Print on demand: how to sell products with your own designs without a warehouse

Print on demand – printing to order – is a variety of dropshipping in which you sell not other people’s products but your own design. T-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, posters, phone cases or bags are produced only when a buyer orders them, and are shipped straight to that buyer. “Print on demand” is searched for hundreds of times a month in Lithuania.

This part of the guide covers how print on demand works, who it suits, how to choose a manufacturer and how much really remains from one sale.

How print on demand works

1. You create a design and upload it to the print on demand manufacturer’s system.
2. You choose the products it will be printed on and set your price.
3. You sell the products in your online shop or on a marketplace that is connected to the manufacturer.
4. On receiving an order, the manufacturer prints the product and ships it to the buyer.
5. You pay the manufacturer for the product and shipping; the difference stays with you.

Who print on demand suits

How to choose a manufacturer

For buyers in Lithuania the most important thing is that the products are made in Europe: delivery is faster and the customs duty that applies from July 2026 to low-value parcels from non-EU countries does not apply. Before choosing a manufacturer, compare:

• The place of production – whether it has print facilities in the EU and which one will ship to Lithuania.
• Quality – order samples and check the print after several washes.
• The product range and size charts.
• Integrations with your online shop platform.
• Returns terms – in the case of a defect the manufacturer usually replaces the product, but “the size didn’t fit” often becomes your cost.

How much really remains from one sale

The unit cost of a print on demand product is higher than when buying wholesale goods and printing them yourself in large quantities. From the price the buyer pays you have to deduct the manufacturer’s price, shipping, taxes, platform and payment fees, and often advertising as well. That is why print on demand works best when buyers come without large advertising costs – from your community, social networks or search.

Design and copyright

How to start

1. Choose an audience and a theme you know well.
2. Create 5–10 designs and show them to the audience before launching.
3. Order samples and photograph them yourself.
4. Launch a shop or a page on a marketplace and watch which designs sell.

If you do not feel like creating designs but have an audience, the alternative is to recommend other people’s products for a commission.

Frequently asked questions