If you’re like most people new to t-shirt sales, you’ve probably got several designs in mind that you are absolutely sure are going to be surefire hits! (Pro tip: Keep a small notebook with you at all times, because you will start seeing ideas for designs literally everywhere.) But there’s more to a t-shirt than its design, so let’s get into that a bit. First, you should already have researched your niche and your audience, so you know whether it’ll be men or women who will largely be the ones purchasing this design. This will guide you to choosing the type of shirt you want your design to be offered on. By and large, black shirts are the most popular overall whether they’re for men or women. If you do go with a light shirt, use dark text and images. Smaller women like the fitted t-shirt and plus size women like the unisex style t-shirts. Both men and women like hoodies and sweatshirts, especially in the winter, and more women buy long-sleeved t-shirts than men do. You’ll probably want to offer your design on t-shirts and tank tops in the spring and summer seasons, and during the autumn and winter, offer t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, and long-sleeved t-shirts. If you don’t yet have a design you love, but you have a rough concept, fire up Photoshop, GIMP, or Canva and see if you can create something awesome. If graphic design isn’t your forte, outsource this part of the process to a professional on sites such as Fiverr, Upwork, or 99designs. Remember that above anything, the design that is printed on your t-shirt is going to be what “wows” people and gets them to buy, so it pays to invest in the design if you have the resources to do so. If you find that you have the marketing chops, but not the design skill and talent, and are low on money to outsource, consider teaming up with a designer, and splitting the profits once your t-shirts start to sell. This can be an extremely lucrative partnership once the logistics are figured out. In this way, you’re doing what you do best, your designer is doing what they do best, and you are both profiting from the sales. Two people working together can get a lot more done than one! A final, but important, note: Always be absolutely sure that when you purchase a design, you are getting the full copyright ownership of the design. This ensures that no one else is able to use that design.