Bear Grips Pro ShopsThe Cheapest Way to Start a Custom Apparel Shop: Plan by Plan
- Bear Grips has 3 plans: Free ($0/mo, 3 products), Self-Service VIP ($59/mo, 200 products), Done-For-You VIP ($105/mo, 250 products).
- The cheapest plan on paper is not always the cheapest plan in practice once base-price savings are counted.
- VIP plans save $4.05 to $11.07 per item versus the free tier, which compounds fast at volume.
- The right cheapest choice depends on how many products you plan to sell and how much time you want to spend managing the shop.
"What is the cheapest print on demand site" is one of the most common questions in this whole category, and the honest answer is that it depends on volume, not just the monthly fee. A $0/mo plan looks cheapest until the higher per-item base price eats the savings on the first few orders. Here is the actual plan-by-plan comparison so you can pick the cheapest option for your specific situation, not just the lowest sticker price.
All Three Bear Grips Plans Compared
| Plan | Monthly cost | Live products | Base pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | 3 | Higher (e.g. $23.93 tee) | Testing an idea before spending anything |
| Self-Service VIP | $59/mo | 200 | Lowest (e.g. $19.88 tee) | Shops managing their own catalog and design uploads |
| Done-For-You VIP | $105/mo | 250 | Lowest, same as Self-Service VIP | Owners who want the shop built and maintained for them |
When Free Is Actually the Cheapest Choice
The free plan is the right cheapest option when you are not yet sure a design or product will sell. Three live products cost nothing to list, and there is no risk in testing a tee, a tank, and a hat before spending a cent. The tradeoff is a higher per-item base price ($4.05-$11.07 more depending on the product), which only matters once you are moving real volume.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.When Self-Service VIP Becomes the Cheapest Choice
The math flips once a shop is selling consistently. On a $19.88 tee versus the $23.93 free-plan price, the $4.05 savings pays for the $59/mo VIP fee after about 15 shirts. On a $54.88 legging versus the $65.95 free-plan price, that same $59 fee pays for itself after a single pair. Most shops moving more than 15-20 orders a month are cheaper overall on VIP, even after accounting for the subscription fee.
| Product | Free base | VIP base | Per-item savings | Orders to cover $59/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airlume cotton tee | $23.93 | $19.88 | $4.05 | 15 |
| Comfort Soft Hoodie | $44.94 | $36.88 | $8.06 | 8 |
| Signature Seamless Leggings | $63.93 | $54.88 | $9.05 | 7 |
When Done-For-You VIP Is the Cheapest Choice, Time Included
Done-For-You VIP costs $46 more per month than Self-Service VIP, at the same base pricing. It is the cheapest option once you count your own time: a personal advisor, professionally written product copy, curated seasonal collections, and mockups across top color variants all get handled without you doing it yourself. For an owner who would otherwise pay a freelancer for photography, copywriting, or catalog management, $105/mo is frequently cheaper than assembling those pieces separately.
Picking the Cheapest Plan for Your Situation
Start on the free plan if you have not sold anything yet. Move to Self-Service VIP once you are past roughly 15 orders a month and know your top sellers. Consider Done-For-You VIP if your time is the more expensive resource, not the plan fee. See the full startup budget case study for real dollar scenarios at each stage, and start free at Bear Grips Pro Shops.
Start on the Plan That Fits Your Volume
Free to start, no upfront cost, upgrade only when the math says it pays for itself.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest plan to start a print on demand shop?
The Free plan at $0/mo, with 3 live products. It has a higher per-item base price but zero upfront cost.
Is Self-Service VIP or Done-For-You VIP cheaper?
Both use identical base product pricing. Self-Service VIP is cheaper on the monthly fee ($59 vs $105). Done-For-You VIP is often cheaper once you count the time it saves on design, copy, and catalog management.
How many products can I sell on the free plan?
3 live products at a time. Upgrading to either VIP tier unlocks 200-250 live products.
Does upgrading to VIP change the printing or shipping?
No. Printing quality, shipping speed, and free shipping to the buyer are the same across all three plans. Only the plan fee, product limit, and base price change.
