YOUR FIRST PRINT BUSINESS
Starting a T-Shirt Printing Business in the UK
Start with a customer, a small set of blanks and a tested process. This practical garment-buying plan takes you from your first sample to a repeatable paid order.
Choose the first customer before the first bulk order
A local business uniform, an event T-shirt and a streetwear launch need different garments. Pick one initial audience and write down the fit, feel, price point and decoration they expect. Start with a short range you can explain and repeat, rather than buying many colours and sizes before you know what will sell.
Decide how you will produce the clothing
A startup using bought-in DTF transfers and a heat press needs a compatible garment and transfer system. Screen printing needs the appropriate ink, setup and curing process. DTG has its own ink and pretreatment requirements. Embroidery needs a suitable garment, design file and stabiliser. Decide what you can produce consistently or outsource before promising a finished product to a customer.
Build your first blank T-shirt shortlist
Compare the Gildan SoftStyle GD01 and Gildan Heavy Cotton GD05 by composition, weight, surface and fit. For a second product, consider the AWDis College Hoodie JH001 or a Westford Mill W101 cotton tote. These are starting points to sample, not a universal recommendation for every print method. The selected colour can use a different composition from the main style.
Order samples without opening a trade account
Plain Clothing accepts orders from one garment. Choose the exact colours and core sizes you expect to sell, then check the size guide, manufacturer labels and decoration area. Include delivery in the sample budget. If the finished product needs your own branding, check the removable-label specification and what information remains on the garment.
Decorate, wear and wash before selling
Follow the garment care instructions and the ink or transfer manufacturer’s application instructions. Inspect adhesion, feel, colour stability and garment shape after washing. For embroidery, inspect puckering and the reverse of the design. Record the style code, colour, size, artwork and production settings. Keep the approved sample for later orders.
Cost the finished order, not just the blank
Include blanks, transfers or inks, outsourcing, packaging, labels, delivery, payment fees, production time and rejected items. For an illustration, 12 blanks at £3 each, £12 of decoration, £6 of packaging and £8 delivery cost £62 before VAT, labour and other overheads: about £5.17 each. These are example inputs, not catalogue prices. Use your actual basket and production costs before choosing a selling price.
Prepare a repeatable first customer order
Confirm quantities by style, colour and size. Check current stock before accepting a fixed deadline, and show the customer the agreed garment and design. After a successful first job, keep the specification so a repeat order starts with the same blank. Expand your range when customers ask for something your existing garments cannot cover.
Build your sample shortlist.
These are plain catalogue garments to compare. Open a product to check its current colours, sizes, price and specification.
Find your starting point.
Compare garment photographs, fabric, weight and label details. Order from one garment; UK delivery is £8 plus applicable VAT, or free over £250 excluding VAT.
Shop the blanks →Delivery conditions →