What Custom Ink Does

Custom Ink is an online platform that lets you design and order printed items — mostly t-shirts, hoodies, and other apparel — without buying in bulk or paying setup fees upfront. You upload a design or create one using their design tool, set a price you want to charge, and share a link with friends, coworkers, or customers. People order through that link, and Custom Ink prints and ships directly to each person who bought something. You don't handle inventory or shipping yourself.

The company makes money by taking a cut of each sale. You set the retail price, Custom Ink subtracts their production cost and their fee, and you keep what's left. If nobody orders, you pay nothing. This model works well for fundraisers, small team orders, family reunions, and people who want to test a design before committing to a large print run.

Key Takeaways

  • Custom Ink charges no setup or design fees — you only pay when someone actually orders a product.
  • You control the retail price and keep the profit after Custom Ink's production cost and commission are deducted.
  • Orders ship directly to customers, so you don't need to collect money, manage inventory, or handle fulfillment yourself.
  • The platform works best for group orders, fundraisers, and small runs where you want to avoid minimum order quantities.
  • Turnaround time is typically five to seven business days from when the campaign closes, though rush options are available at higher cost.

How the Ordering Process Works

You start by creating a campaign. Upload your artwork or use Custom Ink's design tool to add text, logos, or images to a blank template. Choose which products you want to offer — t-shirts in different colors and sizes, sweatshirts, hats, or other items. Set a retail price for each product. Custom Ink shows you their production cost so you can see how much profit you'll make per sale.

Once your campaign is live, you get a unique link to share. Anyone with that link can browse your designs, pick colors and sizes, and place an order. They pay Custom Ink directly through the website — you never handle payment. Custom Ink collects all the orders, prints them, and ships each one to the customer's address. You receive payment for your profit share after the campaign closes and production is complete.

You can set a campaign to close on a specific date, or leave it open indefinitely. Many people use a important date to create urgency — "Order by Friday" — which helps drive sales. Custom Ink sends you a summary of all orders and your earnings once everything ships.

Pricing and Profit Margins

Custom Ink's production costs vary by product type, color, and quantity ordered. A basic t-shirt might cost them $4 to $6 to print, depending on how many people order the same design. Their commission is built into that cost. You set the retail price, so if you charge $15 for a t-shirt that costs Custom Ink $5 to produce, you keep $10 per sale.

The profit per item usually ranges from $3 to $8 for apparel, depending on what you're selling and how many orders come in. Larger orders sometimes lower the per-unit production cost, which means higher profit for you. Custom Ink shows you the exact breakdown before you launch, so you know what you'll earn before anyone orders.

There are no hidden fees, setup charges, or design fees. You pay nothing if the campaign doesn't sell. If you want rush production — printing and shipping in two to three business days instead of five to seven — you can add that cost to the retail price or absorb it yourself.

Design Requirements and File Formats

You can upload artwork as a PDF, PNG, JPG, or SVG file. Custom Ink recommends high-resolution files (at least 300 DPI) for the best print quality. If your design is low resolution or small, they'll let you know before you launch the campaign. You can also use their built-in design tool to create something from scratch — add text, choose fonts, upload a logo, and position elements on the garment preview.

Keep in mind that screen printing has limits. Very small details, thin lines, or gradients may not print as sharply as they would in digital form. Custom Ink's design tool shows you a preview of how your design will look on the actual product, so you can catch problems before going live. If you're unsure whether your design will work, their support team can review it and give feedback.

Shipping and Delivery Timeline

Standard production takes five to seven business days after your campaign closes. That means if your campaign ends on a Friday, Custom Ink typically starts printing the following Monday and ships within a week. Shipping time to the customer depends on their location — usually three to five business days within the United States for standard shipping.

Custom Ink includes shipping in their production cost, so customers don't pay extra for delivery. The total time from campaign close to customer receiving their order is usually two to three weeks. If you need items faster, you can select rush production when you set up the campaign, which compresses the printing window to two to three business days. Rush orders cost more, and you can pass that cost to customers or cover it yourself.

When Custom Ink Works Well and When It Doesn't

Custom Ink is ideal for fundraisers, team spirit orders, family events, and small business owners testing a design. You don't need a minimum order, so even if only five people buy, the campaign succeeds. There's no financial risk — you only pay for what sells. The platform handles all the logistics, so you focus on promoting the campaign and collecting orders.

Custom Ink is less practical if you need large quantities upfront, want to keep inventory on hand, or need very fast turnaround. If you're ordering 500 shirts for a conference next week, a traditional screen printer with rush services might be better. If you want to build a brand with consistent stock, you'll eventually outgrow the per-order model and move to bulk printing. Custom Ink also works best when you have an audience to share the link with — if you're relying on strangers to find your campaign, sales will be slow.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The biggest mistake is setting the retail price too low. People often underestimate how much they should charge and end up with $1 or $2 profit per shirt. Remember that you're providing a service — design, setup, promotion, and fulfillment coordination. Charge enough to make it worth your time. Look at what similar campaigns charge and price accordingly.

Another common error is uploading low-resolution artwork or designs with very small text. Always check the preview before launching. If your logo is fuzzy or text is hard to read on the preview, it will be worse on the actual shirt. Test your design by zooming in and looking at fine details.

People also sometimes forget to promote their campaign. Custom Ink doesn't market for you — you have to share the link with your audience. Send emails, post on social media, mention it in person, and give people a important date so they feel motivated to order. Campaigns that sit dormant rarely sell.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay anything upfront?

No. Custom Ink charges no setup fee, design fee, or deposit. You only pay when someone orders. If your campaign gets zero orders, you pay nothing. You receive your profit share after the campaign closes and all items ship.

Can I change my design after the campaign goes live?

No. Once the campaign is active and people are ordering, you cannot change the design. You can close the campaign and start a new one with a different design, but existing orders will print as originally designed. Plan your design carefully before launching.

What if someone's order arrives damaged or the wrong size?

Custom Ink handles customer service for damaged or defective items. Customers contact Custom Ink directly, not you. Custom Ink will reprint or reship at no cost to the customer. You're not responsible for individual customer complaints, though you may want to include a note in your campaign encouraging people to reach out to you first if they have concerns.

Can I order for myself, or do I have to sell to others?

Yes, you can order for yourself. Set up a campaign, add yourself as a customer, and order whatever you want. You'll pay the retail price you set, and Custom Ink will print and ship to you like any other customer. This is useful if you want a few samples before promoting the campaign widely.

How do I get paid?

Custom Ink deposits your profit to your bank account via ACH transfer after the campaign closes and production is complete. You provide your banking information when you set up your account. Payment typically arrives within one to two weeks of shipment.