30+ Business Ideas You Can Start Using A Sublimation Printer [2024]

Updated: July 24th, 2023

Interested in starting a sublimation printer business in 2024?

We put together 30 of the best sublimation printer businesses you can start in today.

For each business idea, we’ll show you real-world examples of other sublimation printer businesses to help you see what it really takes.

Here's the full list:

1. Start a 3D Printing Business

3D printing is a process that assembles objects layer by layer and starting a business in this industry can be a very creative venture.

You will need investment in the right equipment and materials, and the acquisition of 3D modeling and design skills. You will also need to regularly calibrate and maintain your 3D printers to deliver consistent results.

Plan how you'll handle shipping and logistics, and leverage technology to find new applications of 3D printing in all industries.

How much you can make: $42,000 — $330,000/month

How long does it take to build: 360 days (?)

How I Started A $330K/Month Ecommerce Specialized In 3D Printing

Founder Roy Kirchner shares how he started an eCommerce business specializing in 3D printing with an initial investment of $65,000, which now averages monthly gross sales of $330,000 and has partnered with international manufacturers and local businesses while offering technical support and education.

About
Roy started Ultimate 3D Printing Store over 8 years ago
Revenue
Roy grew the business to $330K/month
Costs
It cost Roy $65000 to start the business
Read by 28,662 founders

2. Start a mouse mats making business

3. Start an ATM printing slip manufacturing business

How much you can make: $500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 100 days (?)

How I Started A $6M/Year Paper Roll Company [Based in China]

Learn how Frank Ouyang founded Panda Paper Roll Company, a China-based paper roll manufacturing company that exports products worldwide, bringing in an annual sales revenue of $10M.

About
Frank started Panda Paper Roll over 13 years ago
Revenue
Frank grew the business to $500K/month
Costs
It cost Frank $400000 to start the business
Read by 3,092 founders

4. Start a niche greeting cards business

How much you can make: $1,000 — $100,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $8,750 (?)

How long does it take to build: 77 days (?)

I Created A Prank Card Company & Grew It To $30K/Month

Joker Greeting sells unique prank gifts, including a non-stop musical birthday card, an idea raised by the founders visiting their mom's house, having no website or marketing and yet raising $92,073 on Kickstarter in 30 days due to being picked up by media, enabling them to sell 15,000 units in the first year, owned SEO for their niche, selling almost 40,000 units in 2017 and expected to reach 50,000 to 60,000 in 2018 with a small team, using Shopify and various social media channels with lots of organic traffic.

About
Travis started Joker Greeting almost 9 years ago
Revenue
Travis grew the business to $100K/month
Costs
It cost Travis $1000 to start the business
Read by 12,267 founders

5. Start a laser cut coasters business

Do you have a passion for starting laser-cutting business ideas? A potential opportunity that uses laser cutting techniques is making coasters. Whether you are a seasoned artist or interested in making décor crafts, laser cutting technology can help you achieve precision and accuracy.

Laser cutting technology also enables you to achieve custom designs at a lower cost, maximizing your profits.

6. Start a sign holders business

Signage is important for home and business owners. Proper signage allows businesses to market and advertise their products or services and make the brands recognizable to customers. For homeowners, signage indicates the home's address, so visitors can find them easily.

Homeowners and business owners invest in high-quality signage holders to make the signs visible. Thus, starting a signage holder business can be profitable and a fun investment. To start a stand design and production business, find out the type of signage businesses and how homeowners use and design outstanding holders.

7. Start a Cardboard Box Printing Business

Cardboard boxes are used for packing both food and non-food items. There are many types of advanced machines used to print them. If you are interested in starting your own business, then you should learn how to use these machines.

As a new business owner of cardboard box printing, you’ll have to network with various manufacturing businesses and offer them printed cardboard boxes that are designed by you.

8. Start a Mug Printing Business

The mug printing business is a unique, enjoyable, and lucrative opportunity. You can create your own designs with your own artwork, logos, and photographs. There are so many options when it comes to colors and material choices.

Starting a mug printing business can be an exciting and fulfilling career choice for those who have a passion for a home-based business.

A plain white coffee mug with a one-color logo will sell for around $1.50 at a 50% gross profit margin. You charge an industry-standard setup fee of $45, which includes your actual cost of materials.

How much you can make: $25,000 — $400,000/month

How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)

How I Started A $25K/Month Online Printing Business In Nigeria

How a Nigerian-based online printing business servicing over 5,000 active customers generates an average $25,000 monthly revenue and a net profit of 20%, with a monthly order fulfillment of approximately 500 and 45% YoY growth.

About
OLAWALE started Ryteprint about 7 years ago
Revenue
OLAWALE grew the business to $25K/month
Costs
It cost OLAWALE $400000 to start the business
Read by 4,425 founders

9. Start a children's designer clothing business

10. Start a flex printing business

11. Start a brochures printing business

12. Start a Textile Printing Business

Textile printing is not just any printing. It is the process of applying patterns, designs, and colors to the fabric. It is mostly used to print clothes, curtains, dresses, bedsheets, garments, bed covers, and other items.

To start this business you have to be trained to apply the right techniques to make sure that the pattern and design are printed accurately on the cloth. You will also have to ensure that the colors used in the design are of high quality so that they do not fade off over time or get dirty easily.

It is a perfect business idea for any entrepreneur who is looking to start his or her own business. Textile printing can be a profitable venture for those who are good at art and design and enjoy working with fabrics. The Textile Print Designer makes between $70,689 to $115,330 per year in the USA.

How much you can make: $1,000,000/month

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

On Starting A Pioneer Web-To-Print Software Solution

Web-to-print software company Design'N'Buy has acquired clients in over 40 countries and earned a turnover of $1.5 million and 1,000+ clients across 60+ countries within a short span of existence.

About
Abhishek started DesignNBuy INC almost 15 years ago
Revenue
Abhishek grew the business to $1M/month
Costs
It cost Abhishek $100000 to start the business
Read by 5,416 founders

13. Start a Promotional Sticker Printing Business

There are many types of stickers. Some are used for advertising purposes, while others are printed on products as labels. Almost all types of products need such stickers and labels to label their items. They are also widely used in the automobile industry.

Promotional sticker printing is among the most profitable printing business ideas you can consider. By working hard and focusing on different, unique, and customized designs, you’ll be able to succeed in this endeavor.

Sticker reselling is lucrative and it will only get more profitable. The global die-cut sticker industry was worth $148.5 million in 2021 and is expected to reach $188 million by 2028.

How much you can make: $83,333 — $275,000/month

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

I Built A Multi-Million-Dollar Presentation Folder Company From Scratch [From United States]

Multi-million dollar presentation folder company, Company Folders, offers over 100 million variations of products and has won multiple awards, including making Inc.’s list of 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America for three consecutive years, due to their focus on quality, variety, and personalized customer service.

About
Vladimir started Company Folders, Inc about 20 years ago
Revenue
Vladimir grew the business to $275K/month
Costs
It cost Vladimir $60000 to start the business
Read by 2,579 founders

14. Start an ornament making business

15. Start a puzzle and game books business

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

16. Start an invitation business

17. Start a customizable accessory business

18. Start a printable sales business

Printable sales businesses involve creating and selling printable items such as stationary, invitations, wall art, and other decorative items that the customer can print at home or through a professional printing service. This type of business is famous for its low startup costs and flexibility, as it can be run from a home office or online store.

To run a successful printable sales business, it is important to have strong design skills and a unique aesthetic to stand out in a crowded market. It is also essential to have a clear brand identity and a well-designed website to showcase your products and make it easy for customers to purchase.

One key tip for running a successful printable sales business is to offer a range of products to appeal to a broader audience. This can include different styles and themes to suit different occasions and offer customization options for customers who want something more personalized.

Another important aspect of running a successful printable sales business is staying up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques in the industry. This can involve taking online courses or attending workshops to learn new design software and techniques, as well as keeping an eye on popular design trends and adapting your products accordingly.

Finally, it is essential to have excellent customer service and communication skills in a printable sales business. This includes responding promptly to customer inquiries, offering support and assistance with printing issues, and being open to feedback and suggestions to improve your products and services.

19. Start a carbon offsetting business

How long does it take to build: 608 days (?)

20. Start a package design business

How much you can make: $16,000 — $500,000/month

How long does it take to build: 80 days (?)

How A Marketer Started A $500K/Month Custom Packaging Business

OXO Packaging is a successful custom packaging manufacturer generating an impressive $500,000 per month in revenue with around 40-50 orders per month, and aims to become the top packaging manufacturer in the USA and Australia.

About
Salman started OXO Packaging over 6 years ago
Revenue
Salman grew the business to $500K/month
Costs
It cost Salman $1000 to start the business
Read by 2,070 founders

21. Start a wallpaper business

Wallpapers are a popular trend, and the installation appetite will not stop soon. Homeowners go for various designs, from traditional florals to contemporary geometric, tropical patterns, etc.

Therefore, printing different substrates could make wallpaper trends even more exciting. Start by thinking about the various attractive designs and colors that will attract your target customers. Factor the scale of the flowers in the patterns and choose designs that make rooms large and create an appealing space.

22. Start an art headboards business

23. Start a guitar picks business

24. Become a tee shirt designer

Have you always had a passion for fashion and creativity? Well, then the field of tee shirt design could be the perfect opportunity for you!

As a tee shirt designer, you would be responsible for fitting model garments, ensuring size uniformity, and using your design and aesthetic skills to create unique and eye-catching tee shirts that will captivate your customers’ attention.

With this exciting career, you’ll have the chance to let your creativity run wild and make a lasting impact on the fashion industry.

How much you can make: $6,600 — $101,000/month

How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)

Generating $15K/Month In Extra Income With A Graphic Design Library

Designious co-founder Alex Dumitru shares how the graphic design library generates $12-13k in monthly revenue by creating digital products that appeal to print-on-demand entrepreneurs and graphic designers, while also offering a flat-rate membership and useful resources that solve little problems.

About
Alexandru started Designious almost 16 years ago
Revenue
Alexandru grew the business to $15K/month
Read by 4,005 founders

25. Start a marketing kits business

26. Start a digital printing press business

Digital printing transfers digital images directly onto various media types such as paper, canvas, fabric, and card stock. If you are a graphic designer, you might want to start your own digital printing business. Digital printing business requires minimal investment, and it is easy to start. Digital printing businesses can offer many products, such as restaurant menus, invitation cards, message cards, product labels, custom envelopes, brochures, and flyers.

There will always be a demand for digital printing services. You can attract many customers by offering quality results at affordable prices.

27. Start a pizza boxes business

The pizza industry is thriving, and as a result, the demand for pizza boxes is constantly increasing.

This presents a lucrative business opportunity for those who are interested in venturing into the pizza box manufacturing and sales business.

Pizza boxes are typically made from corrugated cardboard and come in different sizes to accommodate various pizza sizes.

As a business owner, you can supply high-quality, affordable boxes to restaurants and pizzerias, attracting a large customer base and generating a steady stream of income.

This business is not only profitable but also sustainable since pizza is a popular food item worldwide, and the demand for pizza boxes is expected to continue to grow in the foreseeable future.

28. Start a Xerox Store

Starting a Xerox store can be a lucrative and rewarding business opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to enter the printing and document solutions industry. This business provides various services, including printing, copying, scanning, and document management.

To start a Xerox store, you’ll need a good location that is easily accessible to your target customers. You’ll also need to invest in high-quality Xerox equipment, including printers, copiers, and scanners. In addition, you’ll need to have a strong marketing and sales strategy to attract new customers and retain existing ones. Running a successful Xerox store also involves providing excellent customer service and building client relationships.

You’ll need to be knowledgeable about the various products and services you offer and be able to troubleshoot any issues that may arise. It would help if you were proactive in staying up-to-date with industry trends and advancements to provide the best solutions to your customers.

Overall, starting a Xerox store requires a combination of business savvy, technical expertise, and excellent customer service skills. You can build a successful business in this exciting and growing industry with the right approach and dedication.

29. Start a pet tags production business

How much you can make: $50,000 — $60,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $3,000 (?)

How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)

How We Started A $50K/Month Business Manufacturing Clothing For Other Brands

This case study follows the journey of Hawthorn, a UK-based custom clothing manufacturer that designs clothes for start-up brands, and offers the lowest minimum order quantity in the industry, producing bespoke orders for as little as 50pcs per design.

About
Rob started Hawthorn almost 10 years ago
Revenue
Rob grew the business to $50K/month
Costs
It cost Rob $5500 to start the business
Read by 4,460 founders

30. Start a phone case designing business

How much you can make: $120,000/month

How I Started And Grew A $50K/mo Phone Case Business

Felony Case, a Toronto-based company designing unique iPhone cases, started as a small shop on Etsy and has grown to become an internationally recognized fashion iPhone case brand sold in top tier retailers like Nordstrom, Holt Renfrew, Indigo, Urban Outfitters, Revolve, Free People, and made over half a million dollars in revenue last year.

About
Andrew started Felony Case about 12 years ago
Revenue
Andrew grew the business to $120K/month
Read by 27,384 founders

meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.