A Guide to Firing up Your T-Shirt Printing Side Hustle

Need some extra cash? Want to diversify your income? Starting a side hustle is a great way to earn some extra money while doing something you love. Screen printing is a great side hustle to start up. Dip your toes in with a small press and take the craft as far as you want. Let’s talk about why you’d want a side hustle, what you’ll need, and how to be successful at it.

WHY SHOULD I START A SIDE HUSTLE?

A side hustle is a great way to diversify your income. Your day job pays the bills, but a side gig will bring in more income so you can do things you love or invest back into your business. 

Many people start side hustles by turning things they love into money-making endeavors. Say you already like to design t-shirts. When family vacations or group events come around, you’re the one people turn to to make memorable souvenirs. Take it one step further and turn your hobby into a side business. 

Selling your product on a website like Etsy or even through social media is a great way to get started. You won’t need a business license or Tax ID until you decide to scale up. The good thing about screen printing is that it’s completely scalable. When that sports team comes back to you for shirts next season, you can upgrade your press and business to accommodate more traffic.

WHAT DO I NEED TO START A SCREEN PRINTING SIDE GIG?

If you’re a hobbyist screen printer, you probably already have some of the necessary equipment. You’ll need a small press like the Riley Hopkins 150, a flash dryer, an exposure unit, and supplies like ink, emulsion, squeegees, and screens. 

RELATED: SHOULD DIY SCREEN PRINTERS GET A RILEY HOPKINS 150 PRESS OR A DIY PRESS?

Want to grab all the equipment and supplies in one trip? Check out the Riley Hopkins 150 Complete Screen Printing Kit. It has everything you need to set up a screen printing side hustle in whatever space you’ll be printing from. 

Set up your shop in the space that works best for you. If your space doesn’t have the capacity for certain equipment like a washout booth, you may have to get creative. Take Joey Avila, for example. When he started screen printing, he washed out his screens at his local car wash. A little problem-solving goes a long way.

RELATED: HOW AVILA DESIGN CO. HUSTLES FOR SUCCESS

If you don’t want to create a full darkroom and burn your own screens, you can outsource that too. Find a screen print shop that will burn screens for you. They may even be willing to print your films as well. 

Once you have everything set up, it’s time to get printing. But where do you start? Have no fear: there’s a course for that! How to Screen Print with a Kit: 150 Edition is a comprehensive guide that teaches the basics of screen printing, from darkroom setup to reclaim. Best of all, it’s completely free. It’s the perfect backbone so you can follow along and learn the tricks of the trade. 

The biggest piece of advice most printers gives: don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone does it, and learning on the job is the best way to learn. There’s always more to learn, like how to price shirts and build a clientele.

Everyone starts their screen printing journey somewhere. By starting up a side hustle, you’ll diversify your income and add a little change to your pockets. You can stay in Side Hustle mode, or head for deeper water: buy a bigger press, gain more clients, and increase production. Screen printing is also infinitely scalable. Start a screen printing side hustle and watch your income rise.