How to Start a T-Shirt Printing Business: Step-by-Step Guide

We know it can be daunting to take the leap into a new venture. That’s why we’ve created a guide on where to get started and help you through the steps of creating your own t-shirt printing business.

The custom t-shirt printing market may seem like a dense market to get started in; however, it’s probably worth noting that globally, it continues to grow year on year. 

Predictions indicate that an already massive $9 billion industry will grow to a staggering $13.55 billion by 2029. The growth is expected to be from the ever-evolving trends in sports and event merchandise, corporate branding, pop culture, fandom merchandise, athleisure and activewear. With so many options, we’re here to help you choose the best direction for you.

In this blog, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to starting your own t-shirt printing business:

• Finding your niche and creating your brand
• Exploring print techniques
• Sourcing garments
• Creating and testing
• Promoting your business

Let’s get started!

Finding Your Business Niche and Creating Your Brand

Do Your Market Research 

Before creating your brand, it's important to gain some knowledge and understanding of your chosen market and demand. A bit of market research can help you discover what’s relevant and popular amongst competitors & what the current trends are within the industry. This should provide some inspiration for what types of designs to use and which garments to offer while also highlighting any gaps in the market. Take a look around the industry and find out what people are searching for using free SEO tools such as SE Ranking.

Finding Your Business Niche

Now you’ve got some research under your belt, you can think about what you’d like to specialise in to start your t-shirt company – think of it as a starting point, you can always expand your offering later down the line. This will help you find a clear target audience and brand identity. You can find a few examples below; just make sure it’s also something you enjoy!

• Corporate branding for small businesses
• Local sports teams
• Fandom merchandise – are you a big gamer, music lover or film franchise follower?
• Events – whether it’s for local, professional events or hen parties, the opportunities are endless.

Where to begin with creating your brand

Once you have gathered some ideas, you can start to build your brand. 

Think about your brand personality, tone of voice and an eye-catching design. You might want to start with your logo, creating a unique name, thinking about your brand colours and font choice to make a lasting impression. You can use online tools such as Photoshop or Canva, just remember to make sure your logo can be used across a range of platforms – try creating two versions of your logo, which will be suitable for white backgrounds and dark backgrounds.

If you’d like to use a website as a sales platform, there are lots that you can think about and plan out in advance. Think about the design, structure and layout of your website along with how future customers will engage with and navigate your site whilst also keeping in line with your brand identity.

Make a good impression with your packaging

What do you want customers to think when they receive your parcel through the door? Are you going with a premium look and feel or a fun, unique package? Whichever you choose, use the packaging design to get your brand seen and noticed by potential customers. 

Whilst design is important, you also need to choose the right material. Sustainability is key when it comes to packaging, so try to explore alternative options. Recycled papers and compostable films are no longer boring, choose from colours, textured finishes and premium details that make responsible packaging look good.

Choosing The Right T-Shirt Printing Equipment

You have an array of choices when it comes to printing techniques; the tricky part is deciding which is going to work best for your t-shirt business, from DTF and DTG to Sublimation and HTV. This can depend on factors such as workspace, time, investment costs and your design choices. For example, if you have chosen to focus on sportswear, you may wish to use block-out Heat Transfer Vinyl to prevent dye migration from the polyester into the applied transfer. Learn about each print method below and explore the pros and cons.

Sublimation

Sublimation is a popular printing method for creating custom designs on polyester t-shirts and other garments made from polyester materials. This technique uses a special type of ink that turns into a gas when heated, allowing it to penetrate the fibres of the fabric and create vibrant, long-lasting prints. Because it's part of the fibres, it doesn't add any additional weight to the garment, and unlike a traditional transfer or screen print, sublimation inks can't be felt on the surface of the fabric.

This is a great method for a start-up business with low investment costs, and only a small workspace is needed to get started. You can find affordable desk-top sublimation printers from leading brands, including Sawgrass and Epson, available in A1, A3 and A4 sizes, perfect to print your t-shirt designs. When combined with sublimation ink to match, sublimation paper and a heat press, you will have the ideal sublimation setup.

However, there are some limitations. Sublimation can only be used on white or light-coloured polyester materials. If you require a transfer method that is suitable for dark-coloured garments and various materials such as cotton, we highly recommend looking at alternative print methods.

If you’d like to know more about sublimation, download The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Sublimation Printing e-book.

Direct to Film (DTF)

Direct to Film (DTF) printing produces bold, long-lasting transfers across many different fabrics, from cotton to polyester. Ink is printed onto a transfer film, and powder adhesive is applied prior to curing and being heat pressed onto your garment/fabric, making it one of the most versatile print methods available.

Xpres provides everything you need to get you up and running with a professional quality DTF solution, from DTF printers, curing ovens, cutters and heat presses to films, powders and inks from industry-leading brands. Also, should you need any help or support with any of our DTF hardware or our range of consumables, our in-house technical support team is always on hand to assist.

If you’d like to read more about DTF printing, download the tips and tricks of DTF printing - Top 10 DTF Printing Secrets.

Direct to Garment (DTG)

If you want to print full colour designs onto t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies but don't want to add film, powder or curing to your process, then Direct to Garment (DTG) might be the print method for you. Printing directly onto garments using specialised technology, DTG printers are an increasingly popular option for creating custom-printed t-shirts and other apparel items, offering high-quality printing capabilities, allowing for intricate designs and vibrant colours to be reproduced with ease. Xpres helps small businesses, print studios and creators to choose reliable DTG printers, inks, and accessories that work together as a complete production ecosystem.

Whilst DTG is a very speedy printing process, it's worth knowing that it's only suitable for cotton garments and darker fabrics require the application of pre-treatment liquid prior to printing, which creates a base layer for the inks to adhere to, and it also prevents ink from soaking into the garment, which enhances colours and produces vibrant, lasting prints.

Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV)

Ideal for small print runs featuring the same designs, Heat Transfer Vinyl (HTV) printing could be the best option. For a t-shirt printing business, Xpres offer a selection of desktop print & cut machines, perfect for start-ups. You can also achieve special effects, including glitter, metallic and flock, to name a few, so you can give your customers multiple options when choosing a design.

Whilst HTV is a simple process of cutting a design into vinyl and heat pressing onto garments, the weeding of the design can be time-consuming and fiddly with more intricate designs, so make sure your designs are simple for a quick and easy transfer!

How To Source Your T-Shirts

After you have selected your print method and started gathering your t-shirt printing equipment, it’s time to start sourcing and pricing up some t- shirts. Xpres has a wide range of clothing, including t-shirts for all types of print methods. Follow our quick tips for choosing the right product line for your business.

• Offer a range of sizes and styles, from fitted to retro and relaxed, giving your customers an option that suits them.
• Make sure you check reviews and order samples to ensure you’re getting good quality before placing a bulk order.

Get Designing! Create a Portfolio Of T-Shirt Designs

Ok, so you have your niche, you’ve chosen a print method to start gathering your equipment and found a t-shirt supplier...now you need to put those creative skills into action and create your t-shirt designs.

First of all, find the design software that’s right for you; you can choose from online tools such as Canva, Photoshop or CorelDraw. Create a few designs to start with and build up your portfolio over time. You can then mock up designs on t-shirts so you can visualise the finished product and try different placements and sizes of the design to see which sparks more interest. Mock-ups can also be used for marketing purposes, giving your customers a clear idea of what they’re buying.

Print Some Test T-Shirts

We’re onto the fun (sometimes frustrating) part...the print testing! Before starting a project, especially if it’s a large run, it’s always wise to do some testing to make sure you’re happy with the final piece. You might want to make some adjustments to your designs, colours or placement, for example, or you might choose to change your t-shirt style.

Promote Your T-Shirt Business

You’ve got your niche, you have your t-shirt printing equipment, and you’re happy with your chosen supplies – it's time to start promoting your business!

🖥 Website Platform

First impressions on your website are important. Make sure your homepage tells the user exactly what your t-shirt business is and why they should purchase from you. You might also find that having an ‘About Us’ page will benefit your brand, so users can read more about your business and learn your brand personality.

Put those product tests to use and select the ones that you want to showcase with some nice photography. Start to add your products so customers can browse your selection of designs, keep creating designs, and regularly release new t- shirts, offering seasonal launches.

🔔 The Power of Social Media

Take advantage of the power of social media and create a business page across social media platforms. Staying within your brand, create some social media content showcasing your products and brand story, all while interacting with potential customers.

You can experiment with images and videos to see what gets the most engagement, such as the latest designs or a behind-the-scenes post. Whilst you’re getting started, you might want to try a giveaway or an incentive to grow your audience and for new customers to try your product.

🛍 Take Your T-Shirt Business to Local Markets

Take your business offline with local events or markets. This can be a great opportunity to sell products, introduce your brand and target your local demographic. While the outreach may not be as big as social media, you may be able to advertise to people you may not otherwise interact with.

Ready to Start Your T-Shirt Printing Business?

Starting a t-shirt printing business can feel like a big step, but with the right planning, equipment and print method, it’s an achievable and rewarding venture. Whether you’re launching from home or scaling towards a larger operation, choosing a print process that suits your budget, workspace and long-term goals will set you up for success.

As your business grows, you can expand your product range, explore new print techniques and invest in more advanced equipment to meet demand. Taking the time to test, learn, and refine your process early on will help you build a strong foundation and a brand that customers will trust.

If you’re ready to take the next step, Xpres offers equipment, consumables, and technical support to help you get started and grow with confidence. Get in touch with our friendly team today!

FAQs: Starting a T-Shirt Company

Is a t-shirt printing business profitable?

A t-shirt bringing business can be profitable when costs, pricing, and demand are carefully managed. Profitability can depend on factors such as your chosen print method, equipment investment, production efficiency, audience and marketing strategy. Many businesses start small at first, test demand, and scale gradually as orders increase. 

What equipment is needed to print on t-shirts?

The equipment needed depends on the printing method you choose: common setups include t-shirt printing machines (such as sublimation, DTF, DTG or vinyl cutting equipment), a heat press, inks or vinyl, compatible garments and design software. Starter setups can be relatively compact and expanded on over time as your t-shirt business grows.

Can you start a t-shirt printing business from home?

Yes, many t-shirt printing businesses can start from home, as desktop printing equipment and heat presses can fit into small workspaces. Although, it's important to consider ventilation, storage space, and local business regulations when setting up a home-based operation.