Why 2026 Is the Year You Finally Start a Print-on-Demand Business (And Why I Trust Printify)

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re doing it from one of three places:

1. Sitting at your desk pretending to work while dreaming about freedom

2. Sitting in traffic questioning every life decision that led you there

3. Sitting at home wondering if this is finally the year you do something for yourself

Let me start by saying this clearly:

2026 can absolutely be the year you build something that gives you options.

Not hype. Not guru nonsense. Real options.

And one of the simplest, lowest-risk ways I know to get started — especially if you want a business that works around your life instead of consuming it — is Print on Demand.

More specifically, a Print on Demand business powered by Printify.

I don’t say that lightly. I’ve been using Printify since 2019, and in all that time, I’ve never had an issue that made me regret starting. No disasters. No “wish I’d chosen another platform” moments. Just steady, reliable execution — which is exactly what you want when you’re building something on the side of a job you’re trying to escape.

So if you’ve been telling yourself:

“I’ll start something next year”

“I just need the right idea”

“I don’t have the time, money, or experience”

Good. You’re exactly who this is for.

Let’s talk.

Most people don’t stay stuck because they’re lazy.

They stay stuck because they think starting a business has to be complicated, expensive, or all-consuming.

They picture warehouses, inventory, shipping labels, angry customers, and a second full-time job that pays nothing for months.

Ok, ok... in all honesty, that's 100% accurate but that doesn't have to be your picture.

Trust me, I know... I owned a Brick and Mortar Print Shop for 10 years; I experienced all that except the angry customers part, everyone loved me because I put them first. The customer is always right, no matter how wrong they are.

After a car accident forced me to close my print shop, I discovered something while searching online to find a way to keep my love of printing alive while I recovered from my injuries...

Print on Demand changes all that.

With POD, you don’t buy inventory.
You don’t store products.
You don’t ship anything.
You don’t print anything yourself.

You design once, upload once, and the rest is handled for you.

And when it comes to POD platforms, Printify is the one I made my primary source — not because all the other platforms I used were no good (they were/are good) but because it gives me a choice of printers and the highest profit margin.

Print on Demand is simple:

You create a design
You put it on a product (mugs, shirts, hoodies, phone cases, posters, etc.)
You list it in an online store (my favorite is Shopify)
When someone orders → it’s printed and shipped automatically

You only pay for the product after someone buys it.

No guessing.
No gambling.
No boxes stacked in your garage.

This is why POD is perfect for:

• People working full-time jobs

• Parents with limited time

• Anyone recovering from burnout

• Entrepreneurs who want leverage, not chaos

And Printify is built specifically for this model.

Let me be blunt.

I don’t stick with tools that give me headaches.

If something wastes my time, creates customer issues, or adds stress to my life, it’s gone. Period.

Printify has earned my trust over the years because:

• The platform is stable

• The product catalog is massive

• The supplier network is solid

• The pricing is transparent

• The integrations just work

Since 2019, I’ve used Printify for my print shop and I’ve never had a reason to panic, pull listings, or scramble to fix errors.

That consistency matters when you’re building a business meant to reduce stress, not increase it.

This part surprises people.

You don’t need to be an artist.
You don’t need Photoshop skills.
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel.

Some of the best-selling POD products are:

• Simple text designs

• Relatable phrases

• Niche humor

• Seasonal messages

• Inside jokes for specific audiences

If you can type words… you can start.

Here’s why I love POD for people who want out of the daily grind:

That’s the key difference between working harder and building smarter.

Printify gives you access to a huge catalog of products, including:

• Coffee mugs

• T-shirts and hoodies

• Sweatshirts

• Phone cases

• Hats

• Tote bags

• Posters and wall art

• Stickers

• Home decor items

And you don’t need to sell everything.

In fact, I recommend you don’t!

When I first started, I was adding everything and months went by and I was still working on my store. I never opened my store until I figured out:

Pick one or two product types.
Pick one niche.
Get good at that.

That’s how real businesses are built.

Let me ask you something honest.

How many times have you said:

“Next year I’m going to do something different.”

And then… as you're watching that ball drop, you realize you said that last year?

Here’s the difference with 2026.

You don’t need a dramatic leap.
You don’t need a massive plan.
You just need momentum.

Starting a POD business with Printify is one of the lowest-friction ways to create that momentum.

One design.
One product.
One listing.

That’s it.

And once you see that first order come through — even if it’s small — something shifts.

You stop thinking “Can I do this?”
And start thinking “How do I do more of this?”

If I were starting fresh in 2026, here’s exactly what I’d do:

1. Choose a niche you actually understand

2. Start with mugs or shirts (simple, proven)

3. Create 10–20 basic designs

4. Launch imperfectly

5. Learn from real data, not opinions

You don’t need perfection.

You need movement.

Printify removes so many barriers that the only real obstacle left… is starting.

I want to be very clear about something.

Print on Demand is not a lottery ticket.
It’s not “set it and forget it.”
It’s not magic.

What it is — is a legitimate business model that rewards consistency, learning, and patience.

And for people who want to end their daily commute, that’s exactly what you want.

Something real.
Something repeatable.
Something that grows.

Before another year slips by, do this:

• Commit to starting one small online business

• Choose Print on Demand

• Use a platform that’s been battle-tested

• Build something you own

I’ve trusted Printify for years.
I still use it.
And I wouldn’t recommend it if I didn’t believe it could help you create real options for your future.

If this platform could make you $10,000/month, wouldn't you agree it's worth $197/month?

LOL!! I'm just kidding! Don't you hate when you're watching a webinar and when they FINALLY get to the cost they try to make it look sooooo affordable and a no-brainer to those who, if they knew the price 2 hours earlier, would have left because no matter how much they talk about how much you need it, that doesn't make the money magically appear in your bank account so you can pay them?

Printify is FREE.

They have a paid plan but you don't need that to start out. However, after you start making sales you will want to consider it because it will increase your profit margin.

If you’re serious about making 2026 different — not just hoping it will be — then take the first step today.

👉 Join Printify, the same platform I’ve trusted since 2019 — no inventory, no stress, no excuses, and start building your Print on Demand business now.

(This is my affiliate link. Even though Printify is free, if you sign up through my link, I may receive a small commission on your print orders at no cost to you).

Your daily commute doesn’t end all at once.

It ends the moment you decide to build something that doesn’t require it.

Let’s make 2026 the year you finally do.