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T-Shirt Printing Business Plan Examples

Published Jan.04, 2017

Updated Apr.24, 2024

By: Brandi Marcene

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Table of Content

Do you want to start T-Shirt Printing s business plan?

Do you want to get into the business of t-shirt printing? Well, the market has immense potential provided you plan for it well.

At the core of every business is careful planning. To make sure that all the aspects of a business are planned, you need to outline a business plan. Moreover, when you are starting a business, it is evident that you will face unprecedented situations. If you have not planned for your major operations, you are likely to make the wrong decision during a crisis. 

For reference, you can take help from this business plan t-shirt printing , written for Splash Prints. This template can help you if you wonder how I start my own t-shirt company . It can also help you manage operations, finances, and resources.

For greater and in-depth knowledge of the business world, you are recommended to g through some relevant strategic plan ssuch as a tattoo shop business plan.

Executive Summary

2.1 business introduction.

Splash Prints will be a t-shirt printing company started in Orlando, Florida. It will be owned and managed by Halie James. The business will aim to become the main source of T-shirt printing in Florida for both its citizens and the tourists who visit its different theme parks throughout the year.

2.2 About the Management

Starting a t-shirt design company is all about creativity and management. If you have the creativity to bring forth services and products that are appealing to the customers, then all you have to do is manage the work, and the company will no doubt succeed. So, if you’re thinking about how to start a t-shirt design company, one of the first things you need to focus on is the business plan for investors .

Here, we are presenting the t-shirt printing business plan sample for Splash Prints. You can follow along with this t-shirt printing business plan pdf to write a business plan for your business. You can also look at relevant plans such as screen print on T-shirt business plan to include all the necessary details of your business. 

2.3 Customers of T-Shirt Printing Company

The customers of Splash Prints will belong to all domains and work areas. However, our focus groups will include:

• Young Adults
• Retail Shops

2.4 Business Target

The target of our business is to become the main hub for t-shirt design and printing throughout Orlando and gain a 70% share of the market within two years.

Our financial targets to meet for the first three years of our launch are demonstrated below:

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

Halie James will be the owner of Splash Prints. She finished her MBA about a year ago, after which she started to focus on all the requirements needed for starting and maintaining a business. She even worked in an industry to learn the best management techniques that she could apply in her own business. 

3.2 Company History

Splash T-Shirts had been a dream of Halie James ever since she was young. She wanted a business that could bring unique expression and a fresh perspective to the market. Therefore, she worked to start Splash T-Shirts, an artistic t-shirt design and print center that will allow various artists to showcase their works and provide these works of art to people at reasonable costs. 

3.3 How the T-Shirt Printing s company will be started

Step1: Plan It Out!

You might be wondering how to start a small t shirt company. Well, the first step is always researching and planning.

This sample business plan for t shirt printing can help you with it. We have provided this business plan template for t shirt company for free so that anyone can benefit.

In this free t shirt printing business plan, we will provide a marketing plan, sales strategy, personnel, and financial plan for Splash Prints.

Step2: Define the Brand

An important aspect of business plan for t shirt printing is developing a brand name around the company. A t-shirt business is purely a business dependent on self-expression. Therefore, Halie decided to do this by allowing artists to showcase their art in the store so that more people would be attracted.

Step3: Find the Perfect Space 

The location of your business matters a lot, especially if it is an artistic business. To make her store stand out, Halie chose a central position in the market and chose an open concept store to provide more space.

Step4: Create Hype Online

It is crucial for any apparel business nowadays to use the internet to its advantage. Halie decided that she would set up social media profiles for her business on all the major websites and post regularly. She would also use the live feature to showcase interviews with the weekly artists. 

Step5: Promote and Market

As the final nail on the board, Halie will utilize all physical and virtual resources she has to promote her business. She will hire expert marketing managers for this purpose.

A business is defined by the services it provides. Therefore, you have to be very careful when deciding the range and scope of your services in the t shirt printing company business plan. Deciding on your services in the t shirt printing business plan will help you manage all the other aspects of your business in a better and more efficient way. 

So, when you’re wondering how do you start your own t shirt company, think about the unique benefit you will give your customers through your services. This will be a very crucial base for your business’s success. 

In this t shirt printing business plan template free, we are describing all the unique services provided by Splash Prints. 

• Customized Design

Splash Prints will provide customers with a platform to design their very own prints for their t-shirts. Through this platform, customers will not only be able to decide the material and other particulars of the shirt but also be able to specify the areas they want their design. Customers can also reach out to our designers for better ideas. 

• Customized Printing

In addition to the t-shirt designs available in our stores, our customers can also have custom-designed t-shirts printed within a day. 

• Regular Collections

As the store is based around the idea of selling t-shirts, we will offer regular collections of t-shirt designs for customers to choose from. 

• Special Collections

Once a month, Splash Prints will partner with top-notch artists to design a special collection of shirts that will be available for a week only. 

Marketing Analysis of T-Shirt Printing Company

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Before starting a tshirt printing company, it is important to know who you are going to serve. Besides, you need to explore the macroeconomic trends of the market to gauge your position among other businesses. All these aspects are to be grouped into a marketing plan such as the one we have provided in this sample business plan t shirt printing.

In this business plan for t shirt printing pdf, we are providing the general market trends for t-shirt enterprise. In addition, we are providing a stepwise guide on  how to make a successful t shirt company. We are also documenting the marketing plan for t shirt printing business so that you can have a thorough understanding of each aspect.

You can also visit greeting card business plan or another printed t shirts business plan to be more prepared.

5.1 Market Trends

According to GrandViewResearch, the U.S. custom t-shirt printing business has a market value of $3.96 billion and it is steadily growing with a growth rate of 9.7%. It is expected to reach $7.57 billion in market value by 2028, which means that this is the prime time to start an influential business in this domain.

To know how to start my own t shirt brand, you can refer to the sections above.

5.2 Marketing Segmentation

The customers of Splash Prints are divided into the following categories:

Business plan for investors

5.2.1 teens .

Our primary customers will be teens in the surrounding area because this is traditionally the group that is most attracted to colorful new designs. Therefore, we expect to have frequent visits by teens who are looking for comic-related or trendy t-shirts. 

5.2.2 Young Adults

The second group of customers will be the young adults. This group is expected to avail of customizable design options. 

5.2.3 Tourists

As Florida is filled with theme parks, it gains a lot of tourists throughout the year. Splash Prints will try to attract them by establishing deals with different theme parks. We will set up small stands with a small collection in these theme parks where tourists can look at some of our products. This will be done to attract them to our main shop. 

5.2.4 Retail Shops 

We will also be targeting local retail shops and supplying them with small portions of our collections so that we have a greater reach than just our one initial shop.

5.3 Business Target

• To become the highest quality custom T-Shirt Printing business in Orlando. 
• To be an expression of creativity in the business.
• To gain a net profit of $20k/month by the end of our second year.
• To establish a loyal customer base interested in a sustainable fashion.

5.4 Product Pricing

Our prices will be slightly higher than other printing stores in the market, but our print quality will be better than our competitors. We will also offer exclusive deals and discounts to our customers.

Marketing Strategy  

Marketing is an important part of learning how to start a home t shirt business. You need to develop a business plan of t shirt printing to manage this part well. It should follow a similar structure as this sample business plan t shirt printing. You can also refer to a gift shop business plan to get more diverse sales strategy ideas. 

Here, we are presenting the marketing strategy that Splash Prints will employ to boost its sales:

6.1 Competitive Analysis

• We will arrange for art shows every week to provide a refreshing experience to our customers.
• Only we among our competitors will be supporting local artists in displaying their work.
• Our customers will be able to design their shirts as they want.
• We will offer sustainable fashion choices to customers where they can also bring old t-shirts to get printed.

6.2 Sales Strategy

• We will advertise our company in theme parks in the area.
• We will put small collections in retail stores.
• We will use social media to create hype for the artist’s collections.
• We will offer exclusive discounts to recurring customers.
• We will set a yearly competition for ‘Shirt of the Year’ with a reward for the winner.

6.3 Sales Monthly

6.4 Sales Yearly

6.5 Sales Forecast

Personnel plan

In the t-shirt printing business, customers will have to interact with your employees daily. To make sure that the customers are satisfied with your services, it is essential to have employees with great interpersonal skills.

When you explore how to start a successful t shirt brand, you should also take down the type of employees you will be needing. Moreover, it is a good practice to also include the performance appraisal and reward system in your t shirts printing business plan.

Here, we are listing the staff required by Splash Prints with the average expected salaries.

7.1 Company Staff

• 4 Sales Officials
• 2 HR & Media Managers
• 1 Accountant
• 1 Receptionist

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

Financial Plan

T shirt startup costs can be daunting. But the good thing is that all business-related finances can be managed and turned into profit via a detailed business plan. For this purpose, most entrepreneurs hire a professional financial analyst. 

To make a detailed financial plan that can guarantee success, you need to draft balance sheets for at least three years. You need to figure out your average expenditures against the profit so that you don’t go into a loss. Moreover, you need to draw graphs for break-even analysis and gross margins to have a clearer idea of your net worth and financial standing.

For an in-depth understanding of the components of a financial plan, you may also visit photography company business plan .

In this printing t shirt business plan, we are providing the financial plan for Splash Prints for guidance:

8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 Break-even Analysis

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

8.3.1 Profit Monthly

8.3.2 Profit Yearly

8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

8.6 Business Ratios

• Is a t shirt business profitable?

Yes. Just as the success of a record store is based on its record label business plan , A t-shirt business can prove profitable as long as you develop a good and thorough printing t shirts business plan. 

• How do I create a Tshirt business plan?

You can follow the business plan given above to draft your t-shirt strategic plan. As a guide, you should also investigate how to create your own t shirts at home  and an enterprise on a large scale. 

• Is screen printing shirts profitable?

Screen printing shirts can be profitable if you enter the market after thorough research on how to build a t-shirt business .

• Is the online t-shirt business profitable?

The online t-shirt business is immensely profitable especially if you offer customization options to your customers.

If you succeed in developing an accurate business plan for t shirt printing company like the one provided above, then there is a greater chance of success for your online t-shirt business.

Download T-Shirt Printing Business Plan Sample in pdf

OGSCapital’s team has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs with top-rate business plan development, consultancy and analysis. They’ve helped thousands of SME owners secure more than $1.5 billion in funding, and they can do the same for you.

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How To Start A T-Shirt Business (2024 Guide)

Updated: May 6, 2024, 9:52pm

Table of Contents

Step 1. make a plan, step 2. register your t-shirt business, step 3. find the right production method, step 4. create unique designs, step 5. choose your sales channels, step 6. build your website, step 7. market your t-shirt business, frequently asked questions.

There are more ways than ever to start a business that also gives you a creative outlet. Selling T-shirts with your art, words or anything else printed on them is a great way to exercise your creativity and make money. A T-shirt business can make you a small profit on every unit you sell, which can add up to a great source of extra income. Learn how to start a T-shirt business with our simple guide. We’ll help you start your new side gig or full-time T-shirt career in just a few easy steps.

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Before starting to sell T-shirts, you have to make a plan to help guide your actions toward success. Follow these seven steps to sketch out a path forward for your business, but don’t worry if you don’t have all the details yet. You just need to have an idea of where you’re headed so that everything flows smoothly once you get started.

First and foremost, you’ll need to pick a name for your business. Whether it’s just your name or something different, that will guide your process of creating a logo, business cards, a website and other branded assets.

Once you’ve chosen a name, you can register a domain so that when setting up your website you’ll be all set to link it with your brand. Shopify and Etsy are popular options for selling T-shirts online, but if you want to build your own custom website, you should get started quickly so your website is ready to launch with your products.

Whether you intend for your new venture to be a side hustle or full time, you should register your business as a sole proprietorship or a limited liability company (LLC) . Registering as an LLC will give your business more tax benefits. You’ll also be able to buy blank T-shirts at cost with your EIN (as opposed to your personal Social Security number).

It can cost anywhere from $50 to $100 to register with your state. You should also familiarize yourself with your state’s legal requirements for small businesses and make sure everything’s in order.

If it’s too large a time commitment to go through the process of setting up your business, you can pay an LLC service to set it up for you. Investing in this service and saving your time will give you space to focus on the creative aspects of your business.

Start an LLC Online Today With ZenBusiness

Click on the state below to get started.

There are a variety of ways to produce printed T-shirts for people of all skill and knowledge levels.

If you’re committed to working with materials yourself, you can purchase screen printing equipment for your home or office. This gives you a great measure of control over the quality of the art and designs printed on the shirts, and if you enjoy creating social media content people love to watch creations take shape on TikTok and Instagram. The upfront cost of these machines will be high, but then you will have higher profit margins since you’ll only have to pay upkeep costs.

It’s also very easy to find local businesses that provide screen printing services for you. This means you’d have to take on the cost of paying these vendors as a part of your initial budget. However, a local service, or a company that’s far away but with whom you have a good relationship, will also be good for keeping an eye on quality control.

There are also print-on-demand services that are very reliable if you want to get started immediately. Services like Printful and Printify have fast turnaround times and allow you to sell as many products as possible without assuming the cost of any unsold products. However, the profit margins for these products are smaller because of the cost of individual printing.

Before printing, you need designs that reflect your brand’s goals. If you’re starting a T-shirt business to highlight your own drawings, paintings or digital designs, you’ll need to ensure they are saved as the correct digital files (usually vector files, such as .eps) that can be used by your printing service of choice. If you make highly intricate designs, you’ll probably want to do some test printing to see if everything prints on the shirts clearly. If you’re just starting out with design, there are a lot of free tutorials for using Adobe Photoshop and Canva to create designs.

There are also thousands of great artists whose work you can commission through websites like Creative Market, Fiverr and Upwork. When you find an artist, you can purchase their work outright, but if you have a good relationship with the artist and want to continue working with them, a profit-sharing relationship might be more sustainable for the future.

If you’re stuck on ideas, you can get insight for new designs by checking sales numbers of T-shirts on Etsy or using the tool Jungle Scout (which shows you how many units a product has sold on Amazon). Additionally, a Google trends search of various slogans you want to design for your shirts can show you which are the most popular and probably the most likely to sell.

Once you have the designs ready, customers will want to see how the T-shirts look on real people. Placeit is an easy service to use that gives you a bunch of photographs with blank T-shirt products onto which you can put your designs. You can also look into stock photo packages that include photos of people wearing blank shirts, and you can use Photoshop to put your designs on yourself.

Finally, if you have the time and connections, you can hire a local photographer and get some models for more dynamic action shots. It depends on your budget and how many shirts you’re producing.

When you’re ready to sell, it’s time to choose a sales channel. You can host sales on your own website, but online marketplaces are also an easy way to sell.

If you choose a third-party seller, you’ll have to start an account and set up your store. Services like Etsy, Zazzle and Redbubble are known to sell a lot of clothing and get a lot of customers. You can also sell through Amazon or on social media.

Before choosing, you should check the prices of these services and see which one will be the most sustainable for the long term.

Even if you’re selling on a third-party marketplace, you need a website to promote your T-shirt business. Here are the best e-commerce platforms for building an online store:

• Shopify : strong sales reporting capabilities, ability to customize storefront with design templates
• Wix : free plans available, easy user interface
• Weebly: e-commerce in the lowest-price plan

All of these services can be integrated with a print-on-demand service, if that’s how you’re producing your T-shirts. These make it easy to sell and promote however you choose, and can even ship the merchandise directly to your customers so that you can focus on the creative side of things.

Marketing a fledgling business can be difficult, but there are low-cost ways to do it. If you’re targeting a specific niche, you can look into communities online like subreddits and Facebook groups where you can post your T-shirts to bolster interest.

You could also try to reach out to micro-influencers and ask for their engagement rates to see if they would have decent conversion rates. Influencers that are just beginning to take off are also likely to support a small business just starting out.

Which is better: Printful or Printify?

It depends on which metric you want to save money on. Printify has lower production costs than Printful. However, Printful has better international shipping rates.

How do you create shoppable posts on Instagram?

You can create shoppable posts through tagging the product in the same way that you would tag a person. Set up your Instagram shop first, then you’ll be able to tap items in your photos and link them to a product listing.

What is the average profit margin on a T-shirt?

Most sellers set their profit margin around 50%. So if your cost for the shirt + printing is $10, you might sell your shirt for $20. Setting a higher profit margin may enable you to offer free shipping.

Do I need a business plan to start a T-shirt business?

While you don’t need a business plan to start a T-shirt business, it’s a good idea to create one. The reason being is having a strong business plan will help you stay true to your original vision. Planning out your suppliers, goals and general growth plan will set you up for success in the future.

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Julia is a writer in New York and started covering tech and business during the pandemic. She also covers books and the publishing industry.

Cassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of directors of two non-profit organizations seeking to revitalize her former railroad town. Prior to joining the team at Forbes Advisor, Cassie was a content operations manager and copywriting manager.

T-Shirt Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

T-Shirt Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your T-shirt business plan.

We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their t-shirt companies.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your T-shirt business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Comfy Style Tees is a startup T-shirt company located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The company is founded by Scott Smith and Mike Anderson. Scott Smith is an established graphic artist who will be creating the designs for the company’s T-shirts. Mike Anderson is a graduate of Pennsylvania University with a Master’s degree in Marketing. Together, the pair is ready to open their own T-Shirt business, Comfy Style Tees. Scott has been creating unique graphic art for over a decade and has gained a substantial following as an artist on social media. Mike has been a marketing director for another T-shirt business for over five years. He is confident that his marketing and sales skills will allow the company to quickly gain new customers who are interested in purchasing apparel featuring Scott’s artwork. The duo plans to hire a small team of professionals to manage the day-to-day complexities of running a retail business including accounting, customer service, sales, and inventory management.

Comfy Style Tees will offer comfortable T-shirts made from premium 100% cotton. Each T-shirt will feature artwork printed using a direct-to-garment (DTG) printing method that allows for Scott’s detailed and colorful designs to come to life. Comfy Style Tees will create and sell limited edition T-Shirts in small batches.

Product Offering

The following are the products that Comfy Style Tees will provide:

• Men’s T-shirts
• Women’s T-shirts
• Children’s T-shirts
• Toddler’s T-shirts
• Pet T-shirts for dogs and cats

Customer Focus

Comfy Style Tees will target people of all ages and genders who value wearing unique T-shirt designs that can’t be found off the rack. The company will target men, women, children, and people with dogs and cats. Comfy Style Tees will target fans of Scott’s artwork as well as individuals that are unfamiliar with it. No matter the customer, Comfy Style Tees will deliver the best communication, service, and high quality products.

Management Team

Comfy Style Tees will be owned and operated by Scott Smith and Mike Anderson. Scott Smith is an established graphic artist who will be creating the designs for the company’s T-shirts. Mike Anderson is a graduate of Pennsylvania University with a Master’s degree in Marketing.

Scott Smith has been creating unique graphic art for over a decade and has gained a substantial following as an artist on social media. Mike Anderson has been a marketing director for another T-shirt business for over five years. He is confident that his marketing and sales skills will allow the company to quickly gain new customers who are interested in purchasing apparel featuring Scott’s artwork.

Success Factors

Comfy Style Tees will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• The most flexibility in the customers’ shopping experience: customers can order online for delivery or in-store pickup, come into the physical store and shop, and return items through the mail or in-store no matter which method they purchased them through.
• All tees are carefully printed using the latest DTG printing machines and meticulously inspected to ensure quality.
• Comfy Style Tees doesn’t sell to other retailers or white label its products, so if a customer wants an authentic Comfy Styles Tees product, they know they will be able to get it exclusively from the shop or the online store.

Financial Highlights

Comfy Style Tees is seeking $120,000 in debt financing to launch its T-shirt business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the retail space and purchasing DTG printing equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll, rent, and marketing expenses. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Retail space build-out: $30,000
• DTG printing equipment, supplies, and materials: $30,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $40,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Comfy Style Tees.

Company Overview

Who is comfy style tees.

Comfy Style Tees is a newly established boutique T-shirt shop in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Comfy Style Tees will offer the most fun, unique, and stylish tees around. Comfy Style Tees will provide a wide range of sizes for adults, children, and pets. Customers can purchase the one-of-a-kind Scott Smith designs online or in-store. T-shirts are DTG printed in small batches and each unique design is offered for a limited time only, so customers who want a particular design will need to act fast before they are sold out.

Comfy Style Tees will be able to provide the best customer service through its friendly and knowledgeable in-store associates and its use of the latest AI technology for online support. The management team is composed of professionals who are highly qualified and experienced in customer service, marketing, and operations. This strong management team allows Comfy Style Tees to serve all customers with attention and care, removing all headaches from the shopping experience.

Comfy Style Tees History

Comfy Style Tees is owned and operated by Scott Smith and Mike Anderson. Scott has been creating unique graphic art for over a decade and has gained a substantial following as an artist on social media. Mike has been a marketing director for another T-shirt business for over five years. He is confident that his marketing and sales skills will allow the company to quickly gain new customers.

Since incorporation, Comfy Style Tees has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Comfy Style Tees, LLC to transact business in the state of Pennsylvania.
• Has a contract in place to lease the retail space.
• Reached out to numerous potential suppliers to get samples and quotes for their wholesale garments that will become the company’s DTG printed T-shirts.
• Began recruiting a staff of accountants, marketers, and sales associates to work at Comfy Style Tees.

Comfy Style Tees Services

Industry analysis.

The global T-shirt market size was an estimated $206B in 2018 and is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.0% by 2027. In the United States, the T-shirt market reached an estimated $43.47B in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.9% by 2026. The market for T-shirts can be segmented by materials and printing techniques. Most T-shirts that sell well are made from cotton, polyester, linen, rayon, lycra, or a blend of these fabrics. Two of the most popular printing techniques are screen-printing (estimated revenue share of 56% in 2021) and digital printing, which is expected to grow by 10.9% by 2030.

Over the years, the T-shirt industry has evolved from practical, plain white tees to designer labels, custom designs, and graphic prints. The market outlook for the T-shirt industry is positive with increased ecommerce and more people looking for unique styles. Although online shopping is increasing, more revenue is still currently being generated through physical retail. The top five countries generating the most revenue from T-shirt sales are China, the United States, India, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Comfy Style Tees will target people of all ages and genders who value wearing unique T-shirt designs that can’t be found off the rack. The company will target men, women, children, and people with dogs and cats.

The precise demographics for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania are:

Customer Segmentation

Comfy Style Tees will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Young adults (ages 18-29)
• Men and women (ages 30-45)
• Men and women (ages 46+)
• Children (ages 4-17)
• Toddlers (ages 0-3)
• People looking for stylish T-shirts for their dogs and cats

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Comfy Style Tees will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Simple Tee, LLC

Simple Tee, LLC provides comfortable T-shirts at affordable prices. Located in Philadelphia, the Simple Tee retail shop is able to provide a wide selection of custom tees for its customers. The company makes form-fitting T-shirts for men, women, and children using 100% premium cotton and cotton blends. Simple Tee, LLC uses screen-printing technology to produce quality T-shirts to suit any style.

Simple Tee, LLC’s promise is to deliver top notch customer service, quality products, and great prices. The company’s team checks each T-shirt to ensure the highest quality before placing it on the sales floor. Simple Tee also sells its tees online and wholesale to other retailers.

Cool Trends T-Shirts

Cool Trends T-Shirts is an Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based apparel company that provides outstanding customer service and fun art prints on all of its T-shirts. Cool Trends T-Shirts uses screen-printing and digital printing technology to make its one-of-a-kind tees. The company makes tees for young adults, children, and toddlers. You can buy Cool Trends T-Shirts through its online Shopify store. Cool Trends T-Shirts does not have a physical store, which saves the company money. These savings are passed on to the customers in the form of deep discounts on all Cool Trends products.

Dezyned T-Shirt Co.

Dezyned T-Shirt Co. is a trusted Philadelphia T-shirt company that provides superior service to customers at all three of its retail locations in Pennsylvania. The company makes its own DTG printed tees for the whole family. Dezyned T-Shirt Co. is able to provide unique tees designed by its founder and artist in residence, Alice Johnson. The company’s tees are priced in the high-end because they are made from premium cotton and printed in small batches, with Alice’s unique designs feature on each one.

Competitive Advantage

Comfy Style Tees will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Comfy Style Tees will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• All tees are made from 100% premium cotton, carefully printed using the latest DTG printing machines, and meticulously inspected to ensure quality.
• Comfy Style Tees offers unique pieces that can’t be found anywhere else.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Comfy Style Tees is as follows:

Social Media/Referrals

Scott Smith has built up an extensive social media following of fans that love his artwork. Once Scott advised them he is going to be creating his own T-shirt business, many have signed up to receive updates on the new line and have opted to refer a friend for a promotional discount. As more friends are referred, the potential customer base continues to grow.

Print Advertising

Comfy Style Tees will invest in professionally designed print ads to display in magazines, flyers, and direct mailers.

Website/SEO Marketing

Comfy Style Tees will use an online platform like Shopify for its website and  ecommerce store. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the products available. As marketing director, Mike Anderson will also manage Comfy Style Tees’s website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that when  someone types in the search engine “unique T-shirts in Philadelphia” or “T-shirt store near me”, Comfy Style Tees will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of Comfy Style Tees will be competitive to premium, so customers feel they receive value when purchasing the high quality T-shirts.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Comfy Style Tees.

Operation Functions:

• Scott Smith will be the Owner and Designer. He will oversee the design and printing process and manage all supplier relations. Scott has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Mike Anderson – Marketing Director who will provide all marketing and sales initiatives for the company including managing the website, social media, and online marketing.
• Kate Johnson – Bookkeeper who will provide all budgeting, accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.
• Sam Lee – Lead Sales Manager who will manage all sales associates activities and schedules as well as oversee the day-to-day operations of the sales floor.

Milestones:

Comfy Style Tees will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

9/1/2022 – Finalize contract to lease the retail space.

9/15/2022 – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for the management team.

10/1/2022 – Finalize contracts for suppliers.

10/15/2022 – Begin the marketing campaign.

10/22/2022 – Begin printing the first limited edition batch of tees.

11/1/2022 – Comfy Style Tees opens its store for business.

Comfy Style Tees will be owned and operated by Scott Smith and Mike Anderson. Scott Smith is a graphic artist who will be creating the designs for the company’s T-shirts. Mike Anderson is a graduate of Pennsylvania University with a Master’s degree in Marketing.

Scott Smith has been creating unique graphic artwork for over a decade and has gained a substantial following on social media. Mike Anderson has been a marketing director for another T-shirt business for over five years. He is confident that his marketing and sales skills will allow the company to quickly gain new customers who are interested in purchasing apparel featuring Scott’s artwork.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Comfy Style Tees are the fees the company will charge customers for the T-shirts. The price range for Comfy Style Tees is $35-$375.

The cost drivers will be the payroll cost, DTG printing cost, and the cost of the T-shirts themselves. Other expenses will be rent, utilities, supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Average number of T-shirts sold per month: 750
• Average revenue per month: $10,000
• Retail space lease per year: $60,000

Financial Projections

Income statement.

Balance Sheet

Cash Flow Statement

T-Shirt Business Plan FAQs

What is a t-shirt business plan.

A t-shirt business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your t-shirt business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can  easily complete your t-shirt business plan using our T-Shirt Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of T-Shirt Businesses?

There are a number of different kinds of t-shirt businesses, some examples include: Women’s T-Shirt Business, Men’s T-Shirt Business, Unisex T-Shirt Business, and Children’s T-Shirt Business.

How Do You Get Funding for Your T-Shirt Business Plan?

T-Shirt businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a T-Shirt Business?

Starting a T-shirt business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A T-Shirt Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed T-shirt business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast.  

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your T-shirt business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your T-shirt business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your T-Shirt Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your T-shirt business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your T-shirt business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 

7. Acquire Necessary T-Shirt Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your T-shirt business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your T-shirt business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful T-shirt business:

• How to Start a T-Shirt Business

Where Can I Get a T-Shirt Business Plan PDF?

You can download our free t-shirt business plan template PDF here . This is a sample t-shirt business plan template you can use in PDF format.

Other Helpful Business Plan Templates

Ecommerce Business Plan Template Clothing Store Business Plan Template Retail Business Plan Template

T-Shirt Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

T-Shirt Business Plan Template

If you want to start a T-Shirt company or expand your current T-Shirt business, you need a business plan.

The following T-Shirt business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a winning T-Shirt company business plan.

You can download our T-Shirt Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

T-Shirt Business Plan Example

I. executive summary, business overview.

[Company Name] is a start-up T-shirt company that sells cool, trendy and artsy t-shirts for men and women, as well as children. [Company Name] provides a variety of shirts styles and designs, each made to order. They can also make any item with custom artwork provided by the client.

Products Served

Below is [Company Name]’s initial product list:

• Kids t-shirts
• Women’s t-shirts
• Men’s t-shirts

Customer Focus

[Company Name] will primarily serve the residents who live within a 10 mile radius of our location and many others through our website and via other online retailers. The demographics of local customers are as follows:

• 65,800 residents
• 3,000 workers (who do not live the neighborhood)
• Average income of $56,500
• 33% married
• 31.5% in Mgt./Professional occupations
• Median age: 32 years

Management Team

[Company Name] is led by [Founder’s Name] who has been in the clothing business for 10 years. He was director of operations at a well-known clothing company in [location]. As such [Founder] has an in-depth knowledge of the business including:

• Management and operations
• Clothing design basics
• T-shirt marketing
• Hiring and training workers

[Founder] graduated with a degree in business management at [University Name] and also took courses in fashion design at [School Name].

Success Factors

[Company Name] is uniquely qualified to succeed for the following reasons:

• There is currently no clothing brand devoted to local manufacturing in the community we are entering. In addition, we have surveyed the local population and received extremely positive feedback saying that they explicitly want to frequent our business when launched, both from customers and from suppliers.
• The T-shirt business is a proven business and has succeeded in communities throughout the United States.
• Market trends such as the growth of the graphic t-shirt market support our business opportunity.

Financial Highlights

[Company Name] is seeking a total funding of $120,000 to launch its store.

Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:

• Office/Workspace Design & Build-out: $55,000
• Equipment: $35,000
• Working capital: $30,000 to pay for supplies, marketing salaries and lease costs until [Company Name] reaches break-even.

Top line projections over the next three years are as follows:

II. Company Overview

Who is [company name].

The company takes pride in their unique designs and good quality materials that are all locally sourced, supporting other small businesses. In every collection, the company collaborates with local artists as well, to give them a medium to showcase their art.

The company’s tagline, “art through fashion” is the company’s mission.

[Company Name]’s History

[Founder’s Name] began planning and conceptualizing [Company Name] in [year] which then became a registered business on [Month, Year]. [Founder’s Name] has selected three initial locations and is currently undergoing due diligence on each property and the local market to assess which will be the most desirable location for its physical store.

Since incorporation, the company has achieved the following milestones:

• Developed the company’s name, logo and website located at www…
• Determined the list of suppliers for t-shirts, fabrics, etc
• Determined equipment and inventory requirements
• Identified local artists who are willing to collaborate with the designs

[Company Name]’s Products/Services

Iii. industry analysis.

Over the past five years, the T-Shirt industry surged, bolstered by a greater number of broadband connections and rising per capita disposable income levels. Operators also benefited from the growing popularity of e-commerce, as more consumers turned to e-tailers due to their added convenience and relative accessibility compared with traditional brick-and-mortar retailers. Moreover, industry operators have benefited from a rise in the number of mobile internet connections, which increased consumers’ ability to find and purchase industry goods on-the-go from their smartphones. Due to these positive drivers, industry revenue will continue to grow.

As the retail space has become more saturated with entrants, the operating environment has become more competitive, and operators have attempted to undercut one another on price and product quality. Offering amenities such as free shipping and competent customer service associates has become more and more important for industry players to remain attractive in this competitive space.

Further, retail behemoths are able to exert strong negotiating and buying power over upstream wholesalers and manufacturers, enabling them to procure items at a lower price than smaller retailers. This buying power lets these retailers pass cost savings on to the consumer, and these competitive prices keep them attractive.

In recent years, there has also been a growing industry trend toward using a social-commerce business model, which encourages the integration of social media. This new type of open-sourced business model alleviates the risk associated with product development because each shirt produced already has inherent demand.  

IV. Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

[Company Name] will serve the residents of [company location] and the immediately surrounding areas.

The area residents we serve are affluent and are expected to spend more on clothing items than the national averages.

Customer Segmentation

We will primarily target the following three customer segments:

• Fashionistas: The store will attract people who appreciate fashion. The clothes it offers are incredibly unique, but also comfortable everyday wear
• Millennials: Our modern graphic art shirts are expected to be popular among the younger demographic. With its artistic designs, it will capture the interest of the younger generation.
• Tourists: Tourists visiting the area will be interested in locally made clothes. [Company Name] will become a tourist destination due to its unique t-shirt designs that no one can find anywhere else.

V. Competitive Analysis

Direct & indirect competitors.

Press-on Tees Press-on Tees operates an online service that connects millions of buyers and sellers of print-on-demand products. If you’ve dreamed up a catchy slogan or an arresting image, the company’s flagship website will print it for you on a T-shirt, hat, mug, poster, or other product; post it on cafepress.com for sale; and then ship it off and collect payments, keeping a nominal base fee for itself. The company boasts more than 19 million members across all of its properties. Founded in 1999, Press-on Tees went public in 2012.

Bubble Tees Bubble Tees operates as an online marketplace that facilitates the sale and purchase of art and designs on a range of products between independent creatives and consumers in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It provides an Internet based marketplace platform and associated logistics services to facilitate the sale of goods from artists to those who want to purchase goods bearing the artists’ designs. The company enables 600,000 independent artists to sell their designs, such as apparel, stationery, housewares, bags, wall art, etc. It offers its services through its Website and three foreign language sites. The company was founded in 2006.

T-Shirt Republic Founded in 2012, T-Shirt Republic is an ecommerce platform that connects independent artists with their fans and allows them to sell their art on t-shirts, apparel, and accessories. Artists simply upload their design to the site, and T-Shirt Republic fulfills all orders.

Artists may join, upload, and sell designs without a charge from the platform. T-Shirt Republic pays commission on each sale. In addition, the site encourages both artists and non-artists to create affiliate pages, where they maintain a storefront for their and/or others’ designs. This business model appears to take advantage of each storefront’s marketing capability to help spread awareness, in a social commerce way. Affiliates also earn a commission from each sale.

Competitive Advantage

[Company Name] enjoys several advantages over its competitors. These advantages include:

• Locally-Made t-shirts: [Company Name] will work with the best local suppliers and artists for its items, ensuring that 90% of items will come from within a 100 mile radius of the store. Local residents appreciate support for local businesses and tourists appreciate that they will find items that they cannot find where they are from.
• Management: Our management team has years of business experience that allows us to sell to and serve customers in a much more sophisticated manner than our competitors.
• Relationships: Having lived in the community for [x] years, [Founder’s Name] knows all of the local leaders and newspapers, as well as furniture suppliers. As such, it will be relatively easy for us to build branding and awareness of our store and to establish a product line.

VI. Marketing Plan

The [company name] brand.

The [Company Name] brand will focus on the Company’s unique value proposition:

• Offering high-quality, locally-made clothing items
• Telling the “stories” of artists within the store
• Providing excellent customer service

Promotions Strategy

[Company Name] expects its target market to be individuals living within a 10-mile radius of its store. The Company’s promotions strategy to reach these individuals includes:

Direct Mail [Company Name] will blanket neighborhoods surrounding its locations with direct mail pieces. These pieces will offer discounts and/or provide other inducements for people to visit the store.

Public Relations We will contact all local and area newspapers and television stations and send them a press release describing the opening and unique value proposition of [Company Name].

Advertising [Company Name] will initially advertise in local newspapers and sponsor community events in order to gain awareness.

Pre-Opening Events Before opening the store, [Company Name] will organize pre-opening events designed for local merchants and press contacts to create buzz and awareness for [Company Name].

Online Marketing [Company Name] will maintain a website and create an online shop with the list and pictures of products available for sale. It will be active in social media platforms and send out a weekly newsletter to provide its followers an update on on-going promotions and discounts.

VII. Operations Plan

Functional roles.

In order to execute on [Company Name]’s business model, the Company needs to perform many functions including the following:

Service Functions

• Sales and customer service
• Janitor/maintenance personnel to keep the store clean

Administrative Functions

• General & administrative functions including legal, marketing, bookkeeping, etc.
• Sourcing suppliers and managing supplier relations
• Sourcing featured designers and providing collateral for their displays
• Hiring and training staff

VIII. Management Team

Management team members.

[Company Name] is led by [Founder’s Name] who has been in the clothing business for 10 years. While [Founder] has never run a business himself, he was director of operations at a renowned clothing brand company in [location]. As such [Founder] has an in-depth knowledge of the business including:

[Founder] graduated with a degree in Business Management at [University Name] and took courses in fashion design at [School Name].

Hiring Plan

[Founder] will serve as the store manager. In order to launch the store, we need to hire the following personnel:

• Sales manager (requires retail experience in the clothing industry)
• Sales professionals (3 to start)
• Part-Time Bookkeeper (will manage accounts payable, create statements, and execute other administrative functions)

IX. Financial Plan

Revenue and cost drivers.

[Company Name]’s revenues will come from the sale of t-shirts and other clothing items.

The major costs for the company will be the cost of goods sold (supplier costs), salaries of the staff, and rent for a prime location. In the initial years, the company’s marketing spend will be high, as it establishes itself in the market.

Capital Requirements and Use of Funds

[Company Name] is seeking a total funding of $120,000 to launch its store. The capital will be used for funding capital expenditures, marketing expenses and working capital.

Key Assumptions

5 Year Annual Income Statement

5 Year Annual Balance Sheet

5 Year Annual Cash Flow Statement

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How To Start a T-Shirt Business: 2024 Guide

Want to know how to start an online t-shirt business? Read these expert tips on finding customers, designing popular graphics, and selling your t-shirts online.

The custom t-shirt printing market is expected to grow by 11% per year through 2030. And with online tools to help you print and sell your tee designs , it’s never been easier to start a t-shirt business.

By selecting a target audience and designing t-shirts that delight customers, you can create popular clothing at a low cost.

This guide explains how to start an online shirt business that brings in extra monthly income.

How to start a t-shirt business

• Choose a niche
• Source quality material and t-shirt printing options
• Create t-shirt designs
• Mock up your t-shirts
• Validate your t-shirt designs
• Set up your online shirt store

1. Choose a niche

Successful online t-shirt businesses find ways to stand out from the crowd. One of the best strategies for differentiating your products from competitors’ is by catering to a specific audience or interest group.

Choosing a t-shirt niche can help your online shirt business attract these motivated customers.

Generally, niches like “t-shirts with funny slogans” are too broad for a new business to successfully compete. Instead, look for sub-niches and use keyword research tools to find phrases that your target audience is searching for. For example, sub-niches in the funny t-shirts category might be “t-shirts with slogans about doctors” or “funny t-shirts for dog owners.”

Here are a few ways to estimate the value of entering a niche:

• Scan this list of popular hobbies on Wikipedia for inspiration.
• Use the Facebook IQ Audience Insights tool to gauge the size of your niche on social media.
• Visit a niche’s subreddit and check the subscriber count and level of engagement.
• Consider your own interests and the communities you belong to.

Once you find a niche, create a business plan that lays out opportunities to sell custom t-shirts to your niche audience.

2. Source quality material and t-shirt printing options

The next step in starting an online t-shirt business is to find a wholesale clothing supplier , or a custom tee manufacturer .

Not all t-shirts are the same. Different printing methods produce different results. With shirt quality paramount to your brand’s reputation, educating yourself on stock is essential.

It can be tempting to partner with budget supplier and sacrifice quality for higher profit margins. But consider how product quality impacts a customer’s decision to make a second purchase or recommend your shirts to other people.

Choosing a quality t-shirt encompasses several factors, including fit, sizing, material, softness, and weight. Once you narrow down your choices, order some samples to make an informed final decision.

3. Create t-shirt designs

After selecting a shirt supplier, you might choose to develop original graphic tees. Here are a few ways to get a head start:

Find the bestselling designs and niches

If you’re struggling to come up with t-shirt design ideas, look at what’s popular and currently selling well on graphic t-shirt marketplaces such as:

Another research tip is to use Google Trends to gain a sense of the topics people are currently interested in. Use trending subjects as inspiration for your t-shirt designs.

Hire a designer

Once you have a general idea for t-shirt designs, start sketching some drafts. If you know how to use graphic design software, you likely can produce great designs yourself. However, it might make more sense to enlist some help.

There are several online sources for finding suitable graphic designer, including design communities, freelance networks, and t-shirt design marketplaces:

Design communities

Dribbble is a design community that’s home to lots of talent. Search for styles you like, then message the designer to see if they’re available for your project.

Behance hosts portfolios from creators around the world who specialize in illustrations and graphic design.

Freelance networks

General freelance networks like Upwork also contain listings of artists and illustrators. Find a qualified t-shirt designer, then check their past job successes and portfolio to see if they’re a match for your project. If you like someone, you can reach out through the platform and hire them on the spot.

T-shirt design marketplaces

Instead of hiring a designer, you can purchase pre-made designs your t-shirt business. This route saves on upfront costs, but means that other stores are likely selling your designs, so it may be harder for your store to stand out. Check out the following t-shirt graphic marketplaces:

• Tshirt Factory has a variety of vector images, from old school to punk designs.
• Creative Market has more than three million graphics and templates.
• Graphic River offers royalty-free Photoshop vectors and icon packs.

Keep in mind, you may need to purchase a commercial license for your images before you can use them on your t-shirts.

💡 Need a logo for your t-shirts? Shopify has a free custom logo maker .

4. Mock-up your t-shirts

Once you have final designs, the next step for your t-shirt business will be to produce mockup images. Mockups help you and your customers see what the final design will look like when it’s printed on a shirt.

You can create mockups using web software or with an image editor like Adobe Photoshop.

T-shirt mockup templates for Photoshop come with multiple layers that let you change the color of the shirt and apply your own design that will blend with the shirt’s creases, folds, and contours.

There are also web-based mockup software that will let you create similar images without having to download Photoshop:

• Printful Mockup Generator
• Placeit Mockup Generator
• Printify T-Shirt Mockup Generator

If you don’t like the idea of creating digital mockups, you can always order samples of your shirts and take product photos .

5. Validate your t-shirt designs

Before you invest in your new business idea, test the popularity of your designs. There are many ways to validate design popularity before you sell your t-shirts online.

Common methods for validating your design ideas include:

Reach out to personal social networks

Post a preview of your designs to your social media accounts and on feeds that your potential customers visit. Be careful when asking the thoughts of friends and family, however. Their opinions can come with a favorable bias.

Despite the community’s general aversion to marketing, Reddit is still one of the best places to get honest feedback on your designs . Through this process, you may earn yourself some future customers and gain some free marketing along the way.

Use crowdfunding

Crowdfunding sites have made it easier to test, validate, and collect money upfront for new business ideas. Launching a crowdfunding campaign can be time-consuming and requires preparation. However, if you have a particularly novel t-shirt business idea, crowdfunding might be for you.

🎧 Here’s why you should test your t-shirt designs before you invest.

6. Set up your online shirt store

With t-shirt designs commissioned, mock-ups created, and feedback acquired, it’s time to build your online store .

If you’re using a print-on-demand service to produce your tees, it’s easy to integrate your products with a Shopify store. Customers can visit your store to browse shirts. Once they make a purchase, print-on-demand apps will produce and ship the items.

Try these t-shirt printing apps that integrate directly with Shopify stores:

💡 Need advice on building your store? Here’s a step-by-step guide .

5 considerations for starting a t-shirt business

• T-shirt printing techniques

1. T-shirt printing techniques

There are three popular methods for printing t-shirts. Deciding which one to use will partially depend on your product pricing strategy .

Whether you invest in your own printer or use a local supplier, it’s worth knowing how each printing technique works.

Screen printing

Screen printing is an old technique that has stood the test of time for business owners who design and sell t-shirts online and in stores.

As one of the most popular methods for printing, screen printing can produce durable and long-lasting results. It also lets you print on products like canvas items, mugs, hats, and other things to make and sell if you want to expand your product line.

However, a labor-intensive initial setup means screen printing is most cost-effective when printing in bulk. Screen printing also poses issues when it comes to complex designs or designs with more than four to five colors, as each color increases costs and production time.

Heat transfer

Heat transfers exist in several forms. For example, you may have seen basic heat-transfer paper at your local office supply store.

Although this method makes it easy to print designs from your home computer and transfer them with an iron, a more complicated process is needed when running a small business. The more advanced form of heat transfer is called plastisol transfer and is printed by professional printers on special, high-quality heat-transfer paper.

The advantage of heat transfers is the ability to order a stack of prints from your local printer and transfer them to your t-shirts with a commercial heat press machine as you receive orders. Heat transfers can produce full-color images onto t-shirts relatively easily and quickly, helping to make them an affordable option for small batches.

Though affordable in the long run, a heat press machine can be a large upfront cost. Also, the do-it-yourself approach requires you to invest more time making the t-shirts and the final result can be lower quality and less durable than shirts that use other forms of printing.

Direct-to-garment (DTG)

The direct-to-garment printing process operates like an ink-jet printer. It’s common in t-shirt printing businesses because it prints ink directly onto the t-shirt and can produce full-color images with accuracy.

DTG printing produces quality printing on par with screen printing, and is seen as more premium than heat transfer. Because it operates like an ink-jet printer, there are no setup costs, unlike screen printing. This means it’s easy and cost-effective to print small orders.

The major disadvantage of direct-to-garment printing is the lack of volume discount for large orders, as it takes the same amount of time to print each shirt.

The last thing a visitor wants to see in your catalog is a poorly plagiarized shirt design. Your designs don’t necessarily need to be complex—in fact, many of the bestselling graphic tees are simple. However, they do need to be original.

To ensure quality prints for your shirt-selling business, your design files should be at least 300 pixels per inch (dpi or ppi), have a transparent background, and be large enough to cover the actual print area of the t-shirt. Just note that your specifications will vary depending on the printer and printing technique used.

The next most important factor in starting an online t-shirt business is product quality. You can disappoint a customer once, but they won't return to your store. A pattern that fades and cracks or a t-shirt that shrinks and rips won’t create loyal customers.

Higher quality t-shirts might cost more to produce but can also command higher prices. Remember to base your product quality decisions on expected profit margin , not the product costs.

A strong, interesting brand is vital for starting a shirt business online. Your brand will tie together all of your choices, including your niche, designs, and shirt quality. From your t-shirt business name to the logo you use, building a unique and likable brand is important in a high-competition industry.

When customers have a choice of stores to shop from, businesses with a distinctive presence are more likely to capture attention. If you’ve chosen a niche for your online t-shirt business that embodies a certain lifestyle, you can incorporate it into your marketing and website to speak to these customers.

5. Inventory

T-shirt businesses can buy and hold inventory, taking advantage of bulk pricing and local printers. Or, they can use a print-on-demand service to take inventory management and shipping off their plate. You also can opt for a mix of both.

By holding your own inventory for your online shirt selling business, you can sell in-person, which could help improve your profit margins. With print-on-demand, you take on less risk because your production depends on your orders. Weigh the pros and cons before you start. If you’re unsure, print-on-demand is a good idea for smaller businesses .

Of course, if you have the budget, you can also invest in a printer and make your own in-house clothing line .

An online t-shirt business success story

Many entrepreneurs have been successful in starting a shirt-selling business. For example, Ryan McCarthy, founder of Imouri (formerly Sugoi), has used Shopify to run his anime-inspired t-shirt printing business since 2016.

Ryan decided to create his t-shirt business when he couldn’t find anime-themed clothing that fit his personal style. He quietly launched what he thought would be a small clothing business, which has since turned into a six-figure print-on-demand apparel company selling streetwear inspired by Japanese pop culture and anime.

His secret to successfully starting a clothing line? Identifying winning designs early on by using Reddit and paid ads to test products.

Start your t-shirt business today

It's never been easier to express your creativity and sell t-shirts online

Whatever niche you choose to serve, and however ambitious you decide to be with your quality and designs, a t-shirt store can be a great first ecommerce business for new entrepreneurs.

Shopify can help you start selling and control your costs. Connect your store to a t-shirt printer in minutes and launch a catalog that your customers will love.

Illustration by Alice Mollon

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T-shirt business FAQ

Is a t-shirt business profitable.

T-shirts are a staple around the world, with global apparel sales reaching $1.79 trillion in 2024. Creating an online t-shirt business can be profitable thanks to low startup costs compared to other business opportunities.

How much does it cost to start a t-shirt business?

Starting a t-shirt business from home requires little investment. Print-on-demand services offer product manufacturing and shipping, and only charge vendors for products when they're sold. That means fewer overhead costs and little risk of overstocking.

What should I do before selling t-shirts?

• Conduct market research on a niche and find a passionate community.
• Come up with a t-shirt company name.
• Make a business logo and set up an online shop.
• Create your own t-shirt designs.
• Set up your social media accounts.
• Run paid ads for your online t-shirt business site.
• Do blog outreach and free promotions with influencers.

How much can you make selling t-shirts?

The amount you make selling t-shirts depends on factors including your chosen niche, production methods, pricing, and marketing strategy.

How can I start my own t-shirt business with few upfront costs?

If you want to start a t-shirt business without an initial investment, create a Shopify store and integrate a print-on-demand app such as Printful.

Do you need a business license to sell t-shirts online?

Typically, you do not need a business license to sell t-shirts online. You may need a resale license to buy clothing from a distributor without sales tax. Check with your local revenue or finance department to learn more.

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Custom Printed T-Shirts Business Plan Template

Download this free custom printed t-shirts business plan template, with pre-filled examples, to create your own plan..

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Features clear and simple instructions from expert business plan writers.

All 100% free. We're here to help you succeed in business, no strings attached.

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1. Don't worry about finding an exact match

We have over 550 sample business plan templates . So, make sure the plan is a close match, but don't get hung up on the details.

Your business is unique and will differ from any example or template you come across. So, use this example as a starting point and customize it to your needs.

2. Remember it's just an example

Our sample business plans are examples of what one business owner did. That doesn't make them perfect or require you to cram your business idea to fit the plan structure.

Use the information, financials, and formatting for inspiration. It will speed up and guide the plan writing process.

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But, if you don't plan to share your plan with anyone outside of your business—you likely don't need everything.

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How to Write a Business Plan

How to Start a Business With No Money

Simple Business Plan Outline

How to Write a Business Plan for Investors

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10 Qualities of a Good Business Plan

How to Create a Business Plan Presentation

Industry Business Planning Guides

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Top 10 T-shirt Business Plan Templates with Examples and Samples (Editable Word Doc, Excel, and PDF Included)

Samradni Pradhan

In a world where self-expression knows no bounds, the art of t-shirt printing has blossomed into a vibrant and ever-expanding canvas. From witty one-liners to intricate designs, personalized t-shirts have become the billboard of individuality. They capture the essence of who we are, what we love, and what makes us unique. As the saying goes, "Wear your heart on your sleeve," but in today's fashion-forward era, you can wear it across your chest, back, or anywhere you please!

But with great creativity comes a greater need for a well-crafted plan. In entrepreneurship, the road to success is paved with intention and strategy. That's where the T-Shirt Printing Business Plan comes into play.

Your mind may be brimming with innovative designs; you may have a garage filled with printing equipment. However, without a roadmap, even the most brilliant ideas can get lost in the vast landscape of entrepreneurship. In this blog, we will explore the art of t-shirt printing, delve into the intricacies of running a successful venture, and unveil the indispensable role of a T-shirt printing Business Plan!

Table of Contents

• Executive Summary
• Company Overview
• Industry Analysis
• Customer Analysis
• Competitor Analysis
• SWOT Analysis
• Porter's Framework
• Operational Plan
• Financial Plan

Using this detailed business plan template , we will cover major sections that must be a part of your business plan. All of the pages have been designed specifically for a t-shirt printing business. You will get access to 66 fully editable template pages when you download this template. This blog post will cover details on the top 10 pages within this entire deck.

You will get the 66-page Doc, PDF, and XLS files upon downloading.

1. Executive Summary

This template is your key to crafting a captivating snapshot of your venture. With this template, you'll effortlessly convey your mission, goals, and why your t-shirt printing business is destined for success. Our Executive Summary template offers clarity, ensuring you cover all essential aspects. It will guide you through the process, allowing you to showcase your passion and expertise in t-shirt printing.

In our Executive Summary section, you will get templates for:

1.1 The Quick Pitch: Present a concise and alluring snapshot highlighting the key features and offerings of your t-shirt printing business.

1.2 The Entity Profile: Provide a streamlined overview of your company's structure and identity to intrigue potential investors and collaborators in your t-shirt printing venture.

Download this business plan

Looking for a PowerPoint Presentation on a T-shirt Business Plan? Click here to explore it.

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2. Company Overview

Your t-shirt printing business's identity is like the canvas upon which your success is painted. Our Company Overview template is your creative brush, helping you craft a vivid picture of who you are and what you stand for. Through this template, narrate your journey, values, and commitment to quality t-shirt printing. This template will structure your narrative, ensuring you paint a captivating portrait of your t-shirt printing venture that resonates with your audience.

In our Company Overview section, you will get templates for:

2.1 Vision and Mission: Sculpt a magnetic mission and vision, the compass steering your t-shirt printing enterprise towards its purposeful destiny.

2.2 Company Goals and Objectives: Illuminate the precise aspirations and objectives your t-shirt printing business strives to achieve, charting a clear course toward success.

2.3 Start-up Summary: Provide a snapshot of your business's origin story, unveiling its genesis, structure, and foundational building blocks.

2.4 Market Gap Analysis and Business Statement: Discern uncharted territories in the domain and express your distinctive business identity, solidifying your brand's unique standing in the industry.

2.5 Services Portfolio: Unveil a diverse canvas of t-shirt printing services, showcasing the depth of your creative and printing prowess.

2.6 Key Success Factors: Define the essential markers of success for your business plan, ensuring a well-lit path to prosperity in the fashion and apparel industry.

3. Industry Analysis

Uncover the latest consumer preferences, printing technologies, and market trends. Showcase your industry knowledge using data and insights to illustrate why your idea is primed for growth. This template will guide you through the maze of statistics, helping you find the golden opportunities that await in the t-shirt printing industry.

In our Industry Analysis section, you will get templates for:

3.1 Market Analysis: Uncover opportunities and key players shaping your venture's future.

3.2 Market Trends Tracking: Stay ahead by tracking evolving fashion and printing trends to captivate modern consumers.

3.3 Major Challenges and Solutions: Confront challenges, craft innovative solutions, and ensure uninterrupted business progress.

3.4 Growth Drivers Identification: Identify t-shirt printing business strategies and factors that will fuel your brand's rapid expansion and enduring success.

3.5 Geographical Market Analysis: Tailor your approach to diverse regions within your target market, ensuring seamless expansion that aligns with regional preferences and demands.

4. Customer Analysis

Dive into demographics, psychographics, and buying habits. Show how your t-shirt designs align with their desires and values. With this template, you'll tailor your approach, ensuring your t-shirt printing business resonates with your target audience. 

In our Customer Analysis section, we offer comprehensive templates for:

4.1 Target Market Definition: Articulate a crystal-clear vision of the consumer or business sectors your t-shirt printing service is tailor-made for, ensuring a laser-focused and impactful market approach.

4.2 Buyer Persona Development: Sculpt an intricate masterpiece, vividly portraying your ideal customer - from demographics to preferences and behaviors - to refine your services, meeting their needs with exquisite precision.

4.3 Market Sizing Analysis: Calculate the dimensions of the market, meticulously sizing up the potential market share that your brand can claim and illustrating a canvas of opportunities that beckon in your entrepreneurial landscape.

5. Competitive Analysis

Through this template, dissect their pricing strategies, marketing tactics, and product offerings. Showcase where your business stands out and how you plan to outshine the competition. Craft a winning narrative that convinces investors and customers that your t-shirts are a cut above the rest.

In our Competitive Analysis section, we provide templates for:

5.1 Major Players: Navigate the terrain of trends shaping the t-shirt printing industry by profiling and dissecting the leading competitors and influential players shaping the market.

5.2 Attributes Comparison: Undertake a meticulous examination, drawing insightful comparisons of the vital characteristics and elements defining different products or services in the market, enabling strategic positioning of our offerings.

6. SWOT Analysis

Your t-shirt printing business is a work of art, and the SWOT Analysis template helps you fine-tune its masterpiece. Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats with clarity. Showcase your strengths and how they leverage your t-shirt printing operations. Address weaknesses head-on, presenting improvement plans. Unveil the opportunities your business is poised to seize and the strategies to combat potential threats.

7. Porters Framework

Porter's Framework is the key to effectively positioning your t-shirt printing business in the market. Use this template to analyze the competitive forces and shape your strategy. Understand supplier power, buyer power, competitive rivalry, the threat of substitutes, and the threat of new entrants. This will act as an indispensable template for you to explore!

8. Marketing Plan

Your t-shirt printing development plan is like an artist's palette – it brings your vision to life. Our Marketing Plan template guides you through creating a captivating strategy. Define your target audience, channels, and messaging. Showcase your unique selling proposition and how it will captivate t-shirt lovers. Use data and insights to illustrate your marketing prowess.

In our Marketing Plan section, we provide templates for:

8.1 Sales Strategy: Craft a unique sales strategy blueprint meticulously engineered to not only meet but surpass your financial goals and dreams.

8.2 Promotional Strategy: Create an artistic canvas of your marketing and promotional tactics, igniting excitement and carving a memorable presence for your brand in the industry.

8.3 Pricing Strategy: Reveal the alchemical essence of your pricing strategy, seamlessly harmonizing profitability and unmatched competitiveness, setting a gold standard in the t-shirt printing realm.

8.4 Sales Funnel Optimization: Map out the enthralling journey from discovery to delight for your customers, optimizing every twist and turn of the sales funnel to deliver maximum efficiency and satisfaction.

9. Operational Plan

Detail your production processes, supply chain, and quality control measures. Showcase your strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. This template ensures potential partners and investors see that your t-shirt printing business is not just a concept but a well-structured, efficient operation ready for success.

In our Operational Plan section, we provide templates for:

9.1 Retail Selling Strategy: Craft your retail success story with a strategic roadmap for selling custom tees, showcasing your sales prowess and tactical genius.

9.2 E-commerce Sales Strategy: Conquer the online frontier with a well-crafted strategy, budget breakdown, and a roadmap to dominate the digital marketplace with your unique t-shirt designs.

9.3 Milestones and Achievements: Spotlight the stepping stones of your t-shirt empire's journey, highlighting the key milestones and remarkable achievements that mark your growth and success.

10. Financial Plan

The Financial Plan template is where you weave the threads of profitability into your t-shirt printing strategic plan . Lay out your revenue projections, expenses, and funding needs with precision.

Use this template to demonstrate your financial acumen, ensuring potential investors understand the growth potential and profitability of your t-shirt printing venture. Craft a narrative that leaves no doubt that your business is not just about creating beautiful t-shirts but also a solid investment.

In our Financial Plan section, we provide templates for:

10.1 Financial Assumptions: Transform your financial assumptions into actionable strategies, shaping the future of your t-shirt printing venture.

10.2 Revenue Model and Sales Forecast: Illuminate the revenue sources that will drive your business and craft a blueprint for its growth.

10.3 Break-Even Analysis: Dive into the pivotal factors steering your business toward the break-even point, a crucial milestone on your path to profitability.

10.4 Projected Profit and Loss Account: Get a clear financial snapshot of your t-shirt printing potential by projecting revenues, tracking expenses, and foreseeing overall profitability.

10.5 Projected Cash Flow Statement: Master your business's liquid finances with a detailed projection of expected cash movements.

10.6 Projected Balance Sheet: Offer an in-depth glimpse into your t-shirt printing business's projected assets, liabilities, and equity, ensuring financial transparency.

10.7 Scenario Analysis: Explore various scenarios to gauge how different conditions and risks may impact the financial resilience of your venture.

10.8 DCF Valuation: Use discounted cash flow analysis to assess the present market value of your t-shirt printing business, quantifying its worth between major players in the t-shirt printing industry.

There’s more on offer

As mentioned earlier, this blog has only highlighted the top 10 pages within this template. However, there is much more on offer when you download the entire bundle of templates. When you are starting a t-shirt printing business, your logistics and production process takes up a lot of time; hence business planning should be a more straightforward thing to get into. Simply download this template, available in both PDF and Word format, for easy editing. Grab these business plan ppt templates and raise the bar of success for your printing venture.

FAQs on T-shirt Printing Business Plan

1. what is a t-shirt business plan.

A thorough document covering the tactics and goals for beginning and running a successful t-shirt printing or selling operation is a t-shirt business plan. Details on market studies, target audiences, marketing strategy, financial forecasts, and operational plans are frequently included. An organized t-shirt business plan acts as a road map for entrepreneurs to help them decide what to do and how to get funding.

2. Is a t-shirt business profitable?

A t-shirt company's profitability is influenced by a number of variables, such as consumer demand, pricing policies, production costs, and efficient marketing. T-shirt businesses can succeed when carefully planned, have distinctive designs, and have a significant marketing presence. However, the intense competition makes differentiation and effective operations essential for long-term success.

3. How do I make a business plan for a shirt?

A concise executive summary and company description are a good place to start when writing a business plan for a t-shirt firm. Then, carry out market research to comprehend your target market and rivals. Create a marketing plan, describe your product line, detail your production and distribution methods, and provide financial estimates. A well-organized plan serves as a road map for developing your shirt business and, if necessary, aids in obtaining capital.

4. Is a t-shirt business a good idea?

If you have a distinctive selling concept, a clearly defined target market, and successful marketing techniques, starting a t-shirt business may be an excellent option. Although the t-shirt market is cutthroat, there is still potential for cutting-edge designs and specialized markets. Creativity, product quality, and the capacity to respond to market changes are frequent requirements for success in the t-shirt industry. Making a company venture feasible and lucrative requires extensive study, rigorous planning, and excellent execution.

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• Business plans

T-shirt Business Plan Template 

Used 4,872 times

Craft a winning T-shirt business plan in a structured business format that attracts investors and funding.

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T-shirt Business Plan Template

Created by:

​ [Sender.FirstName] [Sender.LastName] ​

​ [Sender.Company] ​

Prepared for:

​ [Recipient.FirstName] [Recipient.LastName]

​ [Recipient.Company] ​

Business Plan for [Sender.Company] ​

Executive Summary

​ [Sender.Company] (Entreprise Name)is a pop-styled and sports-based t-shirt business geared towards changing the fashion market with cool customer-themed t-shirts to make them stand out.

Established in (Year of Establishment), the [Sender.Company] franchise serves local and international clients.

Market Opportunity

The rise in demand for customizable, sustainable, and unique outfits in the volatile fashion industry has created the need for high-quality and affordable outfits.

With innovative apparel designs and quality fabric, [Sender.Company] aims to fill this gap with long-lasting, authentic t-shirts that make individuals and corporate brands stand out.

Our Products and Services

After starting out our enterprise, [Sender.Company] will provide the listed products and services:

Corporate branding

We create unique t-shirt designs for organizations, companies, schools, and sports teams based on their logos, slogans, and color specifications.

Individual branding

Our expansive design creates authentic customized t-shirts for people based on their personal specifications.

Fashion franchise

We mass produce t-shirts for clothing lines and fashion designers who have an established customer base.

We will begin providing the above products and services on our website at an estimated fee (Mention Amount) for pre-ordered t-shirts.

However, in a growth span of (Insert Timeline for the Milestone), we aim to expand from selling solely online to opening franchises in multiple cities with the highest client bases. We will also include exclusive discount prices for loyal customers and membership programs.

Financial Projections

​ [Sender.Company] projects steady leverage in the coming four years with an estimated annual profit and revenue increase of (Enter Growth Rate).

This will be achieved through flexibility in customer demands, building a remarkable brand, optimizing our market strategies, and enlarging our product range.

Funding Requirements

To achieve our set objectives within the set timeline, we seek investors to raise the initial start-up capital of (Enter Funding Request Amount), which will be used to (Outline Capital Spending, e.g., purchase the fabrics, build an online store, and market the t-shirts).

Market Analysis

Industry overview.

The T-shirt industry operates both online and offline, with a notable shift towards e-commerce in recent years.

Online sales have experienced significant growth due to convenience and a wider customer reach.

However, physical stores still hold relevance, especially for personalized and boutique offerings.

Ideal Client Profile (ICP)

Age: (Age Range)

Income Level: (Income Range)

Profession: (Profession)

Location: (Location)

Lifestyle Choices: (Lifestyle Preferences)

Purchasing Power and Motivation: (Motivation to Buy, Purchasing Power)

Established Businesses

Successes: (Competitor Successes)

Failures: (Competitor Failures)

Challenges to Entry

Establishing a T-shirt business may face challenges like (Legal/Operational/Brand Recognition/Product Transportation/Payment Systems, etc.). Identifying and addressing these challenges will be crucial to our success.

Operations Plan

​ [Sender.Company] will operate on the internet as an e-commerce enterprise, enabling us to reach a wider client base globally. However, we will have a physical office and warehouse fully equipped with printing and branding equipment.

Equipments and Branding

We will use modern direct-to-garment (DTG) printing technology to manufacture and brand high-quality fabrics. Our fabrics will come directly from the silk and cashmere industries, which our trained designers will use to create customized t-shirts.

Quality Assurance

To ensure the maximum quality of our finished products, we will regularly assess the t-shirts in all production stages. Also, client feedback will be collected to improve our products and service quality.

Operation Schedule

Since we are an online franchise, our operations will be 24/7 all year round.

Financial Breakdown

Initial investment.

We request an investment of (Enter Funding Request Amount) to be spent on (Detail how your startup budget will be spent).

Manufacturing and printing equipment cost

E-commerce website construction cost

The cost of the first batch of fabrics

Personnel and Designer acquisition

Initial branding and marketing cost

Operations Costs

Website maintenance

Regular fabric purchasing

Employees salaries

Utilities and Taxes

Equipment maintenance

Income Statement

Confidentiality Agreement

The parties to this confidentiality clause, [Sender.Company] and [Recipient.FirstName] [Recipient.LastName] , acknowledge their commitment to maintaining the confidentiality of the business plan's contents. They recognize the potential for irreparable harm in the event of unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information. Thus, both parties pledge to return or destroy all records of the confidential information upon request or termination of discussions or agreements.

​ [Recipient.FirstName] [Recipient.LastName] ​

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Printing Business Guide

How to Start Custom Tshirt Printing Business – Step-by-Step Guide

Maulik shah, table of content, step 1: create a business plan, step 2: decide on the ecommerce solution for your web store, step 3: invest in a product designer tool or a 3d configurator, step 4: make your design tool feature-rich, step 5: select the t-shirt printing method you will use, step 6: select the right t-shirt supplier, step 7. set up the printing infrastructure, step 8: set up logistics infrastructure, step 9: launch your store, step 10: marketing your store, to conclude.

Did you know?

The custom t-shirt printing market is booming!

The market was worth US$ 3,579.1 Mn in 2022 and is projected to grow even more, exceeding US$ 9,009.3 Mn by 2031.

That’s a massive compound annual growth rate of almost 7% from 2020 to 2025!

What’s even more impressive is that the global custom t-shirt printing market was valued at $4,867.35 million in 2021, and it’s estimated to generate a revenue of $10,366.26 million by 2030.

That’s a remarkable CAGR of 9.12% .

It’s clear that more and more people are getting into the trend of custom t-shirts, and businesses are taking notice.

This also indicates that there is a lot of money to be made in this industry.

But with so many factors to consider, such as choosing the right equipment, finding the perfect niche, and setting up your online store, getting started can be overwhelming.

That’s why we’ve put together this step-by-step guide on how to start t-shirt printing business with confidence and ease.

So, let’s dive in!

To become successful with any business, it is important to have a robust business plan for t-shirt business. when it comes to the t-shirt printing industry, you must remember that it has a wide range of audiences based on their choice of quality, design, and style.

A. Identify the market niche

There are two major ways to segment the market

• Based on the needs of the customers
• Based on the age of the customers. if you want to cater a wider audience you need to target multilingual audience and for that you can learn different Duolingo languages and print on the t-shirts in different languages

Niche Market Ideas for Your T-shirt Store

In order to identify the market niche, make sure you ask yourself the following questions:

• Will you sell printed t-shirts to infants and toddlers or youth, teens and adults?
• Will your customers have the liberty to design their own t-shirts or you will have a fixed range of designs to choose from?
• Will you be targeting a niche within different age groups? For eg, Printed rock band t-shirts for teens or printed sport t-shirts for adults.
• Will the fashion and quality of the printed t-shirts meet the current market trends?
• What is the budget of your target customer? What is the price point that they are willing to pay for your t-shirts?

Some extra tips to identify niche:

• Plug in some keywords related to your niche, add targeted countries and see which words and phrases get suggested. Further, narrow down the suggestions by monthly search volume, competition level, and suggested bid.
• For search volume, go for 1K-10K per month. Any less than this probably means there’s not much room for it.
• With competition you get ideas about your competitors, and with suggested big you can get the idea of a high level of commercial intent.

Set up your t-shirt store with an added USP for Customization

Once the industry and market research is done, you need to write the business plan. While creating a custom printed t-shirt plan you need to mull over things like:

• The mission of your company – which can involve offering high quality printed t-shirts at cost-effective prices
• Will you create the basic templates and design or purchase pre-made designs?
• Things to expect from yourself, management team and other staff members
• Know where you will obtain your raw materials from. Will you have a fixed vendor or you will be buying plain t-shirts from a particular brand?
• Create marketing ideas based on marketing analysis by making use of events, social media, fairs, conventions etc… You can also use social media scheduler for better productivity by scheduling your social content in advance to make social media activities easy.
• Analyze the competition and know how will you make your brand stand out from other t-shirt companies
• Gather supporting documents like design samples, vendor agreements and statistical analysis of t-shirt printing business
• Obtain a license applicable to your location and type of business.

B. Consider the financial aspects

Before establishing a business like this, it is very important to have an idea as to what everything will cost you. If you are an entrepreneur who thinks in a long run, your financial strategy should include the following:

• Projected expenses and assumptions of fixed and varying costs
• Costs of investment
• Revenues goals and revenue resources
• Break-even analysis
• Business ratios including inventory turnover, accounts payable and debt ratio
• Monthly profit or loss figures
• Annual gross margin

The main expenses that you would want to add would be:

You can get printing quotes from different t-shirt printing firms so that you can compare prices and give the best deal, without compromising on the quality. Once you work out on the above aspects, it will help you to decide about the prices you should quote for your t-shirts.

Starting your business in the upcoming year can be challenging because the world economy is at the verge of recession. So, you must take care of every minute details for launching a successful venture.

However, recession is also a good time to start because of availability of resources at cheaper rates. Thus, upcoming economic downfall can also help you in building penetration pricing strategy and sell quality pullovers at lower rates.

C. Don’t make these mistakes

If you have a robust business plan, you will undergo each step of the planning process. There are times when startups or entrepreneurs handling one-man businesses think that there is no need to have a business plan. However, this is not the right approach. Make sure you do not make the following mistakes.

• Not indulging into market research or having a profit and loss projection
• Not branding your business enough (Will elaborate this more later in the post)
• Not establishing a professional brand image with logo, theme and mission
• Commencing business before knowing how to accept and fill shipping orders
• Opening an online store without integrating a web-to-print software
• Not having enough t-shirt design templates, colour options and cliparts
• Lack of knowledge about the working of web to print software and its maintenance
• Not checking the quality of final output (printed t-shirts)
• Not taking into account the challenges that any business must know how to cope with

The second most important thing to do is to know about the ecommerce platforms you will be using for your t-shirt printing e-store. Here, you have two options:

A. Choosing a Hosted Platform

Shopify and Bigcommerce are the biggest examples of hosted platforms. The biggest benefit of using these platforms is that they have a very low startup cost. You can purchase a store, upload the logo of your brand, pick the theme you like and start selling printed t-shirts on the platform.

Hosted platforms are ideal for start ups and will get you up and running. The only drawback with these platforms is that you can’t have an individual design of your choice and cannot add other customized elements to your store. However, you can choose out of different plans and have a great looking store.

B. Having a Self-hosted Platform

You can also have a custom developed Ecommerce solution for your business. Needless to say, it will let you have your own design, provide with the liberty of making custom edits, give limitless options pertaining to SEO and will enable you to add products and set prices at your convenience.

Expensive start up cost is a drawback here. So if you have enough funds and are confident about your business’s bright future, you can consider having a self-hosted platform.

If you’re looking for a custom solution, PrintXpand can be a good choice.

With a user-friendly interface, customizable design, and advanced features like social media integration and mobile responsiveness, it’s the perfect platform to help you succeed in the competitive world of online t-shirt sales.

There is nothing better than investing into an advanced product designer tool when you are into the business of selling customized t-shirts. You can make your online store stand out from others and add a dash of personal touch by allowing your customers to design their own t-shirt.

(Feature-rich and Easy-to Use Product Design Tool By PrintXpand)

Initially, you can purchase an online t-shirt design tool that fulfills the basic requirements of your customers. Thereafter, if your business is doing well, you can enhance your web-to-print software and add new features to it. As your loyal customer base would be established by then, adding new features will help you to boost your revenue.

Thus, a web to print designer tool can make your offerings even more unique. This personalized experience can help you deliver a great customer experience.

Curious about how our web to print tshirt designer tool works?

Watch this video and see for yourself!

Have a look at a real life example of Rafasshop, a company providing printing on T-shirts for advertising. They were in search of a tool that allows their customers to customize the T-shirts without affecting loading time of their website.

Although they already had a running eCommerce store, our Product Designer Tool integrated with their existing store seamlessly. And it turned out to be a great investment for their business! Why?

Because they experienced a transformation in their business operations with the use of this tool. The user-friendly UI of our tool made it super easy for their customers to customize and place orders. Thus, without even promoting the tool and explaining its use cases they started receiving orders from their online stores.

They were able to reoptimize their entire pre-press process as they started receiving editable print ready files after their customers placed orders.

Now, imagine the customer base you can build for your t-shirt printing business, by providing such a distinct experience!

While designing t-shirts, people love to experiment with colours, designs and templates. So make sure you add an ample amount of features to your tool and make it user-friendly. It will help you to win in the online t-shirt business .

You can provide ready-made quotes, clipart, texts and fonts of different styles, graphics etc. Features like masking effects, shadows and overlapping can also be added to make their designs look interesting.

One major thing you should not miss out on is the graphics part. Because this product is all about offering visually appealing products that your customers can easily create.

Additionally, the tool allows customers to design both the front and back of the t-shirt and save their designs for later.

For an even more immersive experience, you can also integrate a 3D configurator.

The tool lets customers configure the t-shirt from scratch, choosing the pattern, fabric, and designs for each part of the shirt.

However, you can still have complete control over what they design as you can enable or disable the design areas as per your preference.

Hence, whatever the budget is, make sure that your tool has all the functionalities your customers would love.

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After you are sorted with designs, it’s time to print! There are four commonly followed ways of printing t-shirts. All the four methods have their benefits and pitfalls. So the success of production depends on the amount of time you are willing to spend on the production and the printing method you use. Let us study the 4 popular printing methods in detail along with their drawbacks.

A. Screen Printing

When it comes to printing t-shirts in bulk, screen printing is one of the most popularly used methods. It also provides consistent printing and long lasting imprints. When there are more than four or five colours involved, it gets a little complicated for screen printing machines. So in such a scenario, it might take more time to print.

B. Heat transfer printing

This type of printing has been around for several years. Photocopy machines and laser printers work really well on the heat transfer phenomenon. It involves printing designs from your PC and transferring them with iron.

Heat transfer might prove to be a traditional method for handling a t-shirt printing business. This is because you have to print fast and in larger quantities.

Here’s a little brief about laser printers:

Laser printers are quite popular for providing prints that are quite long lasting and don’t get affected by wash. Also, the fabric retains its natural feel after it is printed. It doesn’t look like a design has been unnaturally embossed or printed on t-shirts.

If you want to have t-shirts that look professional and attractive, investing into a Laser printer would be a good thing to do. Plastisol transfer is the latest form of heat transfer. This kind of printing is implemented on high quality heat transfer paper.

You can order stacks or prints from a printer and apply them on the t-shirts as and when you receive orders for t-shirt printing. Through heat transfer, you will be able to print images quite quickly.

C. Direct-to-garment printing

This printer works like an inkjet printer and that is why there are no additional costs involved. It can print multiple coloured images directly on the t-shirts with perfection.

The results obtained from direct-to-garment printing are as good as the ones obtained from screen printing. Needless to say, it is way better than the quality produced by heat transfers.

Here’s a little brief about Inkjet Printers

Inkjet printers are quite cost-effective as compared to laser printers. Also, they give a bright and vibrant output. If you can accept a little less professional edge for low costs and brighter colour, Inkjet printer might be your way to go. The only drawback of this kind of printer is that their ink is a little expensive.

D. Embroidered printing

It is an ancient printing technique whose origins go back to the 5th century BC. Embroidered printing is one of the most unconventional ways of printing. This is because unlike other printing methods, it uses a sewing machine that sews the design in the t-shirt.

Lots of polo t-shirts are printed using this method. Embroidery printing is also used to create corporate t-shirts.

This kind of printing is still preferred by many as the design looks quite original, professional and elegant when printed on the t-shirt. It also lasts quite long and doesn’t come off easily.

Need help in setting up your store with a t-shirt designer tool? Visit the tool page to know more about it.

You can also get in touch with our technical team to know everything about it.

Once you have decided to venture into the T-shirt printing business , you need to buy blank T-shirts for printing. Do a little bit of research and find out about a manufacturer who can provide you with good quality blank t-shirts for printing.

Garment distributors also help the new business owners to go through different T-shirt options to find the t-shirts within their price range. After a couple of orders and production, you will be able to decide on the price points and other factors for your t-shirts.

Here are a couple of things you should remember:

• The quality of the product. If a pattern fades or cracks, or a t- shirt shrinks, or rips, fans won’t come back for repurchase.
• Focus on the material of the blanket-shirt, printing technique , and prepare your design file.

Make sure you maintain a good relationship with your supplier as you lose time and money from your production schedule with every imperfect shirt.

Think about the physical characteristics of the material you will use to print. T-shirt designs have to be printed on one of the three sizes. (Small, medium and large).

The design should be such that it fits to the centre of the t-shirts and should not cross to the collar, sleeves or hem. So if the design is created at different places on the t-shirt, it should remain abstract and not get affected by these variables.

There is a huge variety of ink available in the market. These include high density ink (meant for textured and dimensional look), gel ink (which is thick and rubbery) and foil ink (meant for shiny embossing). You can choose the one which is most compatible with your fabric and goes with your customer requirements.

Once you are done deciding the type of printing method and t-shirt printing material, you need to set up a printing infrastructure or a facility wherein printing can take place without any glitches.

It is advisable to have a printing studio which is equipped with well-maintained printers along with a coating and a finishing unit.

Also, the printer should be able to print a number of designs on different quality fabrics. This is because the customers who demand for printed t-shirts also might demand for customized caps, bags, jerseys etc. Here’s how you should go about the printing process:

• Decide on the colour schemes : If you decide on your color palette first, you can take care of the details which are overlooked by the time it is too late. When working on an apparel order from scratch, it doesn’t matter whether you pick the garment first or the ink. But there definitely is a link between the two which will be visible in the final print. So you can simulate different inks and check garment color combinations by making mock-ups designs.
• Save a copy for yourself and another for print : Once you have received the final design from your customers, you need to save an editable file for yourself, so that changes can be made later if need be. If there are issues in your printer due to the size or resolution of the file, you might have to go back and make changes or ask your customer to do the same. In a worst case scenario, they might have to start from scratch.
• Print the t-shirt : Last but not the least, you can print the t-shirt using whichever method you are comfortable with using the printer of your choice. It is better to hire professionals to do the job if you are not comfortable with the printing process. After printing the t-shirt you have to cure the garment and set the ink in the tshirts to ensure maximum washability.

Once the t-shirt order is placed by your customers, it has to be delivered to them on time. You can ensure a smooth delivery process in 3 ways:

• You can take care of your orders independently with the help of your team and labour force.
• Sell your product through the drop-shipper who can take care of your orders.
• Liaise with a logistics company that can take care of your warehousing and fulfillment.

There are several advantages of packing and shipping your own t-shirt orders as it is cost-effective and flexible. So the companies that have just started with their business often choose to take care of their own logistics.

However, if your business flourishes and you have money to outsource, you can opt for third-party warehousing. You will be able to find several companies who will take care of storage, packing and shipping of your orders.

Last but not the least, you can finally start selling some t-shirts! Invite your customers to unleash their creativity and encourage them to draw the designs to the best of their abilities. Ensure that the designer tool is user friendly and the checkout process is simple. This will lessen the number of cart abandonments. Print the right designs on the right t-shirts and bring a satisfactory smile on the face of your customers.

If you are serious about setting up an online t-shirt printing store, you don’t have to have the knowledge of programming or coding. All you need as an artistic streak and a good sense of fashion. Also, with a business like this, you can start with limited supplies, funding and equipment. There are several companies out there that can provide you with a ready made set up for your online t-shirt printing business . Are you ready to print?

Start marketing about your upcoming businesses through flyers, pamphlets and business cards with QR Code . Hand them out to nearest organizations, businesses and schools.

• Word of mouth promotion is also very important if you want the message about your printing business to spread amongst the locals.
• The right branding can establish your business as a trustworthy leader in your space. For that your logo and website will often be the first thing new customers browse for T-shirts. Hence, make sure to make a good impression.
• Wear your merchandise and step out. Click pictures, talk to people and put them on instagram. It makes a lot of difference.
• You can also give away printed t-shirts bearing the logo of your company. Don’t be hesitant to sponsor events, give online ads and use other paid marketing tactics.
• Conduct online polls and surveys on these channels and post consistently to get people to follow you.

Enable t-shirt customization in your store to attract and engage your customers for 2X business

growth! Understand how it works for your business here.

According to the latest statistics, eCommerce sales are likely to surpass $740 billion by 2023. With more businesses getting online, competition is getting stiffer.

The above steps might provide a detailed guide on how to start t-shirt printing business, but they can’t guarantee a successful venture.

To stay ahead of others, you have to take all your business constraints into consideration – get the right vendors for web-to-print solutions , printing machines and t-shirts. You will also have to figure out the most cost effective way to get the t-shirts printed and delivered to your customers. And once all those are in place you have to figure out a winning marketing strategy to get more traffic. But if you do all these right, then there’s no stopping you from achieving success.

All product and company names are trademarks™, registered® or copyright© trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.

Is T-shirt printing business profitable?

With the global demand for custom t-shirt printing expected to hit 10 billion USD by 2025 , starting a well planned custom T-shirt printing business is for sure a profitable idea.

What tools are needed to start a Tshirt business?

To make your Tshirt Business stand out you need following tools:

• All the required tools for printing: heat press, printers, cutter, emulsion, transfer paper, inks and dryer
• eCommerce Store to sell your products
• T-Shirt Designer Tool for offering customization

Can my customers design their own Tshirts on my website?

Yes, with the help of a T-Shirt Designer Tool your customers can personalize t-shirts on their own.

Can I customize the PrintXpand T-shirt design tool according to my branding guidelines?

Yes, our team of experts will personalize the tool and design it specifically as per your business requirements.

Can I integrate the PrintXpand T-shirt design tool on Shopify?

Yes, our tool can be seamlessly integrated with any eCommerce platform including Shopify.

How much does the PrintXpand T-shirt design tool cost?

Charges of the tool depend upon the unique needs of your business. Take a personalized free demo now to know more.

After the huge success of Biztech’s other products, founder Maulik Shah ventured out to make a web-to-print software solution, and thus, PrintXpand was born. His visionary ideas and innovative power have always been the cornerstone of the success of the company at every step. Maulik enjoys bird watching, playing cricket and is an avid reader.

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10 Step Guide for Setting up a Custom Tshirt Business in the USA

The manufacturing of custom t-shirts has become popular in the United States in the recent times, making the business a viable venture. Here’ a step-by-step guide focusing on the essentials if you’re looking to start your own custom tshirt business in the USA. Look no further, we’ve got you covered!

Get 10 steps closer to setting up your own custom tshirt business:

1. market overview and research.

The custom tshirt printing market in the USA has demonstrated a remarkable growth pattern, and the forthcoming forecasts also state the same. Estimates place the size of the U.S. market for custom tshirt printing at USD 857.5 million in 2023, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.8% from 2024 to 2030. The market is expanding due to the growing need for custom T-shirt printing, which is needed to produce personalized clothes including t-shirts, jerseys, and sweatshirts. Additionally, consumers’ preference for fashionable clothing and one-of-a-kind items is driving up demand for custom printing.

2. Business planning

A business plan, encompassing your goals, target customers, competitor assessment and finance forecast must be sketched out. Your business plan should be a strategic guide to the business and would be helpful in mapping where funding or investment is required.

3. Finding the right manufacturer for your custom tshirt business

It is crucial to tap in the right resources for your business in order to find the right manufacturer for your needs. You can leverage online platforms such as Maker’s Row that will connect you with the best ones out there. Referrals from the industry can also go a long way and help you get one step closer to your dream venture.

Compare aspects of fabric including the quality of the material used, as well as the density when choosing your fabric. Research thoroughly and get to know who the right supplier could be. For any custom t-shirt business to be successful it is paramount to bring the best fabric to the table. Also, consider hiring professional designers to deliver nothing but the best!

4. Legal considerations

It is crucial to incorporate your business, i.e., to come up with your company’s legal framework. Discuss with an attorney to find out the right legal structure of the business to start, whether it is a sole trader, LLC, or corporation business. Also, ensure that all state, local and federal laws are met this include acquiring the necessary licenses and permits.

5. Printing methods for your custom tshirt business

There are several methods of printing that can be used on the t-shirts depending on the needs of an individual and company and the drawbacks of each are discussed below. Invest the time and effort in studying each method to find out which one will most likely suit your business the most. Common techniques include:

•         Screen printing: Perfect for ordering quantities and bright images.
•         Direct-to-garment (DTG) printing: For detailed and full-colour designs, relatively smaller number of   T-shirts to be printed.
•         Heat transfer: Flexible to use and inexpensive especially when compared to large-scale production.
•         Sublimation: Ideal for multi colored printing, this range incorporates the use of polyester fabric.

6. Setting up your online store

Consequently, in the current fast growing business world that is triggered by technological advancement, the use of internet as a marketing tool is paramount in extending the market space. You may use Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, etc to get an appropriate online shop for your required niche. All these tools are easy to use, have customization options, and include features such as payment gateways. 

7. Website design

The basic requirements for any website are that it should be aesthetic, easily navigable and should be designed in such a way that it can easily adapt to any mobile devices. Make sure that your customer is able to see your product through appropriate photos and detailed descriptions. Ensure that the respective checkout system is easy to use to reduce instances of cart abandonment while increasing the possibility of making a sale.

8. Product description

Write effective product descriptions that would allow people to appreciate the peculiarities of your t-shirts. Describe in detail the aspects such as fabric type, fit, washing and other care directions, and the peculiarities that distinguish it from other similar goods should be incorporated. Pick an appealing tone to spread out the value proposition of your products.

 9. Marketing and promotion

The primary way for enhancing organic visibility of your custom tshirt business is by appropriately configuring your website and leveraging Social Media platforms.

Increase organic traffic by improving the visibility of your website and the specific product listings. Keyword research involves determining the specific words that users type into search engines and adding these into the content on the website, the products sold, and the meta tags respectively.

It goes without saying that marketing and promotion of products on social networking sites include social media marketing. Publish your designs on Social Networking Sites, including Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, for the purpose of attracting potential customers. Attract people’s attention, as you advertise your products or services to the specific audience and potentially collaborate with celebrities, fashion bloggers, or other popular accounts on social media platforms. You can also always create engaging social media posts for the potential clients to tap in!

10. Setting up the logistics

It is also important to organize an effective order processing system so that customers’ orders could be fulfilled promptly. Inventory management could be carried out by using Inventory Management software to update stocks and orders automatically. Also, let’s not miss out on the other key elements for your custom tshirt business:

• Shipping and Delivery: Connect with good shipping companies to ensure that reasonable and efficient delivery services are given. Provide a variety of delivery options since customers prefer a specific way of delivery and ensure that a tracking system of the orders is provided.
• Returns and Exchanges: Policies and standards should also be developed through which one can make the buyers trust by providing them a fair rate of return policy. This should be communicated well on your website and there should be proper channel to follow when customers require to return or exchange any product.

Starting a custom t-shirt business in the USA constitutes a high potential for success in an ever-emerging industry. So, it is eminent for the entrepreneurs to emphasize on quality products, the distinctiveness of designs, and promotion of the clothes to target customers and meet the increa sing need for personalized clothing. With planning, accuracy, and focus on the client’s needs, a custom t-shirt business can be successful in this highly saturated market.

If you’re wondering where to go for dependable manufacturer who share your passion  for sustainability and high quality? Look no further, as Maker’s Row has got you covered!

Maker’s Row is a marketplace that brings together premium manufacturers and brands, so it has never been easier to turn great ideas into reality. Maker’s Row boasts of a vast network of high-quality and reliable manufacturers who are willing to work with new and established brands seeking for sustainable solutions for production or startups that want to launch their first clothing line. So, visit Maker’s Row today for an opportunity to identify the right production partner for you!

Meet Awnica, a dynamic content strategist with a keen eye for detail and a passion for crafting social media content. Beyond her professional pursuits, Awnica is passionate about traveling, which helps her gain perspective and creativity for content creation. She draws inspiration from her adventures around the globe, infusing her work with fresh ideas and unique insights that connect with audiences on a personal level. Awnica's blend of strategic thinking and her love for exploration makes her a valuable asset in the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing.

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Tshirt Design and Sales Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Fashion Industry » T-shirt Printing

Are you about starting a T-shirt Business online ? If YES, here is a complete sample T-shirt printing business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

Starting a T – shirt design and sales business is of course one of the many businesses that can be started in any part of the world and the owner of the business can still penetrate the world market once the design is good and it meets a need in the fashion market; everybody whether old or young have need for clothes most especially T – shirts for casual wears.

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Entrepreneurs who intend starting a clothing line business can start their own T – shirt design and sale business from their home on a small scale and service a customized market or big time investors can open a clothing factory and dominant both the U.S. market and the international market.

The bottom line is always that there is always a ready market for manufacturers of clothes. All a designer need to do is to ensure that he or she carves a niche for his business and they work hard to build their brand name to be accepted beyond his / her city of operations.

T – Shirt design and sales business just like most businesses, thrives on creativity, branding (media hype and what have you) and good business skills. Any aspiring entrepreneur can start a T – shirt design and sales business, as long as they are creative, they can get people to promote their brand and they have good business skills.

The starting size of this type of business doesn’t really matter as long as the business is built on the right foundation and with the right combination of skills and talents; after all, a world renowned clothing line – Coco Chanel started from a little hat shop in a street in Paris and today they are all over the world.

One thing is certain, once you are creative, you will be able to come out with a unique style. In the clothing line industry, you signature is your style. Another important factor that counts in this line of business is the brand name and perhaps the logo of the clothing line.

If you look at the leaders in the clothing line business you will realize that they deliberately choose a name and create a logo that best communicate how they want people to perceive them. Once you are able to secure a good name for your T – shirt design and sales business and then hire experts (graphic artists) to help you create a compelling logo; if you don’t mind, you can follow the trend in the industry.

A Sample T-Shirt Design & Sales Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

The fashion industry is indeed a highly thriving industry all over the globe for obvious reasons and T – shirt design and sales is a subset of the industry. There are various clothing label; some are national brand and some others are international brands.

The fashion industry, especially cloth / T – shirt making business was not as easy as it is now; before now, clothing was handmade based on demand by individual. In the 20 th century after the invention of sewing machines (industrial sewing machines) it became pretty much easier to produce T – shirts en mass.

Technology indeed is responsible for opening up the clothing industry. T – Shirts can now go through factory system of production and still maintain good quality and standard sizes. With that, it is easier for retailers to order and sell T – shirts at fix prices in department stores and boutique et al without stress.

The fashion industry is a creation of the modern age and fashion style changes with rapid astonishment and in most cases people go back to the past to re – introduce old fashion. The fashion industry is indeed a rapidly changing industry; fashion trend will always come and go at different season.

The bottom line is that successful clothing labels (T – shirt designers) have a thorough grasp of the market and they know how to meet their needs or cajole them to accept what they have to offer; they are always creative, flexible and ready to either detect the trend or move with the trend.

No doubt, a retailer or wholesale distributor of T – shirts can order for various sizes of clothes from anywhere in the world and sell in his or her country without even visiting the production factory. As a matter of fact, any clothing line based business is one business that has the capacity to survive regardless of what is happening in the economy of the world.

Economic downturn or even a galloping inflation does not in any way affect the sale of clothes; people can’t do without wearing clothes. For instance, you can’t find even the homeless people in America not wearing clothes.

From time immemorial, the fashion industry is known to be one of the largest employers of labor (both directly and indirectly) in the united states of America.

Some of the leading labels in the fashion industry are from the United States of America. Although, some clothing labels outsource the production of their clothes to other parts of the world; predominantly Asian countries, just in a bid to cut cost.

Some cities of the world are considered to be fashion hubs; they dictate what happens in the fashion industry. The cities are Paris, Milan, New York City, Tokyo and London. These cities are known to host fashion exhibitions; designers who want to play at the global stage ensures that they exhibit their clothing collections to fashion enthusiast during fashion week in any of the cities mentioned above.

As a T – shirt designer, once your brand / label is accepted in any of the fashion capitals of the world, it won’t be too long before you become a globally recognized clothing label – brand.

2. Executive Summary

Richards Peal™ is an international clothing line with a bias for designers T – shirts that will be located in Beverly Hills, California.

We have been able to secure a large warehouse in a strategic part of town that will be converted to our T – shirt production factory. We were able to out rightly buy over the facility with the help of our bank and support from family and friends.

Richards Peal™ will be involved in the production of T – shirts and other casual cum sport clothes, and the likes, that will meet the needs of male, female, young adult and children. Our business goal is to become one of the leading T – shirt designers in the United States and we will make sure that every T – shirt or clothes that leaves our factory can favorable compete with the best brands in the industry.

Our workers are going to be selected from a pool of talented T – shirt designers in and around Beverly Hills, California and also from any part of the world as the business grows.

We will make sure that we take all the members of our workforce especially T – shirt designers through the required trainings that will position them to meet the expectation of the company and to compete with leading T – shirt designers in the United States and throughout the globe.

We have put plans in place to build a state of the art clothing line production factory in Beverly Hills, California, which is exactly why we have entered agreement with some manufacturers of sewing machines to produce customized sewing machines for us that will give us the quality of clothes that we want to be known for. Our factory will be well equipped and we will ensure that we follow the trend in the industry.

Richards Peal™ will manufacture high quality T – shirts for both the high end customers and also for low income earners; we want to become one of the people’s choice whereever our T – shirts are put up for sale. Apart from mass production of T – shirts, we will also be engaged in customized production of T – shirts for customers based on their demands.

We are quite aware that there are some clients such as sporting clubs, political parties, schools, churches and organizations that would need quality customized T – shirts for specific purposes and we are well prepared to deliver as requested.

• Ownership Structure/Founder’s Biography

Richards Peal™ is owned by Richard Crespo – Pablo and family. Richards Crespo – Pablo is an Italian – American fashion enthusiast with over two decades of experience in the fashion industry. He will occupy the position of the chief executive officer (CEO) / President of the organization.

Richard Crespo – Pablo has Degree in Fashion Designing from Milan School of Fashion and also an MBA from Harvard. He is a well – respected figure in the fashion industry, prior to starting Richards Peal™ he was the creative director in one of the world’s leading fashion label that is based in Milan, Italy.

He will run the company with two of his children and also some protégées (core T- shirts designers and market and sales experts) of his that he has trained over his working years as a fashion icon in both Italy and the United States of America.

3. Our Products and Services

Richards Peal™ was established with the aim of producing high quality and highly fashionable T – shirts for men, women, young adults and children. We know that quality is a key factor that will help us sell our brand which is why we have but in place a competent quality assurance team that will ensure that all our T – shirts meet and even surpass our customers’ expectations.

We will work hard to ensure that Richards Peal™ is not just accepted nationally in the united states of America, but also in other parts of the world.

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision is to establish a T – shirt design and sales company whose brand will not only be accepted in the United States of America, but also in other parts of the world.
• Our mission is to establish a T – shirt design and sales company that will design and produce high quality T – shirts and casual clothes for male, female, young adults and children; a T – shirt label that will compete favorably with international T – shirt labels like Ralph Lauren, Polo by Ralph, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Gap, Lacoste, Nike, Levi Straus, Adidas, Diesel, Nautical, Puma, Prada and Rebel (Children’s T – shirts) et al at the global stage.

Our Business Structure

Richards Peal™ T – shirt design and Sales Company, is a company that intends opening small, but hope to grow big in order to compete favorably with leading T – shirt design and sales labels in the fashion industry both in the United States and on a global stage.

We are aware of the significance of building a solid business structure that can support the picture of the kind of business we want to own. This is why we are committed to only hire the best hands that we can attract.

Despite the fact that Richards Peal™ T – shirt designs and sales company will start operation from a single factory in Beverly, California, we have a holistic view of the kind of business we want to build; we want to grow to the level where we will build factories in Thailand and China.

Our T – shirt brand is going to be specifically designed to penetrate not just the United States market, but also the world’s fashion industry.

We want people of all walks of life across the globe to someday put on our T – shirts; we want to see our T – shirts being worn in Paris, in London, in Tokyo, in Lagos, in Madrid, in Johannesburg, in Buenos Aries, in Sao Paulo, in Port Elizabeth, in Dubai and all over the nooks and crannies of the world.

At Richards Peal™ T – shirts design and sales company, we will guarantee that we hire people that are qualified, hardworking, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stake holders (the owners, workforce, and customers).

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company. In view of the above, we have decided to hire qualified and competent hands to occupy the following positions;

Chief Executive Officer (Owner), General Manager, Human Resources and Admin Manager, Sales and Marketing Executive, Accountant, Fashion Designers (With Bias in T – shirts design and casual clothes), Quality Control Officer, Tailors, and Factory Workers

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities.
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization

General Manager:

• Develops strategic plan by studying technological and financial opportunities; presenting assumptions; recommending objectives.
• Accomplishes subsidiary objectives by establishing plans, budgets, and results measurements; allocating resources; reviewing progress; making mid-course corrections.
• Coordinates efforts by establishing procurement, production, marketing, field, and technical services policies and practices; coordinating actions with corporate staff.
• Builds company image by collaborating with customers, government, community organizations, and employees; enforcing ethical business practices.
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for recruitment
• Responsible for payment of salaries
• Maintains quality service by establishing and enforcing organization standards.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; benchmarking state-of-the-art practices; participating in professional societies.
• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.
• Responsible for managing the daily activities in the factory
• Responsible for supervising all the employees
• Responsible for planning sales, monitoring inventory, selecting the merchandise, and writing and pricing orders to vendors
• Ensures that the organization operates within stipulated budget.

Human Resources and Admin Manager

• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Defining job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carrying out staff induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Responsible for arranging travel, meetings and appointments
• Oversee the smooth running of the daily office and factory activities.

Sales and Marketing Manager

• Manage external research and coordinates all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
• Models demographic information and analyzes the volumes of transactional data generated by customer purchases
• Creates new markets cum businesses for the organization
• Empowers and motivates the sales team to meet and surpass agreed targets

Accountant / Cashier:

• Receives payments on behalf of the organization
• Issues receipt to customers
• Prepares financial report at the end of every working week
• Handles all financial transaction on behalf of the company
• Interfaces with the organization’s banks
• Responsible for payment of tax, levies and utility bills
• Any other duty as assigned by the CEO / store manager

Fashion Designers (with bias in T – shirt designs)

• Responsible for designing T – shirts and casual clothes) to meet the latest trend
• Stays abreast with the dynamics of the fashion industry with key interest in T – shirts and casual clothes
• Research and advice the organization on style, size and other trendy fashion statements.

Quality Control Officer

• Ensures that all the T – shirts and casual clothes in our production line meets the required quality before they are released in the market
• Make certain that production and manufacturing lines perform efficiently, coordinate employee efforts, and facilitate communications between management and production departments.
• Devises ways of improving the manufacturing process to ensure higher-quality and durable T – shirts
• Ensures that manufacturing production lines run smoothly and generate a consistently suitable output for their employers
• Ensures that the organization work in line with international best practices
• Handles any other responsibility as assigned by the general manager

Tailors (Industrial Sewing Machine Operators)

• Responsible for sewing T – shirts and casual clothes as instructed by the supervisor / fashion designer
• Responsible for cutting clothing materials to fit the expected design and size
• Handles any other duty as assigned by the general manager

Factory Workers:

• Responsible for ironing and packaging of T – shirts and casual clothes
• Responsible for movement of equipment and raw materials as required
• Ensures that toiletries and supplies don’t run out of stock
• Cleans both the interior and exterior of the factory, machines and other equipment
• Handles any other duty as assigned by the general / floor manager.

6. SWOT Analysis

Richards Peal™ intends to build a world class T – shirts design and sales business that will manufacture T – shirts and casual clothes for men, women, young adult and children. We will be based in Beverly, California, but we will not restrict the sale of our T – shirts and casual clothes to the U.S market alone, we will sell our product in other parts of the world.

In other to achieve this in a highly competitive industry like the fashion industry, we must ensure that we critically look through our strength, our weaknesses, the opportunities available in the industry and the threats that we will are likely going to face.

Because of the nature of the business we are involved in and the brand we want to build, we were able to hire the services of an HR and Business consultant with bias in fashion and retailing to help us conduct a thorough SWOT analysis and to help us create a Business model that will help us achieve our business goals and objectives.

This is the summary of the SWOT analysis that was conducted for Richards Peal™ T – shirt Design and Sales Company;

Perhaps one of our strongest strength could be attributed to the quality of employees and the latest machines and equipment that we have in our T – shirt production factory. Our chief executive officer, Mr. Richards Crespo – Pablo will be bringing his vast wealth of experience to the table and that is indeed a huge positive for Richards Peal™ T – Shirts Design and Sales Company

A major weakness that may count against us is the fact that we are a new T – shirt design and sales company and we don’t have the financial capacity to compete with multi – billion dollars fashion label like Ralph Lauren, Polo by Ralph, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Gap, Lacoste, Nike, Levi Straus, Adidas, Diesel, Nautical, Puma, Prada and Rebel (Children’s T – shirts) et al when it comes to controlling the market or detecting the trend.

• Opportunities:

One thing is certain, whether good or bad- people will always look for clothes to wear and on the average they go for T – shirts simply because it is cheap. Besides, the opportunity for clothing line to sell their clothes is massive and we hope to leverage on these opportunities to sell our T – shirts.

Just like any other business, one of the major threats that we are likely going to face is economic downturn. It is a fact that economic downturn affects purchasing power. Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of a new T – shirts design and sales company in same location where our target market exist who may want to adopt same business model like us.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

In recent time, the fashion industry relies more on mass market sales for them to make the kind of income that will sustain the business.

The mass market takes care of a wide range of customers that cuts across both the rich and the poor. Most of the new clothing lines that are trying to catch – up with the market often produce ready-to-wear clothes using trends set by leading fashion labels.

What they do is that, they try to see the direction of the trend as established by renowned fashion brand before producing their own versions of the original look by making use of cheaper fabrics and simpler production processes which can easily be done by machines.

They can comfortably sell such product at a cheaper price to the masses who can’t afford to by the original which is often way too expensive for the common man.

T – Shirt designers and fashion designers now leverage on the runway – fashion expo to promote and attract market for their products. Any fashion designer who is recognized in Paris, Milan, New York City, or London can comfortably become a global recognized fashion label.

Small start – up T – shirt designs and sales companies leverage on small markets such as companies, churches, schools, organized groups and sport fans to sell their T – shirts. This group of people can order large numbers of customized T – shirts for special purposes.

For example, a political party enters into a business deal with a T – shirt design and sales company to help them produce shirts to be used by their supporters during political rallies and campaigns.

8. Our Target Market

No doubt the clothing line industry has the widest range of customers; everybody on planet earth wears clothes howbeit different designs, quality and style. In view of that, we have created strategies that will enable us reach out to people that cut across different classes in the society; we will produce T – shirts and casual clothes for male, female, young adults and children.

We have conducted our market research and survey and we will ensure that our T – shirt label is well accepted in the market place. These are the different group of people that we will be producing T – shirts and casual clothes for;

• Young Adult
• Corporate Executives
• Sports Men and Women (sport clubs)
• Churches (Customized church robes)
• Political Parties

Our competitive advantage

Our competitive advantage as a T – shirt design and sales company is the fact that we are going to produce T – shirts and casual clothes for a wide range of people; we will produce for both the rich and the poor.

Another competitive advantage for Richards Peal™ T – shirts Design and Sales Company is the quality and robust wealth of experience of our management team. The management team comprises of professionals who have worked with some of the leading international brand in the fashion industry.

Our latest machines and equipment also count towards our advantage especially when it comes to competing with other T – shirt designs and sales companies within the same category that we operate. The quality of every T – shirts and casual clothes that comes out of our production line must be certified okay before they are released to the market.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Richards Pearl™ T – shirt Design and Sales Company will be involved in the production of high quality T – shirts and casual clothes that will meet the needs of male, female, young adult and children and that will be our major sources of income.

In future, we hope to open a standard fashion design school in Beverly, California. A school that will meet and surpass the needs of aspiring fashion designers in and around California. We will also go into fashion consulting business as a means of generating additional income for the business.

10. Sales Forecast

It is important to state that our sales forecast is based on the data gathered during our feasibility studies, market survey and also some of the assumptions readily available on the field.

It is important to state that people buy T – shirts and casual clothes for different purposes and clothes sell all through the calendar year albeit different designs for different seasons / weather. If it is winter, the demand for winter clothes will increase and if it is summer, the demand for summer clothes will increase.

Below are the sales projections that we were able to come up with for the first three years of operations;

• First Year-: $ 500,000
• Second Year-: $1,000,000
• Third Year-: $2,000,000

N.B : This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the clothing line (fashion) industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic downturn and there won’t be any T – shirts design and sales company that will adopt our unique business model . Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Owing to the fact that we are a new T – shirts design and sales company that want to take on the international market, we have decided to model some of the leading international clothing manufacturing brand. We will ensure that we interact with our target market (customers) and sample their opinions to know what they want before mass – producing T – shirts and casual clothes.

It is easier to penetrate the market when what you produce is exactly what the people wanted. The fashion industry is indeed a very competitive industry, every T – shirt designer and clothing line must ensure that they are always on their toe and in touch with the trend if indeed they want to continue to be in business.

We are aware of this fact which is why we hired business consultant with bias in marketing and sales to help us craft a winning marketing and sales strategy. In summary, Richards Pearls™ T – Shirts Design and Sales Company will adopt the following sales and marketing approach to promote and sell our T – shirts and casual clothes;

• Introduce our T – shirt label by sending introductory letters to churches, schools, corporate organizations, political parties, groups, and other establishment that wears T – shirts and casual clothes.
• Attend fashion expos in the U.S and in other parts of the world
• Organize our own fashion show; in order for us to display our designs / clothes
• Advertise our clothing label in newspapers, TV and radio stations
• Canvass celebrities to wear and help us promote our clothing label
• List our business on yellow pages ads / local directories
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Engage in direct marketing
• Leverage on word of mouth marketing (referrals)

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Publicity and advertising as it relates to the fashion industry involves being in touch with the organizations target market and being very creative and proactive. Beyond every reasonable doubt the media plays a very big role when it comes to helping a clothing label gain international significance.

The social media also plays an important role in modern day fashion publicity and advertisement; it gives fashion label the ability to reach out to a wide range of customers all over the world within a short period of time and of course at a very cheaper price when compared to other publicity and advertising platforms.

Any T – shirt Design and Sales Company that wants to take on the market must be deliberate when it comes to building brand awareness and credibility. Most often than not, big – time clothing labels ensures that they create great hype whenever they are about to release any unique design from their stable.

Social media, such as blogs, micro blogs, podcasts, photo and video sharing sites are some of the tools fashion designers leverage on to promote their labels.

Some of the preferred social media platforms that are used in the fashion industry are Instagram, Tumblr, WordPress, Facebook, twitter, YouTube and other sharing sites. Here are the platforms we intend leveraging on to promote and advertise Richards Pearls™ T – Shirt Design and Sales Company;

• Place adverts on both print (newspapers and fashion magazines) and electronic (radio and TV) media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community programs like school fashion shows et al
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Tumblr, WordPress, Facebook, twitter, YouTube and other sharing sites.et al to promote our brand
• Attend local and intentional fashion expos
• Organize our own fashion show
• Promote our clothing label on our own official websites and online fashion community
• Build relationship with celebrities especially in the entertainment industry and sports to endorse of clothing label.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Richards Pearls™ T – Shirts Design and Sales Company will make sure that we design and manufactured T – shirts and casual clothes that will meet the financial capacity of different classes of people in different parts of the world. The prices for all our T – shirts and casual clothes will be affordable and at the same time competitive with what is obtainable in the fashion cum clothing line industry.

• Payment Options

Our payment policy is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different people prefer different payment options as it suits them. Here are the payment options that will be available in every of our outlets where our T – shirts and casual clothes will be sold;

• Payment by cash
• Payment via Point of Sale (POS) Machine
• Payment via online bank transfer (online payment portal)
• Payment via Mobile money

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will help us achieve our payment plans without little or no difficulties.

Equipment & Tools

These are the machines, equipment and tools that we would need to start our T – shirts design and sales business;

• Industrial sewing machines
• Pattern makers for crafting designs.
• Women and men dress forms used for garment building.
• Hole punchers
• Straight and curved rulers
• Measuring tapes
• Notchers for marking seams.
• Dotted pattern paper.
• Sewing machine needles
• Hand sewing needles.
• Sketching books.
• Drapings tools.
• Dressmaking Stick pins
• Style tapes
• Fabric shears
• Soft lead pencil
• Marking pen
• Pattern plotter.
• Pattern making software.
• CAD tools for designs
• Digital drawing tools
• Digitizer board for pattern scanning.
• Heat transfer machines for T-shirts.
• Print tables.
• Labels and Tags.
• Packaging materials
• Industrial pressing irons
• Supply of fabrics

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

These are the key areas where we will spend our start – up capital on;

• The Total Fee for Registering the Business in Beverly, California – $750.
• Legal expenses for obtaining licenses (Health department license and business license) and permits (Fire department permit, Air and water pollution control permit, and Sign permit et al) – $4,500.
• Budget for publicity and advertisement of our T – shirt brand – $50,000
• Cost for hiring Business Consultant – $2,000.
• Insurance (general liability, theft, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $30,800.
• Cost of accounting software, CRM software and Payroll Software – $3,000
• Cost for acquiring facility for our production factory – $500,000.
• Cost for facility remodeling – $50,000.
• Cost for purchasing initial supply of fabrics, racks, hangers and packaging materials – ( $100,000 )
• Phone and Utilities (gas, sewer, water and electric) deposits – ( $3,500 ).
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $40,000
• The cost for Start-up inventory – $15,000
• Cost for sewing machines and other sewing equipment and tools – $250,000
• The cost for the purchase of furniture and gadgets (Printers, Telephone, vacuum cleaner, tables and chairs et al) – $30,000.
• The cost of Launching a Website – $600
• The cost for our grand opening party – $5,500
• Miscellaneous supplies – $10,000

We would need an estimate of $3million to successfully launch our T – shirt design and sales business in Beverly, California.

Generating Funding / Startup Capital for Richards Pearls™ T – Shirts Designs and Sales Company

Richards Pearls™ T – shirts designs and sales company is a private business that is solely owned and financed by Richards Crespo – Pablo and family. They do not intend to welcome any external business partner which is why he has decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital to 3 major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

• The Chief Executive Officer who happens to be the lead partner will contribute 20 percent of the start – up capital from his personal savings and other sources
• 30% of the capital will be generated from other family members
• 50% of the capital will be sourced from banks as a loan facility

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If any of these factors is missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

Richards Pearls™ T – shirts designs and sales company will make sure that all the factors listed above are reinforced on a regular basis and also we will engage in continuous capacity building of our workforce.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more. This will enable us secure their loyalty and services for a long period of time.

We will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that staff welfare is well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and re – training of our workforce is at the top burner of all that we do at Richards Pearls™ T – shirts designs and sales company.

Check List / Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
• Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit licenses (Health department license and business license, Fire department permit, Air and water pollution control permit, and Sign permit et al): Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Acquiring facility and remodeling the facility: In Progress
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating capital from business partners / investors:  In Progress
• Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of sewing machines and sewing equipment / tools: In Progress
• Purchase of furniture and gadgets (Printers, Telephone, vacuum cleaner, tables and chairs et al): In Progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: Completed
• Creating Awareness for the business both online and in the neighborhood: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
• Opening party / launching party planning: In Progress

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Since 1993, Big Fish Co.'s main focus is to reel in your brand's ultimate potential. Through high-quality screen printing, embroidery, engraving, detailed promotional products and so much more, we are constantly delivering unparalleled value. Our customer service and talented team are always striving to help your business stand out in a sea of competitors!  

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Experienced local in-house quality printing since 1993! Screen printing, Direct to Garment, Sublimation & More!

Let us stitch out your job small or large! From simple names to custom logos, we want to give your project a professional seamless look!

This is your sign to create the perfect public advertisement. From Banners, Yard Signs, Interior and window graphics to Realtor or Contractor signs, we can help create a quality solution!

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1915 62nd Ave. N St. Petersburg, FL 33702 Phone: 727-525-5010 Hours: Mon - Fri, 9am - 5:30pm