing to learn basic marketing

Case Study: How A Local Supplier Increased Profits

Neha, a 31-year-old from Mumbai, started “Bollywood Vibes” POD brand. Initially, she used Blinkstore — but profit per sale was only ₹80–₹120.

She switched to a local supplier in Andheri, bought 50 blank t-shirts upfront, and got custom prints only when needed. She also handled shipping via Shiprocket.

Her profit increased to ₹240 per t-shirt, and delivery became faster — helping her reduce COD returns. Within 4 months, she crossed ₹70,000 in revenue.