Top 20 Print on Demand Courses: Honest Review

Print on demand is a great way to make money selling on Etsy, especially if you take the time to do it right. But how do you know what the right way is? That’s where print on demand business courses come into play. 

A print on demand course won’t just teach you how to create a print on demand shop on Etsy but also how to maintain that shop and build it up to generate a steady stream of revenue that can help you build your savings, pay off debt, or fund that next vacation.

We gathered the best POD business courses and got the scoop on POD tutorial quality, price point, and Etsy seller success.

Starting a Print on Demand Business

But what is print on demand?

In layperson’s terms, print on demand (also known as POD) is when you work with a print provider to create products such as mugs, t-shirts, stickers, sweatshirts, pillows, cell phone cases…you get the idea.

In most cases, the print provider will create the item for you and ship it to your customer.

Are Print on Demand Stores Profitable?

It sounds easy enough, but you’re probably wondering, can you make money with a print on demand business?

Yes, you can.

But don’t look at this as a get rich quick scheme. Like most Etsy shops, you need to put in the work to make and maintain a successful shop. 

However, if you’re willing to spend the time, you can turn your print on demand business from something that makes a few bucks a month into something that makes more than $100,000 a year.

How to Be Successful with Print on Demand

There are several ways to figure out how to create a successful print on demand shop. You can jump into the deep end and try and swim your way to success. 

You can read many internet articles like this one and hope you get the gist. 

Or you can try a print on demand course.

Print on Demand for Beginners

Print on demand courses are the best choice for print on demand beginners because they start with the foundation and build up from there. 

They introduce print on demand and explain how it works. Then they build on that base to teach you all of the ins and outs of the print on demand process. 

These courses teach students what to look for in print on demand partners and the best practices for listing print on demand products. 

The good courses also help students develop realistic expectations for themselves and their shops.

We recommend first thinking about what type of course you might need. We evaluate the different options in the next section.

Finding the Right Course for your POD store

When you are evaluating course options, look for what features are available.

Course features to look out for include:

• Creator has a successful e-commerce business
• No prior knowledge required
• No graphic design skills required
• No need for a large following to be successful
• Accurate representation of passive income
• Private Facebook group for questions (optional)

The content of the course should cover:

• Niche research and profitable niches
• Best selling trends
• Social Media Marketing
• Inventory management
• Common mistakes
• Production partners
• Advertising
• How to get more customers

Of course, it’s difficult to get all of these features in one course let alone a free course.

We recommend starting with paid courses but will include both free courses and paid courses below to respect your budget as a new seller.

Print on Demand Course Types

Most print on demand courses will offer the same basics throughout. However, no two classes are alike.

In some cases, learning print on demand is a visual process where you watch someone create a print on demand shop from start to finish.

In other cases, learning print on demand requires reading. Some print on demand courses listed below are entirely self-propelled, meaning you read at your own pace.

The good news is there’s something for every type of learner.

Best Free Print on Demand Courses

This next batch of courses are free for beginners and many are multiple hours in length.

Somewhat Passive Income

I added Somewhat Passive Income’s free print on demand online course to the best-of list because everyone learns differently. While most of the print on demand courses come with videos, this one is a written tutorial on creating a successful print on demand business.

Somewhat Passive Income has broken the program down into four parts. They’re extensive, so don’t think you can sit down and spend five minutes reading. It will take some time.

However, the course is thorough and includes examples and links to videos for the more visual learners. 

Free Shopify Print on Demand Course

The title of this course really says it all. The Free Shopify Print on Demand Course is a YouTube video offering from the self-proclaimed Ecom King. It is 3+ hour course that goes into detail, starting a Shopify Print on Demand Course and then maintaining it.

Like “Build a Print on Demand Empire” by Shopify, this isn’t going to teach you everything you need to know about selling print on demand on Etsy. However, it will teach you the print on demand business, which is something that you can apply to your own Etsy shop just as quickly.

Printful Academy

The Printful Academy is another good source for print on demand information, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a course. 

The site touts “stand-alone, bite-sized” videos and “short video format” as its lesson offerings, meaning you will have to create your own course out of what’s offered. This might be a good strategy if you’re a more independent learner.

However, the Printful Academy isn’t for you if you require more structure.

The price point is good for everyone. All the videos are free. 

More Print on Demand Courses for Free

We know how important it may be for you to start your print-on-demand journey in a budget-friendly manner so we organized this list of free courses.

Build a Print on Demand Empire

Build a Print on Demand Empire is a course created for Shopify Learn. The upside is that the lessons are entirely free. You pay nothing for the nearly three hours of information about how to start and maintain a print on demand business.

The downside is this course is catered toward Shopify. It will teach you how to use and create a print on demand shop for use on Shopify. That’s why it’s free.

However, the information within the course is valid and helpful. This is a good one if you’re looking for a free print on demand course.

The Print on Demand Mini Course

Tiny Marketing Lab’s print on demand mini course is another print on demand course that you read instead of watch, so if you’re the kind of learner that absorbs better through the written word, this is the course for you. 

Through the mini-course, you will not only learn how to identify products to create for your print on demand shop but also how to choose a supplier for your print on demand products and how to scale your shop once it’s up and running.

Print on Demand 2023 by Santrel Media

The YouTube video Print on Demand 2022 by Santrel Media will give you up-to-date information on how to interact directly with Shopify, Printful, and Facebook as you’re trying to start and grow your print on demand business.

The video is about two and a half hours long and full of information. I like that there are tags within the video to help you navigate from one section to the other. That way, I can step away when my brain gets loaded with information and then step back in when I’m ready to learn more.

Plus, the price point is ideal. The video is free to watch, though you may have to deal with a few YouTube ads along the way.

Best Print on Demand Course 2023

This next group of courses are paid courses but have high-quality content.

Etsy Entrepreneur

The site Your Creative Adventure has created a print on demand course to help you get started on your print on demand journey. The course curriculum includes the necessary information, including selling images legally and the kinds of products you want to create.

This one is catered toward the artist, so it takes a little more time to delve into things like digitizing your watercolors and other items of that nature. It also looks at when you should consider licensing your work or selling it wholesale. 

If you’re an artist, this might be the course for you, but it does not come cheaply. The total cost is $297. You can break that down into four payments of $77 each.

Print on Demand: Etsy T-Shirt Business 150% Profit Margins!

While the name might need a little work, the course is grade-A. With more than 2,000 students and a 4.6 out of 5 rating on Udemy, the course teaches everything from print on demand dropshipping with Etsy to creating your business.

It specifically integrates with Printful. The course includes four hours of video, seven articles, and five downloadable resources. 

Creator Luke Kelly says this course is suitable for new Etsy business startups, print on demand dropshippers, ecommerce store creators, digital marketers, passive income entrepreneurs, and t-shirt designers.

Etsy T-Shirt Business 150% Profit Margins costs $34.99, though like many of the Udemy courses, if you’re willing to wait a while, you can usually find it on sale soon.

Ryan’s Method: Etsy Print on Demand

Ryan Hogue has experience in the print on demand field. His website says he’s made seven figures on his journey to passive income. Now, he’s sharing what he’s learned through his Ryan’s Method courses. 

The Etsy Print on Demand course is not cheap. It will cost you two installments of $165 or $297 if you pay in full upfront. 

Through the course, Ryan will teach you how to create your shop, find a print on demand partner, fill your shop with print on demand products, properly utilize SEO and then optimize your listings for the most significant growth.

If you’re not sure you’re ready to pay for Ryan’s knowledge upfront, that’s okay. He also has a YouTube channel where you can get some of his information for free. Check him out there first before you decide whether or not to buy.

We have seen hundreds of students spin up Etsy shops for both print-on-demand and printables which seems to be a winning combo.

Not convinced? Next up are some more POD-only courses for beginners.

Print on Demand with Etsy for Passive Income Course

The course title is a bit of a mouthful, but it tells you everything you need to know. The Print on Demand with Etsy for Passive Income 2023 Course is an in-depth exploration of print on demand with Etsy.

There are four hours of on-demand video, seven articles, and more than a dozen downloadable resources. 

The Udemy course is a bit pricy, coming in at $79.99, but it also includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

The Print on Demand with Etsy for Passive Income Course also has a proven track record. More than 22,000 people have taken the course, and it has more than 800 ratings leading to an overall score of 4.6 stars. 

Sell Print on Demand on Etsy with Printify

Another one of those the title explains it all courses, Sell Print on Demand on Etsy with Printify is a course created by Mihai C., who has a background in digital marketing. She once worked for Google but now runs her own marketing business.

She has created ten complete courses to help you make your print on demand shop from start to finish. The classes are broken into bite-sized pieces of five to ten minutes so you can digest what you’ve heard before moving on to the next step. 

More than 1,800 students have taken the SkillShare course to date.

Beginner’s T-Shirt Design & Print on Demand Using FREE Online Graphic Design Tools and Programs

The title tells you all you need to know. The upside of this Beginner’s T-Shirt Design course is that you will learn all the skills you need to know to create your print on demand business, even if you’re not the creative type.

This course will teach you how to design specifically for t-shirts and help you locate free graphic design tools and programs that will work for you. That’s good news because the lower you keep your costs when starting your print on demand business, the sooner you can begin reaping the rewards of your hard work.

The Beginner’s T-Shirt Design & Print on Demand course is $84.99, and it includes 2.5 hours of on-demand video, eight articles, and two downloadable resources, along with full lifetime access. 

Like some other courses on this list, take your time ordering. You can often take advantage of sales for a better price.

Etsy Print on Demand on Etsy

If all else fails, turn to Etsy for your answers. One of the more popular courses is Print on Demand Dominion: A Beginner’s Guide to Selling POD on Etsy. In Print on Demand Dominion, you will receive an e-book and the ability to communicate directly with the course creator. 

The course claims to provide “great value” in helping you find winning products, whether on Shopify or Etsy.

People who have used the course in the past seem happy with the seller. The shop has an average 5-star rating with more than 400 reviews.

Other Top Print on Demand Courses

This first one is again our top pick but may be out of the price range for some new sellers.

Be a Wolf Biz Top Seller Secret

Brittany of Be a Wolf Biz has a really great Instagram and a high-quality POD course Top Seller Secret that we highly recommend.

Yes, it is pricey but we personally use many of the same keyword research strategies when we sell printables on Etsy and know that she knows what she is teaching.

Brittany also is a big fan of the Etsy seller keyword research tool, eRank, which we love as well. If you’re not using eRank yet for your POD business, you are missing out big time.

Brittany’s goal is to help you get to six figures selling print on demand on Etsy like her. She is a straight-shooter when it comes to design critique as well.

We follow her on Instagram and like her no-nonsense style of telling you what is hot and what is not on Etsy. Trends are important to Etsy shop success so you’ll want someone who “gets trends” and Brittany does.

Etsy Print on Demand Masterclass

If you’re looking for an intense and in-depth course to teach you everything you need to know about selling print on demand on Etsy, consider the Etsy Print on Demand Masterclass on Udemy. 

The course is nine and a half hours of intense learning. It includes everything you need to “start, streamline, & scale” your Etsy business and how to automate and convert those visitors to customers. 

The only thing that might hurt is the price point. $84.99 is not cheap. However, the students who have taken the course give it 4.7 stars. Plus, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Build a Shopify Print on Demand Business from Scratch

While this course focuses on Shopify, there are things that you will learn here that will help you on your print on demand journey no matter what sales platform you use. 

For example, Build a Shopify Print on Demand Business from Scratch will show you how to add an Instagram feed to your store, utilize Facebook Ads and teach you how to choose a niche. It will also help you improve your store’s conversion rate and teach you how to source graphics and designs for your products.

Build a Shopify Print on Demand Business from Scratch is not cheap. Currently, it costs $129.99, but keep an eye out because, more often than not, a sale will come along soon. 

You get a lot for your $129.99, including full lifetime access, eight hours of instruction, and six articles for you to work from.

Our vote is to start with an Etsy shop instead of a Shopify store so you don’t have to worry about driving your own customers to the site. Etsy has a huge marketplace of 90M customers that you can tap into and not have to worry about generating your own traffic.

How to Quickly Start a Print on Demand Merchandise Business with Zero Experience

You can get this course with a subscription to SkillShare. The course, How to Quickly Start a Print on Demand Merchandise Business with Zero Experience, starts you from the beginning and walks you step by step through the process of launching your print on demand business.

Digital Steve, the course teacher, has created 29 short courses to help you learn in small pieces. Included in the course are how to handle coupons and discounts, customer service tips, how to create specific products, and more. 

More than 2,200 people have already taken the course.

How I Made 6 Six Figures in 12 Weeks with POD Jewelry

This course made it into the mix because it’s a little different from your average print on demand t-shirt shop. How I Made 6 Six Figures in 12 Weeks with POD Jewelry teaches you what print on demand jewelry is and how to create “winning print on demand jewelry designs.”

You’ll also learn about advertising your print on demand jewelry business on Facebook and Instagram by utilizing Facebook Business Manager, your Facebook Page, Facebook Ads Manager, and your Instagram page. 

How I Made 6 Figures in 12 Weeks with POD Jewelry costs $79.99 on Udemy, though I have seen it on sale for as much as 79% off. You will receive 9 hours of video and a certificate of completion when you’re done.

So far, more than 1,100 students have taken the course, and it has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars.

T-Shirt Design for Beginners Using Canva Pro

There are a lot of t-shirt design courses out there, but I chose this one because it uses Canva. Canva is one of the best design options out there that seems to appeal to both newbies in the design space and experienced designers. 

While I would prefer to use the free version of Canva, if you choose this course, you can get Canva Pro relatively cheaply (about $12.99 per month). That’s much more affordable than other design software, such as Adobe.

The T-Shirt Design for Beginners course includes 2.5 hours of on-demand video and five downloadable resources. It teaches you how to create designs in Canva Pro and then upload them to Teespring, Threadless, and Redbubble. 

As of this writing, it has taught more than 3,000 students and has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.

What if you are an artist and want to sell print on demand too? Keep reading.

E-Commerce for Artists: Selling with Print on Demand

I like E-Commerce for Artists: Selling with Print on Demand because it is a partnership between SkillShare (an e-learning platform) and Threadless (a print on demand company). 

If you plan to run your print on demand in conjunction with Threadless, this is the course for you. Even though it’s short, it is packed full of information. In the end, you’ll learn how Threadless works and recommended practices for learning the platform. 

While Threadless is a good company to work with, be aware that it does not integrate with Etsy at this time. That means that if you want to sell your products on Etsy as well, you would need to input each order that you receive on Etsy into Threadless. For some small business owners, this can become too much of a burden, and they will eventually find a company to work with that is compatible with Etsy.

The cost of this course is the price of a monthly subscription to SkillShare, which is currently just under $14 a month.

Building a Career in Illustration: Explore Print on Demand

This course was created by Society6 and designed to help artists learn about print on demand and market their work to the rest of the world. When you take the course, you will learn how to sell your print on demand work on the Society6 platform.

The benefit of this course is if you like the instructor, Cat Colquillette, you can take another class from her, “Digitize Your Art to Sell Online: Prep Your Paintings for Print on Demand.” Since both courses are available for a monthly fee on SkillShare, you can watch them for the same price in one month.

It says there are over 61,000 students in this Building a Career in Illustration, which is the most of any we have analyzed.

The Best Print on Demand course for you?

If creating a print on demand business is your goal, then one of the above courses will get you going. Remember, print on demand is not a get rich quick scheme or a 100% source of passive revenue. Is selling print on demand worth it? Yes.

It is a great way to bring in extra income, and if you work hard enough at it, it is possible to create a small business that allows you the freedom to pay off your bills, save for that next big purchase, or quit your day job altogether.

We recommend starting with a course that focuses on selling on Etsy so you can practice the basics of selling POD before you have to worry about generating your own traffic – but that is our two cents!

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