How can I start my own t-shirt business from home?

Eileen Conant

November 24, 2020

t-shirt business from home
Photo by Aden Ardenrich from Pexels

If you have a Facebook page or Twitter account, you have seen various advertisements for funny t-shirts scrolling by. You may have thought that you would be able to think of something just as clever. If you think you don’t have the time or resources to do something like that, think again. All you really need is a computer, an idea and some extra time to start your t-shirt business.

How Online T-Shirt Stores Work

You used to need a printer or airbrushing equipment to make a t-shirt. You also needed many t-shirts and a place to sell them. The internet has given birth to a new way to sell t-shirts.

Print-on-demand (POD) companies will print your shirts as people order them. These companies have warehouses full of every shirt style; they can also print your design on masks, book bags, cups, and even socks. You can also purchase an Epson garment printer to print at home.

Getting Started

The first thing you need to do when you start a t-shirt business is to develop a design. Some of the most popular t-shirts reference a movie or book. If you want to use a quote, ensure it is not trademarked.

Inspirational thoughts are always popular. If your friends tell you that you should be a life coach, you may be able to think up a phrase that will resonate with people. If you were the class clown, you may be able to think up a funny phrase that will work well on a shirt.

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You should keep your design simple and remember to use a font that is easy to read. You should only offer your shirt in one or two styles. Black tee shirts with white lettering tend to be the best sellers. 

Create a Website

Many different hosts will allow you to put your website on them. Some are free, and others will charge you a small fee. You can connect your website to that of the POD’s.

Decide How Much to Charge

Now that your website is up and your t-shirt is designed, you will want to figure out how much to charge for your product. The average novelty t-shirt cost between $20 and $25.

Social media is the best way to advertise your shirt. Obviously, you will want to post links to your webpage on your Facebook page and Twitter feed.

However, it should not stop there. You can join groups on Facebook that might have members who are interested in buying your shirt. If you make a shirt promoting a particular politician, you should join a Facebook group where the members would likely vote for that person.

If you have a funny t-shirt, you can #comedy and other such words or phrases on your Twitter feed. Creating a Pinterest page is also useful. You can create a different page for each category of t-shirt that you have.

You can pay for advertising if you want to get your T-shirt out to a wider variety of people. However, in the case of t-shirts, it is always best to market your product directly to those who would be interested in buying a particular shirt.

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Tee shirts have been a fun and inexpensive way to let people know who you are for years. A t-shirt business is a good way to earn some extra money and have fun as well. You can get more information here: https://www.printful.com/start-online-tshirt-business.

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Eileen Conant
Eileen Conant is a freelance business writer and experienced work-from-home mom who specializes in entrepreneurship, microbusinesses, and home-based startups. Her writing has helped countless readers make smarter business decisions, build sustainable income from home, and navigate the realities of self-employment. When she isn’t writing about business, she can be found painting or spending time with her family.

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