Printing on business clothes. T-shirt printing: starting your own business

Both beginners and professionals in the printing business will feel great in this niche. It does not require too large capital investments, has high profitability and therefore quickly pays for itself. Equipment for printing on T-shirts is the first thing to think about, but the choice depends on the technological methods used.

• How to start a T-shirt printing business
• What equipment to choose for thermal transfer printing on T-shirts
• Necessary equipment for screen printing (screen printing) on ​​T-shirts
• What equipment is best for sublimation printing on T-shirts?
• How much can you earn
• How much money do you need to start a business?
• Which OKVED code must be indicated when opening a T-shirt printing business?
• What documents are needed to open
• Which tax system to choose for a T-shirt printing business?
• Do I need a permit to open a T-shirt printing business?

How to start a T-shirt printing business

In order for your business to start functioning fully, you will need:

• A computer on which any graphics editor, for example Photoshop, is installed.
• The printer required to transfer the selected design directly to the surface of the T-shirt. This can be a traditional inkjet printer equipped with a CISS, or a printer with conventional cartridges.
• Thermal press
• Plotter for cutting.

But, if you decide to somewhat diversify the range of products offered, then we’ll talk in more detail about T-shirt printing technologies and the required equipment.

What equipment to choose for thermal transfer printing on T-shirts

This technological method involves applying a picture to a material using an intermediate medium. Currently, this is the most popular option when printing pictures on ceramic products, in particular, mugs.

Thermal transfer technology demonstrates a number of undeniable advantages:

1. allows you to very quickly transfer the required image to the selected surface, preserving the original color palette;
2. It is not necessary to order a minimum circulation; printing of single copies is possible;
3. the resulting color image is quite stable during the washing process.

What equipment do you need to purchase for printing on T-shirts and mugs in this case? So, you will need:

1) Printing device
With this pattern transfer technology, almost any color printer will be suitable. At the same time, the durability of the applied pattern depends not only on the quality of the thermal transfer paper, but also on the properties exhibited by the paint itself.
The most durable designs are obtained if you choose a printer that prints with solid, water-resistant inks that are not afraid of heat. To the category of such devices that provide high-quality thermal transfer,
relate:

• laser color printer;
• sublimation printer;
• thermal portable printer.

2) Intermediate carrier
Perhaps the most important component of the technology under consideration is specialized transfer paper. It is she who takes on the functions of an intermediate carrier of the future image. What is she like?
The front side of the paper is covered with a layer of thin film, which, with a picture printed on it, is transferred to the surface of the selected material. The paper itself acts as a substrate for the film, and also provides the required rigidity for working with the printing device.
It is worth considering that thermal transfer paper has its own characteristics, which affect not only the requirements for printing devices, but also the quality of the thermal transfer. The choice of this paper depends on what kind of picture (matte or glossy) you need, as well as the shade of the future base material.
3) Thermal transfer press
This equipment differs in its design, as well as the heating surface area, which allows you to buy a device that fully meets your technological requirements.

Necessary equipment for screen printing (screen printing) on ​​T-shirts

Another option is to print a design on ready-made T-shirts. Screen printing additionally allows you to apply color designs to the surface of almost any material. This application technology, if we consider its production side, is universal.

The equipment required for this type of printing can be represented by either manual machines or a fully professional (automated) set of equipment. The only difference between them is the speed of production. An automated press is most advantageous for producing large batches, but a printing press alone will not be enough. You will need to purchase the entire set of equipment. And this:

1. the printing machine itself;
2. equipment needed to create a printed stencil;
3. drying equipment;
4. additional devices.

Silk-screen printing technology is applicable for printing on any material. In this case, it does not matter at all what fabric will serve as the base: synthetic or a completely natural cotton surface.

What equipment is best for sublimation printing on T-shirts?

Sublimation is the simplest and least investment option for textile printing. But there is one caveat: sublimation printing is only possible on synthetic materials. Drawings applied in this way to natural fabrics lose their color very quickly. The sublimation method is also widely used when printing images on mugs.

Equipment you will need to buy:

• Sublimation thermal press. It is this device that transforms the paint into a gaseous state when it is transferred to the desired surface.
• Computer. It is necessary in the process of editing a picture, as well as outputting it to a printing device.
• A printer. Which printer to buy is most suitable for printing on T-shirts using sublimation? Our advice: buy any inkjet color printer.
• Special ink. Specialized sublimation ink freely transforms into a gaseous state when heated.
• Sublimation paper

Also a necessary piece of equipment for this printing technology. It has a looser structure due to increased porosity. During the heating process, the pores become wider, trapping the dye inside. After the surface of the product cools down, they automatically close and the picture remains on the surface of the paper.

Sublimation printing is done on T-shirts made of two-layer fabric: the top is polyester, the inside is cotton.

I have already published several guides on how to make money selling T-shirts from foreign authors ( ), but this time I will talk about my experience.

While finishing my New Year's Olivier, I started testing a service for selling T-shirts with various prints.

The principle of its operation is very simple:

1. Create a design for a T-shirt
2. You receive a special link to this product.
3. If a product is purchased through your link, you receive 25% of the product price
4. If the product was not purchased through your link, you receive 5% of the cost of the product

The first stage of creating a print

You should start by working out the niche in which you will work.

Of course, you can simply create a beautiful design on any topic, but there will be problems selling it.

The print design should be related to a specific theme.

For example, I am interested in cryptocurrencies. This topic is close to me, I know what is trending now. I can create a print that will appeal to that audience.

I know where this audience lives, so I know where I can sell my designs.

But if you create a beautiful abstract design, then I don’t even know where you need to advertise to sell it.

As you may have guessed, there are countless themes for creating designs.

For example, work (police, firefighters, doctors, etc.), hobbies (fishing, hunting, coins, stamps), sports, etc.

It seems to me that most often ladies buy T-shirts with prints for their boyfriends as a gift for a certain date (February 14, February 23, DR). Although I could be wrong, guys, write in the comments if you bought T-shirts with prints.

Therefore, I would create designs specifically for a male audience.

Once you learn how to create and sell your products, you can consider the niche of hype news.

What is important here is the speed of creating and distributing advertisements for your products, and this requires some experience.

Searching and preparing images

Do you already have a big idea and are raring to go? Great, let's move on to the design creation process.

For this we need Photoshop or its equivalent and a little imagination.

Large and high-quality images of 3500 px on the smaller side are used for the design.

Therefore, if you don't know how to draw, you can create a design from other people's drawings.

Finding a high-quality image in such a large format is quite difficult, so it is better to use vector images that can be enlarged to any size without loss of quality.

Vector images can be downloaded from freepik.com. I use them to create the main background of T-shirts.

We go to the site. Enter the request in English, select the vector and psd format, download the images you like.

Open it using Photoshop. We indicate the resolution and set the color mode to CMYK.

If you are satisfied with the colors, then go to the Image – Mode tab and change the CMYK mode back to RGB.

Save the image in JPG format.

This way we collect and prepare all the images we need.

Creating a design in the designer

I'll show you with an example.

I decided to create several designs dedicated to the popular game Clash of Clans. I would like to note that some topics are prohibited for use. You can read in detail

We upload all images to the site.

Moderation of designs takes a long time, about 5 days, so you need to do everything clearly in accordance with the instructions. Otherwise, your design will be closed for revision and you will have to wait another 3-4 days.

Of these, only 2 designs were of interest to buyers.

As a result of the experiment, we managed to earn 411 rubles. Completely passive income.

This is a reward for selling my designs; if I sold these T-shirts myself through my referral site, my earnings would be more than 2,000 rubles.

But it turned out that in VK and Yandex this topic is prohibited, and in Telegram the prices for advertising are astronomical.

I had to abandon this idea, but as you can see, even without advertising, T-shirts are sold completely automatically.

conclusions

If you are not such a crooked designer like me, then your work will sell much better.

Correctly define your target audience, this will help in sales.

The Print Bar has all the tools for this. You can create your own store on your own domain, with statistics and traffic tracking systems.

If you are not interested in this, then you can simply create designs for your own pleasure. They will be sold on the site, and you will receive passive income.

A flower vase, a photo frame, or maybe an organizer with a calculator? All this is terribly boring and banal. And the giver will always worry about whether he will like his gift or not. This is a serious problem, people suffer, do not sleep at night, do not eat enough, trying to find a solution to this eternal problem.

And if there is a person who will help them solve it, they will proclaim him god. Okay, I exaggerated a little here :)

But, nevertheless, by offering a solution to this problem, you will not only receive an excellent attitude from others, but you will also be able to make a business out of it. What could be a universal gift? Ahh... so you already read the title and know the answer.

Yes, that's right, a T-shirt with a cool inscription, design, symbol. Such a gift is pleasant to give and pleasant to receive. It's always fun, interesting and original. You can continue to list the benefits of such a gift, but I will save your traffic. Today there are many similar offers on the Internet. Do a search and get a bunch of sites on similar topics.

But, when ordering online, how long will you have to wait before receiving your order. Are you sure of the quality of the T-shirt (after all, you can’t check this), and will the size fit? What if the image is erased after the first wash. What if you don’t receive your order on time, and your friend’s birthday is tomorrow. There are many questions and not all have clear answers. In the business scheme I propose, the main target market is people living in your city. It is with them that I propose to work. They deserve a reputation and an honest name. In your city, accept and fulfill orders. There are many advantages to this, I will list a few.

• Confidence, this is the main thing. You work directly with people, they know and trust you. This is not the Internet, where you can cheat relatively easily and without consequences.
• Efficiency, order execution time is 1 - 3 days. People can plan gifts for a specific holiday. Without worrying that they won't receive their order on time.
• Delivery, if you organize it, the number of orders will increase significantly.
• Responsibility. In this case, this is not your advantage, but the customer's. You are personally responsible for the order. But even if the customer is satisfied, you are guaranteed positive recommendations. One satisfied client will bring you at least 3 new ones. (tested on myself)
• Order acceptance points, they display samples of T-shirts, you can choose the size, model and color, and see the quality.

Now let's look at it from the customer's side. He will most likely think like this :)

“It’s great that such T-shirts are made in my city. I know these people, I trust them. I can always ask them for quality. I have their phone numbers, I know where their order points are. And on their website, I can choose the T-shirt I like from a constantly updated catalog, I can call them and order this T-shirt for delivery. I know that I will receive my order on time. And if I suddenly want something exclusive, individual, then they will help to realize it, and will not brush me off.”

The conclusion is simple for success in this business. What is important is personal participation and personal responsibility. They allow you to develop a base of regular customers. And satisfied clients will be happy to recommend you to friends and acquaintances. And your reputation and good name in this case will bring you regular customers and ever-increasing profits.

• The point of order is important, where they will take orders and issue them. Or even better, several such points around the city.
• Delivery within the city is important. If you organize this, the number of customers will increase significantly.
• The proposed t-shirt design is very important. The richer and more varied the selection of designs offered, the more likely it is that a client will leave you by ordering several T-shirts at once and the more orders you will have.
• Style and other show-offs are important. Labels, stickers, packaging, order forms. Everything that will create the impression of your service as something very fashionable and prestigious.
• Timing is important And. 1–3 days. And all the competitors that are on the Internet are no longer competitors :)
• Advertising is important. There are many options here. For example, these could be leaflets or stickers in places where young people gather. Cinemas, clubs, sports complexes, Internet clubs, parks, shopping centers. It is young people at the initial stage who will most likely be your first customers.

Now let's talk directly about the proposed technology, equipment and consumables. Thermal transfer technology is used to print T-shirts. Thermal transfer technology is not new. Stores sell special printer paper. Using it and an iron, you can transfer the image onto a white T-shirt. This is thermal transfer. So, to open our business we will need to purchase 15 irons. Preferably cast iron. After all, pressure is important. And then... Stop! Lights out! We don't need irons! I was just trying to be funny!

Everything that can be obtained with the help of an iron and such paper is handicraft. A picture translated using this technology may peel off as soon as you put on a T-shirt. And you can keep quiet about washing. Our goal is to obtain a high-quality, commercial product. Which will delight customers for many years.

To print high-quality images on T-shirts, as well as on any other fabric items (jeans, panties, backpacks, jackets, sports uniforms, bags, socks, ties, aprons, jackets, umbrellas, scarves and bandanas), we need a special thermal transfer press.

The size of the printing area of ​​the press is important. For example, 25x25 cm or higher. Timer for at least 1 minute, the heating temperature of the press should be at least 250 degrees Celsius. And it is important for us that the heat press provides uniform pressure and pressure. Prices for thermal presses, depending on the manufacturer, are in the range 500–2000 $. Inexpensive Chinese-made heat presses are quite suitable for the job, the main thing is that they suit us according to the above parameters.

The next thing we need is a cutting plotter or cutter.

It is used in advertising agencies and printing houses for the production of outdoor advertising. Vinyl self-adhesive films are cut on it. Their prices start from 500 $ and reach 3000 $. The size of the working area is important to us, at least 50 cm. The ability to control knife pressure and cutting speed.

I hope that if you are reading this article, you have a computer. This is the last necessary tool for our business. That's it for the equipment. To the above, I would like to add that the equipment can be used at home, in the garage, or in the country. It does not make noise and does not emit harmful odors. The technology will appeal to clean people. No paint stains, no solvent odors. Everything is clean and beautiful. After several years of working with silk-screen printing, this is a fairy tale for me :)

Now about something equally important, consumables. They are what make our technology the best. Best for decorating T-shirts. Special thermal films are used for printing. They are designed for printing specifically on fabrics.

The choice of colors and special effects is huge. In addition to a set of primary colors, there are thermal films that glow in the dark, there are reflective films, there are holographic films, gold and silver, transparent and with glitter, matte and glossy, velvet and with textures, you can’t list them all.

For high-quality printing, you need to use high-quality thermal films. If the equipment can be used, it is made in China. These are thermal films, only from European manufacturers with a good reputation.

Prices for high-quality thermal films from European companies range from $8–15 per square meter. Prices for thermal films with special effects range from $20–50. Thanks to this, you get a T-shirt that will serve a person faithfully for many centuries :) I misspoke, only a few years. Initially, the technology was created for printing sports uniforms and workwear for rescuers, firefighters and other special services. Therefore, the durability of the print is truly unique. The image is practically eternal. This technology is one of the few technologies that can be used to print high quality on dark T-shirts.

Oh, let's count the money we'll get if we get into this business. To find out the possible profit, you need to know the costs, the cost of production.

Based on the cost of consumables, 1 square centimeter of thermal film comes out to around 0.0015 cents (in rubles it will be about 5 kopecks). The cost of the design will be 15 rubles for one color and the same for the second. And how much was the cost of the whole picture in 2 colors? Well done, we made it to 30 rubles. Okay, let's add for marriage, 10 rubles on top for the skeptics. :) We get a little more than $1. So. Plus the cost of the T-shirt itself. Here the price range can be large. You can use a T-shirt for $3, or you can use it for $10.

We ourselves offer our customers two types of T-shirts, expensive premium T-shirts (for the customer the price of a finished T-shirt is $20) and cheap economy class T-shirts (the price for the customer is $12). We subtract all conceivable and inconceivable expenses, electricity, air, taxes, rain, snow, and still the profitability of the business does not fall below 100–200%. You can count it again :)

By the way, you can also print on the customer’s T-shirts if he brought his own T-shirt. In this case, the cost of the T-shirt is not taken into account. (At home, we print just a picture for about 8–10 $, the markup is more than 500%).

But for exclusive orders based on client sketches, you can charge more money (from $30 and above). We also often receive large-scale corporate orders for 10–50 T-shirts. Prices, of course, have to move, but the profit is still good.

Calculations for monthly profitability are individual. Everything depends on you. You can collect 50 orders per month, or 100 per week. So I won’t speculate on these calculations :)

Let's summarize. What does this technology give us?

1. Quality. This is truly the best quality t-shirt printing available. The durability is unique.
2. Large selection of special effects. Which is very attractive to customers.
3. Efficiency. Indeed, a T-shirt can be made in 15–20 minutes. But for the customer we’ll set it to 1-3 days so that they don’t get too fat :)
4. Exclusivity. You don't need to print a circulation to achieve profitability. This is not silkscreen printing. And printing a single T-shirt is just as profitable as a large-scale order.
5. High profitability, see calculations above.

The conclusion is the following: you can start your own business, highly profitable, promising, and interesting, by investing only $4,000–5,000 in this business.

There are many pessimists who will argue that this is all untrue and does not work. That the market is oversaturated, and there is no point in trying to do anything. You can waste time trying to prove something to them. But I'd rather watch TV. Yes, also useless, but not so boring :)

I wish you success in any endeavor, Andrey.

Most modern areas of entrepreneurship are aimed at creating unique things. The basic capabilities of new computer technologies can bring good income. For example, the opening of production will no longer surprise anyone. There are a large number of large enterprises. This niche is occupied. A good direction would be to open a company for applying designs to clothes - printing on T-shirts.

Choosing the legal form of an enterprise

For almost any small business with minimal investment, registration comes down to opening an individual entrepreneur. This is mainly due to the lowest tax rate, which is very important for new entrepreneurs.

For a mini-company, creating a limited liability company is not a practical solution. This option is suitable for medium and large enterprises. LLC has difficulty in registering and high taxes. If you have chosen the direction of printing on T-shirts as an extension of an old project, for example, to, then the society is registered.

Basic information on registering an individual entrepreneur:

Information on opening an LLC:

T-shirt printing equipment

There are 2 main printing technologies:

Inkjet printer;
method of direct image transfer. The drawing is printed on special paper. After this, it is transferred to the fabric using a heat press under high temperature.

Printer specifications:

Characteristics	Epson SureColor SC-F2000	M&R I-Dot	Azon Tex Pro A2
price, rub.	1300000	1900000	580000
Print resolution, dpi	1440x1440	1440x1440; 720x720; 360x360	2880×1440
Number of print cartridges	6	8 (4 white + 4 CMYK)	8
Printing speed, pcs/hour	22-27	20-50	30
Printing technology	Jet	Jet	Jet

Full set of equipment:

A printer;

Cutting plotter;
computer;
replaceable cartridges;
graphic applications.

Printer technology

1. Fabric preparation. The fabric is smoothed to remove wrinkles, then treated with a primer and placed on a tablet - a special stand for a desktop. The desktop is placed at the starting point.

2. Applying a white backing. When the substrate is printed, the table is again positioned at the starting point. Ink used for DTG printers. They are odorless and not harmful to health.

3. Print the image. Using multi-colored ink, the desired design is applied to a white substrate.

4. Laying the finished product in a heat press. The T-shirt is fixed for 40 seconds - 2 minutes. The product is processed at a temperature of 160-170 degrees. The time depends on the quality of the material and the thickness of the ink layer.

Important! If technology without the use of white ink is used, the fabric does not require pre-treatment with a primer.

Hello, dear readers. This article will be devoted to one of the proven and profitable ideas for small businesses, namely, applying images to T-shirts (printing). Of course, I’m not going to claim originality; after all, this direction has been developing in our market for more than five years. I will only say that there are prospects for development, including in terms of profit growth.

T-shirt printing - how it became popular

Perhaps those who are older will remember how, back in the early 90s, the youth of that time used “foreign” fashionable designs, which were applied to a T-shirt using an iron. Some even got involved in commercial activities for the first time by selling them in schools. The quality of the “print” at that time left much to be desired, and the very first wash destroyed all the results of the work. Of course, even this fact could not stop people wanting to show their individuality, and the demand for the products only grew.

Now, technological progress has radically changed the situation, and images of dubious quality have been replaced by high-quality thermal film with various effects, special inks, the iron has been replaced by a high-pressure press, and many other “bells and whistles” have been introduced, which will be mentioned throughout the article. Advertising also had a positive effect on the increase in the number of clients. T-shirt printing began to be ordered not only by individuals, but also by corporate clients, and the matter was no longer limited to T-shirts alone: ​​the image can now be applied to hats, dishes, ceramic, glass and metal surfaces, which has made printing an integral part of the gift industry.

T-shirt printing as a business

Let's assume that I managed to convince you, and you no longer doubt the relevance of the proposed idea. Now is the time to look at the process of making and selling T-shirt printing.

First of all, you will need to get a computer and install a functional graphics editor on it. I would advise you to first pay attention to CorelDraw and Adobe Photoshop. Then (here it all depends on the image transfer technology that you intend to use) you need to purchase suitable equipment: a printer for direct printing on fabric - the best option would be an inkjet with the ability to refill cartridges, a cutting plotter and a heat press. A small printing station can easily be operated by one person with imaging skills. Professional skills, except perhaps the learned simple safety rules, will not be needed. To make sure of this, let’s look at the two most common methods of applying drawings.

Thermal decal

The film of the desired color is cut using a plotter, the remainder is removed by hand. Then the multi-colored images are assembled as an appliqué. The prepared design is glued to the product under pressure from a heat press. That’s it, the T-shirt with the “print” is ready. The main advantage of this method is the ability to use materials of absolutely any color. The disadvantages are the labor-intensive process of assembling and cleaning images. It is recommended to use thermal decal when printing simple pictures.

Sublimation

First, the design is printed with sublimation ink on special paper, after which it is pressed to the product under high temperatures. As a result, the paint transfers into the fabric. You can no longer feel such a picture with your hand, since the fibers are directly colored. The resulting design is much less susceptible to wear and tear; the T-shirt can be easily spun in the washing machine, without fear that cracks will appear in the image or it will suddenly fade. On the other hand, sublimation technology imposes restrictions on the material used - the product must be made of polyester.

The whole process in both cases will take no more than half an hour, even if you spend a long time selecting a picture and fiddling with the settings of the graphic editor. And for “experienced” workers, printing will take much less time. Once everything is ready, you can immediately transfer the finished product to the client and receive your money. It is not surprising that this and a number of other features have made T-shirt printing a popular business.

T-shirt printing – why is it profitable?

Firstly, to organize a workplace, you will need only 20-30 square meters (and that’s with a margin). That is, there will still be a lot of free space to place mannequins on which finished samples will be hung, and other additional “devices”.

Secondly, printing images on T-shirts, from a technological point of view, is very simple. Even an inexperienced worker will be able to master all the subtleties of this art in just a couple of days.

The third thing to mention is high margins. If you add up the cost of the drawing itself (average prices will be given below) - about 2 dollars, the wholesale price of one T-shirt - 2-3 dollars, then it turns out that production costs are two, or even more, times less than the profit from the sale. Clients are willing to pay from 10 to 15 dollars for a good “print”. As you can see, even the lowest markup allows you to ensure 100-150% profit.

And the fourth point, last on the list, but not least important, is business diversification. All the main components that you use when applying designs to T-shirts: a computer, a plotter, your own knowledge in the field of graphic design, all this opens up a bunch of additional possibilities for you. You can print cups, banners and billboards. In general, there are plenty of options.

Cons of business

There is a fly in the ointment in every barrel of honey - there is no escape from it. This type of income, like all others, has its drawbacks. I will list three of them, so to speak, in contrast to the above advantages.

The most obvious thing that can scare away novice entrepreneurs is the need for significant initial investments. Just one heat press coupled with a printer will cost you $1000, but don’t forget about consumables, rent for the premises (you can, of course, install the equipment at home, and instead of a point of sale, create and promote your own online store, but then difficulties will arise with its promotion, and the income will be several times less) and other mandatory components of the T-shirt business.

The second point is quite serious competition. Now everyone who is not too lazy is using this simple and profitable idea. All you have to do is go to any photocopier/printing machine and with a 95% probability you will see an advertisement for this service there. In general, if you are not able to organize a competent advertising campaign to attract customers, then the idea will not work.

The third disadvantage is that high profitability is negated by small sales. Some people are simply not interested in the images on T-shirts, others decided to order from competitors, and so on. If you serve two or three people a week, you will make a ridiculous profit.

Conclusion

T-shirt printing is a great start for entrepreneurs with a small budget. To organize such a business, you will need an average of 2-4 thousand dollars (how much or little this is, everyone decides for themselves). In any case, thanks to the high profitability, the initial investment will pay off very quickly - in just a couple of months. Of course, for this you will need to try: to choose a good location for the point of sale, to include additional services in the price list.

Reviews

I offer an option for making money on T-shirts, which will be even cheaper than described in the article: create an online store website with all the necessary gadgets - accepting online payments and so on, fill it with content (in our case, these will be samples of printing on mugs, T-shirts, posters, etc. further), promote the site and start accepting orders from users. Then you go to the nearest copy center that has a printing service and print out your orders. You send finished products to clients. Then, if things go well, buy additional equipment and print yourself.
Of course, prices need to be raised by 20 percent so as not to remain at a loss.

The payback period for this business is a little confusing: About 3,000 bucks must be invested (and this is not counting the rental of staff and hiring an employee), while the net profit from a T-shirt will not exceed 4-5 dollars (let’s be realistic, for 15 bucks no one will buy a T-shirt will buy, no matter how unique it is! And they are unlikely to order more than 10 T-shirts per day, even in the most “passable place" (again, let’s face the truth). Thinking about the calculations, it turns out that the profit is quite small, and doesn't come right away!

Another disadvantage of this business is the seasonality, a couple of months in winter and summer holidays...

Seasonality does not have as much of an impact here as, for example, in the ice cream trade. In addition, there is a link to dates and occasions (birthdays, etc.) that occur throughout the year, gifts are often bought “for future use”, sometimes vice versa, the deadline for ordering a print is “burning” - there are many nuances that need to be calculated very difficult!

The disadvantages of this technology are the unjustified high cost of equipment, a high percentage of defects, the inability to work with all sizes of T-shirts, the high cost of printing, Printing technologies - heat transfer and sublimation will be better and higher quality than the method of direct printing on fabric

I think that this idea has long since become a thing of the past; it will only be suitable for fans, if sold at concerts, but of course they will be suitable for football fans. Any other sporting competition, but en masse it is no longer very popular.

And I want to support this idea, but with some reservations. We need to focus on rhinestones! Aunties love it when everything sparkles and shines. They are ready to pay money for it.
The main thing is to promote these T-shirts as exclusive. Make articles with photos of show business stars wearing T-shirts with rhinestones and sparkles. By the way, you can print not only on T-shirts, but also on pajamas, baseball caps, handbags, bandanas, etc.
The main thing is that it is bright and original.

Polina,
Well, what glitters is sold ready-made from China and especially from Turkey. We must try to make it shine very beautifully and original. And it’s very noticeable, but tasteful, that is, it needs to compete with the Chinese and Turks in originality.

Tatyana, the fun is in the uniqueness and exclusivity. Imagine if you created a service “a photo of your dog in rhinestones.” This is chic! Few glamorous aunts can resist such temptation.
True, the clientele will be specific; we know who loves everything shiny and flashy. But these are details, the main thing is that the product is sold.

Yes, this niche has been occupied for a long time, I think everywhere. There are several people doing this in my city. Some people opened a print shop for mugs and T-shirts. others print and sell their products on the market under the guise of the most unusual and cool T-shirts

In my city there are also several salons with such services. The first is a store of T-shirts with cool inscriptions and, accordingly, they make T-shirts to order and also in the Fujifilm salon they make such inscriptions, as well as on cups and other surfaces.

Well, you know, again, such a business shouldn’t exist in itself; here we should be talking not only about printing on T-shirts, but about printing in general, maybe on mugs and other accessories. But printing on T-shirts is simply too narrow; I print on T-shirts for myself at home using thermal transfer paper.

Starover, after all, T-shirts are the most popular product, and the technique of applying the design differs from applying, say, to mugs. I think that this circumstance forces entrepreneurs to deliberately “narrow down” their business: it’s better to do what happens quickly and is always in demand!

There may be a lot of competition, but I personally haven’t seen many T-shirts with really cool and original inscriptions, so everything is in your hands, if you have good taste and imagination knows no bounds, then you can print something on them that people will like, then I think they will tear you away, people like to stand out and be original, they are willing to pay a lot for it.

Well, of course this is good, but someone has to do it too :) Do you mean that you would buy ready-made ones? Or would you order it with your own invented inscriptions? If the latter, then this more or less makes sense, but if the former, then it would simply be mediation.

Yes, this is undoubtedly a good business idea, but is it worth it? How many buyers do you think can be found in this area? In my opinion, very little. Even if they are found, they will not place orders for large quantities and, of course, this business does not justify itself.