Realistic Cost Of Starting A Clothing Brand 2024 (It’s not $0)

Summary

In this video, Jake outlines the realistic costs and essential steps needed to start a clothing brand. He emphasizes that while some claim you can start with $0, you must spend money on necessities like poly mailers, a website, and inventory. He also covers optional tools such as a label printer and marketing systems that can streamline operations and grow the business. Drawing on his experience since 2017, Jake provides practical advice, pricing breakdowns, and insights on both hardware and software essentials to help aspiring brand owners get started effectively.

Takeaways

• 💰 You need to spend at least $1,000 to appropriately set up a clothing brand.
• 👕 The cost of producing a collection of 30 T-shirts ranges from $210 to $450, depending on the blanks and print services used.
• 📦 Poly mailers for shipping cost around $19 for a pack of 100 on Amazon.
• 💻 A website is essential, and platforms like Shopify can cost between $5 and $30 per month.
• 📱 Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok are crucial for building a digital presence and connecting with your audience.
• 📋 A business plan is necessary for setting your brand’s direction and growth, and can evolve through trial and error.
• 🖥 A computer or tablet is mandatory for workflow and design, with prices starting around $300.
• 🎨 Design software like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop is important, and the Creative Suite costs around $54 per month.
• ✉️ Consider using email systems like MailChimp to collect customer emails and send out marketing campaigns, costing around $20 to $50 per month.
• 🚀 Digital marketing, such as Instagram and Facebook ads, is highly recommended for brand growth, with flexible costs depending on the campaign size.

Q & A

What are the basic necessities required to start a clothing brand?

The basic necessities include poly mailers for shipping, a website (like Shopify), social media presence (Instagram, TikTok), inventory or pre-order method, a business plan, a computer or tablet, and design software like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop.

How much should you expect to pay for a t-shirt with some color print?

The cost of a t-shirt with color print ranges from $7 to $15, depending on the clothing blank used. Most printing places have a minimum of 30 to 50 units, so the total cost could be between $210 and $450 for a batch of 30 units.

What is the suggested price for poly mailers for shipping products?

Poly mailers cost around $19 for a pack of 100 on Amazon.

What is the monthly cost of running a website for a clothing brand?

The monthly cost of a website ranges from $5 to $30, with Shopify being a recommended platform.

What are the benefits of using a pre-order method versus holding inventory?

With the pre-order method, you can accept orders without holding inventory, then place production afterward, which can reduce upfront costs. Holding inventory requires purchasing stock before selling, which ties up capital but allows for faster order fulfillment.

What is the estimated cost for a decent computer or tablet to run a clothing brand?

A suitable computer or tablet would cost around $300 or more, depending on the specs, with a recommendation of at least 250GB of hard drive space.

How much does design software like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop cost?

Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop can cost $20 to $30 per month each, or you can get the Adobe Creative Suite for $54 per month, which includes all Adobe products.

What are some optional items that could help improve business operations?

Optional items include a label printer ($180), an email system ($20 to $300 per month depending on the list size), an SMS system ($20 per month), and an improved shipping system ($20 per month).

How much should you budget for digital marketing, like Instagram and Facebook ads?

The cost of ads is flexible, ranging from $5 to $50 per day. For example, running ads at $10 per day for 15 days would cost $150 a month.

What is the total estimated fixed cost and monthly recurring cost for starting a clothing brand?

The fixed costs amount to approximately $499, while the recurring monthly costs range from $245 to $484, depending on optional expenses like ads, email systems, and shipping systems.