In a perfect world, artists wouldnt have to worry about making money.

They would spend their days creating, and cash would simply appear.

Last we checked, we dont live in a perfect world.

A woman paints a portrait.

Getty Images

How Print-On-Demand Sites Work

You upload an image of your creation.

Customers buy your products.

The platform handles manufacturing, shipping, and returns.

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I was creating art anyway, so why not make some profit from my work!

she told The Penny Hoarder.

Kirk can sell everything from T-shirts to tapestries with print-on-demand services.

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Like many artists selling their work online, Kirk runs multiple online storefronts.

7 Ways to Make Money if You Hate People

Do you avoid people too?

Enough small talk.Here are some waysto earn extra cash, without all of the social stuff.

And to boost sales on any platform, youll want to market your work like any other business owner.

Instagram is your friend!

Of course, print-on-demand companies dont provide this service out of the goodness of their hearts.

They take a cut in most cases, well over half of the sale price.

Thats why its so important to choose the right site (or sites!)

to host your work.

We made this handy guide to help.

But how much of that does the designer actually get?

On a $20 poster, that means youd get $1 to $10.

And some sites even let you increase your cut, which might sound great at first.

Careful, though: a higher mark-up means a higher price, which can result in fewer sales.

Ease of Use

Time is money.

You shouldnt spend more than a few minutes on uploads when you could be marketing your shop!

Before committing to one site over another, search for work similar to yours to scope out the competition.

Product Range

Some print-on-demand companies, like INPRNT, focus almost exclusively on art prints.

Others offer everything from backpacks to whiskey flasks.

Why should you care?

More products can mean more sales.

By selling your design on a range of items, theres a higher chance a customer will buy something.

Theyre big, popular and full of competition.

Are they a good choice for most creators?

Heres how the top print-on-demand sites stack up.

Zazzle

Zazzleis one of the most popular print-on-demand sites on the internet.

This popularity is a blessing and a curse for creators.

The sheer number of products on Zazzle can make it difficult for beginners to get momentum.

That said, its all about finding your niche.

Search baby bibs and youll get more than 87,000 results.

Narrow the search to daisy baby bibs and youll have just over 300 to choose from.

Theres good news and bad news about CafePress.

The bad news: CafePress is a very saturated market.

That means an artist can stand out with original, high-quality work.

Society6

Society6is much like other print-on-demand companies, just a little classier.

Like its competitors, Society6 lets creators sell their designs on various products.

Unlike them, it prioritizes original art over popular slogans.

A cursory look at Society6s homepage shows what she means.

There is always a featured artist on the front page.

Best-selling items tend to feature intricate illustrations.

Redbubble

By Google traffic,Redbubbleis the most popular print-on-demand site, period.

It is getting more visits from consumers than any of its competitors.

Thats a huge bonus for sellers you want your products in front of eyeballs.

My main income source is Redbubble, says Kirk.

They also ship from all over the world, so no customs fees.

Its not all sunshine and daisies, however.

While many artists are finding success on Redbubble, its popularity can make it an extremely competitive marketplace.

The service is an especially good option for cartoonists and graphic artists bold designs look great on clothing.

Your cut is calculated using flat fees rather than percentages.

Interestingly enough, TeePublic is actually owned by Redbubble.

INPRNT

Does the idea of putting your art on a bathmat make you cringe?

TryINPRNT, the artistes print-on-demand service.

Focused on archival-quality prints, INPRNT blows the competition out of the water on artist pay percentage.

Kirks average profit per print sold on the site is $10.72.

Theres one major catch.

There is more consumer demand for home goods, T-shirts, and notebooks than art prints.

Which Print-On-Demand Service Should You Choose?

There are pros and cons to even the best print-on-demand sites.

Some pay better, others get more traffic.

Theyre also free to use.

Why not try all of them?

Working artists like Kirk and Gomez use multiple platforms to host their online stores you could, too.

(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)

You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…