Dropshipping and print-on-demand are two types of online businesses that are popular with entrepreneurs. Many people think that one is the same as the other because of how they are both fulfilled.
So, we’re here to tell you all you need to know about the two companies. This article will give an overview, point out the main differences, and talk about the pros and cons of each.
If you’re not sure what makes one different from the other, you should read this article. We’ve also given you suggestions that you can look at before making a choice.
Let’s get to it.
Dropshipping vs. Print-On-Demand: Overview
Even though dropshipping and print-on-demand seem similar, they are actually two different types of businesses. We will talk more about each of them later.
So, before we get into the details, let’s first get an idea of what each is about.
What Is Dropshipping?
Dropshipping is a way to fulfill orders in which a business doesn’t keep any of the items it sells in stock. Instead, when customers place orders, these orders will be sent to dropshipping suppliers to be filled.
As part of fulfillment, orders are processed, products are packed, and they are sent out.
This shows that dropshipping businesses don’t touch their products and don’t have to buy and store a lot of inventory.
Also, all you need to start a dropshipping business is an online store.
Integrations make it easy to list the products in the store. Once they are listed, owners only need to boost their listings to make sure the right customers see them.
This kind of business has low start-up costs, which makes it attractive to people who don’t want to risk losing a lot of money.
People have tried this type of business model because it doesn’t require any employees and there aren’t any extra bills to pay.
What Is Print-On-Demand?
Dropshipping is a way to fulfill orders in which a business doesn’t keep any of the items it sells in stock. Instead, when customers place orders, these orders will be sent to dropshipping suppliers to be filled.
As part of fulfillment, orders are processed, products are packed, and they are sent out.
This shows that dropshipping businesses don’t touch their products and don’t have to buy and store a lot of inventory.
Also, all you need to start a dropshipping business is an online store.
Integrations make it easy to list the products in the store. Once they are listed, owners only need to boost their listings to make sure the right customers see them.
This kind of business has low start-up costs, which makes it attractive to people who don’t want to risk losing a lot of money.
People have tried this type of business model because it doesn’t require any employees and there aren’t any extra bills to pay.
Dropshipping vs. Print-On-Demand: Main Differences
Now that we’ve talked about the big picture, let’s talk about how each business model is different through its processes and features.
Product Range
Businesses that do dropshipping or print-on-demand offer a wide range of products. But these different kinds of businesses sell different kinds of goods.
Dropshipping stores can sell any kind of product that can be shipped.
Print-on-demand stores, on the other hand, focus on products that they can customize and print on. Clothing and accessories are common products.
Compared to dropshipping, it’s clear that print-on-demand has a smaller range of products.
Inventory and Processing Time
Most dropshipping products are made in large quantities and are ready to ship when they get to a supplier’s warehouse.
So, dropshipping suppliers keep a stock of products so that orders can be shipped as soon as possible.
Print-on-demand businesses only process and print products after orders have been sent to their suppliers. This could make the fulfillment process take more business days and cost more.
White-label products are already in stock at the suppliers, but the printing part of the process still takes time.
Customization
Since 90% of US customers prefer brands that offer personalization, let’s look at how both of these business models include personalization in their own ways.
In terms of customization, print-on-demand is better than the other option. The store owners come up with the designs, which are then put on the products.
Instead of just having unique packaging, the whole product is made to match the design chosen.
Because the products have already been made, dropshipping doesn’t allow for much customization. Dropshippers who want to change the look of their products can look into custom packaging.
Shipping Times and Costs
Shipping times and costs for both dropshipping and print-on-demand businesses usually depend on where their suppliers are and which third-party delivery services they choose.
But because print-on-demand products are made to order, it’s normal for them to take longer to ship than dropshipping products, no matter where you live or what delivery service you use.
Shipping Time
Shipping costs, on the other hand, depend a lot on what is being shipped. Shipping costs will be higher as long as the item is fragile, big, or heavy.
Profit Margins
When it comes to profit margins, dropshipping gives you more power. Since these items are made in large quantities, they are cheaper, which lets dropshippers make more money.
If dropshippers don’t want to brand their products, they don’t have to. Also, sales and profits are made much faster with dropshipping than with print-on-demand.
Print-on-demand, on the other hand, already needs the products to be customized before they are printed.
Even though it’s made to order, it takes time and work to make the designs. Some business owners don’t think of these as costs, but it’s important to remember that they affect how the fulfillment process works as a whole.
But don’t worry, because these customized products are good for their target market. Print-on-demand owners can also make a lot of money if they do things right.
Scaling Opportunities
Both dropshipping and print-on-demand are ways that businesses can grow.
Dropshipping, on the other hand, is easier to grow because all the products need to be done is put on an online store.
As long as their dropshipping platform lets them, owners can add as many products as they want. They are also free to try out new markets to grow their businesses.
Print-on-demand, on the other hand, can only grow if more designs are added to the list.
There is also a physical limit to adding more types of products, since you can only print so many things. This is why it is hard to grow this business, even though it is possible to do so.
Competition
This year, the market for dropshipping should reach $196.78 billion. This is one of the reasons why so many people have started this kind of business, along with the low start-up costs.
This is also one reason why dropshipping is a tough business to be in. There are hundreds or even thousands of dropshippers selling the same products as you.
Customers can buy the same things from another store if they want to.
You’re pretty much on the same level as other dropshipping businesses if you don’t sell unique items or give great customer service.
When it comes to print-on-demand, there isn’t much competition.
Print on Demand has rivals.
Print-on-demand products don’t look the same, even though there is a chance of plagiarism.
You can offer niche products for specific markets, such as gamers or hobbyists, and not worry if other stores sell the same designs or products.
The main selling point of print-on-demand is that it is unique. The more creative your designs are, the less likely it is that the competition will take over.
Dropshipping vs. Print-On-Demand: Pros and Cons
Now that we know what makes one business different from the other, let’s look at the pros and cons of each.
Dropshipping Pros
Even if you are new to business, you should try dropshipping. Here are some of its pros:
Lots of Product Options
People choose dropshipping because there are so many products to choose from. You aren’t just limited to a certain group of things. You can sell anything you can think of instead.
Most dropshippers can easily find the products they want and add them to their online stores with the right methods for researching products.
Even if you don’t know much about product research, popular dropshipping platforms like AliExpress have tools that let you find and learn about products that are selling well.
Easy to Scale
Dropshipping is easy to grow, as was already said.
You just need to find the right suppliers and add products to your store. Dropshippers of all kinds find it easy to use because of the integrations that are available.
Dropshippers can also use the money they make to grow their businesses faster by putting it back into the business.
Short Fulfillment Times
Dropshipping is faster because the items are already packed and ready to ship. Most of the time, suppliers already have stock of their products, which makes it faster to fill orders.
Dropshipping: Short Times to Fill Orders
This is helpful, especially since people expect their products to arrive two to three days after they order them.
Easy to Start
To start dropshipping, you don’t have to make designs. You can just choose the products you want to sell and add them to your store. Some suppliers even have descriptions and pictures of their products that you can use once they are listed.
Some dropshippers don’t even have a website when they start their business. People who don’t want a website have Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest as their top three choices.
This is why it’s easier to get started with dropshipping.
Dropshipping Cons
Even though dropshipping has a lot of good points, there are still some things you should think about before you start your business.
Risky Product Quality
Because there are so many products to choose from, quality isn’t always a given. Most of the time, these things are made in large quantities, which makes quality control harder to do.
This is why it’s important to find the best dropshipping suppliers and check the quality of the products before putting them in your store.
You can also work with trustworthy dropshipping agents to make sure you get good products.
Highly Competitive
It’s obvious that the dropshipping business is a competitive one.
Most of the time, you sell the same things that your competitors do. This makes it hard to stand out, especially if your company isn’t well-known enough.
You can get a bigger share of the market by doing things like giving good customer service and having fair prices.
Changing Trends
One thing dropshippers might never admit is that keeping up with dropshipping trends is hard work.
Even the most experienced dropshipper can get tired of the changes over time. Good for people who can hire a group of product researchers.
But if you’re just starting out, you might want to get ready for a rough ride.
Print-On-Demand Pros
Print-on-demand isn’t as popular as dropshipping, but it still has a few benefits that are worth mentioning.
Established Branding
With print-on-demand, businesses can easily build their brand. From the unique designs to the unique packaging, the products don’t feel at all like they are mass-produced.
Customers can recognize and remember a business by the designs it puts on its products. This is good because presenting a brand in the same way over time can increase profits by 33%.
Customers should remember and like your brand, after all, so that they keep buying from you.
Strategic Supplier Locations
In the United States and Europe, you can find a lot of reliable print-on-demand suppliers. If you want to reach customers in these areas, these are the best places to be.
On top of that, these areas are known for fast deliveries because customers want them. The better the reviews, the faster the items get to the customer.
Easy Cross-Selling and Upselling
Print-on-demand items are often things that people use every day. With that, it’s easy for business owners to find ways to cross-sell and up-sell.
Cross-selling is the process of selling a customer another product that goes well with the one they already bought. For example, you can tell someone who is buying a tumbler that they should add a tumbler sleeve.
On the other hand, upselling is the act of selling a product’s more expensive version. For example, if the customer is buying a small tumbler, you can suggest a bigger one.
Because of what these products are, these suggestions also won’t seem too out of place.
Print-On-Demand Cons
Print-on-demand also has some bad things about it.
High Product Cost
Print-on-demand products are made when someone orders them, so it’s not surprising that they cost a bit more than most dropshipping products on AliExpress or Shopify.
In turn, high costs for products lead to higher retail prices, which may make people less likely to buy products.
One thing that print-on-demand companies do is build a good name for themselves. So, they can say that their prices are fair for the quality they are selling.
Creativity Requirement
An important part of a print-on-demand business is creativity. Without it, it would be hard for the business to stand out from its competitors.
Print on Demand: Need for creativity
All designs must be unique to leave an impression on customers and ensure repeat buyers.
So, anyone who wants to start a print-on-demand business should get their creative juices ready, because they’ll need them.
Dropshipping vs. Print-On-Demand: Recommendations
There are lists of the main differences and pros and cons. It’s time to talk about what kind of business you should start.
Dropshipping is a good place to start.
It may seem easy to start a dropshipping business, but the competition is tough. You can’t just add things to your store and call it a day. You also need to know how to find them.
So, dropshipping is a great business model for entrepreneurs who work hard to find good products. This also means staying up to date on the latest trends and making sure you’re never too early or too late.
This is definitely not for the lazy.
Now let’s talk about the business of printing on demand.
If you are creative or have the money to hire someone who is, you might want to start a print-on-demand business.
Adding new designs to the lineup all the time isn’t easy, especially when branding is so important. You need to know what designs will appeal to your target market.
If you can always give customers something new, it should be easy for you to start and run a print-on-demand business.
FAQs about Dropshipping and Print-On-Demand
What Are the Best Print-On-Demand Products to Sell?
If you want to start a print-on-demand business, you might want to think about selling some of these popular items:
Print the best products on demand
Scarves, Phone Cases, and Tote Bags
Masks
Socks Mugs Sneakers
Stickers Posters
Fanny Packs
Prints All Over Yoga Pants Hoodies
As you can see, you can use these things every day. With the right brand and design, it’s also easy to charge more for these things.
What Are the Popular Dropshipping Products to Sell
As we’ve already said, trends in the dropshipping industry change all the time. If you want to beat your competitors, you should be able to keep up.
We’ve put together a short list of dropshipping products to sell, which is good news for you.
Ear Plugs Wall Clock
Deep Tissue Massage tool for Baby Monitor
Dresses Made of Knit
Carriers for kids
Smart Bassinet Tripods Smart Tea Scalp Massager
Drawing tablet for the Tamagotchi Thermos/Flask
There are different places for these things. So, if you want to know which dropshipping niches are worth your time, it’s also a good idea to look at the top dropshipping niches for 2022.
Where to Find Print-On-Demand Suppliers?
On the internet, it’s easy to find several companies that do print-on-demand. People like these companies because they are known for having the best services.
Don’t worry, we’ll take care of it for you. Here is a list of companies that can print on demand:
Print-on-demand services are offered by Printify, Printful, Apliiq, and SPOD.
xPress JetPrint T-Pop Gelato CJDropshipping
Check out each company and see what its rules are. To get the most out of your print-on-demand business, you should also think about the locations and white label products you can offer.
Where to Find Dropshipping Suppliers?
The easiest way to find dropshipping suppliers is to search Google for them. There are many dropshipping suppliers from China, the US, Europe, and other places.
Suppliers who drop-ship
Here is a list of suppliers to help you get started:
AliExpress
Oberlo \sSalehoo \sSpocket \sDoba \sLightInTheBox \sDHGate \sWholesale2B \sCJDropshipping
These dropshippers are trustworthy and each has its own benefits. Do your homework to find the right supplier for your dropshipping store.
Dropshipping vs. Print-On-Demand: Summary
Businesses that do dropshipping and print-on-demand are, in fact, becoming more and more popular these days. Both businesses have similar fulfillment processes. The first steps of each process are different.
We’ve already made a list of the pros and cons of each business, so it’s up to you to decide which one is best for your desire to be an entrepreneur.
Again, choose dropshipping if you can carefully look through thousands of products every day and stay on top of the latest trends.
Timing is very important in this kind of business, so it’s not for people who don’t care.
If you want to use print-on-demand, you should have designs ready. You need to keep putting out new ones to keep the market interested.
Unique designs are crucial to success, so make sure designs aren’t plagiarized nor repetitive.
