How to Achieve Location Independence with Etsy Print on Demand -

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The Dream of Location Independence

Location independence means having the ability to work from anywhere, free from the restrictions of a traditional job. No morning commute into a dull, lifeless office-space. No anxious commute home to pick up the kids from daycare by 5:00.

Many people dream of traveling full-time, living abroad, or simply having more control over their daily schedule. But finding a business model that allows for both flexibility and financial security isn’t always easy.

For me, Etsy print on demand (POD) became the vehicle that made my location-independent lifestyle possible.

I built my shop while working full-time. I was hyper-focused on being able to have the freedom to work from anywhere, especially outside of the United States.

For 2 years, I built my shop into a 6-figure business. It became a source of income that helped me to move my family to Portugal. If you’re looking for a way to create a sustainable, remote-friendly income stream, print on demand can be a game-changer.

What is Location Independence?

Location independence means earning an income that isn’t tied to a specific place. Unlike a remote job, which still requires working set hours, a location-independent business provides flexibility in both time and location.

laptop lounging by a pool, representing the freedom of remote work and location independence.

Entrepreneurs, freelancers, and online business owners often pursue this lifestyle to have more freedom in how they live and work. Also called location freedom, being able to make money anywhere in the world is truly life-changing.

Print on demand (POD) aligns with this concept because it allows you to run an online store without handling physical products.

A POD business on Etsy enables you to create and sell custom products—like apparel, mugs, and wall art—without managing inventory or shipping. Your designs are printed onto products and shipped by a third-party company, leaving you free to focus on strategy and growth from anywhere in the world.

Why Etsy Print on Demand is Ideal for Location Independence

Traditional e-commerce businesses require inventory management, which can make travel and remote work difficult. If you have to manage inventory and ship out products as they are ordered, it requires you to be in one place.

With Etsy POD, you don’t need to store, package, or ship anything yourself. Print providers like Printify handle production and fulfillment, allowing you to work from anywhere with just a laptop and internet connection.

Print on demand allows you to create and list products once and continue earning from them over time. As your shop grows and gains traction, your listings can generate sales passively, providing financial stability while you travel or pursue other projects.

Starting a print-on-demand shop on Etsy requires minimal upfront investment. There are no bulk product orders, warehouse fees, or shipping costs. You only pay for production when a customer makes a purchase, making it a low-risk, high-reward business model for those seeking financial independence.

Etsy has built-in traffic from buyers all over the world. This is the best thing about Etsy–you don’t have to generate your own traffic. It is timely and costly, and Etsy does it for you.

Unlike running your own website, where you need to drive all traffic yourself, Etsy’s marketplace connects you with shoppers worldwide. This means you can reach customers and generate income no matter where you’re based.

I am running my own Shopify store in addition to my Etsy shop. Let me tell you, Etsy is so much easier. It is a challenge to learn how to drive traffic to your own store, but I love learning. I plan to document it once I have a formula for growth that will work!

How to Build a Location-Independent Etsy Print on Demand Business

Poolside shot, limes in a bag and a straw hat beside a vacation spot

Set Up a Profitable Shop

I make that sound easy. Setting up a profitable shop takes time, but it is possible. I did it, and I have no design background at all. I just had the willingness to start and stay consistent.

Start by picking a niche with low competition but high demand. Start with ChatGPT or your AI of choice to help you brainstorm ideas. Then use Etsy SEO tools like eRank or EHunt to confirm that there is low competition.

Then take those keywords to Etsy to further confirm there is demand for those keywords. Look for the red ”in X+ Carts” signals.

Etsy is a search engine. It determines whether your products get seen by potential buyers. Use those low competition keywords in your titles, tags, and descriptions to increase your visibility in search results.

It is important to:

Create designs based on real market demand, not just what you like. This is very important.
Optimize your shop with SEO-friendly titles, tags, and descriptions to increase visibility.
Price your products for profit, ensuring you maintain a healthy margin after Etsy fees and production costs.

Scale Your Business

Use Printify to automate fulfillment. I use Printify and love it because there is a large number of print providers to choose from. I fully believe in diversifying everything. If one print provider shuts down or goes out of stock, then there is typically one that can fulfill an order.
Speed up your design process by using AI tools like Midjourney for creative inspiration. This skyrocketed my store. AI designs are so helpful in making your products stand out. You still need some basic tweaking to do. You should not just take what AI gives you and slap it on a product. This is where experience comes into play.
When you receive a sale, then quickly analyze why the person bought it. Get help from ChatGPT. Then brainstorm with ChatGPT about how you can create similar ideas/designs/products. This will help you scale and grow quickly.

Financial Planning for Location Independence

Determine how much monthly income you need to cover expenses.
Calculate how many sales are required to meet that goal.
Plan a transition period where you reinvest earnings and scale slowly before relying on your Etsy shop full-time.

Challenges of Running an Etsy POD Business While Traveling & How to Overcome Them

Time Zone Differences & Customer Service

Since Etsy buyers are from all over the world, you might receive messages when you’re sleeping. You have 24 hours to respond in order to get and obtain an Star-Seller badge. Set up automated responses and list clear shop policies to reduce the need for back-and-forth communication.

Internet & Work Consistency

Reliable WiFi is a must. Always check internet availability before traveling to new destinations. Consider co-working spaces or long-term stays for more stability.

Etsy Algorithm & Sales Fluctuations

Etsy traffic and sales naturally fluctuate. The key is consistent research and listing optimization. Stay the course and understand that even multi six-figure shops like mine have slower months.

Use your shop data to double down on what’s selling and remove or revise listings that aren’t performing. Remember that you’re not doing it wrong, and keep going.

Real-Life Case Study: My Journey to Location Independence

I started my Etsy shop while still working a 9–5, testing different niches and SEO strategies. My first goal was just to make extra income to invest more and eventually relocate my family.

My first full year on Etsy, I made $29K. My second full year, I made $135K. My profit margins were approximately 45%.

I didn’t fully replace my income, but with my investments, and Etsy income, I had enough to become work optional

Now, I run my location-independent business from Portugal. Designing from coffee shops, beaches, or wherever I choose. You don’t need massive success overnight—small wins stack up and give you freedom over time.

Taking Action: How You Can Get Started Today

If location independence is your goal, Etsy print on demand is one of the most accessible and scalable ways to get there.

Here’s what you can do right now: Identify a niche using eRank or EHunt to find trending, low-competition keywords. Create at least 5-10 designs using Canva or AI tools to get your shop started.

Optimize your listings with the right keywords, mockups, and descriptions to attract buyers. Stay consistent by researching trends, testing designs, and adjusting your strategy based on what works.

Join my newsletter where I share helpful tips, keywords, and motivation for you to keep going.

Etsy won’t make you location-independent overnight. But by following a strategic, data-driven approach, you can build a sustainable income stream that gives you options, freedom, and control over your future.

Final Thoughts

Location independence isn’t just for influencers or digital nomads with six-figure businesses. It’s possible for anyone willing to build something sustainable. Etsy print on demand is a powerful way to create income from anywhere—without needing to be tied to an office or traditional job.

Etsy POD is a low-risk, high-reward business model that can open doors to new possibilities. And, I love being open to new possibilities!

Ready to start your journey? Check out my Beginner’s Guide to Etsy Print on Demand to get started today.

Location independence is possible—you just need to take the first step.

The Best SEO and Design Tools for an Etsy Shop:

These are the only tools I use for my shop!

Canva: Canva is the most amazing tool. It is user friendly, and always improving! The tools that Canva has have evolved so much since I first started using it in 2022–for the better. I use it almost everyday. I use it to create designs, to edit AI designs, and to create product mockups.

Midjourney: Midjourney is an AI image tool that blows my mind every time I use it. It takes some time to get the prompts down. Once you play with it, you will get better at creating images and art to include on your print on demand products.

E-Hunt: E -Hunt is fantastic for competitor research and some light keyword research. My favorite aspect of E-Hunt is the Chrome extension that allows you to see the sales amount for an individual item on Etsy. Check out this article to see an example.

eRank: eRank is an SEO data tool that also allows you to search the competition and will also give you key words for your Etsy listing. It is also a low cost tool that will help you find low competition and highly searched niches.

Printify: Printify is a print-on-demand (POD) service that allows individuals and businesses to create and sell custom-designed products without needing to manage inventory or handle fulfillment. I put my designs on products offered by Printify. When an item sells, Printify prints and ships to my customer.