When I first started Lily Taylor Designs, I had a baby, a kitchen table covered in t-shirt blanks, and a dream of creating something that would support my family. I...
When I first started Lily Taylor Designs, I had a baby, a kitchen table covered in t-shirt blanks, and a dream of creating something that would support my family. I wanted to be present for my daughter but also have something of my own—something that brought in extra income and let me be creative every day.
Spoiler: you don’t need a huge budget or fancy warehouse to start a small business. I built mine for under $1,000 using a handful of physical tools (all from Amazon!) and a few smart software subscriptions. Here’s everything I use to keep my business running smoothly—while juggling mom life.
When I started out, I was overwhelmed by all the gadgets and supplies out there. Over time, I found a core set of tools that I can’t live without. These are all affordable, and I use them for every single order I ship.
These poly mailers are my go-to for shipping t-shirts and sweaters. For multiple sweaters, I go up a size, and for kids' shirts, I use smaller ones. They’re lightweight, durable, and make shipping easy.
Before items go into mailers, I pack them in these plastic bags to keep them clean and protected. It’s a simple step that makes a big difference.
I use these thermal shipping labels with my thermal printer (no ink needed—game changer!). They work with most thermal printers and keep my shipping process quick and organized.
My thermal printer is hands-down one of my favorite tools. I use it for all my Shopify, Etsy, and eBay orders. The setup was a little tricky at first, but they include great instructions.
I’ve had this printer for over two years and have never needed to change the ink—yes, seriously. I use it for everything from shipping slips to marketing materials.
These Teflon sheets are essential when pressing t-shirt designs. They’re inexpensive and last forever.
Nothing ruins a print faster than lint! These lint rollers are my go-to because they’re super sticky and easy to tear off.
Centering designs perfectly is a breeze with this ruler guide. It has guides for adult, youth, and toddler shirts.
My heat press is my workhorse. While I have a different model, this heat press is highly recommended and beginner-friendly.
For smaller items like keychains, I use padded poly mailers.
To keep keychains protected, I put them into these small plastic bags before mailing.
A neat, folded shirt looks so much more professional. This folding board is a lifesaver (and kind of fun to use).
I use this machine to cut vinyl for some of my shirts and keychains. I also use for a lot of personal things like party decorations.
Physical tools get your product made, but digital tools keep your business running. Here are the ones I use every single day:
I design everything in Canva—t-shirt graphics, social media posts, email banners, you name it. It’s beginner-friendly but powerful enough to create professional designs.
Shopify is the backbone of my business. It handles orders, shipping, taxes, and payments. Plus, it’s easy to customize and sync with apps like Klaviyo.
QuickBooks tracks all my expenses, income, and sales. It’s not the glamorous side of business, but it’s necessary (and saves me a headache at tax time).
Email marketing is huge for keeping customers engaged. Klaviyo lets me send newsletters, new product announcements, and sales emails that look polished and professional.
When I first started, I didn’t buy every tool at once. I started with the basics—heat press, t-shirts, a few mailers—and reinvested profits into things like better printers and marketing tools. If you want to start your own t-shirt or keychain business on a budget, focus on these key items:
A heat press
Blank t-shirts
Shipping supplies
A simple website (Shopify makes this easy)
Work in “pockets of time.” I do a lot during nap times or after bedtime.
Market where your audience is. For me, that’s Pinterest, TikTok, and Instagram.
Start simple. You don’t need 50 designs on day one. Start with 2-3 bestsellers.
Don’t let the tech scare you. Most of these tools are beginner-friendly, and YouTube is full of tutorials.
If you’re a mom dreaming of starting a side hustle, you can absolutely do this. I started Lily Taylor Designs with a heat press, a few blank tees, and a whole lot of determination. Now, I get to create every day while supporting my family—and that’s the best feeling.
And if DIY isn’t your thing, you can always shop my ready-made designs at LilyTaylorDesigns.com.
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