How to Start a Screen Printing Business (Costs + Pricing)
How to start a screen printing business in 2026: equipment costs, manual vs automatic presses, pricing per shirt with a worked example, and invoicing orders.
Quick answer: To start a screen printing business, learn the process, set up a ventilated workspace, buy a manual press, flash dryer, exposure unit, screens and inks, register the business and a sales tax permit, open a wholesale blank apparel account, and price per shirt using garment cost, number of print colors, quantity and a screen setup fee.
Screen printing is a hands-on manufacturing business with low entry costs and real room to grow, from a garage press to a shop with automatic presses. The craft takes practice, but most failures come from pricing: forgetting setup time, ink and misprints, or quoting a 12-piece order at the same per-shirt price as a 200-piece order. This guide covers how to start a screen printing business, the equipment you need, how to price per shirt with a worked example, and how to quote and invoice orders.
What Is a Screen Printing Business?
Screen printing pushes ink through a stencil on a mesh screen onto fabric or another surface. Each color in a design needs its own screen, which is why setup is expensive and large runs of the same design are cheap per piece. Screen printing shops print t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags and uniforms for schools, teams, businesses, events, bands and online brands. Many shops also offer embroidery and direct-to-film (DTF) transfers.
| Method | Setup cost | Cost per piece on large runs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen printing | High (screens per color) | Lowest | Runs of 24+ with few colors |
| DTF transfers | Low | Medium | Small runs, full color |
| Direct-to-garment (DTG) | Low | Medium to high | One-offs, photo prints, print on demand |
| Embroidery | Digitizing fee | Medium | Polos, caps, uniforms |
What Equipment Do You Need to Start Screen Printing?
The figures below are illustrative ranges as of October 2026 for new or good used equipment. Check current prices with suppliers.
| Equipment | Purpose | Illustrative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Manual press (4 color, 1 station to 6 color, 4 station) | Holds screens and garments | $300 to $3,500 |
| Flash dryer | Gels ink between colors and cures small runs | $300 to $1,000 |
| Conveyor dryer | Consistent full cure for production | $1,500 to $6,000 |
| Exposure unit | Burns designs onto emulsion-coated screens | $300 to $2,500 |
| Screens, emulsion, squeegees, scoop coater | Core consumables | $300 to $800 |
| Washout booth and pressure washer | Reclaiming screens | $300 to $1,500 |
| Starter plastisol or water-based inks | Printing | $200 to $600 |
| Film printer or film output | Positives for exposure | $200 to $1,000 |
| Laser temperature gun, test strips, pallets | Quality control | $50 to $200 |
| Design software | Separations and artwork | $0 to $700 per year |
A starter garage shop typically lands around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on whether you buy a conveyor dryer and a multi-station press. Automatic presses cost far more and usually come later with equipment financing. Track equipment in a fixed asset register so depreciation is easier at tax time.
Should You Start at Home or Rent a Shop?
Many screen printers begin in a garage or basement to keep fixed costs near zero. That works for small runs, but it has limits: ventilation, space for a dryer and drying racks, a washout area with proper drainage, and local rules on home businesses and customer pickups. A rented shop or shared makerspace adds rent, but it allows a conveyor dryer, a larger press, storage for blanks, and a counter where customers can see samples.
| Factor | Home shop | Rented shop |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed cost | Very low | Monthly rent and utilities |
| Capacity | Small runs, slower drying | Production runs, conveyor dryer |
| Customer visits | May be restricted by zoning or HOA | Walk-in and pickup friendly |
| Washout and drainage | Often improvised | Can be set up properly |
| Electrical | Household circuits may limit dryers | Commercial power available |
A common trigger to move out is when you regularly turn down orders because of space or dryer capacity, or when monthly revenue reliably covers several months of rent. Run the numbers before signing a lease, and negotiate a short first term.
How to Start a Screen Printing Business Step by Step
- Learn the process. Practice coating, exposing, registering and curing on test shirts until wash tests pass.
- Choose a niche. Schools and teams, local businesses, events, bands, or wholesale printing for online brands.
- Set up a safe workspace. Ventilation, a washout area, dark room space for screens, and safe chemical storage.
- Register the business. LLC or DBA, EIN and business license; check home occupation rules.
- Get a sales tax permit and collect resale certificates from reseller clients. See sales tax exemption certificates.
- Open wholesale apparel accounts with blank garment distributors.
- Build a price list by quantity and number of colors.
- Write order terms: deposit, artwork approval, minimums, misprint allowance and turnaround time.
- Market locally. Coaches, schools, churches, breweries, gyms and small brands order repeatedly.
- Set up invoicing and bookkeeping so every order has a quote, deposit invoice and final invoice.
How to Price Screen Printing per Shirt
Most shops build a price matrix with quantity breaks down the side and number of colors across the top, then add the blank garment cost and setup fees. The core formula:
Price per shirt = garment cost + markup on garment + print price per location (from the matrix) + upcharges, plus a one-time screen or setup fee per color.
Worked example: 48 shirts, 2-color front, 1-color back
- Blank tee from distributor: $3.20 each (illustrative), marked up 30% = $4.16
- Front print, 2 colors at 48 pieces (from your matrix): $3.25
- Back print, 1 color at 48 pieces: $1.75
- Price per shirt (S to XL): $4.16 + $3.25 + $1.75 = $9.16, rounded to $9.25
- 2XL upcharge: $2.00 on 6 shirts
- Screen setup: 3 screens x $20 = $60
Order total: (48 x $9.25) + (6 x $2.00) + $60 = $444.00 + $12.00 + $60.00 = $516.00 before sales tax. Now check the cost side: blanks about $154 plus higher 2XL blanks, ink and emulsion about $25, and roughly 4 hours of labor for setup, printing, curing and cleanup. If your labor rate is $35 per hour, that is $140, leaving a healthy contribution to rent, equipment and profit. For a deeper method, see how to price a product.
Sample price matrix (print only, per location)
| Quantity | 1 color | 2 colors | 3 colors | 4 colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 to 23 | $3.50 | $4.75 | $6.00 | $7.25 |
| 24 to 47 | $2.50 | $3.75 | $4.75 | $5.75 |
| 48 to 99 | $1.75 | $3.25 | $4.00 | $4.75 |
| 100 to 249 | $1.25 | $2.25 | $3.00 | $3.75 |
These figures are illustrative. Build your own matrix from your labor rate, ink costs and local competitor quotes.
How to Quote and Invoice Screen Printing Orders
Use a written quote, require artwork approval and a deposit (often 50%) before ordering blanks, then send the final invoice at pickup or shipping. Our guide to quotes vs estimates explains which document to send first. Here is the final invoice for the worked example:
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tees, black, S to XL, 2-color front, 1-color back ("Eastside 5K 2026") | 42 | $9.25 | $388.50 |
| Tees, black, 2XL, same print | 6 | $11.25 | $67.50 |
| Screen setup (3 screens) | 3 | $20.00 | $60.00 |
| Subtotal | $516.00 | ||
| Sales tax (example 7%) | $36.12 | ||
| Less 50% deposit paid (Invoice SP-2207) | -$276.06 | ||
| Balance due at pickup | $276.06 | ||
Check whether tax applies with the sales tax calculator and your state's rules, then build the invoice in our free invoice generator or the screen printing invoice template. If you also stitch logos, the embroidery invoice template shows how to bill digitizing and stitch counts.
How to Plan Production and Turnaround Times
Customers care about deadlines more than almost anything else, especially for events. Most small shops quote a standard turnaround, often 7 to 14 business days after artwork approval and deposit, with rush service for an added fee. To hit those dates reliably, schedule each order through the same stages: artwork and separations, blank ordering, screen coating and exposure, printing, curing, quality check, folding and packing, and pickup or shipping.
Group jobs that share ink colors to reduce cleanup, and print light colors before dark ones when practical. Keep a simple board or spreadsheet listing each order's due date, garment arrival date and stage. When a blank garment is backordered, tell the customer immediately and offer a substitute color or brand rather than missing the event. A short count-in check when blanks arrive, matching sizes and colors to the order, prevents the most common shortage problems.
Order Terms Every Screen Printer Should Use
- Minimum quantity per design and per color
- Deposit required before ordering blanks
- Written artwork approval; the customer confirms spelling and colors
- Misprint allowance (many shops state a small percentage) and how shortages are credited
- Customer-supplied garment policy (no liability for damage, or a waiver)
- Turnaround time starting from approval and deposit
- Rush fees and storage fees for orders not picked up
- Copyright: customer confirms rights to the artwork
How to Find Screen Printing Customers
Screen printing customers reorder, so your marketing goal is to win accounts, not single jobs. A school booster club that orders spirit wear every fall, a gym that sells merch every quarter, or a construction company that re-ups uniforms every spring is worth far more than a one-time order.
- Schools, teams and clubs: coaches, booster clubs and PTAs order seasonally and value reliable deadlines.
- Local businesses: restaurants, breweries, gyms, salons and trades need staff shirts and merch.
- Events and nonprofits: fun runs, festivals and fundraisers order in volume with fixed dates.
- Bands and creators: merch orders with repeat designs.
- Contract printing: printing for online brands and resellers who supply designs and sometimes garments, often at lower per-piece prices but higher volume.
Show real printed samples, not just mockups. A sample board of different ink types, garment colors and print techniques at your counter or in photos helps customers choose and builds confidence in your quality.
Plastisol vs Water-Based Ink: Which Should You Start With?
Most beginners start with plastisol because it stays wet in the screen, is forgiving, and prints opaque colors on dark garments. It must be heat cured at the temperature the manufacturer specifies. Water-based and discharge inks give a softer feel that many fashion brands prefer, but they can dry in the screen and need more careful handling and curing. Whichever you use, follow the manufacturer's technical data sheet for cure temperature and time, and keep safety data sheets for every chemical in your shop, as OSHA's Hazard Communication standard requires for employers.
Your ink choice also affects pricing. Specialty inks such as metallic, puff, glow-in-the-dark or high-density cost more and slow production, so add a per-piece upcharge for them in your price matrix rather than absorbing the cost.
Common Mistakes When Starting a Screen Printing Business
- Not charging for setup. Screens, registration and cleanup cost the same for 12 shirts or 200.
- Under-curing ink. Prints that crack or wash out cost you the reorder. Verify cure with a temperature gun and wash test.
- Ordering blanks before payment. Always take a deposit first.
- Printing copyrighted logos. Ask for proof of permission for team, brand or character art.
- Ignoring extended size costs. Add upcharges for 2XL and above.
- No resale certificates on file for tax-free wholesale orders.
Screen Printing Business Checklist
- Process learned and wash-tested
- Workspace ventilated, chemical storage and disposal planned
- LLC or DBA, EIN, license and sales tax permit
- Wholesale blank accounts open
- Price matrix, setup fees and upcharges set
- Order terms, quote and invoice templates ready
- Bookkeeping for materials and equipment set up
Knowing how to start a screen printing business comes down to clean technique, a price matrix that covers setup, and deposits before you buy blanks. When the first order is printed, send the balance invoice from our free invoice generator. It is free with no sign-up, and it builds a PDF in your browser that you can download and send immediately.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start a screen printing business?
A small manual setup with a four-color, one-station press, a flash dryer, an exposure unit, screens, a washout area and starter inks can be put together for a few thousand dollars. A conveyor dryer, a larger press and a dedicated space push costs higher, and automatic presses are a much larger investment. Budget for blank garments only after orders are confirmed and paid with a deposit.
Is screen printing better than DTF or DTG printing?
Screen printing has the lowest cost per shirt on larger runs of the same design with few colors, and it produces durable, vibrant prints. Direct-to-film and direct-to-garment printing have lower setup costs and handle full-color designs and one-off orders better. Many shops offer screen printing for runs above a minimum quantity and DTF for small orders, which lets them say yes to more customers.
What is a good minimum order for screen printing?
Many shops set minimums of around 12 to 24 pieces per design because every color needs its own screen, setup and cleanup. Below the minimum, the setup time per shirt makes the price unattractive. Some shops accept smaller orders with a small-order fee. Choose a minimum that covers setup labor at your rate, and offer DTF or heat transfer for orders below it.
Do I need a permit for screen printing at home?
Check your local zoning and home occupation rules, because some areas limit commercial work at home, customer visits or chemical use. Plastisol inks and screen cleaning chemicals require ventilation and safe disposal, and washout water may be regulated by your local wastewater utility. Use safety data sheets for every chemical, store them properly, and ask your city about disposal rules.
Do screen printers charge sales tax?
Usually, if the state taxes sales of tangible goods, printed shirts sold to the end customer are taxable. Sales to resellers who give you a valid resale or exemption certificate are often exempt, and printing on customer-supplied garments can be treated differently by state. Register for a sales tax permit before you start selling and keep exemption certificates on file for tax-free sales.
How long does it take to learn screen printing?
You can print a simple one-color design within days, but consistent multi-color registration, correct ink curing, and clean screen exposure often take weeks or months of practice. Many beginners learn through manufacturer tutorials, community classes or working in an existing shop. Practice on test shirts and verify cure with a wash test before taking paid orders.
Where do screen printers buy blank shirts?
Most buy from wholesale apparel distributors that stock major blank brands and ship quickly. You typically need a business account and a resale certificate to buy at wholesale prices without paying sales tax. Prices vary by brand, color and size, with larger sizes costing more. Quote garment costs from the distributor's current price list and add a markup for handling and misprints.
What is an upcharge for extended sizes?
Blank garments in larger sizes such as 2XL and above usually cost more from distributors, so shops add a per-shirt upcharge for those sizes. The upcharge often roughly matches the higher blank cost plus a small handling margin. List size upcharges clearly on quotes and invoices so customers are not surprised when the total differs from a simple quantity times price calculation.
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Guides on invoicing, cash flow and small-business finance from Invoice Creator, operated by Next Software Development Company. Content is reviewed for accuracy against the fields our own invoice generator produces.
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