How to Make Money with Sublimation in 2023

Last Updated on February 4, 2023

The sublimation industry is both rewarding and profitable. Dye sublimation is used by thousands of small businesses and individuals to make amazing personal items for family members, local community groups, online merchants (such as Etsy, eBay, and Facebook), and local paying clients.

However, you have to keep in mind that it needs patience, creativity, dedication, and out-of-the-box thinking just like any other business. You have to hunt for the most selling sublimation products in your region. Some products are seasonal like gifts on Christmas, Father’s day, Mother’s day, or valentine’s day.

Tools/Appliances Needed for a Successful Sublimation Business

• Sublimation Printing Package
• Heat Press/Mug Press/Oven
• Sublimation Paper
• Design Software
• Sublimation Blanks
• Heat Resistant Gloves
• Heat Resistant Mat
• Lint Roller
• Heat Resistant Tape

Finding the Niche and Business Base

The single hardest aspect of running a business is finding someone to pay you for your services or products. Even though the customer base is attractive, competing online in the world of Products on Demand (POD) has the potential to be extremely risky. Margin requirements are very tight, and the competition is fierce.

Sublimation specialists typically focus on local shops, associations, schools, and events. As a result, you will be able to create a demand for future sales in addition to targeting an area where face-to-face customer service is most advantageous.

Potential Business Ideas within the Domain of Sublimation

Listed below are some ideas for making money through sublimation.

Put your products on the Internet.

Selling your products online is an option. You should develop a website, create your brand, and provide your products to the general public. Plan a business strategy; consider how you will earn money and how much capital you will need. Understand what products people want, what they do not wish to possess, and how much money they are willing to spend. Establish a business and begin earning profits.

Start your own Business.

Start your own printing company to earn money with sublimation. Your product can be sold to the general public if you have some money. As a business owner, you need to consider the kind of product you will sell since this will determine your success.

Create products for others

In addition to creating products for others, sublimation can be used to make money. It is possible to create effects like T-shirts and stickers, which you can sell to the public if you are skilled in graphic design. In order to succeed in business, you must decide what type of product you will sell.

Marketing to reach the Potential Customers.

Ensure that your product is properly marketed. Successful marketing will increase sales for your company. Create a website; make sure that it has an excellent user interface, easy to navigate, and has a light design with a quick loading speed.

Creating a social media account on Facebook or Twitter will allow you to share your images and videos with others. Stay informed about your competitors. Furthermore, you will obtain insight into what your competitors do and how you might be better as a result of this.

Expert Opinion about running a successful sublimation printing business

There are many complexities involved with running a sublimation printing business. It is important to know how to run a successful business. Following are several tips for starting a sublimation printing business that should be kept in mind.

Never Give Up

It has taken me a little over a year to get the hang of sublimation and garment decorating. After watching hundreds of tutorials. Going through thousands of dollars in blanks, I finally feel like I’ve grasped the core concepts. So I urge you all to keep going. My small business has just now taken off and I have built a nice sum of residual income from it. You will encounter many obstacles and naysayers who will question your mission. But please stay the course. There is plenty of money for us all to get. IMAGINE if these major corporations would have listened to those who said they couldn’t do it. I even had my wife walk out on me because she didn’t believe in the process. Now I make more money than I do at my full-time job. So If I can do it, so can you. Keep grinding! Let’s support one another and take over the world. Peace and blessing to you all.

Earn to Invest

I bought a few blanks, sold the items, and used that money to buy more blanks. I only use the money to buy supplies from the money I get from items sold. It may not make me profit yet but, everything will be paid off before I do.

Figure out What Sells Best in your Area

I tell people all the time that it is an expensive craft. It’s a bit expensive to get started, it’s kind of expensive to keep blanks in stock. It’s also hard (and a bit expensive) to determine what sells and what doesn’t in your area. It can be frustrating to figure out what sells and what doesn’t in your area. To figure out that custom work can either be quite fast and easy, or it could take a long time to make it look anywhere CLOSE to what the customer wants.

It’s not smart to accept large orders straight out of the gate with no real idea if you can actually pull it off or not. You may be shooting yourself in the foot for future business later.

But eventually, if you can stay with it long enough, then yes. It can be done and it can be fairly lucrative if your area isn’t over-saturated.

Start Small

Always start slow. Buying small quantities and buying more as it sold. Now I know what are my best sellers so I can larger quantities of items at a time knowing they will sell. But yes, don’t be surprised to spend hundreds of dollars in inventory and supplies once you get going. I’d definitely recommend starting small to feel out what sells where you live.

Be Consistent

I’ve been doing sublimation for almost a year. I have made my money back plus more! I’m currently getting ready to invest in more equipment. Upgrades. It costs a lot but it is possible! I have a private Facebook group where I do all of my sales. I post daily!! Some designs sell, some don’t! Just don’t ever give up and keep pushing yourself to do better!

Take Care of Pets and Kids

Sublimating around your parrots and kids would not be good. I have to wear a mask because sublimation gives off-gas (yes, you can actually see it and it irritates the respiratory system, throat, and eyes). It would be best to set up a separate space with good ventilation, humidity, and temperature control.

Final Thoughts

Customizable and unique items can be achieved through sublimation. In the workplace, we are exposed to many things daily. It is possible to perform so many different things with computers and technology, but the world of printing and sublimation is unique. It’s just a matter of selecting the proper product to help you sublimate. There are a plethora of items and concepts that can be developed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you make good money doing sublimation?

In addition to being rewarding and profitable, sublimation is also a growing industry. Through dye sublimation, thousands of individuals and small businesses are generating income while producing unique products for loved ones, neighborhood associations, internet marketplaces (like Etsy, eBay, and Facebook), and local buyers.

Can you sublimate on stainless steel?

You can sublimate on stainless steel tumblers by wrapping them with shrink wrap and placing them in the oven! I purchased my shrink wrap from Conde.