How much money do I need to start a t-shirt business?
For a 100-piece first order from US stock, budget roughly $600–750 all in: about $390 of blanks, $25 of screen setup, $135 of printing, $42 of inbound freight, and $50–150 of samples and photography. Add a $75 contingency and you are at the top of that range. Anything below $400 means ordering fewer pieces and losing the 100-piece price.
What is the minimum order?
100 pieces per style and colour on US stock. Sizes can be mixed freely inside one colour, so a size curve still meets the minimum. For a custom production run the minimum is set by the fabric, not by us.
Can I sell shirts before I buy them?
Only with print-on-demand, which is a different business with a higher cost per shirt and no inventory. If you are buying blanks, you are buying inventory first and selling it second — that is the trade you are making for a lower cost per unit and a real margin.
Why can I not just open an account with a big US distributor?
Most large blank distributors sell to registered businesses and ask for a resale certificate or a business account. If you do not have one yet, that route is closed to you — which is exactly why a 100-piece order from a supplier that does not require one exists.
How many sizes should I buy?
One curve, and make it uneven. For 100 unisex adult shirts a defensible starting point is S10 M24 L28 XL22 2XL11 3XL5. Streetwear shifts up, women's fit shifts down. The size curve tool gives you the exact breakdown for your quantity.
Should I print first or buy the blanks first?
Blanks first. A screen printer needs the shirts in hand to print on them, and the ink is matched to the fabric. Sequencing it the other way round costs you a week and often a reprint.
What if a size does not sell?
It will happen. Budget for it: assume 10–15% of the first order is slow-moving. That is one reason to buy depth in the middle sizes rather than width across six — the middle sizes always sell.
Do I need an LLC or a business entity to buy blanks?
Not to buy from us. You may need one to open a marketplace account, to get a resale certificate, and to pay sales tax properly. Sort the entity out when you are selling reliably, not before the first order.
Can you print the shirts too?
Yes, on production runs and on small decorated runs. If your order is a first order of 100, the practical route is usually: blanks from US stock, printing by a local printer who can turn it around in days. We will connect you with the decision, not just the invoice.
How long until I can reorder?
Plan on 60–90 days to sell 100 shirts if you are selling online and locally at the same time. Reordering at week three because the mediums sold out is normal and healthy — it means the curve was roughly right. Reordering at week one means the curve was wrong and you ran out.
Still stuck on something specific?
Two routes: the first order programme if you are close to buying, or a direct question if you are not. Both go to the same person.