Flip your inventive abilities into money, and study how one can earn a living designing T-shirts on-line!
Have you considered placing your designs or catchy slogans on T-shirts after which promoting them on-line?
Promoting and designing customized T-shirts for a revenue sounds simple sufficient, however you’ve gotten questions!
- How a lot cash does it price to get began?
- What’s the most effective e-commerce platform for promoting merch?
- How a lot cash can T-shirt entrepreneurs earn?
- Can I set my very own costs?
- How do I enhance the visibility of my store?
Effectively, you’re in luck; we have now your solutions! Right here is earn a living designing T-shirts on-line!
What’s the POD enterprise mannequin?
POD stands for print on demand. When utilizing a POD firm, you don’t have to fret about display printing, stocking, or delivery gadgets to the client. With these platforms, you add your designs to merchandise of their merch catalog and set the retail costs to your merchandise. When a product sells out of your store, the POD firm prints and ships the merchandise on to the client, making this a passive revenue technique. The POD firm subtracts their charges for the merchandise, printing, and delivery, and what you’re left with is your revenue.
Some POD platforms are fully free to hitch, however they may take the largest minimize of your earnings, whereas you’ll earn extra from the worth of every sale with paid POD platforms. One other factor to concentrate on is a few POD platforms are all-in-one options, which means you possibly can design and promote straight from the POD platform. Different print-on-demand companies solely assist you to design your merch, so that you’ll want to attach an e-commerce platform like Etsy or Shopify to be your storefront.
Every print-on-demand service has its execs and cons, and we’re right here that will help you make an informed determination so that you decide the most effective place to start out your journey as a T-shirt entrepreneur!
13 corporations that will help you promote tees from dwelling
1. CafePress
On CafePress, you possibly can arrange store at no cost and see your unique art work and design on T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, posters, bumper stickers, and extra. Huge manufacturers are utilizing CafePress; you’ll discover the likes of ABC, Paramount, Sprout, and Nationwide Geographic among the many store homeowners.
With CafePress, you possibly can resolve how a lot to mark up your gadgets. For instance, if a T-shirt prices $18, and also you add a $5 markup, the entire price of the merchandise might be $23, and also you’ll make a $5 revenue. You may as well earn month-to-month bonuses primarily based in your gross sales. Like different print-on-demand platforms, CafePress handles funds and delivery gadgets to your clients.
- CafePress will get a 3.2-star coaching out of 5 on Trustpilot.
2. Gelato
Gelato is a print-on-demand firm that’s able to producing nearly any print product. T-shirts are a prime product, however it’s also possible to use the corporate to design and promote notebooks, wall artwork, stationery, and extra. They stand out as a greener choice for printing if you’re environmentally minded. Gelato participates within the UN World Compact, which implies they create sustainably and ethically produced merchandise.
They’re a world firm that prints in 32 nations worldwide and ships to over 140, so that you’re certain to seek out one thing in your space. Primary T-shirts begin at $8.24, and then you definately set your retail worth. To begin promoting, you’ll have to arrange your e-commerce platform or on-line market profile on Shopify, Etsy, WooCommerce, Wix, or Squarespace, after which Gelato will deal with the remaining.
- Gelato will get a 4.6-star coaching out of 5 on Trustpilot
3. Gooten
Gooten is one other T-shirt printing firm that solely connects to your current e-commerce platforms. You should utilize them to promote your customized designs on Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, Huge Commerce, and extra.
Whereas Gooten’s vendor critiques are principally constructive and say the corporate affords aggressive pricing, they don’t record costs on their web site upfront. That stated, they provide over 150 merchandise you possibly can customise together with your designs, and you’ll set your individual commissions.
- Gooten will get a 4.4-star coaching out of 5 on Trustpilot.
4. Printify
With Printify, you possibly can design something from T-shirts and leggings to equipment and décor. They’ve over 300 merchandise you possibly can customise together with your artwork and promote. Printify works by connecting to your current e-commerce retailer or on-line market, so that you’ll have to have that in place to start out promoting. They combine with eBay, Etsy, Shopify, Wix, WooCommerce, and extra!
Printify is completely free to make use of; all that you must do is pay for the bottom worth of your product as soon as an merchandise sells, and you’ll cost no matter you need for the retail worth. T-shirts begin at round $8, although the prices range relying on which printer you employ. Printify contracts with printers all around the world, so you should definitely discover one in your space for the quickest delivery.
- Printify will get a 4.7-star score out of 5 on Trustpilot.
5. Printful
Printful offers you the advantages of working your individual T-shirt enterprise with out all the trouble. There aren’t any minimal purchases, month-to-month charges, or stock. They combine with 23 completely different platforms, together with Shopify, Amazon, Storenvy, Squarespace, WooCommerce, TikTok, and extra. That being stated, if you happen to don’t have a retailer or aren’t planning on having one, this received’t be an choice for you. In addition they have a complete lineup of things you possibly can design, together with leggings, pillows, posters, tote luggage, cellular phone instances, and extra. Printful has two choices for getting began: their free plan and their professional plan, which is $49 month-to-month.
- Printful will get a 4.7-star score out of 5 on Trustpilot.
6. Redbubble
At Redbubble, you create and add your designs to promote on high-quality T-shirts, vinyl stickers, posters, gadget instances, and extra. They provide you whole management of what you promote your artwork for; simply add your margin to their base worth and record your merchandise. Most artists earn a median of 17%, nevertheless it’s completely as much as you to resolve. Redbubble does all of the heavy lifting, together with dealing with the sale transactions, coordinating the printing, arranging the supply, and offering customer support. With no month-to-month charges and free sign-up, it’s one other nice strategy to begin being profitable on-line by designing T-shirts.
- Redbubble will get a 3.5-star score out of 5 on Trustpilot.
7. Spring
For those who don’t have cash to spend money on a enterprise, no drawback! Spring is a free platform the place you possibly can design and promote your T-shirts for cash.
With Spring, you should use their on-line design studio to create your merchandise or add your individual creations to the location. You’ll must set a gross sales aim or tipping level, which is the minimal that you must promote to have your shirts printed. Then, share your marketing campaign by way of electronic mail, weblog, or social media. Your clients received’t be charged until your marketing campaign reaches the tipping level. As soon as your marketing campaign ends, shirts might be printed and despatched out, and also you’ll be paid by way of PayPal or Payoneer.
There are lots of elements to think about when determining how a lot you may make with Spring. You’ll want to consider the textual content and design you employ and your alternative of blouse.
So you will get an concept of your potential earnings with Spring, you can begin with a fundamental shirt and add a design and textual content for a complete price of $10 per shirt. You possibly can select your retail worth, let’s say $20 every, and have a aim of promoting 50 shirts. That will provide you with a revenue of $500. After all, the extra shirts you promote, the upper your revenue.
With Spring, it’s also possible to design and promote hoodies, sweatshirts, tank tops, leggings, luggage, telephone and pill instances, posters, espresso mugs, hats, and extra!
- Spring will get a 2-star score out of 5 on Trustpilot
8. Spreadshirt
Spreadshirt makes it simple for customers to earn a living designing T-shirts and different customized attire and items. You possibly can select to promote your merchandise on their on-line market or your individual web site.
The Spreadshirt platform contains every thing that you must run your retailer – together with a customized area, advertising and analytics, and computerized success of your orders. With Spreadshirt, you possibly can launch your store at no cost and management your revenue margin. They’ve over 200 customizable merchandise you possibly can promote, they usually assist you to settle for funds on-line by way of PayPal and bank card.
- Spreadshirt will get a 4.3-star score out of 5 on Trustpilot.
9. Teemill
Teemill is a sustainable print-on-demand firm that lets you launch your on-line retailer at no cost. All their merchandise are natural, they usually use renewable power to run their operations. With Teemill, you possibly can promote your individual T-shirt designs, stickers, tote luggage, puzzles, and artwork prints utilizing their platform, or you should use one in all their many integrations to promote on websites like Instagram and YouTube. In addition they supply all kinds of tutorials and advertising instruments that will help you promote your merchandise. After you’ve designed your merchandise, you’ll resolve how a lot to markup your merchandise, thus how a lot you’ll earn. Teemill is a UK-based firm that ships worldwide, and lots of of its sellers are primarily based within the US.
- Teemill will get a 4.5-star score out of 5 on Trustpilot.
10. TeePublic
TeePublic is an effective choice, even if you happen to’re not an artist or designer. You can also make cash with this T-shirt firm in two methods. First, you possibly can create your individual designs and add them to merchandise to your retailer. This earns you a set worth fee that varies relying on the product however ranges from $3-$5 on shirts, tanks, and hoodies.
Second, you possibly can turn out to be a accomplice and have a merch retailer. This can be a neat choice as a result of you possibly can function shirts with designs from different artists. You possibly can select what you want and what to hold in your retailer. You earn an 11% fee on current TeePublic designs and a further $3-$5 on gross sales of your individual merchandise. So, even if you happen to’re not a designer, you may make cash on-line promoting T-shirts!
- TeePublic will get a 4.5-star score out of 5 on Trustpilot.
11. Threadless
At Threadless, you make artwork, they usually’ll do the remaining! You possibly can open your utterly customizable artist store at no cost and promote anyplace on the earth. You set your costs and earn a revenue on something over the bottom price of the merchandise. T-shirts and tanks have a base price of $17.50, so if you happen to promote them for $27.50, you’re incomes $10 bucks on each single shirt. That’s not too unhealthy! There aren’t any minimums or delivery charges, they usually deal with stock and buyer care.
- Threadless will get a 3.7-star score out of 5 on Trustpilot.
12. TPOP
TPOP is a European-based choice for print-on-demand companies, although they provide delivery worldwide. They combine with Shopify, WooCommerce, and Etsy, so that you’ll wish to have your account on a type of platforms in place earlier than you get began. This firm is an alternative choice for greener merchandise. They provide eco-friendly merchandise and printing processes and a carbon-neutral supply service.
Regardless of being a dropshipping firm, TPOP affords utterly custom-made branding for all of your orders, together with branded packaging, delivery slips, and a thank-you observe – all for no extra cost! Their T-shirts begin at about $12.22, after which you possibly can promote for nevertheless a lot you need.
- TPOP will get a 4.7-star score out of 5 on Trustpilot.
13. Zazzle
You possibly can be part of Zazzle as a creator and add and promote your art work on T-shirts and lots of different merchandise. Open a FREE designer retailer (you even get to decide on your retailer title), choose a product so as to add your design to, and put up your creations on the market. Zazzle has a big choice of merchandise: T-shirts, espresso mugs, wall artwork, workplace provides, electronics equipment, and way more! Even pillows and jewellery!
Creators can obtain the free Adobe Photoshop Design to Print plugin to earn a living with their designs and streamline their workflow. There aren’t any upfront prices, and also you set your royalty charges, which may be anyplace from 5%-99%. Zazzle produces the merchandise and ships every thing on to your clients.
- Zazzle will get a 4.5-star score out of 5 on Trustpilot.
How a lot are you able to earn promoting customized T-shirts?
Are you questioning how a lot cash you possibly can actually make promoting customized shirts? Like most enterprise alternatives, it varies considerably. Some elements that may decide how a lot you earn embrace your graphic design abilities, your creativity, how well-liked your designs are, the way you market your corporation, what number of merchandise you’ve gotten in your store, and the way a lot time you make investments into your corporation.
I interviewed Jessica Roop from I Love Print on Demand, and she or he often earns $500 to $1,500 a month from her POD enterprise.
One other print-on-demand vendor, Benny Hsu, earned $100,000 in 5 months promoting T-shirts on Spring.
Ideas for promoting your T-shirts
When you’ve chosen a T-shirt-selling platform and designed your merchandise, it’s time to get the phrase out about your merchandise. Whereas there are numerous methods to market your T-shirt enterprise, your first technique ought to incorporate search engine optimisation.
Don’t fear; this isn’t difficult. All that you must do is incorporate the best key phrases into your product descriptions in order that when potential clients are looking for a particular area of interest, they will discover your merchandise. For example, if you happen to’re promoting a T-shirt with a picture of a canine, it’s best to embrace the breed of canine and phrases like pets or pet in your description. The extra descriptive you may be, the higher.
After you’ve gotten your product descriptions written, you’ll wish to unfold the phrase about your merchandise on websites like Fb, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. It’s best to write partaking descriptions to your social media posts that hone in in your audience. For example, if you happen to’re promoting T-shirts for youths, you’ll wish to use key phrases like kids, boys, ladies, infants, and toddlers. For those who’re not a pure author, use an AI program like Grammarly or ChatGPT that will help you develop catchy descriptions and product names.
You probably have a small advertising finances, it’s also possible to use paid Google, Pinterest, TikTok, or Fb adverts to achieve potential clients. Simply know that there’s a lot that goes into working a profitable advert marketing campaign, so study the ropes earlier than plopping down your hard-earned money.
Lastly, make sure that you’re utilizing electronic mail advertising to remain in contact together with your clients. With electronic mail advertising, that you must use a service to ship out bulk mailings so that you simply’re in compliance with CAN-SPAM legal guidelines. Here’s a record of free electronic mail advertising suppliers for enterprise homeowners who’re simply getting began.
Be aware of mental property
When designing your t-shirts, you need to pay attention to copyright and trademark infringement.
For example, you possibly can NOT take a picture of Howdy Kitty or Mickey Mouse and apply it to your merchandise. These are trademarked photographs, and if you happen to’re caught utilizing them, you might face authorized and financial repercussions.
The identical is true when utilizing templates, fonts, clip artwork, illustrations, photographs, and even quotes; that you must guarantee it’s okay for the asset for use commercially. All the time learn by means of every website’s phrases of business utilization, and when doubtful, seek the advice of a lawyer.
Earn a living designing T-shirts on-line wrapup
Designing and promoting T-shirts on-line is a good way to earn a living when you’ve got a aptitude for creativity! In lots of instances, you can begin at no cost, and it’s a wonderful passive-income choice. You create your design as soon as and promote it again and again. And all with no delivery, stock administration, massive funding, or stress!
However that doesn’t imply that promoting T-shirts is straightforward. You’ll have to end up professional-looking designs, promote your merchandise often, and set targets for your corporation. It’ll take a while and dedication, however many individuals make wonderful cash promoting T-shirts on-line; perhaps you’re subsequent!
Need assistance getting began together with your on-line T-shirt enterprise? Seize our free marketing strategy template right here and set your T-shirt-selling enterprise up for achievement!
Initially printed Could 28, 2015. Content material up to date February 2025.