A lot of people who message us about "starting a brand" are worried about the same thing: they do not want to spend $2,000 on shirts that sit in a closet. That is a good instinct. Most first drops do not need inventory at all. This guide covers three ways small brands and creators launch with nothing in stock, what each costs, and how we would plan a first drop if we were starting one in Bergen County today.
Model 1: the pre-order drop
You show the design, open orders for a set window (often 7 to 14 days), close orders, and then have exactly what sold made in one batch. Nothing is made that is not already paid for.
- Good for: local followings, music and art projects, gyms, run clubs, limited "drops."
- The tradeoff: buyers wait. Tell them the ship or pickup date up front.
- Why it works with us: we have no minimum, so whether 9 people or 90 people order, you place one order for that exact count and sizes. Printed apparel is ready 7 to 10 business days after the deposit and mockup approval.
Model 2: print on demand
A print-on-demand company connects to your online store, prints each item after someone buys it, and ships it to the buyer. You pay for production only after the sale. Printful describes the model this way: you create products, customers order through your store, and they print, pack and ship each order. Their print-on-demand overview covers the pros and cons.
- Good for: online stores with steady, small daily sales and buyers all over the country.
- The tradeoff: a higher cost per piece and a smaller choice of blanks, and you do not touch each item before it ships.
Our own Crossroads shop is made to order, so nothing is printed until someone buys it. We use the model because it means no dead stock for us either.
Model 3: the tiny test batch
Order a handful of pieces (say 6 to 12) in your best design, wear them, photograph them, sell them at a pop-up or to friends, and use what you learn to plan a real drop. It is not quite zero inventory, but it keeps the risk to a few hundred dollars and gives you real photos instead of mockups.
What a first batch costs
Here is what a brand-quality tee and hoodie cost with us, as of November 2026, for a colored blank with one front print. A back print adds about $6.00 to $7.00 a piece.
| Blank | Why brands like it | 1 | 12 each | 24 each | 48 each |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bella+Canvas 3010 Heavyweight Street Tee | 6 oz, relaxed drop shoulder | $31.50 | $30.00 | $28.50 | $25.50 |
| Lane Seven LS17005 Heavy Core Tee | 8.2 oz, oversized | $33.00 | $32.00 | $31.00 | $28.50 |
| Lane Seven LS16005 Urban Heavyweight | Pigment-dyed, boxy | $35.50 | $34.50 | $32.50 | $30.00 |
| Independent IND4000 hoodie | 10 oz streetwear staple | $52.50 | $51.50 | $49.50 | $46.50 |
| Lane Seven LS16006 Urban Joggers | Matches the LS16005 look | $40.00 | $39.00 | $38.00 | $35.50 |
A quick margin check: if 24 people pre-order an LS17005 tee at a price you set, your cost is $31.00 each, or $744.00, plus your deposit of 50% up front. Whatever you charge above that, minus your store's payment fees and any packaging or shipping, is what the drop earns. Clothing is exempt from New Jersey sales tax, per the NJ Division of Taxation, which also applies when you resell it in NJ. If you are not sure how that applies to your business, ask an accountant.
Not sure which blank? Our heavyweight vs regular tee guide compares them, and the garment-dyed vs pigment-dyed guide explains the washed looks.
A simple first-drop plan
- Check your name. Search the USPTO trademark database before you print a logo on anything. It is free and takes ten minutes.
- Make one or two strong designs. A first drop does not need eight. Our artwork guide explains file types and sizes.
- Order samples. Put the design on two blanks in our designer and order one of each. Wash them, wear them, photograph them.
- Open pre-orders. Use any store you like. Give a firm close date and an honest "ready by" date: close date plus a few days for your sizes plus 7 to 10 business days for production.
- Place one order. Enter the exact sizes, approve your mockup and pay the deposit online.
- Deliver. Pick up contactless at our front door in Paramus and hand off locally, or have us ship the batch to you ($9.99 for up to 12 pieces, $14.99 up to 48).
- Repeat what worked. Restock the sizes and colors that sold out first.
Mistakes we see first-time brands make
- Too many sizes and colors. Two colors in S to 2XL is plenty for a first drop.
- Promising dates before the order is placed. The production clock starts at deposit and mockup approval, not when the pre-order closes.
- Skipping the sample. The blank matters as much as the art. A $33 sample can save a $700 batch.
- Using art you do not own. Logos, characters and lyrics belong to someone. Original work only.
Pricing your drop
There is no single right price, but a few habits help first-time brands avoid losing money:
- Start from your real cost. Blank plus print from the designer, plus your store's payment fees, packaging and any shipping you cover.
- Price for the drop, not the batch. If you sell 20 instead of 40, your per-shirt cost goes up a little. Price so 20 still works.
- Charge for 2XL and up if your cost goes up. Bigger sizes often cost more for the blank, and many brands price them a few dollars higher.
- Keep shipping honest. If you mail orders yourself, price the mailer and postage before you promise free shipping.
Start small and see what sells
The point of a no-inventory launch is to learn what people want before you spend real money. Build a sample in the designer, or tell us about your brand and we will reply with blank suggestions and a price for your first drop.