Bear Grips Pro ShopsStarting a T-Shirt Business on Shopify: Costs, Setup, and a Simpler Path
- Starting a t-shirt business on Shopify means a storefront subscription plus a connected print on demand app for production.
- Realistic margin on a $28 tee depends on subscription cost, processing fees, and the per-piece production price.
- An all-in-one storefront starts tees at $19.88 VIP base with free shipping built in.
- Setup time is the biggest practical difference between the two paths for a first-time seller.
A t-shirt business is one of the most common first stops for anyone testing print on demand, and Shopify is the most searched platform name for doing it. Before committing, it helps to see the actual cost stack and margin math, not just the idea. This guide walks through what a Shopify-based t-shirt business costs to run and compares it to an all-in-one storefront built specifically for apparel.
What a Shopify t-shirt business actually requires
Four setup pieces: a Shopify subscription, a theme (default or paid), a connected print on demand app for production, and payment processing configuration. Each piece is a separate decision and a separate place for something to need troubleshooting. None of it is difficult individually, but it adds up to real hours before the first sale.
Margin math on a basic cotton tee
| Cost line | Shopify + connected app | Bear Grips Pro Shops (VIP) |
|---|---|---|
| Tee base cost | Varies by connected app | $19.88 |
| Shipping | Often billed to buyer separately | Included in base price |
| Platform subscription | Shopify plan, billed monthly regardless of sales | $59/mo VIP (200 products) or $0/mo free (3 products) |
| Retail price example | $28-32 | $28-32 |
| Margin per tee at $30 retail | Depends on stacked costs | Roughly $10, the default recommended profit |
The tee lineup worth stocking first
Whichever platform a seller chooses, the same three-tee starter lineup works: a basic cotton tee for volume, a triblend or premium cotton tee for a softer upgrade tier, and one aesthetic option (oversized boxy crop, or a womens-specific cut) for a broader size range. On Bear Grips Pro Shops that maps to the Airlume Cotton Tee ($19.88 VIP), the Premium Cotton Crew Tee ($23.88 VIP), and the Oversized Boxy Crop Tee ($24.88 VIP).
Setup time compared side by side
A Shopify t-shirt business typically takes a few hours to a few days for a first-time seller: theme setup, app connection, product sync, payment configuration. An all-in-one storefront collapses that into uploading a design and picking products, live the same day. For a seller testing whether a single design sells at all before investing more time, the faster path lowers the cost of finding out.
Launch a T-Shirt Line the Simple Way
Tees from $19.88 VIP base, free shipping included, no minimum. Free plan to start.
Start FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to start a t-shirt business on Shopify?
The Shopify subscription is one line, typically starting around $29-39/mo, plus a separate print on demand app connection and payment processing fees. The full total depends on the specific app chosen.
Do I need to buy inventory to start a t-shirt business?
No, on either path. Print on demand prints only after an order is placed, whether run through Shopify plus a connected app or an all-in-one storefront.
What is a realistic margin on a print on demand t-shirt?
On Bear Grips Pro Shops, the default recommended profit is $10 per tee, with the vendor setting the final retail price and keeping the margin.
Can I design my own t-shirts without design experience?
Yes. A single logo or graphic file is enough to start. Done-For-You VIP even applies a submitted design across 15 trending products with mockups handled for the vendor.
