A T-Shirt Business can be a very easy way to generate extra income without too much upfront investment or difficulty. With a little preparation and marketing, you can turn your ideas into a unique and profitable business.

The first place to start is to create a business plan and research what steps are needed. This will not only help you be organized, but it can also help you avoid unexpected expenses and pitfalls later down the road. A business plan simply organizes your thoughts and ideas on how you would like to run your business in an easy to read and reference format. You will need to consider many factors:

  • What will you name your business?
  • How will you design the t-shirts? By Hand? On Computer? Hire a designer?
  • How many different types of t-shirts will you sell?
  • What types of shirts will you carry?
  • What supplier or vendor will you use to produce the t-shirts?
  • How much will you charge for each t-shirt? Is this a competitive price to other t-shirt sellers?
  • How will you sell the t-shirts? Will you sell them online, by mail, or in stores?
  • What is your start-up budget?
  • How much money would you like to make?
  • What are your short term and long term goals for your business?
  • What research do you need to perform on the people who might buy your t-shirts?
  • What does your state require to begin a business?
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Once all of these questions have been answered, you are then ready to create a marketing plan and implement it to get those t-shirts sold! Marketing can be done in a variety ways, depending on your budget and your resources. Here a few tips to get started:

Create a website: You can either attempt to do this yourself online or hire a professional. A good website will keep people coming back for more. You may want to add a blog to the website, or join affiliate sites for advertising until you start generating more income. Make sure you optimize your keywords for good search engine results. You may also want to join various online networking groups to help gain exposure.

Notify Friends and Family: These may be your first customers but if they like what you sell, they will certainly bring future sales and referrals your way. Don’t be afraid to ask them if they know anyone who might like your products.

Spread the word: Develop flyers, stickers, and other media to hand out to help increase name recognition and consumer awareness.

Contact other businesses: Boutique shops, retailers, schools and universities, professional individuals, local organizations, and others may become excellent clients if you can show them they need your product. Consider creating a fund raiser program with them to help increase sales.