Starting a T-Shirt Printing Business on a Low Budgetsubmitted on 24 August 2020
In these uncertain times, more people are losing their jobs. While working from home is an option, employees are still unsure if they still have a job to go back to when things go back to normal.
If you have some business skills or are creative, starting a T-shirt printing business is a good idea worth exploring because you can start it even if you have a limited budget.
Starting a T-shirt printing company
Today, many independent T-shirt companies are enjoying brisk business since the equipment required is not too expensive. You do not need too many employees to keep the business going.
Likewise, you do not need a lot of money to start the business. Several options are available, some of them will allow you to earn without dealing with the printing or shipping the products. However, good preparation is key to start the business even if you are low on budget.
Here are the things you need to do:
Prepare the business plan
The first thing to do is to write a business plan. You can check online for the steps in writing a business plan or download a template. Having a business plan can help you secure financing later.
Get the necessary training
You should know what you are going to do. You need to learn the process of T-shirt printing, using the machines, keeping business records (transactions, sales, expenses, net sales, overhead costs, etc.) for tax purposes. Find out where you can work as a volunteer or intern to save on training costs.
Understand your audience
The industry is very competitive. Therefore, your success will depend on where you want to sell your products. Getting companies, teams, fraternities, and other organizations as your clients will generate bulk orders. Whatever niche market you choose, you should commit to it.
Learn the types of T-shirt printing
A successful business owner is one who has an in-depth knowledge of the business. You will understand the trend, the terms and know what to do if problems arise. Knowing the different printing methods will help you decide how much you can spend on equipment and materials.- Screen printing is ideal for mass production. Investing in an automatic screen printing machine is costly, though.
- Heat transfer is ideal for custom prints and personalised designs. You can create intricate designs that you print on special paper that will transfer the design onto the fabric with heat. The initial investment for a heat press machine is quite low.
- Direct-to-garment printing uses a specially designed printer that will transfer the design directly onto the shirt.
Whatever method you want to use, you will need a graphic designer. You can do the work yourself if you have the training or the skills. If you are not a designer or graphic artist, you can hire a freelance t shirt designer to prepare the artwork for you.
If you do not have too much capital, you can initially use print-on-demand services. You prepare the design, and send it to them for printing and shipping. You can also use their e-commerce platform to sell your T-shirts.
|
