This section of the forum is for discussing the business and finance issues of the t-shirt industry. Which business structure to use (sole proprietor, LLC, S Corp, etc), how to handle billing, where to register your business and get the proper licensing, etc.
I'm starting a screen printing shop in my basement. The plan is to keep my current job and screen print at home till i "know the ropes" and am confident enough quit my job and one day get a shop outside the home. I don't plan on advertising much at first, mostly learning.
My main concern is, how i am going to get and deal with customers without a storefront?
How do i work out color or graphic details with them?
Is this all possible via email? Are customers happy with doing business online and emails, or over the phone? i think i would be, but i also am kind of picky when I get my own stuff printed.
Any advise and/or experiences would be greatly appreciated. This is my first post and this forum ROCKS!
It is definetly possible to be successful working from home. There are several members here that work from their homes. One particular member (who does great training videos... ) has been very successful working from home. However, I do believe that he does have the freedom to do the leg work he needs to do during the day since he doesn't have a "full time" day job. So, the only limitation I see is the ability to be able to get out and "find" the business having to hold down a full time day job.
But, I'm sure there are many here who have managed and can chime in with advice. You might want to start out looking for opportunities close to you (with your current employer or organizations you are part of perhaps).
Long as you atleast have a website you should have no problem. Customers dont mind doing work via email as long as they know they will be getting good quality, and what they pay for. Thats where the website comes in they gone want to see pictures of what you can do.
I do in house printing, and it has not been a problem for me. Half the time people don't ask about where I'm located and when they do I say "off M.L.K" that is a street near me, then when they get real specific I let them know"well At the time I have a office in the back of my house where I do all of my printing" And thats it for that. Usually they applaud me for doing something so unique out of my house.
Having a storefront should not be a problem with getting customers if you advertise meaning, leaving flyers at stores, passing out business cards, cold calling, advertising is the key.
I have had big contracts with schools some of which who asked where I am located and "off MLK" was the end of it. So doing this out of your home will not be a issue, the issue is making sure your work is perfect thats mainly all they care about "can you get the job done"
Also, I use to work, and that was where I jumped off, doing embroidered pillows for people who worked there, and so they told people and the word got out, then I found it hard to work and get all of my orders done. I remember thinking" if I can make this much money with people around me, I can imagine how much I would make if I got out and advertised so other people would know. I knew that I didnt have time to advertise by me working so much SO I QUIT. And I have been fine since then. Especially if you plan on buying a press. You can come up with designs and go out once you get a permit and set up a table with those shirts. It's always a way to make money with this. T-shirts are a part of clothing and everyone must have clothes.
When I contacted the city I live in about running the business out of my home, they said I couldn't have any signs for the company at the house (the house had to look like a house, not a business), and I couldn't have any customers at the house. They also said I was limited to 500 cubic feet of business materials occupying space in the house.
Hi. I started working from home, selling purely online. Originally this was part time, but now I do this as a full time business.
There are some practical limitations in working from home. The main one being that your equipment and stock takes up a lot of space. As the business grows, so does the physical volume of equipment and stock. You need a dedicated work area that is not shared with anything else. You also need dry storage space.
Another limiting factor if you are doing this part time whilst holding down a full time job, is having your parcels delivered where someone can sign for them in the daytime. Likewise you need to think about how you will physically ship items in the daytime, if you are at work. I used to rush out to the Post Office most lunchtimes, stand in a queue and 'stuff a sandwich down my throat' driving back to work from there. It was far from ideal. Somedays I just seemed to be rushing around like a madman, trying to fit everything in.
I won't go into the marketing side of things, other than to state the obvious. If you are at work all day, your customers won't be able to contact you. Even using email it may be hours before you are able to respond to their questions. That can be a big disadvantage sometimes.
None of this should stop you considering starting your business, but they are all practical things you have to think about and find a practical, workable solution to.
I'm getting my biz off the ground from home and plan to keep it at home no matter what. I have an outbuilding/garage that will be my shop when I get the cash to have power installed to it. Right now, it's basically a shed without electricity.
I have already got a small network of clients, nothing to write home about, but I'm picking up jobs here and there and have some meetings scheduled with the local schools.
I do all of my footwork and meetings at THEIR location....I don't know if I can have clients/customers at my home, but I know that I don't WANT them at my home.
It's taking longer that I would like, but it's starting to work. As soon as I can generate the income I'm currently bringing home with my day job, I will go full time on my own business. I would just jump into it with both feet NOW but, I have kids that need to be fed. LOL
I have been working from home for 13 + yrs. It si really nice. I have been able to work and be there for my kids at the same time. I would never go to a brick and mortar shop. I have lots of clients that like my approach. I explain to them why I work from home 9 keeps my prices very competitve and I can care for my kids). I have a few CEO's of big company's that tell me they envey me. ...... JB
__________________ "Striving to help others, as I learn myself"www.coedsembroidery.comwww.coedstsaver.com "Heat Press Vinyl Remover" T-SAVERTurn Your Mistakes Into Makeovers
Thanks everybody for all the quick replies. I feel a lot better. I was just a little worried. Spending a bunch of money on equipment and starting a business and everything else you know.
I am working on a website.
My wife is home during the day and has a couple of weekdays off, so she will be able to answer the business phone and ship and sign for packages during regular business hours.
In my city the business cant take up more than 20% of the home, i have a dedicated workspace in my basement, which is about that.
Don't plan on having a sign out front or customers coming to my house, i also wound not like it .
I also currently eat my lunch way to fast at my at work, which has nothing to do with screen printing or shipping packages, i should probably stop that.
I'm glad to hear you guys are successful with it. It calms my nerves and makes me think i can do it too. Thanks!
Thanks everybody for all the quick replies. I feel a lot better. I was just a little worried. Spending a bunch of money on equipment and starting a business and everything else you know.
I am working on a website.
My wife is home during the day and has a couple of weekdays off, so she will be able to answer the business phone and ship and sign for packages during regular business hours.
In my city the business cant take up more than 20% of the home, i have a dedicated workspace in my basement, which is about that.
Don't plan on having a sign out front or customers coming to my house, i also wound not like it .
I also currently eat my lunch way to fast at my at work, which has nothing to do with screen printing or shipping packages, i should probably stop that.
I'm glad to hear you guys are successful with it. It calms my nerves and makes me think i can do it too. Thanks!
Just remember the key is hard work and dedication. It will not be easy,but is attainable. I work many hours a day, plus a regular job. I work my job for the insurance benefits, but extra cash during slow tims is nice too. ..... JB
__________________ "Striving to help others, as I learn myself"www.coedsembroidery.comwww.coedstsaver.com "Heat Press Vinyl Remover" T-SAVERTurn Your Mistakes Into Makeovers
I have been working from home for 13 + yrs. It si really nice. I have been able to work and be there for my kids at the same time. I would never go to a brick and mortar shop. I have lots of clients that like my approach. I explain to them why I work from home 9 keeps my prices very competitve and I can care for my kids). I have a few CEO's of big company's that tell me they envey me. ...... JB
When I contacted the city I live in about running the business out of my home, they said I couldn't have any signs for the company at the house (the house had to look like a house, not a business), and I couldn't have any customers at the house. They also said I was limited to 500 cubic feet of business materials occupying space in the house.
I can understand not having the signs in the front yard...but who are they to tell you how much space in your home can be occupied with your business materials? I means as long as you're not storing hazardous materials that could pose a threat to your neighbors, they should stay out of your concerns.
I wanted to add that working from home allowed me to grow at my own pace. I was ableto purchase equipment and not have to be debt. I borrowed money for my first machine , but then was able to pay cash for other equipment. When I bought new Embroidery machines my accountant advised me to lease them and maximize mt tax write off. I have a office/ storage room in the house. I then converted a pole barn into a full blown shop. ........ JB
__________________ "Striving to help others, as I learn myself"www.coedsembroidery.comwww.coedstsaver.com "Heat Press Vinyl Remover" T-SAVERTurn Your Mistakes Into Makeovers
I have a full-time job & do the whole t-shirt/vinyl biz from my spare bedroom here at home. I don't think customers care if your biz in home-based. You offer the same product and service as the guy with a storefront & that is what counts.
The real nice thing about working from home, is the freedom that it brings. No more being stuck in gridlocked traffic in the peak hours, no longer having to endure unpleasant colleagues and no more letting someone else control your destiny. It's just me and my two dogs in the daytime and we are all very happy.
You do have to have an enormous amount of discipline when you work from home. It's all too easy to wander out into the garden, or to go watch something on television for longer than you intended.
If I was to offer one single piece of constructive advice about working from home, it would be to have consideration for your neighbours. They have to live in the vicinity of your business too.
Doing business from home? 
) has been very successful working from home. However, I do believe that he does have the freedom to do the leg work he needs to do during the day since he doesn't have a "full time" day job. So, the only limitation I see is the ability to be able to get out and "find" the business having to hold down a full time day job. 
