PTA Fundraising Companies vs Running Your Own Apparel Store

A PTA evaluating fundraising companies is choosing between three real options: a traditional catalog supplier, an online fundraising platform, or running its own branded apparel store. The catalog supplier keeps half the revenue. The platform takes 15 to 25 percent. The self-run store keeps every dollar of profit the PTA sets. Here is the honest comparison of margin, volunteer time, and lock-in across the three models.

How Traditional PTA Fundraising Companies Work

Catalog fundraising companies have been the default for 30 years. The model: the company prints catalogs, the PTA distributes them, students collect orders for three to four weeks, the PTA submits the bulk order, the catalog company ships and the PTA distributes the products at the school.

The economics:

• Catalog company keeps 50 to 60 percent of gross. A $10,000 fundraiser puts $4,000 to $5,000 in the PTA bank account.
• Volunteer hours are heavy. 30 to 45 hours from the fundraiser chair plus the distribution team.
• Window is short. Three to four weeks of sales, then it is over for the year.
• Inventory mistakes happen. Lost order forms, wrong sizes, items that arrive in the wrong color.

The model is not bad if the catalog matches family demand (popcorn, candles, cookie dough fundraisers still convert well in some demographics). It is just expensive. The PTA pays for the catalog company's printing, shipping, and overhead, and that comes out of the school's share.

Online Fundraising Platforms and Apparel Companies

The second wave of PTA fundraising companies are online platforms. The PTA logs in, picks products, the platform builds a school store, families order online, the platform ships, and the PTA gets a check at the end of the campaign window.

The economics:

• Platform keeps 15 to 25 percent. Better than the catalog model.
• Volunteer hours drop sharply. 5 to 10 hours per campaign vs 30 to 45.
• Year-round option exists. Some platforms run permanent stores.
• Monthly or campaign fees. Some platforms charge $20 to $100 a month or a per-campaign setup fee.
• Design is templated. Most platforms restrict customization heavily.

This is the right model for PTAs that want hands-off fundraising and accept the 15 to 25 percent platform cut. The friction is in the design and the per-campaign fees.

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Running Your Own Branded Apparel Store

The third option is for the PTA to operate its own apparel shop directly. The PTA opens a Bear Grips Pro Shops account, uploads the school logo, picks 6 to 10 products, sets the retail markup, and shares the shop link. Each item prints when a family orders. Free shipping. The PTA collects the full retail markup as profit.

The economics:

• PTA keeps the full markup it sets. Typical PTA markup is $10 per item.
• Volunteer hours under 10 a year. Open the shop, share the link, monitor sales.
• Year-round revenue. The shop never closes.
• Free tier covers 3 products at $0/month. Self-Service VIP unlocks the full 200-product catalog at $59/month with lower base pricing.
• Total platform cost on a $5,000 fundraiser: $0 to $708 a year.

This is the model with the highest margin and lowest volunteer burden. The trade-off is that the PTA owns the shop branding and the customer relationship, which most PTAs prefer.

Side-by-Side: Catalog, Platform, Self-Run

Compare a $10,000 gross fundraiser across the three models.

Model	Gross	Company Cut	PTA Net	Volunteer Hours	Window
Catalog supplier	$10,000	$5,500 (55%)	$4,500	35 hours	3-4 weeks
Online platform	$10,000	$2,000 (20%)	$8,000	10 hours	Campaign or year-round
Self-run apparel store	$10,000	$0-$708 (fees)	$9,292-$10,000	8 hours	Year-round

The self-run store is the highest-margin option in every case. The catalog model only wins if the catalog company's distribution mechanic gets the PTA to sales it could not have reached otherwise, which is rare in 2026 with year-round digital distribution available.

When to Switch from a Catalog Company

Most PTAs that switch do it in one of three windows. None of these require breaking a contract.

1. End of the school year. Catalog contracts are typically annual or per-campaign. The PTA decides at the May meeting to launch a new model for the next school year.
2. Side-by-side trial. Run the catalog fundraiser as planned this fall, and quietly open a branded shop in parallel. Compare the numbers after 12 months.
3. After a bad catalog year. A catalog fundraiser that underperformed by 30 percent is the right moment to propose a switch at the next board meeting.

For the migration plan, see our PTA spirit store launch guide. For the rules and reporting, see our PTA fundraiser rules guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do PTAs need a contract with a fundraising company?

Catalog suppliers usually require a signed agreement and a minimum order. Online platforms and self-run apparel stores do not require contracts. The PTA can close the shop at any time with no penalty.

How much does it cost to run a self-run PTA apparel store?

$0 a month on the free tier (3 products), $59 a month on the Self-Service plan (200 products with lower base pricing). The shop keeps the full retail markup, no per-item platform fee.

Can a PTA run a catalog fundraiser and an apparel shop at the same time?

Yes. They target different parent behaviors. The catalog handles seasonal items, the apparel shop handles spirit wear. Most PTAs that try both for a year end up dropping the catalog.

Who owns the school logo and design when we use a fundraising company?

The PTA always owns the logo. Some platforms restrict what design customizations they allow, but no platform can claim ownership of the school logo or PTA design files.