Canadian POD Store Launch Checklist

Check that your shop name and branding are available to use. Set a customer-support contact; an independent domain is optional for an Etsy shop.

Keep the licences or original files for artwork, fonts and other design assets. A supplier accepting an upload does not establish your right to sell it.

Use your own original design, or a qualifying buyer-personalized item, under Etsy’s Creativity Standards. Disclose seller-prompted AI use in the listing description where applicable; generic resale is not made eligible by adding a POD partner.

On Etsy.com, open Shop Manager → Settings → Partners you work with. Add the partner’s details and location, explain your role and theirs, and apply the partner to every relevant listing. Recheck these details if your provider changes.

An original graphic printed on a base item may use an accurate mockup. For buyer-personalized items, the first image must show a finished customized item, not a blank or placeholder. Other partner-made products may require a real end-product photo.

Check whether this supplier supports Etsy for your account and products. If there is no suitable native integration, verify a supported manual or third-party workflow before connecting anything. Check variant mapping, billing and production-approval settings; do not assume an official app exists.

Choose a listing currency for your market, then quote Printify’s product, printing and delivery costs. Include marketplace or payment fees, tax on costs and any currency conversion. A CAD storefront does not eliminate supplier or bank FX charges.

Review GST/HST registration with the CRA and applicable provincial rules. Confirm what Etsy collects or supports and what remains your responsibility before enabling tax settings. Do not apply every province’s sales tax automatically or treat marketplace collection as complete tax advice.

For each product, confirm Printify’s actual dispatch location, processing time and destination-specific shipping estimate. Separate production from transit, and check cross-border charges. A Canadian seller address does not make fulfillment domestic; do not promise a window you have not verified.

Budget for a sample before promising quality to customers. Check the exact product, print method, sizing where relevant, packaging and the route to your target destination. Record what you observed; one sample does not guarantee every future delivery.

Use buyer-readable titles, accurate product details and relevant size charts. Explain production and delivery expectations, returns, personalization approval and how customers get help. Make sure what the listing promises matches the selected supplier’s capabilities.

Review your own Payment account, bank verification, deposit schedule and any reserve. Funds from a sale may not be available when your POD supplier needs payment. Use your account’s actual availability information, not a universal payout-day assumption, and plan a cash buffer.

Review variants, personalization, shipping origin and delivery settings before publishing. Ask the supplier how to validate the integration without triggering a paid production order. A manual sample is not proof of automated order routing; do not use a live purchase-and-cancel as a checkout test.