Startup Screen Printing - How to start and grow a screen print business

Some of the biggest players in the screen print industry started out in a garage or basement shop. Each year, more and more people try to experience the same journey by launching their own diy screen print company at home. But how do you market and grow a screen print business when you're just getting started and budgets are tight? Follow me, Jesse Poteet, as I build my own print company. I'll share my own tactics and strategies I am using to grow my business, as well as failures and lessons learned along the way.

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Episodes

How Ashore App Revolutionizes Proofing for Screen Printers | Interview with Cody Miles

Discover how the Ashore app is transforming proofing for screen printers! In this exclusive interview, I sit down with Cody Miles, founder of Ashore, to explore why he built this powerful proofing platform and how it’s helping creatives and screen print businesses streamline their approval workflows. Tired of juggling emails, PDFs, and scattered customer feedback? Cody shares how Ashore simplifies the entire proofing process, offering features like automated workflows, real-time collaboration, w...

Jan 25, 2025•48 min

Learning to love the process and try new things with Jennifer Sanderson of Pigskins & Pigtails

Screen printing isn't easy and there are a lot of variables (and opinions) to consider when you're learning how to print. Jennifer Sanderson of Pigskins & Pigtails (https://www.pigskinsandpigtails.com) wasn't afraid of the challenges and has paved a way for crafters and beginner screen printers to learn screen printing through her content and tutorials and her new screen printing press that she partnered with Ryonet to create (https://ssp.ink/pigskinspress). I really enjoyed this chat with J...

Aug 29, 2024•46 min

Using digital marketing to grow your business with Jonathan Musgrave

What is marketing? How can digital marketing help you grow your screen print business? In this episode of the podcast I sit with with my friend Jonathan to talk about digital marketing strategies, Facebook advertising, social media marketing, and just marketing in general. ------------------------------------------ 💰 Learn how to grow a profitable business: https://ssp.ink/course ✅ Support the channel on Patreon for exclusive content: https://ssp.ink/patreon 😎 Join The Print Crew for FREE ➡ ht...

Aug 14, 2024•34 min

The dangers of printing art you don't have permission to print

In today's episode we talk about the importance of not printing designs that you don't have permission to print and the risks you're taking if you do. It could cost you everything and it's not worth it, besides, it's stealing. ----------------------------------------- ☕️ Buy me a coffee: https://ssp.ink/coffee ✅ Subscribe on Patreon for bonus content: https://ssp.ink/patreon 💯 Get my FREE registration template ➡ https://ssp.ink/reg-template?utm_source=yt 🧰 The Screen Printing Toolbox ➡ https:/...

Jun 12, 2024•11 min

Get To Know Retro Supply Co: A Chat With Founder Dustin Lee

Had a great time in this discussion with Dustin Lee of Retro Supply Co. Dustin shares more about his journey as a graphic designer and and his insights from his own experience launching and growing a profitable business. We also talk about the value in picking a niche for your business rather than being a serve-all type of shop. Lot's of great insights from Dustin in this episode and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed speaking with him. Be sure to check out https://retrosupplyco.com for mo...

Mar 30, 2024•35 min

Essential Steps For Starting A Business

In this episode of the Startup Screen Printing Podcast I have a great discussion with Darryl Shaper of Fixed Fee Law Firm (https://ssp.ink/fixedfeelaw) about the legal steps every entrepreneur should take when starting a business. From filing an LLC to creating a contract, Darryl explains everything you need to know to get your business started off the right way. We mention several services for things like domain names, hosting, and terms & conditions, so here are those links: For domain nam...

Feb 20, 2024•40 min

S1E10 - Using social media to promote your screen print business

In this episode I talk about using social media to promote your screen print business. There is no right or wrong way, but if you're looking for a way to grow your business through social media, I've got some great tips and insights to share that I think will truly help your business. ------------------------------------------ 💯 Get my FREE registration template ➡ https://ssp.ink/reg-template?utm_source=yt ❓ Leave me your questions for the podcast by submitting an audio question ➡ https://ssp.i...

Sep 01, 2023•25 min

S1E9 - Deep dive into everything that goes into a screen print pricing formula

In this final episode on the topic of screen print pricing, we finally take a deep dive into what exactly goes into the pricing formula. Keep in mind, this is just one formula and may not work for your situation, but if you're wondering where to start with pricing, give this a shot then change it to fit your shop. I use airtable as my pricing calculator and quote tracker. https://ssp.ink/airtable 💯 Get my FREE registration template: https://ssp.ink/registration-template ------------------------...

Jun 29, 2023•31 min

S1E8 - Don't price with fees. Keep your screen print pricing strategy simple.

It's been common for decorators to price their work as a combination of prices given to the customer rather than one single price. For example, a screen fee, a setup fee, etc. However, this only complicates things for your customer. Keep your pricing simple. Give them the price total that gets them out the door with the finished product. Get my FREE registration template: https://ssp.ink/registration-template ------------------------------------------ 📧 Sign up for my newsletter: https://ssp.in...

Apr 13, 2023•11 min

S1E7 - Should you mark up your apparel price?

Continuing our conversation on pricing strategy by looking into whether you should mark up your apparel price or not. Many shops do markup the apparel price and for various reasons. I have recently decided not to do that in my pricing, but instead added a different type of handling fee. How do you. handle apparel markups in your pricing? ------------------------------------------ 📧 Sign up for my newsletter: https://ssp.ink/go 🎙️ Subscribe to the podcast: https://ssp.ink/podcast 📷 Instagram: ...

Mar 28, 2023•15 min

S1E6 - Let's talk about pricing strategy

When you're just getting started, pricing can be difficult and intimidating. So, over the next several episodes I'm going to attempt to cover pricing for screen printing. It get's easier if we take it one step at a time and keep in mind that you don't have to get it right the first time. Your pricing strategy should always be changing as you reexamine your business on a yearly basis. To start, let's talk about some foundations of pricing: - Base your pricing on your situation, not what the shop ...

Mar 21, 2023•9 min

S1E5 - Be honest about being a solo business

There's long been an assumption when starting your business that you should use words like "we" and "us" in your website copy or when you communicate with potential customers via email or phone. However, I believe you actually attract a higher quality customer by being honest about where you are in your business. Tell people it's just you. Tell them you print out of your home. Tell them you're doing this as a side hustle. This is exactly what I've done in my business and it has been so well rece...

Mar 08, 2023•14 min

S1E4 - Water Based vs Plastisol, which is right for you?

The biggest debate in screen printing. Which is best: water based ink or plastisol. Let's talk about the pros and cons of both so you can make your own decision about what's best for you. Hint: there's no wrong decision. ------------------------------------------ Sign up for my newsletter: https://ssp.ink/go Subscribe to the podcast: https://ssp.ink/podcast Instagram: https://ssp.ink/instagram ------------------------------------------ Companies & Services I trust and use in my screen printi...

Feb 27, 2023•17 min

S1E3 - Should you be a one-stop shop and offer more than just screen printing?

A lot of screen printers fall into the trap of saying yes to money, leading them to offer more than just screen printing too early in their business. It's ok to be just a screen printer. Let's talk about why you shouldn't be a one-stop-shop when you're getting started. ------------------------------------------ Sign up for my newsletter: https://ssp.ink/go Subscribe to the podcast: https://ssp.ink/podcast Instagram: https://ssp.ink/instagram ------------------------------------------ Companies &...

Feb 27, 2023•8 min

S1E2 - How to find your first customers

Finding your first customers for your new screen print company is easier than you think. Let's talk about how I found my first customers and how I think it will work for you as well. ------------------------------------------ Sign up for my newsletter: https://ssp.ink/go Subscribe to the podcast: https://ssp.ink/podcast Instagram: https://ssp.ink/instagram ------------------------------------------ Companies & Services I trust and use in my screen printing business (contain affiliate links) ...

Feb 27, 2023•10 min

S1E1 - What press should you start with?

Just getting started with screen printing and not sure which press to buy? Not sure what equipment you really need to get started? I'll cover my recommendations in this episode. ------------------------------------------ Sign up for my newsletter: https://ssp.ink/go Subscribe to the podcast: https://ssp.ink/podcast Instagram: https://ssp.ink/instagram ------------------------------------------ Companies & Services I trust and use in my screen printing business (contain affiliate links) Ryone...

Feb 27, 2023•8 min

S1E0 - Welcome to The Startup Screen Printing Podcast

Welcome to the Startup Screen Printing podcast. My hope for this podcast is that it becomes a resource for you as you're starting your screen print company. I'll be sharing my experience with starting my own company and helping you make decisions like what press to purchase or how to get business email set up. ------------------------------------------ Sign up for my newsletter: https://ssp.ink/go Subscribe to the podcast: https://ssp.ink/podcast Instagram: https://ssp.ink/instagram ------------...

Feb 26, 2023•5 min

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