7 Reasons To Start A T-Shirt Business

Creative entrepreneurs everywhere are beginning to view t-shirts as more than just a comfortable piece of clothing—they have the potential to be anything from a blank canvas to a walking advertisement for a business. Because of these prospective benefits, online t-shirt stores are rising in popularity. Although the competition is fierce, t-shirt stores are quick and easy to set up and can be very lucrative as long as you make good decisions about inventory, design, shipping, etc.

If you’re not convinced that starting a t-shirt company is a good route for you, keep reading to learn about 7 reasons why you should jump into this fast-growing market.

1. T-Shirts Are Easy To Sell

Building a business from the ground up is not a venture for the faint of heart; it’s stressful and it takes a ton of work, even when you have an awesome product. Unfortunately not everyone who starts a small business isselling something that is in-demand, and that makes it ten times harder. One great thing about a t-shirt business is that they’re incredibly easy to sell; everyone needs t-shirts, and they never go out of style.

Just for fun, it’s also worth noting that Americans spend approximately 40 billion dollars a year on decorated apparel. That number alone makes investigating the t-shirt business worth it.

2. A T-Shirt Business Is A Flexible Business

Developing any kind of online business generally means that you don’t have to be tied to a brick and mortar store, and a t-shirt business is no different. This type of business allows you to live and work from anywhere, whether you aspire to travel internationally or just work from your living room while wearing your pajamas. T-shirts are lightweight so they are easy and inexpensive to ship, and this gives you access to your customers no matter where you, or they, reside.

3. You Can Be Your Own Boss

Speaking as someone who is self-employed, being your own boss is a wonderful thing. There’s no one to yell at you if you’re “late for work”, no one to nag you if you’re not getting something done fast enough, you can’t get fired, AND you can create your own schedule. Not to mention, you get to control how much you work and how much money you can potentially make. What’s not to like about that?

4. There Is An Unlimited Potential For Profit

As it states in number three above, you essentially have control over how many projects you take on and thus, how much money you make. T-shirt businesses are lucrative because shirts are inexpensive; everyone can afford them regardless of how much money they make or what the state of the economy. In addition, every dollar you make goes back to you and your business. You don’t have to share your profits with anyone else, unless you choose to. You can decide how to price your shirts as well as how much effort you want to put into selling and marketing them. Your successes and failures are directly correlated to your business decisions, no one else’s.

5. Tax Breaks!

When you are self-employed you get the perk of writing off anything that can be considered a business expense on your taxes. This includes the usual cell phone, laptop, gasoline, plane tickets (if you travel for work), etc. You can also get creative; I know some self-employed business owners who also write off part of their rent or mortgage since it’s their “office space” as well as food, clothing, and anything else they can tie to their work. Furthermore, often times the government offers special deals or incentives for small business owners, so make sure you do your homework and take advantage of all the bonuses available to you.

6. The Start-Up Cost Is Low

Creating and designing t-shirts doesn’t take a ton of time, money or effort. T-shirts themselves are extremely cheap to buy, and thanks to great tools, such as this free t-shirt mockup tool from Shopify, it’s incredibly easy to design and order them.

Then all you need is a website, which you can promote by putting it on a t-shirt and wearing it around! Get your friends and family to do the same, and you’ve got a cheap but effective marketing plan. If you really want to invest some time and effort, think about starting a blog as well. It’s either free or incredibly cheap, and the benefits for your business are endless.

7. Designing T-Shirts Can Be Fun And Creative

I don’t know anybody who said that they dreamed of growing up and working in a cubicle. Starting a t-shirt business is a fun way to be creative and make money without being tied to a desk, schedule, or grumpy boss. There’s a ton of variety in the t-shirt business; every day has the potential to be different from the one before. Not to mention, you’ll get to meet and work with a lot of different people.

Think about who needs t-shirts: charities, church groups, big and small companies, college kids, etc. And when you’re not working with clients you can be getting creative with designs and artwork. Like the idea but not confident in your artistic abilities? Take a look at the many template options offered from various providers if you see yourself struggling with design ideas.