Can I start a custom t shirt business from home?

Yes, and plenty of apparel brands started with a single heat press in a spare bedroom or garage. Keeping startup costs low and risk low is the whole point in the early days.

• Startup costs can stay under $500 if you go the heat transfer vinyl route rather than buying screen-printing gear.
• Begin with made-to-order production so you are not sitting on unsold inventory.
• Track which designs actually sell before you print more of anything.
• As a design starts moving in volume, switch it to screen printing to improve your per-shirt margin.
• Sort out the basics early: a place to work, reliable blanks, and a simple way to take orders online.