I am in the process of getting my Graphic T-Shirt Design (True Color Teez) company started.
I have my plan all set out but I need the money to purchase expensive design programs and money to host my website. I do all the web design myself. Can anyone help me ?
I've tried searching for grants and asking my family, but ..... they have no money.
P.S. - Im 15 & a junior in high school...
NEW!!
I'm sorry... I didn't mean to confuse anyone. But here's my plan:
-i start up my own website (which i've owned 2 before making myspace layouts) i create them on my own !
-i offer STRICTLY custom designs for shirts (dance teams, bands, parties & events) This is what I'd be getting paid for...
-i create the image and take it to a partner my mom knows who owns his own T-Shirt PRINTING company
-i pay him maybe $2-$3 dollars for every shirt he prints for me... depending on the colors.
*** i don't want my own Brand ! Basically all I need is my own laptop and Adobe programs to create the image. Thats about it. This is what I need money for... and that'll be my business.
Is there anything wrong with my plan or something I can improve on ??? This is just what I have in mind.
Replies
Congrats on wanting to start your own biz and at your age even better.
Here are my thoughts on how you can get started in no time at all:
1.) Use a site like wix.com or moonfruit.com to create your website for FREE- better yet, Google "Free Online Websites" and see what you come up with - there are a lot. Hosting is free as well, in most cases. Use these FREE websites until you have enough capital to purchase your own domain name and pay for monthly or yearly hosting.
2.) Go on Ebay/Craigslist/Amazon or a store that sells used software - and search for an older version of Adobe programs like Creative Suite 2 (CS2) or CS3. Make sure the seller has all the key codes you need to activate your programs. Again, once you have capital reinvest it in your new software CS4. Also check out vids on Youtube.com for tutorials on using the Adobe programs – again, it’s FREE.
3.) You can sell your t-shirt designs on places like 99designs.com or enter contests to hone your skills, again use Google search "design contests" and you'll find plenty of sites- also a great way to make money.
4.) If your mother's t-shirt connection doesn't work out, you can always use a service like cafepress.com to have your t-shirts printed. You supply the design, get paid and direct your customer to cafepress.com or a site like it, they pay to have the t-shirt printed and shipped to them – done and done!
5.) Now, how do you get money? You could have a garage sale, you could sell something you have on Ebay or Craigslist. Do you have an item that one of your friends would LOVE to have, sell it to them! Can you do extra chores around your house or your neighbors’ house – tell them you’re starting a biz and work for them to get the money you need.
If you're serious about starting your biz, I know these tips will help you, because I implemented some of them when I started my business and I didn't want to spend money and they worked and well, I might add.
Best of luck - I know you can do it and I can't wait to see some of your designs!
Bianca King
Seven5 Seven3 Marketing Group
http://www.7573marketing.com
issuu.com is an awsome place to display your portfolio and it's FREE!
Feel free to contact me if you need any additional guidance. I alway offer free advice and tips.
-i start up my own website (which i've owned 2 before making myspace layouts) i create them on my own !
-i offer STRICTLY custom designs for shirts (dance teams, bands, parties & events) This is what I'd be getting paid for...
-i create the image and take it to a partner my mom knows who owns his own T-Shirt PRINTING company
-i pay him maybe $2-$3 dollars for every shirt he prints for me... depending on the colors.
*** i don't want my own Brand ! Basically all I need is my own laptop and Adobe programs to create the image. Thats about it. This is what I need money for... and that'll be my business.
Is there anything wrong with my plan or something I can improve on ??? This is just what I have in mind.
Branding yourself is not about having your own brand of t-shirt but more about personalizing yourself and your company and building an image that people think of whenever they think of your company. This is a very brief explanation of branding. You may want to consider it.
It would have been uploaded here but I don't recall if I paid for the webinar or if Naomi would mind. Instead, I went to her blog to find posts where she talked about similar issues.
The basic idea is to *really* question your lack of cashflow for your business...
http://ittybiz.com/money-for-entrepreneurs-can-you-afford-it/
...by being brutally honest with yourself, Joslyn. Once done, if you still need more resources (because it's not about cold hard cash all the time), then consider bartering...
http://ittybiz.com/who-needs-money-barter-for-fun-and-profit-well-f...
That and some financial (re)education with something simple like Dave Ramsey's "Baby Steps"...
http://www.daveramsey.com/new/baby-steps/
...works for people of all ages (like me when I found it at 29) but could turn dreams into reality for someone as young and enterprising as you, Joslyn.
And once you get started on getting your stuff together, girl, and business is swinging you're going to have to deal with broke folks so read this now...
http://ittybiz.com/customers-cant-afford-it/
...to prepare ;-)
Whatever happens, hang on to the dream and grind. You're at an age right now where every experience - positive or negative - will only fuel your growth, compassion, confidence, smarts and talent. Good. For. You!
Natasha Vincent
http://mydreadlocks.com
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