15 T Shirts Business Success Stories [2024]
Starting a t-shirt business is simple and anyone can do it. It's also a great way to make money on the side or even start out as a full-time business.
If you are someone who enjoys creating beautiful designs and has a sense of humor, then starting a t-shirt business might be the perfect venture for you. It's also a great way to make extra money on the side while working on a hobby.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a t-shirts business:
1. Backstage Rock Shop ($2.22M/year)
Matti Lehtonen, the founder of Backstage Rock Shop, got the idea for his business while playing in a rock band and handling their merchandise. He noticed that existing merchandising companies in Finland were doing things wrong, so he and three friends started Backstage Rock Shop with the goal of being the best, most artist-friendly merchandise company in the country. Since then, they have grown significantly, with annual revenue now reaching over $2 million.
How much they make: $2.22M/year
How much did it cost to start: $40K
Current team size: 5
Case study on Backstage Rock Shop, which grew from $150k annual revenue in its first year to looking at $2M+ revenue in 2020, selling rock bands' official merchandise in over 80 countries, with a growing roster of artists, exclusive items, and a focus on premium quality and customer service.
2. Thor Fitness Europe ($144K/year)
Joel St John, the founder of Thor Fitness, came up with the idea for his CrossFit and lifestyle brand while on his honeymoon. With his background in design and music production, he saw an opportunity to create head-turning products for the CrossFit community. Through validation from friends and social media, he realized he could turn his idea into a reality and started building the brand.
How much they make: $144K/year
Current team size: 1
Joel St John founded the sustainability-conscious Crossfit and lifestyle brand Thor Fitness, which has become an established household brand within the Crossfit community, with a steady flow of orders coming in from around the world, all while remaining a successful side hustle with monthly revenues of over $12k.
So... can you actually make money with a t-shirts business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. NerdKungFu.com ($312K/year)
David Inman, the founder of NerdKungFu.com, came up with the idea for his business after being withheld commissions by the sales agency he worked for. With newfound free time and direct contacts in the licensed t-shirt industry, he decided to start his own website, offering a wide range of nerdy t-shirts, posters, and gifts. The business has grown exponentially since its launch in 2010, now offering over 165,000 products and generating impressive annual revenue.
How much they make: $312K/year
How much did it cost to start: $8K
Current team size: 3
NerdKungFu.com sells officially licensed t-shirts, posters, and gifts for nerds and lovers of specific genres & grew from 100 t-shirts to 165,000 products, with David Inman as founder, who "learned things the hard way" but now earns $312,000 per year.
4. 80sTees.com ($51.1M/year)
How much they make: $51.1M/year
Current team size: 10
This case study details how a founder turned $32 into a $4M+/month t-shirt customization business selling 80s cartoons like Superman and Batman.
So... can you actually make money with a t-shirts business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
5. On Cloud Faith ($60K/year)
Jonathan Waldmann, his then-girlfriend Ilona, and her mother Sonja started their business in 2012, initially selling handmade Gimp bracelets and headbands on Etsy. They later transitioned to crystalized wedding apparel and eventually expanded their product categories to include travel shirts, party shirts, bridal shirts, and engagement shirts. They have made an impressive $7.2 million in sales since their inception with a starting investment of $5,000.
How much they make: $60K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 11
This case study follows the story of a successful online business that has made 7.2 million dollars in sales since 2012, with profits of around 30-45%, and the founders share insights on lessons learned and tools used.
6. NG Apparels ($16M/year)
Arpit Aryan Gupta, the founder of NG Apparels, came up with the idea for his garment export business after his father lost a significant amount of money in the 2008 US market crash. Seeing the potential in Ludhiana's clothing manufacturing ecosystem, Gupta decided to establish a clothing manufacturing unit in 2012. With a turnover of 12cr ($1,581,547), NG Apparels has experienced exponential growth and serves clients in the US, UK, Australia, and other countries.
How much they make: $16M/year
How much did it cost to start: $10K
Current team size: 42
NG Apparels is a garment export unit based in Ludhiana that caters to the clothing segments worldwide, boasting a turnover of $1,581,547 without loans or credit card limits.
So... can you actually make money with a t-shirts business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
7. Big Frog Franchise ($492K/year)
How much they make: $492K/year
Current team size: 0
How a first-time entrepreneur turned his nearly $200k investment in a Big Frog franchise into a profitable t-shirt printing business, with first-year earnings of $85,000 and projected earnings of $550,000 this year.
8. Goober Prints ($79.2K/year)
How much they make: $79.2K/year
Current team size:
This Etsy seller increased sales from $10k to $80k in just one year by selling 4000 customized garments.
9. Ratchet Clothing ($1.21M/year)
How much they make: $1.21M/year
Current team size:
Dhillan Bhardwaj dropped out of college to start Ratchet Clothing, a budget-friendly handmade clothing brand which has organically grown to multiple stores across England and has been worn by big named celebrities such as Miley Cyrus and Rihanna.
10. Nike ($1B/year)
How much they make: $1B/year
Current team size: 112479
Discover how Nike went from a small shoe and t-shirt company to become a multinational corporation, now one of the world's top manufacturers of athletic apparel and footwear.
11. GoPromotional ($4.8M/year)
Gareth Parkin, the founder of GoPromotional, came up with the idea for his business after gaining experience in the printing and advertising industry. With the emergence of the internet, Gareth taught himself how to build websites and saw an opportunity to launch one of the first online promotional product companies. Through his expertise in digital marketing, he was able to rapidly grow the business, eventually expanding internationally and achieving a turnover of £12m per annum.
How much they make: $4.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $200
Current team size: 9
GoPromotional is a UK-based online distributor of custom-branded promotional products with an annual turnover of around £3m, founded by Gareth Parkin, who learned to build websites for his previous employer before starting the business.
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- 8,628 business ideas
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
