| If you're looking to start your own online t-shirt | | | | account for expenses such as shipping, taxes, |
| business, it's always good to have a business plan, | | | | accessories, etc. |
| whether you're looking to get a small loan or not. | | | | 6. Marketing and sales - If you're starting from |
| Having a business plan will put you in the right | | | | scratch, there are different ways that you can |
| direction to go with your online business. Here are ten | | | | promote your online custom t-shirt business. You'll |
| things that are critical in order for you to succeed in | | | | have to determine what kind of advantage you have |
| doing that: | | | | over your competitors. Develop a strategy as to |
| 1. Company's mission statement - What is the | | | | how you're going to get through the market. What |
| purpose of your company? Why should people buy | | | | kind of methods will you use to get customers to |
| your custom t-shirts? How can your custom t-shirts | | | | come to your site. You don't want them to just |
| help others? | | | | come and look, you also want them to buy. You can |
| 2. Summary - This part of the business plan discusses | | | | also use methods such as article marketing, pay per |
| what your company is about. It also talks about what | | | | click to advertise your business. |
| kind of products you will be marketing and selling. It | | | | 7. Method of operation - You will need to know |
| doesn't have to be a lengthy summary, just | | | | about how many employees you will have. If it's just |
| something that discusses the direction your online | | | | you starting out, then that's fine. You may have to |
| business plans to go. | | | | do the hard labor for a while until the profits roll in. |
| 3. Market Studies - Explain ways that you're going to | | | | Know who your suppliers are going to be and your |
| check out your competition. You have to have an | | | | expenses related to that. |
| idea of what they're doing so that you can stay on | | | | 8. Organizational chart - Provide the names of the |
| top of things. For instance, you don't want to put | | | | owners, CEO, President, etc., and other officers as |
| your website up and be a duplicate. The more you | | | | needed. |
| find out about your market, the more different you | | | | 9. Financial projections - Write down expected cash |
| can be with your custom made t-shirts. | | | | flow for each month. You must include a monthly |
| 4. Products and Services - In addition to the t-shirts, | | | | budget so that you will know how much you can |
| what kind of designs or applications will you offer | | | | spend. Also, include a profit and loss section. Compare |
| your customers? Are there some that will be | | | | this with your marketing strategies to see which ads |
| banned? Will you custom t-shirts be based around | | | | failed and which did well. |
| Christianity only? How much extra will you charge for | | | | 10. Appendix - This is for anything that you've used |
| special lettering per t-shirt? | | | | to assist with your plan. This can include research or |
| 5. How to price - What price range are you looking | | | | market studies on similar items. |
| at? You may want to check out some other online | | | | Your business plan is a guide to help you move |
| retailers that make custom t-shirts and see what | | | | forward in your online custom t-shirt business. |
| their prices are. Whatever price you decide, it can't | | | | Planning ahead is key to getting your online business |
| be too low and it can't be too high. You have to | | | | off the ground and running. |