How to Make Money with Print-on-Demand on eBay for Beginners

Have you ever considered trying eBay print-on-demand (POD) to earn some extra passive income? It’s actually easier than you might think, especially now that more and more print-on-demand providers are integrated directly with eBay.

So if you’re wondering how to start selling print-on-demand on eBay, don’t worry, this guide has you covered.

Introduction to eBay Selling

eBay is basically a huge global online marketplace where anyone can buy or sell products. It started back in 1995 and now operates in many countries, serving millions of users around the world. You can find almost everything there, from electronics and fashion to collectibles, secondhand items, and even rare finds.

How eBay works

eBay functions as an open marketplace where sellers list products and buyers purchase them either by bidding in auctions or by choosing a fixed “Buy It Now” price.

There are two primary selling formats:

• Auction Listings: Sellers set a starting price. Buyers place bids within a set time frame. The highest bidder wins when the auction ends.
• Fixed-Price Listings: Also known as “Buy It Now,” this option allows buyers to purchase instantly at a set price without bidding.

This flexibility makes eBay suitable for both unique products and everyday retail items.

If you are thinking about selling print-on-demand (POD) products, eBay is often one of the easiest places to start. Almost anyone can open an account for free, and there are no strict business requirements.

Compared to many other e-commerce platforms that require full business verification upfront, eBay feels much more open and beginner-friendly.

Should new sellers start selling POD on eBay?

If you’re wondering whether new sellers should start selling POD on eBay, the answer is yes. It can be a solid option.

Even though it’s not as hyped as Amazon or Etsy, eBay still has millions of active shoppers searching for products every single day.

Benefits of selling POD on eBay

• Massive global reach: eBay has around 152 million buyers, 19 million sellers, and 1.5 billion listings, with users spread across 190 different markets. That means you can instantly access a huge audience without having to worry too much about marketing.
• Lower competition compared to Esty or Amazon: Since eBay is widely known for secondhand goods, collectibles, and unique or hard-to-find items, a creative POD design can stand out more easily. This makes it a great option for new sellers who want a better chance to get noticed.
• Seller protection: eBay helps safeguard sellers by removing negative or neutral feedback when the issue is outside your control. For example, if there’s bad weather, a carrier delay, or the item arrives late even though you shipped it on time and provided valid tracking, eBay can step in and remove that feedback. It gives you peace of mind knowing you’re protected in situations you can’t control.

Challenges & Considerations when Selling POD on eBay

If you’re new to selling POD on eBay, there are a few important things to keep in mind.

• Tight Margins: While it’s easy to get started, the profit margins can feel tight, usually around 25 to 40%. That means you need to price carefully and watch your costs.
• Payment Holds: New or infrequent sellers often deal with payment holds. eBay may hold your funds until the item is confirmed delivered, and in some cases, this can last up to 21 days.
• Initial Seller Limits: Most new sellers can only list up to 10 items or $500 in total sales per month, whichever comes first. This is meant to protect buyers and make sure new sellers can handle their orders properly, but it can slow down growth at the beginning.

4 Steps to start selling POD on eBay

1. Set up an eBay seller account

If you want to start selling POD on eBay, the first thing you need to do is set up your seller account.

You can go with a personal account if you’re selling casually, but if you’re thinking long term, a business account is the smarter option. To get started, you’ll simply fill in the required information to create your account.

After that, you’ll need to verify your account through the confirmation email eBay sends you. Once verified, eBay will walk you through setting up your business details. You’ll choose your business type, whether that’s a sole proprietor, registered business, LLC, or nonprofit. Then you’ll enter your business address, contact details, stakeholder information, and your bank account details so you can receive payouts. Once that’s done, your seller account is ready to go.

2. Log in to an eBay Seller Hub

You can log in and go to the seller’s hub page once you’ve finished signing up as a seller. You’ll be able to see a lot of important information about your listings, marketing, and so on from here. We recommend utilizing it because there is no extra charge for this, and it has a more user-friendly interface than the Seller Dashboard on the main eBay site.

3. Set up your eBay store with POD providers

When setting up your eBay store for POD, choosing the right provider is crucial. Your business performance depends heavily on how reliable your partner is. Make sure the provider offers high-quality products, a wide range of items, fast shipping, fair base and shipping costs, a clear return and refund policy, and solid customization options.

You can explore well-known companies like Printful, Printify, and Burgerprints, which are popular POD providers integrated with eBay. Before making your final choice, take time to read customer reviews to ensure they meet your expectations.

4. List and optimize product listings

To start listing your POD products on eBay, just log into your eBay Seller Hub and click “Create listing.” That will take you to the streamlined listing tool where you can begin building your product page.

Some tips to optimize your listing on eBay:

• Write a keyword-rich title: A strong listing always begins with a clear, descriptive title that includes the words buyers are actually typing into search.
• Choose the correct category: Make sure you select the most relevant category for your POD product so eBay clearly understands what you’re selling and can rank your listing higher in search results.
• Add high-quality photos: Upload clear images from different angles and zoom in on important details. Good visuals build trust and help shoppers feel confident about buying.
• Write an honest description: Keep it clear and detailed. Include key information like measurements, specs, model numbers, and the item’s condition so buyers know exactly what they’re getting.
• Add item specifics and variations: Fill in details such as color, size, material, and other important characteristics. If your POD product comes in different options, group them in one listing so customers can easily choose what they want.
• Pricing: Check similar product listings to see what other sellers are charging. At the same time, make sure you factor in your own costs and the profit margin you want to earn.
• Shipping and returns: List your shipping options, costs, and estimated delivery times, so buyers know exactly what to expect. It’s also important to provide a transparent return policy, such as 30 days with the buyer paying for return shipping. Being clear about these details helps build trust and makes customers feel more confident buying from you.

Should You Sell POD on eBay or Amazon?

If you’re planning to sell Print on Demand (POD) products, choosing between Amazon and eBay can significantly impact your strategy, margins, and growth potential. While both platforms give you access to massive online traffic, the POD selling experience is very different for each.

#	Feature	eBay	Amazon
1	Fulfillment options	Sellers rely fully on their POD provider for printing and shipping.	Flexible, Amazon offers multiple fulfillment models, including Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) or Fulfillment by Merchants.
2	Listing format	Offers fixed-price and auction-style listings. More flexibility in the listing style.	Fixed-price listings only. POD items must follow Amazon’s structured product format. No auctions.
3	Listing requirements	Flexible listing creation. Sellers control titles, descriptions, and presentations.	Strict image rules, formatting guidelines, keyword structure, and product data requirements.
4	Search and discovery	Seller visibility matters more. Buyer trust is influenced by seller ratings, feedback, and listing optimization.	Product-first platform. Search results focus on the product, not the individual seller. Ranking depends heavily on keywords, reviews, and performance metrics.
5	Best for	Perfect for individual sellers, collectors, and small businesses who prefer niche targeting, listing flexibility, and full control over branding.	Best for high-volume, brand-focused POD sellers

Is selling POD on eBay profitable?

So, is selling POD on eBay actually profitable? Yes, it can be. But it really comes down to how well you handle your costs and customer expectations.

One of the biggest perks of POD is that you don’t need to buy inventory upfront. Your products are only printed after someone places an order, which keeps your startup costs low and reduces financial risk. That makes it much easier to test different designs without worrying about getting stuck with unsold stock.

You still need to factor in eBay fees, production costs, shipping, and possible returns. Your margins will depend on what you’re selling and how much your supplier charges.

Shipping speed also matters more than you might think. eBay buyers expect fast delivery, and working with reliable POD suppliers helps you maintain strong feedback ratings. Good ratings build trust, improve visibility, and ultimately bring in more sales.

And finally, niche and listing quality really make a difference. Sellers who target specific audiences with unique designs and high-quality images usually perform much better than those selling generic products.

Start Selling POD on eBay with Burgerprints

Ready to sell POD on eBay? It’s honestly not as complicated as it sounds. Once you understand the basics, you can get your store up and run pretty quickly.

If you want to sell on eBay without dealing with inventory or fulfillment, partnering with a reliable print-on-demand provider is the smartest choice. Burgerprints is a trusted POD company that many sellers choose because of its deep industry experience and high-quality service.

With years of experience in the POD industry, Burgerprints has earned the trust of nearly 20,000 sellers worldwide. The platform works continuously to help sellers reduce claim rates to the lowest possible level. On top of that, our fulfillment service maintains an extremely low dispute rate compared to many other providers, which is a big advantage when growing on eBay.

Built specifically to support print-on-demand sellers, Burgerprints offers strong operational advantages. Our professional logistics team provides dedicated support and expert consultation to help you improve product quality and optimize your sales process. With fast shipping, excellent customer service, and fulfillment centers across the US, Europe, and China, you can scale confidently without worrying about backend operations.

If you’re serious about growing your POD business on eBay, Burgerprints gives you the infrastructure and support to do it smoothly. Now is a great time to get started!