How to start a graphic t-shirt printing business in India?

I run a small t-shirt brand focused on quirky Hindi puns. Here's the real talk from the trenches.Forget the printing method debate at the start. Just use Print-on-Demand (POD). Yes, the profit per shirt is low, but you have zero risk. You don't have to buy a machine, hold inventory, or deal with shipping. Your only job is to create awesome designs and market them. Once you have a few best-selling designs, then you can consider getting them screen-printed in bulk to increase your margin.Your first 10 designs will probably fail. And that's okay. The key is to launch fast and see what sticks. I put up 20 designs. Two of them sold moderately well. I doubled down on the style of those two, and now I have a clear direction. It's a process of elimination.Marketing is everything. Just putting a store online does nothing. You have to be a content creator. I make stupid little memes and videos using my t-shirt designs. I engage in Facebook groups about stand-up comedy (my niche). I run contests. The t-shirt is almost a byproduct of the community you build.Customer service is your superpower. Someone received the wrong size? Send them a new one immediately, no questions asked. They'll post about it. The POD cost is low enough that you can afford to make things right and create a fan for life.Start with POD, create 5-10 designs you genuinely love, and then spend 80% of your time figuring out how to show them to the right people. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

The t-shirt printing market is competitive, but there's always room for a brand with a unique voice. Success comes from a combination of quality, design, and marketing.1. Choose Your Printing Method & Niche: Printing Methods: * DTG (Direct to Garment): Ideal for complex, full-color designs on light-colored shirts. Lower startup cost for small batches, but cost per shirt is higher. * Screen Printing: Best for simple designs with few colors on larger orders (50+). Higher setup cost for screens, but cheaper per shirt for bulk. Find Your Niche: Don't try to appeal to everyone. Are you for cat lovers? Stand-up comedy fans? People with a specific political/social viewpoint? A specific city's pride? A strong niche makes marketing infinitely easier.2. Sourcing and Quality: The T-Shirt Blank is 50% of the Product. Don't use cheap, see-through shirts. Source quality, comfortable blanks from brands like Gildan, Bella+Canvas, or Stanley/Stella. Offer a range of fits (slim, regular, unisex). Design is King: Your designs must be original and compelling. If you're not a designer, partner with one on a royalty basis. Avoid copyright infringement at all costs.3. Business Model: Print-on-Demand (POD): The lowest-risk option. You set up an online store on platforms like TeeSpring or Redbubble. They handle printing and shipping when an order comes in. You earn a royalty. Minimal investment, but lower margins. Hold Inventory & Print Yourself/Bulk: You buy blanks in bulk and print them yourself (if you have the machine) or outsource to a local printer. This gives you more control and higher profit margins, but requires investment and inventory risk.4. Sales and Marketing: Online Store: Use Shopify or WooCommerce. Instagram & Facebook: Run targeted ads to your niche audience. Use influencer marketing within your niche. Offline Sales:* Sell at college fests, local markets, and comic cons.Focus on building a brand that people want to be associated with. Quality and customer service will lead to repeat business.