Understanding Spring (TeeSpring) Profit Calculations
Spring (formerly TeeSpring) is a popular print-on-demand platform that allows creators to sell custom apparel, accessories, and digital products without holding inventory. Understanding the platform's fee structure and cost components is essential for maximizing your profit margins and building a sustainable online business.
Spring Fee Structure
Spring operates on a straightforward pricing model with different fee structures depending on your product type and selling method:
- •Print-on-Demand Products (0% Platform Fee): For POD products like t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and accessories, Spring charges no platform fee. You keep 100% of the profit above the base cost. The base cost includes manufacturing, fulfillment, and customer service.
- •Digital Products (20% Platform Fee): For digital products like e-books, downloads, and printable files, Spring charges a 20% platform fee on the sale price (excluding shipping).
- •TeeSpring Go (15% Platform Fee): If you use TeeSpring Go to sell your own pre-purchased inventory through the Spring platform, they charge a 15% fee on the sale price.
- •Shipping Costs: Spring handles shipping fulfillment. Standard US shipping for a t-shirt costs around $3.99, with rates varying by product type and weight. You can charge customers any shipping price you want and keep the difference.
Base Product Costs
Spring's base costs include manufacturing, fulfillment, and customer service. Here are typical base costs for popular products as of December 2025:
- Classic T-Shirt:$10.57
- Hoodie:$21.99
- Mug:$7.50
- Sticker:~$2.00
- Poster:~$8.00
- Phone Case:~$12.00
- Tote Bag:~$9.00
Your profit is calculated as: Sale Price - Base Cost - Shipping Cost - Platform Fees. This simple formula makes it easy to understand your margins and optimize pricing.
Profit Optimization Strategies
Strategic Pricing
Research competitor pricing in your niche. Price your products competitively while maintaining healthy profit margins. Consider offering premium pricing for unique designs or exclusive collections.
Shipping Strategy
You can charge customers more than your actual shipping cost to increase revenue. Many sellers offer free shipping by building the cost into the product price. Test different approaches to see what resonates with your audience.
Product Selection
Focus on products with lower base costs and higher perceived value. T-shirts and stickers typically offer better margins than hoodies or mugs. Consider your target market's willingness to pay when selecting products.
Marketing Efficiency
Track your marketing spend and customer acquisition cost. Organic traffic through social media and SEO is free, while paid ads should generate positive ROI. Test different marketing channels to find what works best for your niche.
Common Cost Mistakes to Avoid
- •Underpricing Products: Don't race to the bottom on price. Competing solely on price erodes margins and devalues your brand. Focus on unique designs and quality to justify higher prices.
- •Ignoring Marketing Costs: Factor in your marketing spend when calculating profit. Even if Spring has no platform fees for POD products, your customer acquisition cost can significantly impact profitability.
- •Forgetting About Taxes: Remember to set aside money for income taxes on your profits. This calculator shows pre-tax profit, but you'll need to pay taxes on your earnings based on your tax bracket.
- •Not Testing Price Points: Don't assume customers won't pay higher prices. Test different price points to find the optimal balance between conversion rate and profit margin. Sometimes raising prices can increase overall profit even if sales volume decreases slightly.
Who Benefits from This Calculator?
- •New Spring Sellers: Understand the platform's fee structure and calculate potential profits before launching your first products.
- •Experienced Creators: Optimize pricing strategies and compare different product types to maximize profit margins across your catalog.
- •Digital Product Sellers: Factor in the 20% platform fee for digital products and adjust pricing accordingly to maintain profitability.
- •TeeSpring Go Users: Calculate the impact of the 15% platform fee when selling your own inventory through Spring's marketplace.
- •Print-on-Demand Entrepreneurs: Compare Spring's costs with other POD platforms like Printful, Printify, or Redbubble to choose the most profitable option for your business.
Pro Tip
Spring's 0% platform fee for POD products makes it one of the most seller-friendly platforms in the print-on-demand space. Focus on driving traffic to your Spring store through organic marketing and social media to maximize your profit margins. Build a loyal audience that values your unique designs, and you can command premium prices without competing solely on cost.
Additional Resources
For the most up-to-date information about Spring's pricing and policies, visit:
- •Spring Community Product Costs Guide
- •Spring Profit Calculator (Official)
- •Spring Community Pricing Guide for Global Markets
- •Spring vs Printful Comparison Articles
Use this calculator to model different pricing scenarios and find the optimal balance between competitive pricing and healthy profit margins. Remember that successful Spring sellers focus on unique designs, quality products, and building engaged audiences rather than competing solely on price.