I suggest yu start with injet transfers. Sublimation is a tricky process and requires polyester clothing as a substrate and only works on light colors. Regular inkjet will work on cotton and 50/50. Dark or light shirts (with appropriate paper). The ink cost is very costly for sublimation and regular durabrite epson ink will work for inkjet. This is very brief descriptions of both processes. Sublimation can be used on many other substrates like mugs,clock faces,trophies,etc. The only requirement is the substrate must have a polymer coating. .... JB
Well...
Inkjet transfers require less money upfront but actually cost a little more per sq. inch than sublimation. For this; all you need it ink nd the transfers for light and dark colored shirts. Of course for dark colored, you will have to design so that the white part will not show up on the shirt, or cut it all by hand or purchase a vinyl cutter to cut it for you.
With sublimation; you need to buy the sub ink, sub paper and tshirts that will accept the sublimation process. That means shirts with at least 50% polyester(for a stressed look), though 100% is preferred of course.
The thing with sublimation is that there is a multitude of various substrates that can be sublimated onto, flags, tags, bags, and other rhyming words...mugs, license plates, and so much more.
If you are just wanting to do shirts, I would suggest starting with commercial grade transfers and then maybe later if you want to expand, add sublimation.
Heat Transfers:
Pros: Less Upfront Cost, no special ink required, print on most shirts.
Cons: Less Durability, possible cracking, fading.
Sublimation:
Pros - Uv resistant, won't crack, peel, fade(on 100% poly substrates). lasts for life of substrate, can't scratch it. Broader choice of substrates.
Cons - High Upfront Ink Cost, restricted to polyester fabric or polymer coated products
I am sure there is something I am missing, maybe some others can chime in here..
Also......with the 1400 printer you can buy refillable carts or a CIS ......then fill with Heat Transfer pigment ink.....which is A LOT less expensive than epson ink!!!!
SUB ink is VERY expensive!
__________________ For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. Psalm 116:8
Since you mentioned marketing skills in your post, I’ll relate my thoughts to your area of expertise.
If you have the marketing background implied in your post, don’t think in terms of product or process; rather think in terms of customer. Who will you be marketing to? How will you reach them? What do you think they want? Is it an ordinary or upscale market? Is there a chance for repeat business or will everything be a point of purchase sale? What is your USP? Can you present added perceived value?
Costs and prices are relative. If you can present enough value in products that prospects want, price is not the main issue. If you can’t, then no price is cheap enough. It doesn’t matter if it is heat transfers or sublimation.
As you make your plans, trust your instincts. As a final check, mentally step back and ask yourself one final question: “Does this make sense”. If your answer is “Yes”, then you may be good to go.
If your answer is “Yes, but…” there are still some more questions to be answered.
As you can tell, I have shared a “Readers Digest” answer but perhaps it will add to the old creative juices. The decorating business attracts hands-on and often highly creative folks. Hopefully, they will also always have fun.
However, to “make it” in business, the bottom line is always about The Bottom Line.
__________________
Jack - staff@alphasupply.com - Alpha Supply Company - Dye Sub Tips
Heat Press Equipment and Supplies - 1-800-908-9916
You guys have got it made, (said with a twinge of envy). The downside to living in the UK I find are the problems of trying to get a decent selection of materials. I've tried every known company and am still unable to get prospray
...I have reluctantly had to adopt a combination of the two methods to complement my existing cut vinyl...you have to look at it, from the perpective of exactly what it is, you want to print...
Brillant! Your observation is spot-on. We teach, almost to the point of "preaching", that there are no "good and bad" decorating methods. There are only "most appropriate" methods for what you want to accomplish.
Learning to use and deal with "what is", is a lot more profitable than pounding square pegs into the round holes of "can't you just...".
__________________
Jack - staff@alphasupply.com - Alpha Supply Company - Dye Sub Tips
Heat Press Equipment and Supplies - 1-800-908-9916
Sublimation or Heat Transfer? 
