Starting a print-on-demand (POD) business can feel overwhelming. There are products to choose, designs to create, and customers to keep happy.
With so many decisions, it’s easy to feel stuck. But here’s the good news: platforms like Podbase make it simple. They’re built for creators, designers, and small business owners who want to sell online without the hassle.
The best part? You can set up Podbase in just three easy steps. No confusing processes. No hidden barriers.
Let’s walk through the steps so you can launch your POD business quickly and with confidence.
Why Podbase is the Right Starting Point
If you’re just starting a print-on-demand business, your platform choice can make or break your success. Here’s how to use Podbase to launch your POD business.
What Makes Podbase Different From Other POD Platforms
Most POD platforms claim to be one-stop shops. They offer thousands of product categories. At first, this looks impressive. But in reality, it can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re just starting.
Getting started with Podbase is different. Instead of flooding you with options, it focuses on a smaller set of products that actually sell. This makes it easier to learn, build expertise, and create a stronger brand from day one.
The Benefits of Starting with Tech Accessories
Tech accessories are a great first product to sell because many people want them and continue to buy them regularly. Almost everyone uses a phone, laptop, or tablet, and they want to keep their devices safe. That means lots of people could be your customers.
These products also help you make more money. Since tech devices are expensive, people don’t mind paying a little extra for good protection or cool designs. That gives you a chance to sell at higher prices.
Another bonus? Tech accessories go everywhere with people. Unlike posters or clothes that stay at home, a phone case is always out in the world. So every time someone uses it, it’s like free social media advertising for your brand.
Plus, the market keeps growing. Every time a new phone or laptop comes out, people want new accessories to match. If you start now with Podbase, you’ll be ready to keep up with those new trends.
How Podbase Supports New Sellers
Starting an online business can feel like a lot. You have to think about your designs, shipping, customer service, and how to grow your store — all at once. But Podbase helps make it simpler, especially if you're new.
The onboarding process is simple and guided, helping you move step by step from uploading your designs to getting your store live.
One feature that stands out is Podbase’s design tools and mockup generator. You can upload your artwork and instantly see how it looks on products. This saves you time and money on professional product photos and makes the process much less stressful.
You can sell print-on-demand products on Etsy. Podbase also works with Shopify and Etsy. That means you can connect your store quickly, and your products will show up there automatically.
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- Inspiring Digital Art Ideas for Your Print on Demand Designs
- High Demand Products With Low Competition to Launch
Step 1 - Select Your Product
The first step in getting started with Podbase and building your store is choosing which products to sell. Take some time to think about which items will best showcase your print-on-demand designs.
Choose From Phone, Laptop, Tablet, and Earbud Cases
Podbase offers a curated selection of popular tech accessories. You can pick from phone cases for the latest iPhone and Samsung models, tablet cases, AirPod cases, and phone ring holders.
Many people are always looking for tech accessories, so there’s a big chance they’ll buy from you. These products also give you a great way to show off your creativity with cool designs.
Getting started with Podbase is simple, especially if you focus on a few popular items like digital art. You don’t have to do everything at once. You can even sell matching items, like a laptop case and a sleeve with the same design.
This can help customers buy more at once. Podbase has a wide range of products, so you can offer different things without it getting too hard to manage.
Why Starting With High-Margin Tech Accessories Makes Sense
Tech accessories are one of the easiest categories to start with for new POD sellers. Here’s why:
- You Can Make Good Money: They’re cheap to make and people are willing to pay more for them, so you can earn a solid profit.
- Easy to Price: You can keep prices fair for customers and still make money.
- More Money for Ads: Since profits are strong, you can spend more on ads to help more people find your store.
- Lots of People Want Them: Everyone uses phones and laptops, and many like to personalize their stuff with cool designs.
- You Can Grow Fast: These products aren’t just for one niche, so you can sell to more people and add more products later.
- Cheap to Ship: Most tech accessories are small and light, so shipping costs less, which means more profit for you.
- Podbase Makes It Easy: Podbase helps you get started quickly and gives you a better chance to stand out compared to other platforms.
EU Production, Packing, and Fast Shipping Explained
Here’s how Podbase handles production, packaging, and shipping to ensure your products reach customers safely and quickly:
- Print-on-Demand in the EU: All products are printed after someone orders them, using high-quality printers in Europe.
- Global Fulfillment Network: Podbase has partners in the US and UK, too, so orders can be delivered faster to people in different countries.
- Customs & Import Charges: If your customer is in the EU, they won’t have to pay much extra. If they’re outside the EU, they might have to pay customs or import fees. Don’t worry, Podbase helps make this process smooth.
- Careful Packaging: Podbase packs every item carefully to protect it and show off your design nicely. First, the product is put in a special bag that fits it well. Then, it is placed in a strong outer package for safe shipping.
The outside packaging protects the products while they’re being shipped. Podbase uses strong brown bubble-lined envelopes that come in different sizes to keep everything safe.
It’s important to know that Podbase does not ship to some countries due to regulatory limitations. This is important to know so you can plan your sales and focus on places where they can easily deliver your orders.
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- How to Increase Sales: Go From 100 to 1,000 Orders Fast
- Entrepreneur Statistics: Insights for Business Builders
Step 2 - Add Your Design
Now it’s time to bring your creative ideas to life. Adding your unique designs makes your products stand out and sets your store apart.
Upload Your Artwork Directly Into Podbase
Getting started with Podbase is easy. You can easily upload your designs and start customizing POD products. The platform accepts standard file formats like PNG and JPG.
To begin, pick the product you want to customize and click “Start Designing.” From there, the design generator opens and guides you through the process step by step. You can upload the file for your artwork directly into the tool for editing. Make sure your artwork fully covers the designated print area to avoid unprinted edges.
To make sure your prints look good every time, Podbase gives you clear instructions for designing each product. For phone cases, your picture should be 2000 by 3400 pixels and have a quality of 300 DPI.
If you follow these instructions, your design won’t look blurry or weird on different devices. After you upload your design and put it in place, you can see a preview of how it will look on the phone case.
Generate Mockups for Your Online Store
Good mockups help your customers see what the finished product will look like. They show your designs from different angles and in different places, making your products look more interesting.
If you’re getting started with Podbase, they have ready-made mockup templates you can download and use right away. Making mockups with Podbase is easy and fast. First, pick your product and upload your design using the design tool.
After you put your design in place, switch to preview mode to see how it looks on the product. This helps ensure everything lines up and looks right before you share it.
After previewing, you can right-click the image, save it, and use it directly as a mockup. Be sure to save it in a compatible format like .png or .jpg so it displays properly on your online store.
One-Click Publishing to Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce
Podbase makes it easy to put your products online without doing it by hand. When your design is ready, you can publish it with just one click.
First, connect your Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce store to Podbase. Then, in your dashboard, select the product you want to publish.
Click “Publish to Shopify,” “Add to Etsy,” or the WooCommerce option. Podbase will send all the product info, descriptions, and pictures for you automatically.
After you publish, Podbase will show the product as “Published.” You can then check your online store to make sure the product is there.
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Step 3 - Start Selling
Once your POD store is ready, the focus shifts to driving sales and building momentum. This step covers pricing, fulfillment, and order management so you can scale with confidence.
Set Your Pricing for Healthy Profit Margin
When you decide how much to charge, think about how much it costs to make your product and how much customers are willing to pay.
If the price is too low, you won’t make much money. But if it’s too high, people might not want to buy it.
It’s important to find a good balance. Try to keep your prices similar to those of other sellers but still make enough money to cover costs like marketing, running your business, and discounts.
How Podbase Handles Fulfillment and Shipping
Once a customer places an order, Podbase manages the entire fulfillment process automatically from start to finish. Each product is printed on-demand at one of Podbase’s global fulfillment centers, ensuring fast production near the customer.
The platform maintains strict quality control, ensuring that every order meets high standards before it is packaged and shipped. Products are carefully packed and include your branding, creating a professional and polished appearance.
Podbase also coordinates shipping, automatically selecting reliable carriers based on the customer’s location for smooth and timely delivery.
Tracking Orders and Scaling Your Store
After your products are shipped, Podbase gives tracking numbers so you and your customers can see where the order is. Your dashboard shows how well your sales are doing, what customers like, and which designs sell the most.
This helps you make better products and set better prices in the future. These helpful details make it easier to improve your listings and get more people to buy.
As your business grows, Podbase can handle more orders without losing quality. You can add new products and reach more customers, while Podbase takes care of the work behind the scenes.
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Tips to Maximize Your First Sales
With a good plan, you can make your first sales and start growing your business. The secret is to set smart prices, offer extra products to customers, and focus your marketing to get more attention early on.
Price Testing and Profit Margin Sweet Spots
Choosing the right price is one of the most important steps for new sellers. Start with price testing to see what customers are willing to pay. Always include production, packaging, and shipping costs when calculating your base price.
Try to make a profit of about 40–50% so you have extra money for unexpected costs or future plans. Check what your competitors charge, but also show what makes your product special. Then, change your prices to make sure you’re making good money.
Using Upsells Like Laptop or AirPod Cases
Upselling is an excellent way to increase the average order value of your initial sales. The idea is simple. Once a customer has decided to buy, they’re more open to adding on a complementary product.
To use upsells effectively:
- Offer Logical Pairings: Ensure the add-on enhances the customer’s main purchase.
- Keep Pricing Accessible: Upsells should feel like a low-stakes addition, not a second major purchase.
- Use Timing Wisely: Present upsells at checkout or as a pop-up after a customer adds an item.
Use clear, compelling language to highlight the value of the additional product. You can also offer a discount to encourage the purchase.
Marketing Basics for Your First Launch
A successful first launch requires strong but simple marketing, even if your budget is limited.
- Begin by identifying your target audience and understanding their needs.
- Use professional product photos and demo videos to showcase features and design quality.
- Share this content on platforms where your audience spends the most time, and use low-cost ads to test engagement.
- You can design ads with Canva. It’s a free tool that makes it easy to design graphics or videos.
- Keep tracking what messaging or visuals work best, then double down on proven approaches for faster growth.
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Summary
Launching a successful ecommerce store with Podbase takes only three simple steps. First, choose high-margin tech products to sell.
Next, bring your designs to life by uploading artwork directly into Podbase’s design tool. Preview, polish, and finalize instantly.
The final step is selling. You set your pricing for strong profit margins while Podbase manages fulfillment and shipping.
With this end-to-end solution, your store setup and scaling become easier. Ready to launch your brand? Start free with Podbase today.
Saulius Meilutis is the CEO of Podbase, helping creators and entrepreneurs monetize their ideas with print-on-demand. He shares insights on eCommerce, growth, and building lean online businesses.
