SELLER FIELD NOTES / 4 OCTOBER 2026
Pick the cash flow
before the platform.
Original digital products avoid manufacturing and shipping costs. A physical product adds fulfilment, delivery and return obligations. Before selecting a platform, compare the cash required for the first real order.
Three routes for an original design
| Route | Cash-flow question |
|---|---|
| Digital download | What listing, payment, tax and support costs remain after each sale? |
| Print-on-demand marketplace | Do you pay production before the marketplace releases your buyer’s payment? |
| Supplier-operated storefront | Does the supplier collect the buyer’s payment and deduct production costs before paying your margin? |
Printify advertises a free Pop-Up Store with customer payments covering production costs. Merchant eligibility and identity verification apply. The seller remains responsible for merchant obligations. Etsy charges listing and transaction fees and may show a setup fee during onboarding. Supplier costs and payout timing must be checked for the actual account.
Explore Printify Pop-Up Store ↗
Explore Etsy selling ↗
These are ordinary links, not commission links. We have not earned affiliate commissions from this page. Sources: linked provider business pages and Etsy fees policy. This is a practical overview, not a provider endorsement or a promise of profit.
Know your contribution per order
Subtract production, shipping paid by you, platform/payment fees, tax payable, and expected return/support costs from your customer receipt. The remaining contribution must cover advertising and overhead before there is profit. A sale total is not net income.