How to start a t-shirt business without money

Posted by needtshirtsnow 05/12/2023 31 Comment(s)

Start a T-shirt Business With Little to No Money

 

Want to know how to start a t-shirt business with no cash? Don't worry we will explain.

Learn how to start a t-shirt business with little to no money

 

Welcome to Need T-shirts Now, where today I'll be sharing some helpful tips on how to start a t-shirt business with little to no money. Starting a t-shirt business is an excellent way to turn your passion for design into a profitable venture. Here's what you need to do to get started!

  1. Market Research - The first step in starting any business is to conduct proper research to gauge consumer interest in your product. Identify your target audience, research market trends, and find a unique selling point that sets your t-shirts apart from the competition.

  2. Design and Printing - Once you have a clear vision, the next step involves designing your t-shirts. You can use free design software such as Canva or GIMP to create stunning designs. You can also hire a cheap graphic designer from Fiverr. You can then use print-on-demand services such as Need T-shirts Now, to print your designs and manage your inventory.

  3. Choose a Selling Channel - You can either sell your t-shirts through your own e-commerce website or online marketplaces such as AmazonEtsy, or eBay. Alternatively, you could opt for social media platforms such as Facebook Market Place to sell your t-shirts.

 

Tips For Starting a Successful T-shirt Business

  1. Pricing Strategy - Your pricing strategy needs to balance the cost of production and your profit margin. Plan your pricing with the target audience in mind while keeping an eye on your competition. Don't be afraid to have a higher price for your brand. I would focus more on having a Quality T-shirt and Printing.

  2. Leverage Social Media - Social media is a cost-effective tool to promote your t-shirts and connect with customers. Connect with influencers or collaborate with other businesses in the niche for greater visibility. Today you will need to use Social Media websites and apps such as TiktokInstagramYoutubeTwitter, and Facebook.

  3. Build Brand Identity - Create a strong brand that's unique and separated from the competition. This will help you to communicate your values and stand out from the competition. I recommend using a name that is different than the product you are selling so it will be harder for your competition to easily outrank you with your own name. For example do not put the words tees, t-shirt, shirt, etc in your Brand name. Make your Brands name totally unique. 

 

Real-life Examples of Successful T-shirt Businesses

  1. Need T-shirts Now - Started with a broken dtg printer and no inventory or funding, Need T-shirts Now Today is a leading T-shirt printing Company that prints and sells T-shirts World Wide. 

 

Obstacles to watch out for with your T-shirt Business

  • Low Sales in the early stages
  • Difficulty in getting customers to find your brand.
  • Poor Branding

 

Scaling up your T-shirt Business

  • Leverage social media for brand awareness
  • Consider expanding your product offerings beyond t-shirts.

 

Free eCommerce Website builders to start your T-shirt Business

  1. WooCommerce – WooCommerce is a free WordPress plugin that allows you to set up an online store on your existing WordPress website. It's easy to use and can be customized with a range of plugins and themes.

  2. Wix – Wix offers a free eCommerce plan with limited features but is still suitable for small businesses. Their platform is easy to use, mobile-optimized, and offers over five hundred templates for users to choose from.

  3. Weebly – Weebly provides free access to basic eCommerce features with its free plan. It's user-friendly and provides users with drag-and-drop functionality that makes it easy to build an online store.

  4. Square Online Store – The Square Online Store is a free website builder that allows users to create an online store, add items, and process payments through Square. The platform has a clean, minimalist design and is easy to use.

  5. Magento – Magento is an open-source eCommerce platform that offers a free community edition designed primarily for developers. It requires some level of technical skills, but it's a great option for small to medium-sized businesses looking for a free, self-hosted platform.

It's important to note that while these eCommerce website builders offer free plans, most have limitations such as limited features, bandwidth, and storage. When choosing an eCommerce website builder, consider your business needs in terms of design, features, flexibility, cost, and scalability.

 

Payment processors to start your T-shirt Business

  1. PayPal - PayPal is a popular online payment processor that offers a range of features such as invoicing, e-commerce tools, and fraud protection. It's user-friendly and has no setup or monthly fees.

  2. Stripe - Stripe is a global online payment processor that accepts payments in over 135 currencies. It offers customizable payment forms and integration with popular e-commerce platforms such as WooCommerce and Shopify. There are no monthly fees, but Stripe charges a transaction fee.

  3. Square - Square is a payment processor that allows businesses to accept payments through a mobile app or a card reader. It offers secure payments, invoicing, and reporting tools. Square charges a transaction fee, but there are no setup or monthly fees.

  4. Venmo - Venmo is a mobile payment service that allows users to transfer funds to each other through their mobile devices. It's free to use and does not charge any fees for sending or receiving money.

  5. Google Pay - Google Pay is a digital wallet that allows users to store credit and debit cards, make payments in stores, online, and within apps. It's easy to set up and use, and there are no fees for sending or receiving money.

  6. Zelle - Zelle is a digital payment service that allows users to send and receive money through their bank account. It's free to use, and there are no fees for sending or receiving money.

It's important to note that while these payment processors offer free plans, some of them may charge transaction fees or have limitations in terms of their features. Before choosing a payment processor, evaluate their terms, fees, flexibility, and security measures to determine which one is best suited for your business needs.

 

In Conclusion, Starting a T-shirt business with No Money

In addition to the resources mentioned above, join online communities, attend networking events, and seek guidance from mentors in the field for better growth opportunities. By starting small and being mindful of your budget, patience, and persistence, launching a t-shirt business with little to no money is possible.

 

 

Find out which is The Best DTG Printer

 

Find out which is The Best Automatic Pretreat Machine

 

Find out which is The Best Heat Press

 

Find out which is The Best Vector Graphic Software

 

Find out which is The Best E-commerce Website Builders

 

Find out about T-shirt Trade Shows

 

Find out which is The Best T-shirts for Printing

 

31 Comment(s)

Dee:
07/04/2016, 01:28:40 PM
Reply

This is an interesting concept. I do think that this can be a good start if you want to start your own business, but you have to keep in mind of the money you will lose for the third party printing and shipping. There is nothing clear at the percentage so I would be mindful before taking action.

Pam:
07/04/2016, 04:06:34 PM
Reply

A tee shirt company would be a great side business. I actually know someone who makes tee shirts! They're so unique!

Zahid.bgm@gmail.com:
05/10/2017, 10:25:41 PM

I am good supply t_shirt pls, communication by mail . I need t_ shirt buyer.Thanks, Zahid

Nancy at Whispered Inspirations:
07/04/2016, 05:40:34 PM
Reply

My husband wants to do this. I think we will. Thanks for the tips. :)

kendra:
04/04/2017, 08:45:41 PM

so did u and your husband start the business???

Angelic Sinova:
07/04/2016, 06:30:45 PM
Reply

Great tips! I actually know something who had a T-shirt business as her side business and it was so profitable it became her full-time job.

kendra polk:
04/04/2017, 08:46:38 PM

hi..so is she really successful

Jeanine:
07/04/2016, 06:53:48 PM
Reply

This is great, I'd never think to do this! It would probably be something my husband would be interested in so I'll have to let him know! Thanks for the great tips

Sarah:
07/05/2016, 12:27:10 AM, lifeinabreakdown.com
Reply

Interesting, I have always wondered about starting a t-shirt business and how difficult (or easy) it would be! Appreciate the info!

Chrishelle:
07/05/2016, 05:44:22 PM, fantasticmrsmom.com
Reply

If there is a will there's a way. I have never thought of owning a t-shirt company, might be a cool idea. Great info.

Eloise:
07/05/2016, 10:27:47 PM, twincitiesview.com
Reply

this came at a great time, my mom wants to team up with me and make tees to sell... thanks for the info : )

Stephanie Pass:
07/05/2016, 11:15:27 PM, thetiptoefairy.com
Reply

This is great information. My teenager was just talking about doing this. I'll be keeping this as a resource.

Anosa:
07/10/2016, 09:33:43 AM
Reply

A lovely idea and great tips too, I have a friend who was looking into this before. I will share the post

Meredith Wood:
12/14/2016, 12:59:29 PM, www.fundera.com/blog
Reply

Hello!Hope you're doing well! It is nice to connect. I was reaching out because I saw this great article you have on your site: http://www.t-https://needtshirtsnow.com/Blog/How-to-start-a-t-shirt-business-without-moneyWe wrote a similar, financially-focused article over on the Fundera Ledger awhile back that has really taken off. I was curious to see if you'd be interested in republishing or perhaps referencing in that article or another article in the future?You can read the article here: https://www.fundera.com/blog/starting-t-shirt-businessEither way, it is nice to meet. You really have a great site!Best, Meredith

Shaji P Mathew:
01/17/2017, 03:29:49 AM
Reply

Great idea. Looking to bring up a brand name on tees. Exporting is also in list once it get on track. Raw material is easily can accessible in India. Hope to connect with more people for the business.

Karin:
02/01/2017, 09:11:29 AM, www.kbauerstravels.com
Reply

I'd like to start a tshirt company featuring horse and equestrian art designs. I had some shirts with Chuck DeHaan horse art many years ago. The companies I ordered them from shut down. I would like to start my own shop with those designs. I assume I simply contact the artist to obtain a license to print their art on tshirts to sell? If these companies were able to do it, I am sure I can too.

William Benn:
02/15/2017, 03:31:57 AM, www.shirtcotton.com
Reply

Its a beautiful page thanks we liked it.

Robert Paul:
02/20/2017, 12:38:14 AM, www.blankstyle.com
Reply

Hey really nice article very informational.

Caroline Quimby:
04/12/2017, 05:45:27 AM, www.blankstyle.com/bella-canvas
Reply

Its a beautiful page thanks we liked it.

Moses Tait:
04/13/2017, 05:25:47 AM, www.shirtcotton.com/jackets.html
Reply

Hey really nice article very informational.

Victor Clinton:
04/13/2017, 05:38:28 AM, www.shirtcotton.com
Reply

Its very interesting article, thanks we liked it.

Michelle:
05/11/2017, 01:20:14 PM
Reply

I would like to know if my daughter draws my image to go along with my phrase, how much would it be to have it transferred into a screen print?

Juan Bell:
05/13/2017, 04:03:44 AM, www.blankstyle.com/bella-canvas
Reply

Such a nice article, we liked it very much.

Danielle Ramage:
06/14/2017, 05:36:52 AM, www.blankstyle.com/bella-canvas
Reply

Hey really nice article very informational.

John Curry:
06/14/2017, 05:46:48 AM, www.blankstyle.com/bella-canvas
Reply

Thank you for this article, very useful and informational

Brian Schomp:
01/09/2018, 10:22:01 AM
Reply

I'm actually really serious about doing this. My friend and I(well mostly him) puts on basketball tournaments almost weekly. And I have been to many that have someone there selling t-shirts. They have their press there and even some bring vinyl printers to do more custom stuff, but hey make a killing off of selling them.

David:
09/04/2018, 10:02:18 PM
Reply

Nice article, It is very informative and useful for me. Thanks for sharing

suvash kumar barman:
11/15/2018, 11:50:36 AM
Reply

Thank for good ideas

Kristopher Martin:
11/21/2018, 09:59:18 AM, Facebook.com/KristopherDrewwvids
Reply

I want to start this today please call me assp 7147176894!!!

Apliiq:
01/10/2019, 09:13:17 AM
Reply

Nice article and very usefully information

I GOD:
12/23/2019, 01:40:34 PM
Reply

I love the idea but I think the price for the t shirts are to high because I prefer to buy my shirts whole sale.

Yvonne Salinas:
11/11/2020, 11:29:51 AM
Reply

I'm going to try and start my own business. Great information

Takeisi Puafuti:
01/05/2021, 02:28:44 PM
Reply

Im interesting to start my business printing t-shirt and i want to know more about this business

Manuel Williamson:
05/19/2023, 03:29:58 AM
Reply

Thank you for sharing this informative blog post on starting a t-shirt business without money. It's inspiring to see that entrepreneurship is not limited by financial constraints, and your tips offer practical guidance for aspiring entrepreneurs.Your suggestion to leverage print-on-demand services is a great starting point. By partnering with a print-on-demand provider, individuals can avoid the upfront costs of inventory and production. This allows them to focus on designing and marketing their t-shirts while the provider takes care of printing and shipping.

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