how to start a tshirt business

Start your own online t-shirt business

Design and sell custom t-shirts online

Get started
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Ditch the storage struggle and sell shirts under your brand without inventory

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Avoid lengthy pre-orders and fast-track your business with on-demand fulfillment

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Get access to free design assets, product mockups, and other ecommerce tools

Estimated delivery to United States is from July 17 to 19
Our average shipping time is 4 business days depending on the order's destination.

It all starts with a t-shirt

Start your own business with a wardrobe staple

Man with computer making money online

Become your own boss

Make money from home and on your own terms:

  • Design your own products
  • Build a brand from scratch
  • Save time on inventory management and focus on marketing
Woman with custom t-shirt making her own business

Scale up any time

Start your business on the right foot by launching your catalog with the versatile t-shirt:

  • A unifying closet staple that goes with any outfit
  • Ideal for viral trend designs
  • Easily mixed and matched with other pieces

Print-on-demand vs. bulk t-shirt fulfillment

How to start a t-shirt business with no money

1
1

Find a t-shirt niche

Decide on the type of t-shirts you want to sell
2
2

Set up a t-shirt store

Build your own website or create a shop on an ecommerce platform or marketplace
3
3

Connect your store to Printful

Sync your shop with Printful for automated order management
4
4

Design a t-shirt

Upload your own design or give our Design Maker a spin
5
5

Put your t-shirt up for sale

Now you're good to go—show everyone what your t-shirt business has to offer by promoting products online
6
6

Grow your t-shirt business

Focus on marketing your business while we take care of the orders

How to sell t-shirts in 2025?

Watch this video to see what it takes to successfully sell t-shirts in 2025.

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Ready to elevate your t-shirt business?

Use 429 products to expand your collection

embroidered patch with a design
Patches
From $8.95
T-shirts
T-shirts & tank tops
From $9.25
Mens t-shirts & tank tops
Womens t-shirts & tank tops
Kids t-shirts & tank tops
Custom hoodies & sweatshirts
Hoodies & sweatshirts
From $18.35
Custom mens hoodies
Custom womens hoodies
Custom kids hoodies
Custom hats
Hats
From $11.89
Beanies
Beanies
Custom beach blanket
Beach towels
From $9.38
Drinkware
Drinkware
From $3.42
Water bottles
Mugs
Custom footwear
Footwear
From $8.05
Custom embroidered aprons
Embroidered aprons
From $17.29
Custom swimwear
Swimwear
From $13.95
Custom leggings
Leggings
From $18.82
Mens leggings
Womens leggings
Kids leggings
Wall Art
Posters & canvas prints
From $5.39
All-over shirts
All-over shirts
From $20.35
Mens all-over shirts
Womens all-over shirts
Kids all-over shirts
Custom dress
Dresses
From $23.99
Custom skirts
Skirts
From $27.49
Custom sports bra
Sports bras
From $24.43
Custom joggers
Sweatpants & joggers
From $20.35
Custom men's joggers
Custom women's joggers
Custom jacket
Jackets
From $20.35
Custom bags
Bags
From $15.56
Duffle bags
Backpacks
Tote bags
Stationery
Stationery
From $1.50
Postcards
Stickers
Notebooks

Visit our Product Catalog to see what else you could be selling

Create your own online t-shirt store in minutes using our ecommerce integrations

No programming skills required

T-shirt businesses thriving with Printful

See what others think about our t-shirt printing services

quote

Printful does all the hard work for me

Printful allowed me to start a business with zero capital in my spare time. It was easy to set up and Printful does all the hard work for me. All I have to do is supply the ideas and the traffic, and then everything else is taken care of.

Dogecore

Dominic Dogecore

DOGECORE
quote

This is a great first place to create your online product presence

Printful is a great online provider of print products. I've only just begun to scratch the surface of what I can accomplish working with them. The customer service is timely and professional. The product reviews are a great resource and provide real guidance based on client feedback. The array of products continues to grow which is exciting to experience and broaden what I can provide to my customers. This is a great first place to create your online product presence.

quote

Wide range of high-quality products and responsive customer service

I love Printful’s wide range of high-quality products and their responsive customer service. Teaming up with Printful lets us keep our product lineup fresh and gives us the freedom to grow the business without tying up our money in 2,000 t-shirts in my garage.

Aaron Reynolds

Aaron Reynolds

EFFIN' BIRDS

Frequently asked questions

Yes, you can. T-shirts are becoming increasingly popular by the year. With the reliable high demand, t-shirts are one of the most profitable products to start your online business.

This depends on your local business regulations. Most countries demand a business or retail license for any online business, including t-shirt businesses.

A good t-shirt design will:

  • Match your market niche
  • Resonate with your target audience
  • Comply with our DTG print file guidelines
  • Most importantly: be true to your brand and what you stand for

Check out our t-shirt ideas for inspiration.

Spread the word about your shop by growing an online community. Engage with your audience by:

  • Sharing your business mission and values
  • Showing the behind-the-scenes of running your store
  • Encouraging them to share their reviews and tag you in their posts
  • Hosting giveaways
  • Offering exclusive deals and coupons

Visit our blog to find more marketing know-how.

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Printful, Inc., 11025 Westlake Dr Charlotte, North Carolina 28273, +1 (818) 351-7181, [email protected]

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Related resources

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