Construction Company Apparel Revenue Math: What Crew Merch Actually Clears

Most contractors treat company shirts as an expense line. Run the numbers as a small profit center instead and the picture changes: crew self-serve orders, client giveaway hats, family pride hoodies, and the occasional company-anniversary tee all carry margin you set yourself. The default recommendation is $10 profit per item, and most owners charge more on hoodies. Here is the honest math at three crew sizes, using VIP base prices from the catalog.

How the Margin Works

Every product has a base price that covers printing, packing, and free US shipping. You set the retail. The gap is yours, paid out on every sale.

Piece	VIP base	Working retail	Margin
Cotton crew tee	$19.88	$28-$32	$8-$12
Moisture-wicking tee	$23.86	$32-$34	$8-$10
Long sleeve cotton	$29.88	$38-$42	$8-$12
Performance polo	$34.88	$48-$56	$13-$21
Comfort soft hoodie	$36.88	$55-$65	$18-$28
Champion hoodie	$45.88	$65-$75	$19-$29
Embroidered snapback	$29.86	$32-$36	$2-$6

Small Company: 5 Crew Members

Stream	Units/yr	Avg margin	Annual profit
Crew self-serve (tees, hoodies, hats)	30	$12	$360
Client thank-you hats and tees	25	$10	$250
Family and friends pride pieces	15	$13	$195
New-hire and milestone pieces	10	$12	$120
Annual total			$925

Small money, but it fully funds the crew uniform program instead of the uniform program costing you.

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Mid Company: 15 Crew Members

Stream	Units/yr	Avg margin	Annual profit
Crew self-serve	95	$12	$1,140
Client and GC giveaway apparel	90	$10	$900
Family pride	40	$13	$520
New-hire bundles + milestones	30	$12	$360
Event and anniversary tees	60	$10	$600
Annual total			$3,520

Large Company: 30 Crew, Active Brand Program

Stream	Units/yr	Avg margin	Annual profit
Crew self-serve	210	$12	$2,520
Client and GC giveaways	200	$10	$2,000
Family pride	80	$13	$1,040
New-hire bundles + milestones	55	$12	$660
Events, anniversaries, project-completion tees	170	$10	$1,700
Annual total			$7,920

Companies that push client giveaways and run a public-facing shop land above this. The setup steps are in the main construction shirts guide.

Where the Program Pays Back Beyond the Margin

• Bid close rate. Estimators in embroidered polos close more residential work. One extra job pays for the whole year of apparel.
• Crew retention. Guys who feel like part of a real outfit stay longer. Branded gear is the cheapest retention lever there is.
• Jobsite visibility. Every yard sign works only where it is planted. A branded crew advertises at every supply house and lunch stop in the county.
• Affiliate income. Every Pro Shops signup gets an affiliate link. Refer another contractor and earn 10 percent of their subscription forever plus $1 per unit their shop sells, paid bi-weekly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these numbers realistic for a construction company?

They track the consistent pattern across trade-business shops at those crew sizes. Your actual results depend on crew engagement, client giveaway habits, and whether the shop link is public.

What margin should I set per piece?

The default recommendation is $10 profit per item. Most owners hold $8-$12 on tees and push $18-$28 on hoodies, where buyers expect a higher price anyway.

Does the $59/mo VIP plan pay for itself?

At roughly 6 pieces a month in margin, yes, before counting the $4-$11 per item you save on base prices versus the free plan. Most companies over 8 crew clear that on self-serve alone.

Do I handle any shipping or fulfillment?

No. Printing, packing, and free US shipping to the buyer are all handled for you. You set prices and collect the margin.