How to start a print-on-demand business in Nigeria [Make 500k Monthly]

In this article, we’ll be treating the Print-on-demand business model. We’ll talk about Print-on-demand and how you can quickly start one, irrespective of your location in Nigeria.

The online space is laced with myriads of opportunities for those willing to make more than 500k monthly in Nigeria.

With the current economic situation in Nigeria, having a side hustle that fetches you money is non-negotiable. If you have a side hustle or don’t currently have a business that makes you six figures monthly, then you should pay attention to this article.

You will learn the secrets to how to succeed in the print-on-demand business model without a huge capital.

Are you ready? Let’s get started.

What is the print-on-demand business model?

Print-on-demand is a type of business where you (the merchant) negotiate with a supplier or company to print designs on different types of products (like shirts or a pillow). These products are packaged, sealed, and shipped to your customer’s address.

This business is valuable because the opportunities it offers are endless. Typically in the P.O.D model, you don’t have to pay your supplier for the cost of goods until you sell them, plus your supplier is the one to handle the shipping services.

Depending on your time and commitment, you can take it as a full-time job or a side hustle. The number of designs you can work with is also limitless. You have many options on what to design and what niche to choose.

And you don’t have to be an artist, illustrator, or creator before you can get into this business. All you need is a solid plan and an understanding of how the business works.

However, a print-on-demand business isn’t a joke; you’ll have to put in a lot of work and make deals with standard companies if you want to be successful at it.

How to start a print-on-demand business

Having known what the print-on-demand business is, let’s learn how to start one from the comfort of your home.

1. Determine your niche:

Before diving into print-on-demand business, you’ll have to choose a niche. You want to ensure the niche is profitable and have the necessary procedures before starting. You can decide to work on various products or stick to only one product.

2. Choose your print-on-demand company.

The next thing to do is find a reputable company to carry out your design plans. Watch out for red flags before settling for a publisher because companies with poor reputations and designs can hurt your business.

You should also consider what type of product you want to create and how good and consistent the company are at creating such designs. You don’t want to work with a supplier who can mess up your designs and creates problems between you and your customers.

3. Create your designs

You can create your designs using free editing apps like Canva. You can check out Google, Pinterest, and other social media apps if you need fresh, creative ideas. This way, you will understand what’s trending and what types of designs you should create.

You should also consider varying each product design for flexibility and for other customers who might prefer another colour or design.

4. Create your online store

To sell your products online, you can use popular eCommerce platforms, Shopify or Selar. Some of these platforms are paid, and some are free. They also have different integrated tools and functions.

You can also use social networks like WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you post your designs regularly on these platforms, you can attract an audience interested in your products.

5. Promote your designs via Facebook and Instagram ads

You can promote your projects and designs by running paid ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or Google.

This is a great way to generate leads and put your business in front of the world. These platforms have billions of everyday users, and your customers are there too.

Running an ad campaign for your products and designs should be top of your priority list.

Top Print-on-demand products in Nigeria

To make this article exhaustive, we’ve compiled the top-selling print-on-demand products currently trending in Nigeria. Let’s examine each of them.

1. Thermo-flasks

Thermo-flasks are always in good use in Nigeria. Hot coffee lovers might prefer to have a design of their favourite brand on their flasks. You can create different designs and promote them to the community.

2. Face Caps

Face caps are another golden opportunity for you to make money through print-on-demand. You can print and promote it to your customers online.

3. Pillows

Pillows are great because they can be sent as a gift or present to someone.

Let’s say your buyer Kemi on Facebook is looking for someone to make a pillow design for her friend’s birthday.

You can link up with her and supply her with designs, or perhaps she wants to have her picture on her pillow or her favourite tv show actor.

There’s no limit to what can be done here.

4. T-shirts

T-shirts are extremely useful because of their unisex style and can be worn in different seasons. You can also inscribe into your t-shirt images of trendy celebrities or trendy slang or quotes.

5. Tote Bags

Tote bags are fast becoming the new cool. You should look at your environment and see how much people buy into it. Then you can create a unique design and market it through social media or macro marketing.

6. Corporate gifts

Corporate gifts are excellent things you can try out for your P.O.D business. For example, if a reputable company or band hosts a show, they will likely share gifts with their attendees. You can offer to design their gifts to make them more attractive and professional.

7. School notebooks

Many students are interested in seeing their favourite celebrities, creatures, and animals around them. This is a huge opportunity to make money.

You can create a mock-up of notebook designs and promote them online.

8. Mugs

Mugs are creative ways to sell your print-on-demand product. For example, if you have a friend doing a wedding and need a mass mug to share with her guests. This is an excellent opportunity to make money.

9. Hoodies

Hoodies are fun, and many people love them, especially during cold and rainy seasons. Adding designs and bits of touches to a hoodie can go a long way in convincing the buyer to acquire it. Humans are artistic and tend to appreciate it when we see it.

Tips on starting your print-on-demand business

Succeeding in the print-on-demand business is more than just choosing one or more of the products I listed above. In every trade, there are secrets; In this section, I will share some tips and secrets to succeeding in the print-on-demand business.

1. Ride on trends

People love associating themselves with trends. You should keep an eye on what is trending in your community and try to create something unique for them. It might be a popular quote or trending slang. Or lyrics to a popular song. Once you have information on your audience, coming up with what to write won’t be a problem for you.

2. Have a good relationship with your print-on-demand company

An advantage here is that they can do quick or emergency delivery for you. They can give you splendid designs, attention to deadlines, and quality designs that will draw in your customers. A good relationship with your print company is a must if you want to satisfy your audience’s interest and give them quality designs.

3. Build a buyer list

You should also make strict plans for building your buyer list. 99.9% of marketers have a buyer list because that’s where the money is. It might be through email or social media. Creating a buyer list will give you the advantages of making more money and connecting with your target audience.

4. Create a bundle offer

This will help you make more profits as some of your targets might be more interested in a bundle offer than a single product. You can create bundle offers and run a paid ad to show it to more people and increase your sales conversions.

Frequently asked questions

Let’s examine some frequently asked questions about the printing-on-demand business.

Is printing on demand over-saturated?

No, it’s not; the print-on-demand business has many niches you can try. The best thing for you is to watch out for areas you can thrive and work it out.

Is printing on-demand business expensive?

It’s relatively inexpensive to start. Once you have a store and many buyers, you’re good. Money isn’t essential to start.

How do I get customers for my business?

You can get customers by creating an online presence for your business using social media, or you can run ads or public relations campaigns to spread the word about your expertise.

Do I need special skills to start printing on demand?

No, you don’t need any particular skill to start printing on demand. Whatever you don’t know can be done by someone else (professional), which won’t affect your status as a business owner.

Final thoughts

Print-on-demand is one of the most lucrative businesses out there- suppose you put in the work and market your business. You can quickly generate over 500k in profits with only your smartphone and smart ideas.

As long as you follow the strategies outlined in this post, you can easily make six figures online.

If you found this post interesting and want to explore other ways to make money online and earn in dollars, then check out my blogging blueprint that shows step-by-step how I pull in thousands of dollars in revenue every month.

How to start a print-on-demand business in Nigeria [Make 500k Monthly]

Contents

What is the print-on-demand business model?