1. Choose a customer before choosing a T-shirt
“Everyone who wears T-shirts” is too broad for a small launch budget. Pick an audience you can reach: a local fitness community, a hobby group, an independent music audience or a specific style of streetwear. Talk to potential customers about fit, fabric, price and what they currently buy.
Start with one fit, one base colour and a small number of designs. Every extra colour and size adds another stock decision. Use artwork you created or have permission to sell; copying a brand logo or someone else's illustration can create problems for your business.
2. Compare three ways to start on a small budget
| Model | Main cash commitment | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Print-on-demand | Samples, selling channel and cash to pay for each fulfilled order | No bulk inventory purchase, but less control over garment options and potentially higher unit costs |
| Small batch of printed blanks | Blank T-shirts, printing, packaging and delivery | Inspect stock yourself and dispatch locally; unsold sizes remain your responsibility |
| Custom bulk production | Development, production, freight and destination costs | More scope to specify fabric and fit; larger cash and inventory commitment |
Print-on-demand means a provider prints and dispatches a product after an order is placed. For example, Printful currently offers a free account without an order minimum, while charging for the product, printing, shipping and applicable taxes. Check the provider's current pricing explanation before choosing. RAEM is not presented here as a print-on-demand provider.
Your storefront payout may arrive after a fulfilment charge is due. Keep a cash buffer rather than assuming the customer's payment will be immediately available to pay your supplier.
3. How much investment do you need?
There is no single minimum investment for a T-shirt business. It depends on your selling channel, sample costs, production model and how you attract customers. Build a budget from written quotes rather than a headline “start for free” promise.
- Samples and delivery: £60
- Basic selling-channel setup: £30
- DIY photography materials and simple packaging tests: £20
- Small marketing experiments: £40
- Fulfilment, refunds and contingency buffer: £150
A small-batch launch needs a separate stock calculation: quantity × blank and printing cost, plus packaging and delivery. A custom factory order needs a larger production and shipping budget. Avoid spending the entire budget on inventory before reserving money for fulfilment and customer service.
4. Calculate what is left from every sale
A selling price is not your profit. Include the garment, decoration, packaging, shipping you pay, marketplace or payment fees, discounts and expected returns. Account for taxes and overheads separately as applicable.
For a simple break-even check, divide your fixed launch costs by contribution per shirt after variable costs. If fixed costs are £120 and contribution is £6, you need 20 sales to cover those fixed costs, assuming the estimates hold.
5. Approve a sample and test real buying interest
Order a physical sample before promoting a garment as ready to sell. Check measurements, stitching, opacity, print placement and comfort. Wash it according to the proposed care instructions and record any shrinkage or print damage. GSM describes fabric weight; it does not prove quality by itself.
Use your own sample photos and short videos. Explain the fit and measurements clearly. Start with direct conversations and organic content in the community you chose. Measure enquiries and completed purchases; likes alone do not establish demand.
If you use pre-orders, clearly explain that production has not finished, state the expected dispatch window and explain cancellation and refund arrangements. A pre-order is a customer commitment you must be able to fulfil, not free money to cover an uncertain production plan.
6. When does sourcing T-shirts from Bangladesh make sense?
Consider bulk manufacturing once you have evidence of repeat demand, a settled specification and enough working capital. Compare the total landed cost rather than only the factory price. Freight, insurance, customs handling, applicable import charges, storage and defects can change the economics.
RAEM International supports B2B garments sourcing from Bangladesh. Our minimum order quantity is 1,000 pieces per colour: two colours mean at least 2,000 pieces. Confirm size splits, fabric availability, sampling costs and the production schedule in a written quotation. A factory production lead time should not be treated as the final delivery date to your customers.
If you are testing 20 or 50 shirts, a local small-batch printer or print-on-demand provider may suit that stage better. When demand supports bulk production, read our guides to realistic garment MOQs and private label versus buyer-brand production, then compare your specification with our product range.
A simple first-month action plan
- Week 1: Interview potential customers, choose one niche and prepare your cost sheet.
- Week 2: Create original designs, request quotes and order samples.
- Week 3: If samples have arrived, check fit and wash performance, take photographs and prepare clear product information.
- Week 4: Launch a small test if quality checks are complete. Track sales, costs, returns and customer feedback before reordering.
Adjust this schedule to actual sample and delivery times. A careful launch is more useful than rushing an untested product to meet an arbitrary date.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start a T-shirt business without buying stock?
Print-on-demand can remove the need for a bulk inventory purchase. You still need to budget for samples, selling costs and fulfilment cash flow. Sales are not guaranteed.
Should I buy a printing machine immediately?
Compare outsourcing costs with the full cost of equipment, consumables, training, space and your time. For a demand test, outsourcing can avoid committing cash to equipment before you know your sales volume.
What is RAEM International's minimum T-shirt order?
The MOQ is 1,000 pieces per colour. Contact RAEM with your fabric, fit, sizes, artwork and destination for an order-specific assessment.
Is a lower factory price always better?
No. Compare the approved specification, sampling, quality checks, delivery terms and total landed cost. A cheap shirt that does not meet your customers' expectations can be expensive to replace.
Ready to plan a bulk T-shirt order?
Send RAEM International your target quantity per colour, fabric composition and GSM, fit, size breakdown, artwork, destination and required delivery window. We can assess whether your brief fits our sourcing service.