A successful t-shirt business needs a smart business owner. With sales expected to grow well into 2025, the market is wide open for new companies. It’s easy to get started as a t-shirt business, but hard to master.
1. Check Your Current Finances
Find the best ecommerce payment gateway before diving deep into your finances. Do you have the money needed to start a new business? Without financial capital, business loans are the obvious option. The last thing you want is to start a brand-new company in the red. Even with a successful launch, breaking even may not be a possibility.
2. Set A Short-Term Goal
Why do you want to start a t-shirt business? Will you sell locally or worldwide? Is this a full-time job or a hobby? Answer these questions, and then set a short-term goal to follow. Even if you fail, it won’t be for an insurmountable loss of money or time.
3. Set A Long-term Goal
Long-term goals are meant to sync up with your company’s identity. It is the annual finish line that takes into account money, time, and personal goals. This is where you want the business to be after the first year of selling the product.
4. Create Multiple Business Plans
Any business that you’re serious about should include a business plan. And if you intend to take this business beyond the first year, multiple business plans can be drafted. Pay close attention to each draft, and choose the one that best aligns with your company’s intentions.
5. Choose Your Niche
Selling t-shirts online is not an original idea on its own. You have to bring something interesting to the table that consumers will want. Based on your business plan and current trends, find a niche that stands out among the competition.
6. Make A Design
This is where it all comes together when you decide to start a t-shirt business. The first design will be one of many, so make it count. If you’re not skilled at design, use basic concept art and approach a professional designer. From there, have them create the design that you always wanted.
7. Source the Product
Once the designs are set, find a t-shirt that meets or exceeds the quality you’d expect from a competitor. Keep your personal goals and finances in mind when sourcing products. And more importantly, make sure that the t-shirt manufacturer can meet consumer demand. Expect orders to get canceled if your company has a history of backorders and delays.
8. Get Comfortable with Social Media
T-shirt marketing starts and ends with your social media presence. Once a shop is set up, the best advertising will happen through social media networks. This is free advertising and is the best way to keep control of the narrative while building up your brand. User feedback can be used to adjust inventory, design, and your final sales price.
A New Career
The industry needs fresh faces to keep the money flowing. A new t-shirt business is a helpful addition to a growing trend. If you can follow these 8 steps, then financial independence will be your biggest reward.