How to Start a T-Shirt Business in 2025 [8 Simple Steps]

T-shirts have come a long way from humble undergarments to fashionable everyday wear. Many people want custom t-shirts with printed logos, slogans, and quotes to express themselves. We’re confident you have plenty of creative t-shirt design ideas to share with the world. So, how do you start selling t-shirts online?

Learn how to start a t-shirt business in this detailed step-by-step guide. We’ve included tips for making t-shirts that sell, the dos and don’ts of t-shirt design, the best printing methods, effective marketing techniques, and so much more.

Whether you wish to sell a few t-shirts on the side or dream of running a lucrative t-shirt line, you’ve come to the right place. Roll up your sleeves, grab your notes, and get ready to dot down your business plan!

How to start a t-shirt business in 8 steps

In today’s highly competitive ecommerce scene, running a successful t-shirt business takes careful planning and strategic marketing. Follow these steps to ensure you stand out from the competition and build a loyal customer base.

1. Develop your business idea

So, you’re ready to start your own t-shirt business—now it’s time to map out what will make it successful. While t-shirts are a $45.5B industry, their popularity also means tough competition. To stand out, you need to define your target market, think about what designs will appeal to them, and work on a marketing strategy to reach them.

You can create your ideal customer profile by asking questions like:

• What are their interests and occupations? 

• How much do they spend on clothing? 

• What are their favorite TV shows, hobbies, or musicians?

Narrowing your niche is key to reaching your ideal customers and making your t-shirts stand out. For example, “parents” might be too broad a niche, but dad-joke shirts, like those by Classic Dad, can create a loyal following.

Source: Classic Dad

Classic Dad’s designs are inspired by the owner’s childhood memories and fatherhood experience. That’s exactly what niche designs should be—tailored to a specific audience with shared interests or experiences. In this case, for the “grillin’, chillin’, and refillin’” type of dad.

Need help finding your niche audience? 

Use free tools like Google Trends to research trending keywords or explore Etsy, Amazon, Instagram, and Pinterest to see what’s popular.

To get your creative juices flowing, check out our article on how to find a niche for your online store, featuring over 100 niche ideas to spark creativity and help you connect with your audience.

2. Pick a reliable printing partner

The next step in starting a t-shirt business is choosing a reliable printing partner to get your designs on custom t-shirts.

Print-on-demand (POD) is a powerful, low-risk solution—products are only fulfilled after an order is placed, eliminating upfront costs and inventory risks. This business model automates the printing process and provides product blanks for you to customize. All you need to do is come up with the designs.

POD is similar to standard dropshipping but with the added benefit of being able to customize hundreds of trending products.

Since you only pay for items as orders come in, the costs of this business model are low (e.g., ecommerce platform fees). Plus, it’s an efficient way to launch without the challenges of running a printing business yourself.

Source: Printful

But going this route also means entrusting your printing partner with crucial processes like production quality, shipping, and inventory management. To ensure everything runs smoothly, here are several criteria to consider when choosing a print-on-demand service partner.

Fulfillment and pricing

However, success depends on your printing partner. From production quality to shipping, here’s what to look for in a print-on-demand service provider:

• Location: Ensure your partner has facilities near your customers for fast, affordable shipping

• Pricing: Evaluate costs, including fulfillment and shipping fees

• Quality: Check for high-quality products and prints

• Customer support: Ensure your print partner offers quick and reliable support

• Reliability: See fulfillment times and ensure there’s proactive communication about any delays

• Reputation: Read reviews to confirm reliability, quality, and customer satisfaction

3. Choose high-quality t-shirts

Not all t-shirts are created equally. There are differences in fabric type, weight, transparency, and feel. Which t-shirt is best for your brand? It depends on the fulfillment technique for your designs, seasonality, and your audience’s preferences (think all-over prints or eco-friendly options).

The most common fabric types are cotton, polyester, and cotton-poly blends. Find out more about their properties in our article on how to choose the best t-shirt materials for your prints.

Source: Printful

To find your perfect high-quality shirt to sell, check out our article on the best-quality t-shirts for printing. In this article, you’ll also learn which customization methods—direct-to-garment (DTG), all-over print (sublimation), or embroidery—work best on each fabric type.

4. Create unique designs

Now comes the artistic part of running a t-shirt business—creating designs! It’s time to let your imagination run wild and explore ideas your niche audience would love.

To create your t-shirts, research the latest trends and find cool design ideas online. Pay attention to what catches your eye and try to balance a design that excites you and a popular trend.

Source: Etsy

Whether you want to make a bold statement or take a more lighthearted approach, there are many t-shirt design ideas. Check out our article with 56 next-level t-shirt design ideas to get you started.

5. Order samples and validate your designs

Before listing your t-shirt designs online, make sure you’re satisfied with the result. Order product samples to validate the look, feel, and quality of your designs and chosen t-shirt. There’s nothing more embarrassing than finding out from a customer that your design flopped.

Source: Bored Panda

Ensure your design placement works well on different body shapes, t-shirt colors, and fabric types. Generally, t-shirt designs can go on the front, back, or sleeve of the garment. Logos work best with left chest placement, on the outside label or inside label, or with sleeve placement.

Check out our step-by-step t-shirt design and logo placement guide to ensure a flawless result.

6. Set up an online store

Now that you’re satisfied with your custom shirts, it’s time to open an online storefront. There are several ways you can set up an ecommerce store. You could use an all-in-one ecommerce platform like Shopify or BigCommerce. Or, you can go for an ecommerce website builder like Wix or Squarespace.

Alternatively, you can connect your t-shirt store directly to marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon. Check out the full list of Printful’s integrations. Not sure which ecommerce platform suits you best? Take the 1-minute quiz at the bottom of the page to find out.

Source: Printful

7. Set prices

To have a thriving t-shirt business, set prices with enough room for profit. But be reasonable—nobody will buy your t-shirts if their prices are too high. Check competitors’ pricing for reference.

The first step to successful product pricing is assessing your costs. Here are several costs that may apply to your business:

• Design creation costs

• Production costs

• Shipping costs

• Taxes

• Platform subscription costs
• Platform fees per order, listing, or other services

To determine your retail price, add up all product costs and your desired profit margin. Don’t be afraid to assess prices occasionally and adjust them according to buying trends and factors like inflation. 

Check our pricing guide and learn how to set a good profit margin for your online t-shirt business. You can also use Printful’s profit calculator.

Source: Printful

To determine your retail price, add up all product costs and your desired profit margin. Don’t be afraid to assess prices occasionally and adjust them according to buying trends and factors like inflation. 

8. Market your t-shirt business

Now it’s finally time to start selling t-shirts. To reach your audience and drive sales, you need a solid marketing strategy. You can use many forms of marketing—social media marketing, paid ads, email marketing, content optimization (known as SEO), and much more. Check out our article on how to market a product to get started.

If you don’t have a large budget to start with—leverage the power of creating engaging, high-quality content on social media. You can also partner with micro-influencers and like-minded communities to showcase your product in exchange for free merch. Check out this article about marketing your online store on a $50 budget for more ideas.

Source: LinkedIn

Bonus tip: Learn from other t-shirt brands and stay up-to-date with your target audience’s interests. Also, keep up with fashion industry trends and update your online store often with new designs.

Read these 6 t-shirt business success stories to get inspired. To find out what’s in style, check out our t-shirt design trends.

4 things to note before you start a t-shirt business

Starting a t-shirt business online is a lucrative endeavor, but it requires thorough preparation to succeed. Besides following the steps above, there are several things to consider before you start selling t-shirts online.

1. T-shirt printing methods

Choosing the right printing method for your t-shirt business is an important decision. When choosing a printing method, consider fabric compatibility, order volume, and business goals. Also, consider the upfront investments and long-term costs.

For example, a print-on-demand partner will ship orders straight to your end customer under your label—they take care of inventory, fulfillment, shipping, and more. This means you can focus entirely on creating designs and growing your business. Buying your own printing machines, supplies, and product blanks, plus printing t-shirts at home would incur a large initial investment and capital risk.

Let’s take a look at the most popular t-shirt printing methods, their differences, and the pros and cons of each.

DTG printing (direct-to-garment printing)

Source: Printful

• Uses water-based inks sprayed directly onto the fabric.

• Ideal for smaller businesses with custom or low-volume orders.

• Suitable for 100% cotton and cotton blends.

• Pros: No setup preparation, allows one-offs, high-quality and precise prints.

• Cons: Expensive machines and prints require pre-treatment and post-treatment, not cost-effective for large orders.

DTF printing (direct-to-film printing)

Source: Printful

• Requires a film to transfer the design to the t-shirt.

• Versatile, works on fabrics like cotton, polyester, fleece, and more.

• Pros: High-quality results for detailed prints, more versatile.

• Cons: More steps, slower process, higher cost for machines and materials.

Screen printing (or silkscreen printing)

Source: Printful

• Involves a stencil, mesh screen, and squeegee to transfer the design.

• Best for natural fabrics like cotton, silk, and wool.

• Pros: High-quality and durable prints, cost-effective for larger orders.

• Cons: Not ideal for small businesses, a limited number of colors, not eco-friendly.

Sublimation printing (all-over prints)

Source: Printful

• Uses heat transfer paper and ink to penetrate synthetic fabrics like polyester.

• Pros: More colorful designs, resistant prints, smooth texture, covers entire fabric.

• Cons: More steps, slower process, not cost-effective for bulk orders.

Some t-shirt printing methods work better on cotton, while others on synthetic materials. The right printing technique for your t-shirts will depend on your preferences and customer expectations. To find out more, see the best methods for printing t-shirts.

2. Choosing t-shirt fabrics

When choosing the right fabric for your t-shirt designs, consider factors like fabric weight, customer preferences, and printing methods. Let’s look at the most common t-shirt materials, which printing methods they work with, and their specific qualities.

Cotton fabric t-shirts

Source: Printful

Cotton is a breathable, moisture-absorbing, incredibly comfortable, hypoallergenic, and highly printable fabric. However, it’s not ideal for winter since it doesn’t offer much insulation. It also wrinkles easily and is prone to wear and tear. Cotton is sensitive to color fading, but proper care can extend its lifespan. Cotton clothing can shrink when washed, so following care instructions is crucial.

One huge advantage is cotton’s versatility in terms of printing options. Cotton t-shirts work well with DTG printing, DTF printing, and embroidery designs.

Not all cotton is created equal. There are multiple types, including 100% cotton, ring-spun cotton, combed ring-spun cotton, and organic cotton.

Polyester fabric t-shirts

Source: Printful

Polyester is durable, wrinkle-resistant, quick-drying, and moisture-wicking. It’s best suitable for sublimation printing. But it’s less breathable than natural fibers, may cause skin irritation, and has limited customization options. It’s non-biodegradable, but you can reduce the environmental impact by choosing t-shirts made with recycled polyester.

Fabric blends

Source: Printful

Fabric blends offer versatility and customization options by balancing the characteristics of different fibers. When choosing fabric blends, consider the needs of your target audience and the intended use of t-shirts.

Blending synthetic and natural fibers improves texture and durability and creates a canvas for unique prints. Popular fabric blends include tri-blend (polyester-cotton-rayon) and polyester-spandex blends.

Why are fabric weight and yarn count important?

Fabric weight affects the drape, fit, and travel-friendliness of a t-shirt. Heavier fabrics are suitable for layering and cooler weather, while lighter fabrics are softer and more comfortable for everyday wear. Yarn count defines thread fineness and influences fabric weight, print texture, and customer preferences.

Understanding fabric weight and yarn count is essential for custom printing techniques and customer education. By considering fabric weight and yarn count, customers can choose t-shirts that align with their preferences and intended use. Find out more about fabric weight and choosing the right t-shirt material for your prints.

3. Popular t-shirt colors

When starting a clothing line, you may wonder which fabric colors people prefer. Selecting the perfect t-shirt shade can be challenging, as everyone wants something that looks good, is suitable for the occasion, and is practical.

Source: Printful

To help you offer the best colors to your customers, we analyzed our popular Bella + Canvas 3001 t-shirt collection. We examined the colors our sellers have been selling the most, considering a wide range of individuals and preferences. Find out more in our most popular t-shirt colors guide.

You’ll find out what classic colors never go out of style, as well as what colors are trending this year. By being aware of the top choices, you can advise your customers and help them make informed decisions.

One major advantage of opting for a print-on-demand provider is that you can display and sell t-shirts in as many colors as you like without any upfront costs. Generate t-shirt mockups via our Product Templates and offer multiple t-shirt colors to see your audience’s preference.

4. T-shirt designs that sell

There’s nothing more disappointing than trying to sell t-shirts online and making no sales . . . Fortunately, there are several dos and don’ts to ensure you design t-shirts that sell.

Source: Etsy

At Printful, our team conducted thorough research to determine which t-shirt designs are the most popular in the industry. We analyzed 2,774 unique designs to identify those that generate sales and those that don’t. 

Check out our article about best-selling t-shirt designs to find out what to design and what to not.

Ready to start your t-shirt business?

Launching a successful t-shirt business requires focusing on quality, uniqueness, and effective business practices. Choosing a reliable printing partner and high-quality fabrics is key. Create designs that resonate with your audience and establish an online store with competitive prices. Remember to leverage social media and strategic campaigns for marketing.

Before opening your t-shirt company, learn about t-shirt printing methods, fabric selection, popular colors, and design trends. Our comprehensive blogs cover all these aspects to help you avoid pitfalls and make informed decisions.

The world is hungry for fresh, innovative designs, and by following these steps, you’re well on your way to carving a niche in the dynamic and ever-growing t-shirt industry. Embrace the challenges, stay creative, and watch your business flourish. Here’s to stitching success!

Valuable read:

• 8 Effective T-Shirt Ads (And Why They Work)
• How to Sell T-Shirts on Amazon: From $0 to $1,000 a Month
• How to Sell T-Shirts on Shopify
• How to Sell T-Shirts on Etsy in 6 Easy Steps