If you’re looking for a simple way to start making extra money online—without handling inventory, packaging, or shipping—then selling custom t-shirts on Etsy might be your perfect side hustle.
Let me break it down for you…
Why This Business Model Works
Selling t-shirts on Etsy using print-on-demand (POD) is one of the easiest and most scalable ways to earn passive income. Here’s why:
- No need to hold stock
- No trips to the post office
- No need to make the products yourself
- Start with a low budget
Sounds good, right?
You simply upload your design, and whenever someone places an order, a third-party company prints the shirt and ships it directly to your customer – under your brand.
Why Etsy?
Etsy has over 81 million active buyers who are always looking for unique and personalized items. It’s especially popular with women who love gifting – so even if you’re designing shirts aimed at men (like dads, brothers, or husbands), Etsy is still a great platform.
Even better: the listing fees are low, and Etsy already has tons of built-in traffic. You don’t need to build a full website to get started.
Step 1: Pick a Niche That Excites You
Before you start creating designs, ask yourself:
What do I enjoy doing in my spare time?
Are you into sports? Gaming? Dogs? Cooking? Books? Fitness?
Create designs based on things you already love. This not only makes the process more fun, but it also helps you better connect with your audience.
Tip: Think about who your shirts are for – and what kind of designs would catch their eye.
Step 2: Use Print-On-Demand to Do the Heavy Lifting
Instead of buying inventory upfront, POD platforms like Printful or Printify will:
Print your t-shirt after a customer places an order
Ship it out in your name (with your logo/branding)
Handle all fulfillment, so you don’t have to
That means zero stock and zero hassle.
You just upload your designs, connect to your Etsy store, and start selling.
Both Printful and Printify offer:
Free plans
24/7 support
Easy Etsy integration
Global shipping
Step 3: Promote Your Designs
To get traffic and sales faster, here are some smart ways to promote your t-shirts:
Use this visual platform to post mockups and styled photos of your shirts. Hashtags like #funnytshirt, #customshirt, or #etsyshop can help new buyers discover you.
Perfect for sharing your designs. Pinterest users often come with buying intent – especially for gifts and niche products. One viral pin can lead to a wave of traffic.
Etsy Ads
Run low-budget Etsy ads to promote your listings. You can target buyers by age, gender, and interest, and test different tags to see what converts.
Offer Free Shipping
Many shoppers filter for free shipping – so offering it can instantly boost your visibility and clicks.
Use All 13 Tags
Tags are Etsy SEO gold. Use all the tag spaces available and include variations your audience might search for (e.g., “funny gym shirt,” “gift for runners,” “vegan t-shirt”).
What’s Next?
Once you’ve got a few sales under your belt and feel more confident, consider expanding into your own Shopify store. But to start with, Etsy gives you everything you need to test your ideas and build momentum without feeling overwhelmed.
Final Thoughts
This business model is super exciting because it’s scalable and low-risk. You can start small, test ideas quickly, and once things are set up—it can generate sales even while you sleep.
If you’re curious to dive deeper, Printful has a great guide here that walks you through the process step-by-step.
Give it a try and see what happens. You might just surprise yourself with how fast you can get up and running.
