How do I start a custom engraving business on Shopify?
Custom engraving is one of the highest-margin personalization niches. 30-50% margins are typical. Setup: (1) pick 5-10 engraving-friendly products (jewelry, tumblers, cufflinks, tags, flasks), (2) install Print It My Way (Free plan), (3) configure per-character pricing (first 10 free, then $0.50-$1 each), (4) add font picker with script + block options, (5) launch. Total: 1 weekend to first store live.
Step-by-step setup
- Pick engraving products. Jewelry, tumblers, cufflinks, tags, keychains, flasks.
- Set up Shopify + Print It My Way. Free plan for testing.
- Configure per-character pricing. First 10 chars free, then $0.50-$1 each.
- Add font picker (script + block). 5-10 fonts typical.
- Launch with 5-10 products. Test with real orders.
Best engraving products for POD
- Jewelry: necklaces, bracelets, rings ($40-$120 base + engraving)
- Tumblers: Yeti-style stainless ($25-$45)
- Cufflinks + tie bars: men's accessories ($30-$65)
- Metal ID tags: pet tags, luggage tags ($15-$25)
- Flasks: leather-wrapped stainless ($25-$45)
- Whiskey glasses: engraved rocks glasses ($20-$40)
- Keychains: leather + metal ($15-$25)
POD partners for engraving
Not all POD partners handle engraving. Options:
- Custom Ink: apparel + basic engraving
- Prodigi: some engraved products in catalog
- Local engraving shops: best for jewelry, tumblers, high-quality
- In-house: buy a laser engraver ($3-15k), highest margin but requires labor
Many engraving stores start with local partnerships or in-house production, not pure POD.
Pricing structure
Per-character pricing is standard for engraving:
- Characters 1-10: Free (basic engraving included)
- Characters 11-25: $0.50 each
- Characters 26-40: $1 each
Plus premium tier upcharges: script font +$3, custom font +$25, rush delivery +$15-$25.
Personalization fields
For each engraving product:
- Text field with character limit (15-25 chars typical)
- Character counter (live)
- Font picker (5-10 fonts: block, script, monogram)
- Live preview showing engraved text
Start engraving on Shopify
Print It My Way Free plan covers per-character pricing + font picker.
Install Print It My Way. Free Per-character pricing setup →Frequently asked questions
What's a typical engraving margin?
30-50% on POD engraving. 60-80% on in-house engraving after equipment amortization.
Do POD partners handle engraving?
Some. Custom Ink, Prodigi have some engraved products. Many engraving stores use local partners or in-house.
What's a typical character limit for engraving?
Jewelry: 15-25 chars. Tumblers: 25-40 chars. Signs/plaques: 40-100 chars.
Do customers pay for engraving?
Basic engraving typically free (first 10 chars). Premium features (uploaded fonts, custom colors) charged.
How do I handle proof approval?
For high-value orders (>$100), enable approval workflow: proof PDF emailed, customer signs off before production.
Sources & further reading
Primary sources referenced in this article. We link to official platform documentation and standards bodies rather than secondary summaries so you can verify claims directly.