Online Team Store Fundraising Math: What a Roster Actually Keeps
- An online team store fundraiser earns the difference between the item base price and the retail price the team sets.
- Default profit is $10 per item, and most teams charge more on hoodies than on tees.
- A 30 person roster with parents buying one piece each can clear several hundred dollars with zero upfront cost.
- There is no goal to hit and no leftover inventory risk if the fundraiser underperforms.
Online team store fundraising works differently than a wrapping paper catalog or a car wash. There is no case of product to sell through, no deadline for a bulk order, and no risk of unsold stock. The team sets a retail price above the item's base cost, and every sale banks that difference as profit. This post breaks down real numbers for a small roster, a mid-size roster, and a full program, using the actual base prices from the Bear Grips Pro Shops catalog.
The two numbers that decide fundraising profit
- Base price: what the item costs before profit. A tee starts at $19.88 VIP base, a hoodie at $36.88, a hat at $25.86.
- Retail price: what the team charges. Default recommended profit is $10 per item, though most teams charge $15-25 on hoodies since parents expect to pay more for a heavier piece.
Multiply the margin per item by how many people actually buy, and that is the fundraiser total. No minimum roster size is required to run the numbers.
15 person roster (a single youth team)
| Item | Buyers | Margin/item | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tee | 15 | $10 | $150 |
| Hoodie | 8 | $18 | $144 |
| Hat | 5 | $10 | $50 |
| Total | $344 | ||
That covers most of a single-team travel expense line, from zero upfront cost.
Bear Grips Pro Shops: Custom Apparel for Your Team. No Minimums. Free Shipping.30 person roster (travel team or club team)
| Item | Buyers | Margin/item | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tee | 30 | $10 | $300 |
| Hoodie | 18 | $20 | $360 |
| Hat | 12 | $10 | $120 |
| Total | $780 | ||
Add parents and siblings buying a second piece and this number climbs further, since there is no cap on repeat purchases.
60+ person program (a full school or league)
| Item | Buyers | Margin/item | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tee | 90 | $10 | $900 |
| Hoodie | 50 | $22 | $1,100 |
| Hat + extras | 40 | $10 | $400 |
| Total | $2,400 | ||
A booster club running one store across an entire school program is running the same math at a bigger multiple, not a different model.
Why this beats a one-time fundraiser deadline
A store stays open all season. A parent who missed the first order window can still buy in week 10. A grandparent who wants a piece for the holidays can order in December. Traditional fundraiser catalogs close after one deadline and the earning stops. See the products to sell guide for which items to add first to maximize this.
Run Your Team's Fundraising Numbers
Free to start, no inventory, no upfront cost. See what your roster actually earns per item.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
Do we have to hit a sales goal to keep the store open?
No. There is no minimum to keep the store live. It stays open whether the team sells 5 pieces or 500.
Who sets the retail price, us or the platform?
The team sets it. Default recommended profit is $10 per item, but there is no restriction on charging more.
Does the team ever pay upfront for a batch?
No. Every piece prints and ships only after an individual buyer pays for it.
How often can we run a new fundraiser design?
As often as the team wants. A new design can go live any time without waiting for the old one to sell out.
Bear Grips Pro Shops