Running a DTF business offers sellers multiple sources of income, allowing them to tailor their offerings to different customer groups. They can sell individual prints as well as full gang sheets, catering to both retail customers and businesses engaged in mass apparel production. Additionally, DTF businesses can generate revenue by selling ready-made designs, either created in-house or licensed, as well as through custom services, where customers order prints featuring their own artwork. Another profitable segment is the sale of ready-to-wear products, such as T-shirts with pre-applied DTF prints, which increases margins and enhances the appeal of the product lineup. With such a diverse range of offerings, sellers can diversify their revenue streams, reaching both individual customers and companies specializing in custom apparel. The flexibility of the DTF business model makes it one of the most profitable methods of earning in the textile printing industry.
Single DTF transfers
Selling non-custom DTF transfers involves offering ready-made designs owned by the print shop. These are individual graphics that cannot be edited by buyers and are either created by the seller or licensed. The purchasing process is straightforward – customers add selected designs to their cart, choosing the preferred size. With the help of dedicated software, they can purchase multiple designs at once in various sizes, streamlining the ordering process. Once the purchase is completed, the system automatically generates a gang sheet and creates a print-ready file containing all the ordered designs. By offering a wide range of pre-made designs in various sizes, sellers can attract more customers and increase their revenue without additional production complexity. This model ensures a steady workflow and efficient order fulfillment, making it a cost-effective and scalable business strategy.
Custom DTF Gang Sheets
The sale of custom DTF gang sheets allows customers to create personalized sheets containing multiple graphics in various sizes and shapes, optimizing material usage and minimizing waste. The most convenient way to design such sheets is by using the DTF Gang Sheet Builder—an intuitive online tool that eliminates the need for professional graphic design software. With this tool, customers can easily and quickly arrange their designs, making full use of the available sheet space. The files are automatically prepared by the tool, meaning that the print shop can start printing immediately, without the need for manual graphic arrangement or print file preparation. Customers pay a higher price for this convenience, compared to manually creating gang sheets in advanced graphic programs, but in return, they receive a faster and more intuitive process.
While many customers appreciate the ability to easily create their own gang sheets, some prefer to leave this task to the print shop. To attract customers who don’t want to create their own gang sheets, print shops can offer a simple file submission option. Instead of requiring customers to manually arrange their designs, businesses can allow them to send their graphics via email or other methods, and then handle the layout process internally. By using tools like the Internal Builder in the Gang Sheet Builder, print shops can efficiently prepare print-ready files without requiring customers to use design software themselves. This approach makes the ordering process more convenient and appealing for those who prefer a hands-off experience. At the same time, it provides an additional revenue stream for print shops by offering a paid service for layout preparation. With an Internal Builder, businesses can ensure proper file organization, optimized material usage, and a smoother workflow, making it a profitable and scalable solution.
DTF Gang Sheets – Large Quantity
Selling gang sheets in large quantities is a strategy primarily targeted at companies that provide ready-to-print files. These orders are processed in bulk, allowing for lower unit prices while ensuring continuous printer operation and high profitability. Professional companies that place large orders usually have their own graphic designers, meaning they submit fully prepared files, eliminating the need for editing or creating a print sheet from scratch. This allows the print shop to quickly and efficiently fulfill orders, focusing solely on the printing process. This approach benefits both customers, who receive their orders in a short time, and print shops, which can operate without downtime. This model guarantees consistent orders, production optimization, and increased profitability. As a result, selling gang sheets in large quantities is an excellent option for businesses specializing in high-volume print production.
DTF printed T-shirt
Another sales option in the DTF sector is ready-made products, such as DTF T-shirts with pre-applied DTF prints. For print shops that own a heat press, this is an excellent way to expand their offerings, allowing them to provide fully finished products without requiring customers to apply the transfers themselves. The purchasing process involves selecting a ready-to-wear T-shirt in a specific size with the chosen design. For print shops, this means additional work related to applying the prints, but these products are also more expensive, as a higher margin is applied to both the print and the T-shirt. Despite the higher price, many customers prefer this option because it saves them time and ensures a professionally applied design with consistent quality. Additionally, businesses offering ready-made DTF apparel can attract a broader audience, including those who lack the equipment or experience to apply DTF prints themselves.
Custom Stickers
Additional products that can be added to a print shop’s offerings are custom die-cut and kiss-cut stickers, labels, and decals. These products cater to a wide range of customers and can be easily integrated into an existing DTF printing setup without requiring significant changes to the workflow.
By utilizing the Sticker Builder tool, printing house’s customers can design their own stickers by uploading photos or graphics, adding cliparts, adjusting sizes, and incorporating additional elements. This self-service approach simplifies the ordering process while allowing print shops to offer highly personalized products.