If you’re interested in getting into the clothing business, T- shirts may be a good place to start. They’re popular, comfortable and can be less expensive than other clothes.

Like any other business, it’s important to begin with a plan that includes what your product will be, how you will set your pricing, what suppliers you will use, how you will promote your business, and what kind of license or permits you need. You may also want to find a mentor or advisor who can help you think through the next steps and keep you accountable.

There are several questions you should consider to start a successful t-shirt business:

• How will you stand out? After you’ve decided that you are starting a t-shirt business, start brainstorming about possible ideas for your t-shirts. Write down as many ideas as you can. Some things to think about are: do you want text shirts or graphic shirts or both? Do you want to make shirts for women, men, babies? What is hot right now and what is everyone wearing? Do you want color shirts or mostly black or white shirts? The more questions you ask yourself, the more ideas you will come up with during your brainstorming session.

• Who will be your target market? After you’ve brainstormed your ideas for starting a t-shirt business, it’s time to start thinking about your target market. Who do you want to sell your t-shirts to? Be as specific as possible. “Women between the ages of 18-45” is not a specific target market. Some examples of target markets are skateboarders, men who play golf, etc. The more specific you can get with your niche market, the easier it will be to sell your shirts.

• How will you structure your business? Most people start out as a sole proprietor, but as their company and sales grow, they change their company structure to an LLC, LLP, or corporation. Think about how big you want your business to be and then consult with an expert on what the ideal business structure would be for you. Another thing you might want to consider is what type of sales you want to focus on: retail (selling directly to consumers), wholesale (selling to other stores) or both. This might help you decide what business structure is best for you.

• How will you find the best quality supplier? One of the most important factors for the success of your t-shirt business is quality. You can disappoint someone once, but they won't let you disappoint them twice. A pattern that fades and cracks or a t-shirt that shrinks and rips won’t create repeat customers. Higher quality t-shirts might cost more to produce but will also allow you to charge higher prices. The final quality of your t-shirt will depend on the material of the blank t-shirt, printing technique used, and how correctly you prepare your design file. Some print-on-demand options, like Printful, have high quality options and can be a great way to get started without a huge upfront investment. Once you’ve tested a design and know that it will sell, you can invest in inventory to lower the product costs and increase your potential profit.

• Who will design your t-shirts? Your designs don’t necessarily need to be complex. In fact, many of the best-selling graphic tees are very simple. However, they do need to connect with your audience and stand out. You also don’t want to copy another company’s design. 

• How will you manufacture your t-shirts? Many who are starting a t-shirt business start out by purchasing the t-shirt ‘blanks’ from other manufacturers. This allows them to offer a variety of sizes, colors, and styles, but keep costs to a minimum. Many t-shirt blank manufacturers have really low minimums, so you can test a few different styles to see what will sell best for your target market. You can also start with a “print on demand” business model – this means that you use a third-party vendor to print and ship out each order as it comes in, so there is no inventory storage or upfront costs on your end.

• How will you print your t-shirts? Some people get in the t-shirt business because they love to screen print and they have all the necessary equipment to print their own t-shirts. If that’s not you, then search the internet for screen printers in your local area and meet with them to discuss your needs. Don’t be afraid to interview a few screen printers and work with the one who is a good fit for you.

• How will you price your t-shirts? The price of your t-shirts depends on what it costs you to make each t-shirt, which includes the actual price of the shirt, screen, printing costs, shipping costs, costs of hangtags and labels and other costs such as marketing, storage/warehousing and labor. Also, consider if you plan on selling retail or wholesale or both. If you are not selling your shirts to other stores or boutiques, then you might be able to price them lower since you are cutting out the middleman. Set a price that allows you to cover all the costs and make a profit as well. And don’t be afraid to price your shirts higher if your costs justify it.

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