Selling & Business Models
How do I choose print-on-demand providers, and when should I use more than one?
The short answer
Choose a print-on-demand provider at the product-and-destination level, not from a single “best provider” ranking. The right choice is the provider that can repeatedly deliver your exact product at acceptable quality, cost, speed, and support for the customers you serve.
Compare the order your buyer will experience
Shortlist two or three provider-product combinations and record:
- exact product brand, model, material, and available variants.
- print method and printable area.
- production location and likely customer destinations.
- base cost, shipping, extra-item shipping, and tax handling.
- production-time range, not only the fastest estimate.
- branding and packaging options.
- stock history for your key colors and sizes.
- problem-reporting window and evidence required.
- integration features and manual workarounds.
- quality from your own samples.
Printify says its provider Performance Score considers quality, production speed, and samples and shipping. Treat that as one input supplied by the platform, then confirm with current samples and your own order data. Printify outlines the comparison factors on its provider-differences page and explains the score inputs more fully on its Performance Scores page.
Score what matters to your shop
Weight each criterion instead of averaging everything equally. A baby-gift shop may weight reliable production and print quality heavily because late or flawed gifts are painful. A low-priced event-shirt shop may care more about cost and regional capacity.
For example:
| Criterion | Weight | Provider A score | Weighted result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sample quality | 35% | 4/5 | 1.40 |
| Delivered cost | 25% | 3/5 | 0.75 |
| Production reliability | 20% | 4/5 | 0.80 |
| Destination coverage | 10% | 5/5 | 0.50 |
| Support and claims | 10% | 3/5 | 0.30 |
| Total | 100% | 3.75/5 |
Use the same weights for every candidate. Your sample notes should explain the scores.
Add a second provider for a specific reason
More providers can reduce dependence on one facility, improve regional shipping, or supply a product the first provider cannot. They also create more work: different colors, print areas, size charts, packaging, shipping rates, and return procedures.
Use a second provider when:
- a bestseller needs a tested backup for stockouts.
- a major customer region can be served much better locally.
- the second provider is clearly stronger for a distinct product type.
- your order volume justifies ongoing sample and quality monitoring.
Do not add one merely because the catalog is exciting. If an order is rerouted automatically, verify what can change. Printify says its order-routing feature can send work to an alternative provider, but your settings and the resulting cost or product differences still need review.
Build a backup card before an emergency
For every important product, keep the backup product ID, available colors and sizes, print file, current delivered cost, approved sample date, and listing changes required. If the substitute is not truly equivalent, pause the variant rather than silently sending a different item.
WAHMN's Print on Demand Business can help you make provider choice part of a manageable operating plan.
Sources and further reading
- Printify Help: Print Provider Differences
- Printify Help: Performance Scores
- Printify Help: Order Routing
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