Introduction
You’ve decided you want to make money online — welcome to the club. Now comes the hard part: figuring out which path to take without setting your hair on fire from decision overwhelm. Three of the most popular online business models for beginners are dropshipping, print on demand (POD), and affiliate marketing. You’ve probably seen gurus on YouTube screaming about all three. But which one is actually best for you?
In this guide, we’ll compare these models side-by-side: startup cost, tools, effort, scalability, income potential, and how “passive” they really are. No fluff, no sugarcoating. Just the facts — and a few sarcastic jokes. Let’s go.
Quick Definitions: What Are These Business Models?
Before we go full comparison mode, let’s quickly define the contestants.
- Dropshipping: You sell physical products via an online store, but instead of stocking inventory, you forward the order to a supplier who ships it directly to the customer. You’re the middleman — but online.
- Print on Demand (POD): Similar to dropshipping, but the products are customized with your designs — think t-shirts, mugs, journals, etc. Items are printed only when someone orders.
- Affiliate Marketing: You promote someone else’s product using a special link. When someone clicks and buys, you earn a commission. You never touch the product or the transaction.
Startup Costs: What Will It Cost to Get Started?
Let’s talk money — how much do you actually need to start?
- Dropshipping
- Shopify store: ~$39/month
- Domain: ~$10/year
- Apps/tools (like DSers or Spocket): ~$20/month
- Ad spend (you will need paid traffic): $300–$1,000 minimum
- Print on Demand
- Shopify or Etsy store: ~$0–$39/month
- Design tool (Canva is free, Kittl is ~$15/month)
- Optional product samples: ~$20–$100
- Ads (optional): $100+
- Affiliate Marketing
- Free to start
- Optional blog domain + hosting: ~$50/year
- Optional email tools (MailerLite, Beehiiv): Free to start
- Traffic = content creation or social media (free but time-consuming)
Winner: Affiliate Marketing — you can start with $0 if you’re broke but motivated.
Tools & Platforms to Launch Each Model
Here’s where you actually build the thing.
- Dropshipping Tools:
- Shopify — most popular eCommerce builder
- DSers — to fulfill orders from AliExpress
- Spocket — higher quality US/EU suppliers
- Zendrop — beginner-friendly and fast shipping
- Print on Demand Tools:
- Printful — integrates with Shopify, Etsy
- Gelato — great for global printing
- Kittl — for creating gorgeous designs
- Etsy — for easy discovery
- Affiliate Marketing Tools:
- Impact, ClickBank, Amazon Associates — affiliate networks
- WordPress or Beehiiv — build your platform
- Canva — for creating posts and pins
- TikTok or YouTube — promote for free
Winner: Print on Demand — easiest to use out of the gate, especially with Etsy + Printful combo.
Profit Margins & Earnings Potential
Time to answer: how much money can you actually make?
- Dropshipping
- Product cost: $5
- Sale price: $25
- Profit: $10–$15 (after ads, fees, and hair loss)
- You need volume to earn big
- POD
- Lower base costs than dropshipping
- Profit: $5–$10 per item
- Brand + design-focused = better customer retention
- Affiliate
- Varies wildly
- Amazon: 1–4%
- Software/digital: 20–50%
- High-ticket items = $100+ per referral
Winner: Affiliate (long-term), Dropshipping (short-term cash), POD (stable brand play)
Passive Income Potential
None of these are truly passive at the beginning — sorry, not sorry.
- Dropshipping
- Needs constant ad tweaking, customer support
- Can outsource with VAs but not passive out the gate
- Print on Demand
- Slower but more passive — designs live forever
- Can automate orders, customer messages via Etsy
- Affiliate Marketing
- Write once, earn forever (if your content ranks)
- Can be very passive with SEO + email funnels
Winner: Affiliate Marketing
Scalability: Can You Grow It Into a Full-Time Biz?
- Dropshipping
- Yes, but requires scaling ads, hiring, and SOPs
- Saturation is real — winners move fast
- POD
- Highly scalable with niche branding
- Printful/Shopify = easy to expand product lines
- Affiliate
- VERY scalable with SEO, YouTube, or email list
- Content + time = compounding traffic and income
Winner: Tie between POD and Affiliate
Learning Curve: How Hard Is It?
- Dropshipping
- Medium-hard
- Learning ads + product testing is tricky for beginners
- POD
- Medium
- Design + marketing = creative but manageable
- Affiliate
- Medium
- You need to create trustworthy content and learn SEO or social
Winner: POD — easiest to get traction with low stress
Branding Opportunities
- Dropshipping
- You’re selling someone else’s product
- Hard to build a loyal brand unless you white label
- POD
- Major branding upside
- Create niche stores with repeat buyers
- Affiliate
- You’re promoting others, not yourself
- BUT you can build a personal brand or media site
Winner: POD
Realistic Expectations for Beginners
- Dropshipping: You might lose money before you make any. If your first product flops, try again.
- POD: Expect 30–90 days before consistent sales. It’s slower but steadier.
- Affiliate: You’ll grind content with little return early on — but traffic compounds like magic.
Pros & Cons Summary Chart
| Model | Dropshipping | Print on Demand | Affiliate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Startup Cost | $$$ | $$ | $ |
| Learning Curve | Medium-Hard | Medium | Medium |
| Passive? | Low | Low | High |
| Branding | Medium | High | Medium |
| Scalability | High | Medium | High |
| Profit Potential | Medium-High | Medium | High |
Which Model Should You Choose?
- Choose Dropshipping if:
- You’ve got a budget and love testing, ads, and fast-paced strategy.
- Choose Print on Demand if:
- You’re creative and want to build a long-term brand with minimal logistics.
- Choose Affiliate Marketing if:
- You’re broke but persistent and enjoy content creation, writing, or videos.
Conclusion
So, which is best: dropshipping vs print on demand vs affiliate marketing?
They all work — but they don’t all work for everyone. The best choice is the one that fits your current skills, budget, and lifestyle.
- Want fast wins? Try dropshipping.
- Want to build a brand you can grow long-term? Try POD.
- Want to earn while you sleep (eventually)? Go affiliate.
Whatever you choose, go all in. Test. Learn. Pivot. Grow.
And don’t forget — the real win is starting.
FAQs
- Which is better for passive income: dropshipping or print on demand?
POD edges out dropshipping in long-term passivity. Once your designs are live, they can sell for months or years with minimal updates. - Can I do affiliate marketing and dropshipping at the same time?
Yes — some people promote their own store and products as an affiliate. But for beginners, it’s smarter to master one first. - What’s the easiest model to start with no money?
Affiliate marketing. You can start with zero dollars by using free platforms like TikTok, YouTube Shorts, or Medium. - How long does it take to earn with each business model?
- Dropshipping: a few weeks (if you find a winning product)
- POD: 1–3 months
- Affiliate: 2–6 months, depending on traffic source
- What are the best platforms for print on demand in 2025?
Printful, Gelato, and Kittl for creation. Etsy + Shopify for selling.