How to Start a Tshirt Business on Etsy

It's never been easier to start a tshirt business on Etsy or your own website (we recommend using Shopify. We started a tshirt business on Etsy that did over a million dollars in sales in less than 3 years and it all started with the Cricut!  Whether you have a Cricut, Silhouette, screen-printer, or plan to use print on demand, there has never been a better time to start your own business selling tshirt designs.

What type of shirts should I sell on Etsy?

Our best sellers were always Bella Canvas 3001 (and 3001CVC) for unisex tshirts, Gildan 18000 for crewneck sweatshirts, and Next Level 1533 and Next Level 6733 for tanks.  

Should I sell my shirts on Etsy, my own website, or a print on demand company?

This is totally up to you! Etsy has built-in traffic, which is difficult to get if you are just starting out.  I recommend starting on Etsy and building your own website on Shopify as you go.  Building your email list is a must! This can be done on your own website. With print on demand, your profits will be much less, but it will be completely hands off- no stock, no shipping, no hassle.  Most POD companies take care of all of this for you.

Where do I buy wholesale shirts for my tshirt business?

Jiffyshirts, Alphabroder, S&S Activewear, just to name a few.

Can I use a Cricut for my tshirt business?

YES! That's exactly how we started.  A cricut and a heat press. You can upgrade as you go. 

What kinds of designs should I offer in my tshirt shop?

Totally up to you! It's beneficial to find a niche, but there is also something to be said about starting broad and seeing what sticks.  Our hot spot was the wedding industry.  You can make a fortune selling bachelorette party shirts and tanks. Trust me on this. 

How do I start an Etsy shop?

Etsy has made it super easy to start a shop selling tshirts.  Visit www.etsy.com and they will literally walk you through the process, step by step.

What is the best way to display my tshirt designs in my listing photos?

MOCKUPS! I had no idea what a tshirt mockup was for the first year of my business.  If you're wondering how shops have perfectly lit, styled photos of their tshirts- most of them are using tshirt mockups. All of our mockups are $2.50, which are some of the cheapest mockups in the industry.  The only difference is, ours don't look cheap. 

 

If you want to try some of our mockups for free to get started, click here.

Included is:

Next Level 1533 Desert Pink

Gildan 18000 White

Comfort Colors 1717 Ice Blue

Bella Canvas 3001CVC Heather Mustard

Bella Canvas 3001Heather Sage

 

This free mockup bundle will at least give you an idea of how mockups work and will allow you to play around with different designs.  We recommend using Canva! Simply download the mockup into Canva and add text or a design directly onto the mockup.  Enjoy your free Bella Canvas, Next Level, Comfort Colors, and Gildan mockups from Flower Child Mockups!