ProfitDrawer's t-shirt business guide gives an example budget of about $400 to $2,900 for printing at home with a heat press. The biggest lines are the heat press ($150 to $600), an optional cutting machine or transfer printer ($0 to $500), a starter stock of blank shirts ($100 to $400) and transfers, vinyl or ink ($50 to $300). Print on demand can start much lower because you buy no equipment or stock. These are example ranges; your costs will differ.
Example budget (your costs will differ):
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Heat press | $150 | $600 |
| Cutting machine or transfer printer (optional) | $0 | $500 |
| Starter stock of blank shirts | $100 | $400 |
| Transfers, vinyl or ink | $50 | $300 |
| Mailers, tags and labels | $30 | $150 |
| Design software, fonts and graphic licenses | $0 | $200 |
| Business registration and local license | $50 | $300 |
| Samples and product photos | $20 | $150 |
| Marketing | $0 | $300 |
| Total | $400 | $2,900 |
The budget includes design software, fonts and graphic licenses, since you need the rights to the designs you sell.
Price every shirt from its full cost. In the guide's worked example, a shirt costs $14.55 to make: a $4.50 blank, $2.00 of transfer, $0.80 of mailer and tag, $6.25 of your time and $1.00 of overhead. Adding 30% to the cost (a 30% markup) gives $18.92, and covering an example 10% in selling and payment fees gives $21.02, rounded to $22 plus shipping. Put your own numbers into the free startup cost calculator.
Source: How to Start a T-Shirt Business (ProfitDrawer guide) · Updated
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General information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Check the rules for your state and your situation.