The cheapest way to start a shirt brand isn't buying a printer. It's buying transfers. You design, we print, you press and ship. No minimums means you can test a design with one shirt before you stock a hundred.
- Minimums
- None
- Equipment
- A heat press
- Fabrics
- Cotton, poly, blends, fleece
- Ships
- Same day before 1PM PT
Print on demand vs pressing your own
| Print on demand platform | Pressing DTF yourself | |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | None | A heat press and blanks |
| Margin per shirt | Low | Higher |
| Blank choice | Their catalog | Any brand you want |
| Shipping speed | Their schedule | Yours |
| Packaging and branding | Limited | Fully yours |
Print on demand is a fine way to test ideas with zero inventory. Once a design sells, pressing your own transfers usually pays for the press quickly and puts the brand in your hands.
Step 1: Pick a niche and a few designs
Start narrow. A specific crowd, like a local run club, a hobby, or an inside joke, sells better than generic graphics. Launch with three to five designs instead of thirty.
Step 2: Get your art print-ready
Set files at 300 DPI at the final print size, saved as PNG with a transparent background. Our artwork specs cover the details, and the size chart shows sizes by placement.
Step 3: Order transfers on a gang sheet
A gang sheet lets you fit every design, size, and placement on one sheet and pay by sheet size. Put your front prints, back prints, and neck tags on the same sheet to stretch your budget. More on how they work in What Is a DTF Gang Sheet?
Step 4: Get a heat press and blanks
A clamshell or swing-away press handles shirts and hoodies. Buy blanks from a wholesale supplier, and order a few extras of each size for test presses.
Step 5: Press, photograph, and sell
Press at 300°F for 10 seconds with high pressure, peel hot, and post-press for 5 seconds. Full steps are in our heat press settings. Shoot real photos of your shirts and list them on your own store, Etsy, or at local markets.
Step 6: Reorder what sells
Transfers store flat for 6 to 12 months, so you can order a small stock and press shirts as orders come in. Reorder the winners. Retire the rest.
FAQ
Do I need a DTF printer to start?
No. Ordering transfers skips the printer, ink, powder, and maintenance.
Is there a minimum order?
No minimums.
How fast can I get transfers?
Orders placed before 1PM PT ship the same business day. LA locals can pick up in Chatsworth.
Turn your first designs into stock
We print in-house in Los Angeles.