It’s a little hard to digest that you can start an online business without any or little investment, and also without holding on to any inventory. But it is possible in e-commerce and in 2025.
Now, what are we talking about? We are talking about the 2 popular e-commerce business models.
Dropshipping and print-on-demand are flexible, affordable ways to get started, regardless of your situation: being stuck in a 9–5 job or a college student searching for a side gig.
All you need is a little inspiration and some free time to add your own unique designs to personalized products and list them online.
But, What Is Dropshipping?
You can offer something for sale using a drop-shipping business if you don’t actually have a physical inventory. Instead, you work with more than one business to package and ship the item for you when an order is placed from your website.
You never touch the product; the supplier ships it straight to the buyer.
Your work?
Choosing what to sell, establishing prices, advertising, and running the web store.
And, What Does Print-On-Demand Mean?
Print on demand (POD) is a business model that runs on the idea of printing after the order. For example, printing begins after the customer places the orders. Some companies offer you printing services along with the other services like online design tools, ot door-to-door shopping on your behalf.
So, what do you do in it? Well, you launch a store and work on marketing the products while the company handles the rest for you.
The products you provide are books, apparel, t-shirts, mugs, or other products that are printed only after an order is received.
This model eliminates the need for large inventories, as products are created as needed and only when ordered.
This is a profitable niche with low startup costs if you enjoy design or have creative ideas.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Start Dropshipping or POD business
Don’t know where to begin or what are the best products to start a dropshipping business or for POD? As for the products, you can find plenty as you walk through the steps.
However, know that some steps for each type of business may differ. However, as a beginner, you should know about the following steps:
- Pick Your Niche
A niche is a specific market segment for goods, and there are several advantages to defining a market, including increased revenue, less competition, and lower advertising costs.
Determining your target market is supported by selecting a dropshipping niche. It is simpler to look for products to dropship when you have specific customers in mind.
When selecting a niche, there are two general approaches:
- Choose a field in which you have expertise or a strong interest.
- Choose a niche according to consumer demand.
A niche is a focused category of products or a target audience. For example:
- Eco-friendly home products
- Travel essentials
- Inspirational quote mugs
- Choose the Best Items to Begin Dropshipping
In 2025, we’re searching for the top products to begin drop shipping. Search for “trending” or “best-seller” products on websites such as Amazon, Etsy, and TikTok Shop to see what’s in style.
Finding popular products and understanding consumer demand through product categories is made easier with the help of product research. Ask yourself:
- Is this trending?
- Does it solve a problem?
In 2025, some of the top goods to begin dropshipping are as follows:
- Home Decor
- Kitchen and dining
- Phone accessories
- Pet supplies
- Select a Platform for Your Store’s Development
The most widely used choices are:
- Shopify: All-in-one, user-friendly, ideal for novices
- Etsy is the best platform for print-on-demand, particularly for designs that are artistic or handmade.
- WooCommerce: Excellent if WordPress is your primary platform.
You can create your own stand-alone website using these platforms to sell personalized goods.
With total control over your brand identity, marketing collateral, approach, and customer experience, you can potentially make shopping more interesting.
- Find Reliable Suppliers
The ability of a print-on-demand business to fulfill all incoming orders depends on having a reliable supplier.
A dropshipping supplier handles customer orders and product sourcing. After a sale, you will send the order to your supplier so that it can be packaged and shipped to the buyer.
When looking for a supplier, consider the following factors:
- Delivery Speed
- Inventory reliability
- Returns
- Performance History
- Design Your Online Store
Start by coming up with a unique design. Make use of the design tools in your print-on-demand app to create a logo, image, or pattern that goes well with the product you wish to sell.
Take into consideration what your target audience will find appealing, such as putting an embroidered illustration on a bag or a printed meme image on a t-shirt.
Your store’s design should match your brand. It should be:
- Clean and easy to navigate
- Mobile-friendly
- Focused on your product and audience
- Set Up Payments and Policies
How much you charge for your products will determine how much money you make.
To maintain market competitiveness, take into account the following elements when determining a retail price:
- Shipping and production costs.
- Average price of similar products.
- Location of your customers.
Set up payment gateways like PayPal or Shopify Payments so you can actually get paid.
Also, make sure your site includes:
- Refund and return policy
- Shipping info
- Privacy policy
- Contact page
This builds trust and protects you legally.
- Market Your Products
Your company’s success or failure depends on your marketing efforts. The goal is to get noticed, drive traffic to your site, provide people with reasons to buy from you, and convert visitors into customers.
Here are some strategies for promoting your company:
- Social media marketing
- Paid ads
- Influencer marketing
- Email marketing
- SEO blogging
Show your audience how your product fits into their lifestyle or solves a problem by creating interesting content that speaks directly to them.
Conclusion:
If you are ready to give your side hustle a good chance, this is the time to explore dropshipping or even better, print-on-demand market, which is expected to reach a global market value of $48.4 billion by 2032.
In 2025, starting a print-on-demand or dropshipping business is simpler than ever, and you don’t need a large budget, staff, or a warehouse. All you need is your laptop, a little patience, and an open mind.
Therefore, do not delay your first step, whether you’re selling techies’ smart devices or humorous T-shirts to dog lovers.
One step at a time. A single item at a time. One transaction at a time.
Who knows? That small side hustle could turn into your dream business.
