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Running a t-shirt business gives you flexible hours and the ability to work for yourself — but you likely won’t be able to get it off the ground on your own. Finding the right market niche, partners and suppliers is essential to making sure your new company is a success.
These basic steps can help you cover your bases when you’re getting your company off the ground.
Create a few mockups of the designs that made you want to start a t-shirt business in the first place. Before you get started, do a little research on what’s out there already. This can help you avoid accidentally violating any copyrights or trademarks.
If you don’t have a lot of experience with mockups, consider hiring a freelance graphic designer to help you get your ideas down on fabric. You can also enlist freelance fashion designers to help out. You can often find freelancers on sites like Designhill, Dribble or Fiverr.
Once you have something you’re happy with, it’s time to find your niche. Do some research to figure out who your ideal buyer is.
One way to get started is to look into similar brands and the markets they serve. Can’t find a t-shirt company that’s similar to yours? You might have an untapped market.
Get feedback from your market by sharing your mockups on social media and Reddit.
While you can show your designs to friends and family, the most useful feedback often comes from the people you want to buy your shirts. Also consider hiring a consultant with experience in the t-shirt industry for professional feedback on your designs.
Once you’ve made adjustments and tweaks to your mockups, consider protecting your designs by registering them as a trademark.
Creating your brand after you understand your market and have a few designs can be helpful. You’ll need to choose a name, web domain and logo. Having a mission statement can also help.
Start by writing down areas where you — and your market — aren’t willing to compromise. For example, some companies might not be willing to compromise on a low price, while others might prioritize high quality.
At this point, you’re ready to decide how you’re going to manufacture and sell your t-shirts. Research e-commerce platforms and printers to see which best works for you. Some platforms like Shopify offer a basic monthly plan for new businesses.
It’s also time to source your t-shirts, printers or printing machines. The type of printer or machine depends on what kinds of shirt you want to sell.
Not sure which direction to go in? Stores like Cafe Press, Spreadshirt or Teespring will do the heavy lifting and offer a platform to sell your shirts while you’re getting started. But these can be more expensive than printing on your own.
Decide which business structure you want to use and sign up for a license with your local business department. Many t-shirt companies are registered as limited liability companies (LLCs), but you also might want to consider registering as a corporation or partnership.
If you’re setting up an office or production facility, you also might need to get permits from your health and safety department or the fire department in your area. Also look into business insurance to protect any facilities, inventory or equipment that your company is responsible for.
Writing a business plan gives you an opportunity to conduct some formal market research, come up with a marketing and sales plan and make financial projections.
This is also when you’ll need to price your t-shirts. The cost should cover production, overhead — like your salary, utilities and e-commerce platform fees — and leave room for some profit.
Also take into account what other t-shirt companies are charging. If you can’t make a profit from your t-shirt, go back to the drawing table and find a way to cut down on production or operating expenses.
At this point, you’re ready to open your store to the world. Social media can be one of the most effective tools for apparel companies. Running ads on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Google is a great place to start. Focus on wherever your niche market spends most of its time.
Also consider hiring micro or nano influencers. Smaller influencers often only have a few hundred followers. But their followers are often more loyal than bigger influencers and can help spread the word about your t-shirts through your niche market.
Weigh these benefits against the drawbacks before you sit down to create your first design.
You might need to budget for some or all of the following expenses when you start a t-shirt business.
All new businesses need seed money to get off the ground. Here’s where you might want to look for funds to get your doors open and cover the first few years.
Starting a t-shirt business can be a great way to turn your creativity into a career. And with so many online resources to help dip your toes in the market, it might not be as risky as other ventures. Before beginning your entrepreneurial journey, learn about other small business resources your new company might need.