Design product graphics in Canva

~30 min

Create the product designs that will go on your print-on-demand products - t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, posters, phone cases, and more.

1. Open Canva and create designs at the right dimensions for your products: t-shirts need 4500x5400px, mugs need 2700x1100px, posters vary by size - check your print-on-demand provider's specs
2. Start with 5-10 designs in your niche - use bold typography, simple illustrations, or a combination. Less is more for print-on-demand
3. Use transparent backgrounds (PNG export) for designs that go on products - this gives the cleanest look on any product color
4. Create variations of your best designs: different colorways, text variations, or seasonal versions
5. Export all designs as high-resolution PNG files (300 DPI) - low-resolution prints look amateur

Set up Shopify store with print-on-demand app

~20 min

Create your Shopify store and install a print-on-demand app that handles printing, inventory, and shipping automatically.

1. Sign up at shopify.com and create your store with a name that fits your brand and niche
2. Go to the Shopify App Store and install a print-on-demand app (Printful, Printify, or Gooten are the most popular)
3. Connect the print-on-demand app to your Shopify store - it will automatically sync products and handle fulfillment
4. Choose a clean Shopify theme (Dawn is free and excellent) and customize it with your brand colors, logo, and fonts
5. Set up your essential pages: About, Contact, FAQ, Shipping Policy, and Return Policy

Configure products & collections

~20 min

Upload your designs to products, set pricing, create product mockups, and organize everything into browsable collections.

1. In your print-on-demand app, create products by uploading your Canva designs to product templates (t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, etc.)
2. Set your pricing: check the base cost from your print-on-demand provider and add your markup. A 40-60% margin is standard for print-on-demand
3. Write compelling product titles and descriptions - include the design concept, product material, and sizing info
4. Generate mockup images using the print-on-demand app's built-in mockup generator. Use lifestyle mockups that show products being worn or used
5. Create Shopify collections to organize products: by product type (T-Shirts, Mugs, Posters), by theme (Funny, Motivational, Seasonal), and a "Best Sellers" collection

Set up Stripe for payments

~10 min

Activate payment processing so customers can buy your products with credit cards, Apple Pay, and more.

1. In your Shopify admin, go to Settings → Payments and activate Shopify Payments (powered by Stripe)
2. Enter your business details, bank account information, and tax info for payouts
3. Enable additional payment methods: Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Shop Pay for faster checkout
4. Configure your tax settings under Settings → Taxes - enable automatic tax calculation for your selling regions
5. Do a test purchase in Stripe test mode to confirm the entire checkout flow works

Plan marketing & launch in Notion

~20 min

Create a marketing plan and launch strategy in Notion to drive your first customers to the store.

1. Create a Notion workspace with pages for: Product Ideas (database tracking design concepts, status, and sales), Marketing Plan (channels, tactics, and timeline), and Content Calendar
2. Plan your launch announcement: write social media posts, identify relevant communities and subreddits where your niche audience hangs out, and draft a launch email if you have a list
3. Set up a content strategy: plan weekly Instagram/TikTok posts showcasing your products - lifestyle photos, behind-the-scenes design process, and customer photos
4. Research and list 10-15 micro-influencers in your niche who might promote your products in exchange for free items
5. Set first-month goals: store visits, conversion rate target, and revenue goal. Track these weekly in your Notion dashboard