How to Start Print on Demand With AI, Step by Step
Built only from the steps described in 9 sourced Print on Demand cases. Each step is attributed to the case it comes from; we do not add steps of our own.
How they started
Research with ChatGPT, Etsy, and Pinterest
Lists of careers and hobbies become design ideas.
From Emily Odio-Sutton, step 1. $220,300 in sales (2023), Independently Documented
Upload consistently
About ten new designs a day in the early period.
From Christina Umerez, step 1. CA$470,000 (about US$347,500), Self-Reported
Research
Keyword lists in eRank to find low-competition niches.
From Love Eat Travel Repeat (Etsy print on demand shop owner), step 1. $8,081.93 revenue in one month, Self-Reported
Generate art
More than 5,000 AI generations across many styles.
From Folk Fable Studio (Nikolai Paquin), step 1. $16,000 revenue in one year, Self-Reported
Start free
He opened an Amazon print-on-demand shop at no cost.
From Ryan Hogue (Ryan's Method), step 1. $49,000 a month in passive income, Self-Reported
Find a seller pain
D2C brands struggled with photography.
From Blend (Vaibhav Prakash, Jamsheed Kamardeen and Vishwanath Kollapudi), step 1. $100K/mo, Self-Reported
Learn the method
She learned through the host's community.
From Becca Miller, step 1. $1,500 a month, Self-Reported
Take a course
He attended the host's AI workshop.
From Jason Pagliaro (Guardian Custom Creations), step 1. Over $320 in two months, Self-Reported
Spot trends
She uses a trend report, then ChatGPT to match niches.
From Shannon Davis, step 1. $14,000 over three months, Self-Reported
What they did next
Use a template method
Simple black-and-white text designs; winners are reused with new words.
From Emily Odio-Sutton, step 2. $220,300 in sales (2023), Independently Documented
Batch the work
Design ten labels one day, list them the next.
From Emily Odio-Sutton, step 3. $220,300 in sales (2023), Independently Documented
Brainstorm with AI
ChatGPT for slogans, Gemini for trends.
From Christina Umerez, step 2. CA$470,000 (about US$347,500), Self-Reported
Expand winners across products
A design that sells on a sweatshirt is tried on a T-shirt and tote.
From Christina Umerez, step 3. CA$470,000 (about US$347,500), Self-Reported
Design
Midjourney for concepts, Canva for heavy editing.
From Love Eat Travel Repeat (Etsy print on demand shop owner), step 2. $8,081.93 revenue in one month, Self-Reported
Scale winners
Make more of what already sells, combined with fresh research.
From Love Eat Travel Repeat (Etsy print on demand shop owner), step 3. $8,081.93 revenue in one month, Self-Reported
Upscale for print
Magnific AI and Topaz Labs for print-quality files.
From Folk Fable Studio (Nikolai Paquin), step 2. $16,000 revenue in one year, Self-Reported
Automate fulfilment
Shopify connected to Printful.
From Folk Fable Studio (Nikolai Paquin), step 3. $16,000 revenue in one year, Self-Reported
Automate listings
He moved listing writing and bulk publishing to an AI tool.
From Ryan Hogue (Ryan's Method), step 2. $49,000 a month in passive income, Self-Reported
Brainstorm with AI
He asks Gemini for lists, such as common professions, to find new shirt niches.
From Ryan Hogue (Ryan's Method), step 3. $49,000 a month in passive income, Self-Reported
Ship a basic app
A mobile app built in a month.
From Blend (Vaibhav Prakash, Jamsheed Kamardeen and Vishwanath Kollapudi), step 2. $100K/mo, Self-Reported
Keep overheads low
Pivoted with users' needs.
From Blend (Vaibhav Prakash, Jamsheed Kamardeen and Vishwanath Kollapudi), step 3. $100K/mo, Self-Reported
Design with AI
Ideogram and Midjourney create the artwork.
From Becca Miller, step 2. $1,500 a month, Self-Reported
List on Etsy
She sells digital downloads.
From Becca Miller, step 3. $1,500 a month, Self-Reported
Generate designs
Midjourney and Ideogram.
From Jason Pagliaro (Guardian Custom Creations), step 2. Over $320 in two months, Self-Reported
List on Etsy
He sells digital PNGs and wraps.
From Jason Pagliaro (Guardian Custom Creations), step 3. Over $320 in two months, Self-Reported
Generate in Kittl
Prompt building and testing.
From Shannon Davis, step 2. $14,000 over three months, Self-Reported
Edit by hand
Every design is edited in Procreate.
From Shannon Davis, step 3. $14,000 over three months, Self-Reported
How they grew
Let Printify fulfil
Orders are printed and shipped by the partner.
From Emily Odio-Sutton, step 4. $220,300 in sales (2023), Independently Documented
Delegate
A virtual assistant handles customer service and uploads.
From Christina Umerez, step 4. CA$470,000 (about US$347,500), Self-Reported
Look after customers
She reports almost 1,000 five-star reviews.
From Love Eat Travel Repeat (Etsy print on demand shop owner), step 4. $8,081.93 revenue in one month, Self-Reported
Drive traffic
Paid ads on Facebook.
From Folk Fable Studio (Nikolai Paquin), step 4. $16,000 revenue in one year, Self-Reported
Add teaching income
He added YouTube, courses and coaching on top of the shop.
From Ryan Hogue (Ryan's Method), step 4. $49,000 a month in passive income, Self-Reported
Print on Demand: common questions
How much do people make with Print on Demand and AI?
Across the 7 of our 9 sourced cases that report a monthly figure, amounts range from $1,333 to $100,000 a month, with a median of $18,400. These are what each source reports, not typical results.
How much does it cost to start?
Under $40 to start, according to one documented seller. 2 of 9 cases disclose a startup cost.
How long until the first dollar?
Not consistently disclosed in our cases. This comes from what our cases report.
Which AI tools do these cases use most?
Etsy (6 cases), Midjourney (4 cases), ChatGPT (3 cases), Canva (2 cases), Google Gemini (2 cases). Only tools named in the sources are counted.
How reliable are these income figures?
1 of 9 cases are independently documented, meaning a news outlet says it reviewed records. 8 are self-reported. Every case links its source.
What are the main risks?
Profit margins are much lower than gross sales. Customer service and fulfilment problems land on the seller. Copycat shops and marketplace fee changes.
How many of these cases say when they made their first dollar?
3 of 9 cases state a time to first revenue. For example: Christina Umerez: "Small sales in the first months; CA$54,600 in November and December 2021"; Ryan Hogue (Ryan's Method): "First shirt sold for $14.99, with $2.58 profit"; Jason Pagliaro (Guardian Custom Creations): "Within 48 hours of applying the workshop method". The rest do not say, so treat any single timeline as one example, not a norm.
What went wrong or held these cases back?
9 of 9 cases list limitations or risks drawn from their sources. Examples: Emily Odio-Sutton: Profit is about 30% of sales by her estimate; Christina Umerez: Revenue is not profit; production and fees are significant; Love Eat Travel Repeat (Etsy print on demand shop owner): Self-reported by a blogger who also sells training. Each case page lists them in full.
Do I have to report this income to the IRS if I never get a 1099-K?
Yes. The IRS says that whether or not you receive a Form 1099-K, you must report all income from selling goods or services on your tax return. Payment apps and online marketplaces must send a 1099-K when payments for goods or services total over $20,000 in more than 200 transactions, but they may send one for lower amounts. Source: IRS, "Understanding your Form 1099-K" (irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k), checked 2026-10-20. General information, not tax advice.
Do I owe self-employment tax on side hustle income in the US?
According to the IRS, you must pay self-employment tax and file Schedule SE if your net earnings from self-employment were $400 or more. The rate is 15.3% (12.4% Social Security and 2.9% Medicare), and you may need to pay estimated taxes quarterly. Source: IRS, "Self-employment tax (Social Security and Medicare taxes)" (irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/self-employment-tax-social-security-and-medicare-taxes), checked 2026-10-20. General information, not tax advice.