Starting a T-Shirt Business on Etsy or Shopify with Your Cricut

Have you always dreamed of starting your own tshirt business, but didn't know where to begin? One option is to sell your designs on Etsy or Shopify, online marketplaces for handmade and vintage items. With the help of a Cricut, you can easily create custom designs and transfer them onto T-shirts, sweatshirts, and other garments. In this post, we'll go over some key considerations for starting a T-shirt business on Etsy or Shopify, including choosing the right products and setting up your shop.

Choosing the Right Products

When it comes to T-shirts and sweatshirts, there are many options to choose from in terms of style, fit, and material. Some popular brands to consider include Gildan, Bella Canvas, and Next Level.

Gildan 18000 sweatshirts are the most popular crewneck sweatshirts sold on Etsy.  They are cheap in price but super comfortable and well-made.  The inside is made of the softest fleece and the outside is perfect for screen printing or adding your HTV designs from your Cricut or Silhouette. When I had an apparel shop, I sold the heck out of these.  Such a great profit margin too.

Bella Canvas 3001 tshirts are another popular option, known for their high-quality construction and soft, lightweight fabric. If you're wondering what brand and style of shirts sell best on Etsy, it's the Bella Canvas 3001.  The Bella Canvas 3001CVC will be your softer, heather colors.  There are soooo many colors and you really can't go wrong with this brand and style. HTV vinyl adheres beautifully on these shirts.  They also work great for screen printing. 

What brand of tank tops should you sell on Etsy?  Next Level 1533 was our best selling tank top.  They are extremely affordable, soft, and perfect for screen printing, HTV, or any other tshirt design process. If you have a wedding shop on Etsy, consider making bachelorette party tank tops.  Selling bachelorette party tank tops and tshirts made our Etsy shop hundreds of thousands of dollars and put us in the 1% on Etsy.  You can't go wrong with the Next Level 1533 tank. 

Where to Buy Wholesale Shirts to Sell on Etsy

I personally love Alphabroder.  They have EVERYTHING. Bella Canvas, Comfort Colors, Next Level, Gildan, and so many more brands and styles.  Jiffyshirts and S&S Activewear are also great options to buy wholesale blanks.

Setting Up Your Etsy or Shopify Shop

Once you've chosen the products you want to sell, it's time to set up your Etsy or Shopify shop. Here are a few key steps to get started:

1. Sign up for an Etsy or Shopify account and set up your shop. You'll need to choose a unique shop name and create a profile that includes information about your business.

2. Create your first listing. To add a product to your shop, click the "Add a listing" button and follow the prompts. You'll need to provide a product title, description, and photos, as well as set a price and select a category for your product.

3. Set up payment options. Both Etsy and Shopify allow you to accept payments through PayPal or direct checkout. You'll need to set up at least one of these options in order to start selling.

4. Promote your shop. Once your shop is set up, it's important to let people know about it. You can promote your shop through social media, by sharing links with friends and family, and by participating in Etsy or Shopify's seller forums and communities.

Starting a T-shirt business with a Cricut on Etsy or Shopify can be a fun and rewarding way to showcase your designs and reach a wider audience. By choosing affordable and high-quality products like Gildan 18000 sweatshirts, Bella Canvas 3001 T-shirts, and Next Level 1533 tank tops, you can offer customers a range of options that are both stylish and practical. One of the most profitable side hustles for stay at home moms and women- this side hustle can easily turn into a full time business by selling the right tshirt designs on Etsy. With a little bit of effort and some creative marketing, you can build a successful T-shirt business on Etsy or Shopify.  

At Flower Child Mockups, we sell the exact mockups we used in our six-figure Etsy shop.  Clean, simple tshirt mockups with a crisp, white background.  We found that having a mix of model mockups and white background mockups, sold best.  When your tshirt is featured on a plain white background, your tshirt design is highlighted and tends to stand out from everyone else on Etsy.  Adding a model background helps show customers how the tshirt might fit.  

It is never too late or too saturated to start your own tshirt business on Etsy or your own website (we recommend Shopify!).  All you need is a Cricut and basic heat press to start.  Good luck and happy designing!!

Enjoy these free mockups to help get you started!