Organizers: Cut Costs With 10 for $99 Preorders for Fundraiser Tees

Decorative fundraiser tee preorder title card

If you want low admin and no risk of leftover inventory, a supporter-facing preorder storefront is your best bet. If you want the lowest per-shirt cost and don’t mind handling distribution yourself, a bulk preorder through a printer works better, and packages like our Custom T-Shirts – 10 for $99 make that option simple. The sections below walk through general considerations like pricing, taxes, timelines, and the steps to run your campaign.

TL;DR:

  • Choosing a preorder solution requires clear pricing, fulfillment options, and tax policies, with written quotes to avoid unexpected costs.
  • Bulk preorders with self-distribution offer the best margins but require handling sizes, payment, and shipping, while storefronts save time at higher unit costs.
  • Setting the right price involves calculating your actual shirt costs, adding markup, and factoring in shipping and tax to determine a sustainable sale price.
  • Sales tax is generally applicable to merchandise sales, regardless of charitable status, so organizations must verify state regulations and collect proper documentation.
  • Starting your campaign 2 to 4 weeks before the event ensures enough time for order finalization, production, and distribution logistics.
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Table of Contents

What to look for when choosing a preorder solution or provider

Picking the right setup starts with asking a few blunt questions before you commit any money. A good provider makes its pricing clear, tells you exactly what’s included, and doesn’t bury fees in fine print.

Here’s what actually matters when you compare options:

  • Pricing transparency: the unit price, platform fees, shipping, and tax should all be visible before checkout, not added as surprises later.
  • Order minimums: some providers require a minimum order size, while others let you start small and scale up as preorders come in.
  • Turnaround time: ask for a specific production date, not a vague range, especially if your event has a fixed date.
  • Fulfillment model: decide if shirts ship in bulk to you for distribution or go directly to each supporter’s address.
  • Payment and refund policies: know how money is collected, who holds it, and what happens if someone needs a refund.
  • Design and sizing support: check if proofs are included and whether the provider helps with sizing charts for your group.
  • Tax handling: confirm whether the provider collects and remits sales tax or if that responsibility falls on you.
  • Reporting tools: look for order tracking or invoicing that makes reconciliation easier once the campaign closes.

Pro Tip: Ask for a written quote that breaks out unit cost, shipping, and tax separately. If a provider doesn’t give you that in writing, keep looking.

Skipping any of these checks is how organizers end up with shirts that arrive late, cost more than expected, or leave someone stuck covering a shortfall. A little upfront diligence here saves a lot of frustration later.

Preorder approaches and provider types

Not every fundraiser needs the same setup. The model you pick should match how much time your team has and how much margin you need.

  1. Supporter-facing storefronts publish your design on a campaign page, collect payment directly from each buyer, and ship shirts straight to their homes. You avoid handling money or packages, but per-unit cost is usually higher and you have less control over the final price.
  2. Print-on-demand services work similarly to storefronts but often give you more design flexibility. The tradeoff is thinner margins since each shirt is produced and shipped individually rather than in bulk.
  3. Local printers and bulk vendors charge less per shirt when you order a set quantity upfront, which is why packages like ours at Custom T-Shirts work well for groups who can handle their own distribution. You take on the job of collecting sizes, gathering payment, and getting shirts to supporters, but the savings per shirt can be significant.
  4. Hybrid models split the difference: a local printer handles production while you or a volunteer coordinate pickup locations or team distribution, keeping costs down without requiring full storefront software.

Our guide on bulk vs. preorder printing breaks down these tradeoffs in more detail if you’re weighing which fits your group.

Pricing, margins, and timeline planning for preorder fundraisers

Setting a fundraiser price starts with knowing your real cost per shirt, not just the sticker price on a package deal, as explained in Why Are Basic T-Shirts So Expensive? The Truth About Fashion Markup.

Custom T-Shirts – 10 for $99 | 100% Cotton Personalized Shirts for Events, Businesses & Family Reunions

Here’s how the math works with a bulk order: a package of 10 shirts for $99 breaks down to $9.90 per shirt before you add any markup. If you sell each shirt for $20, you keep $10.10 per unit for your cause after covering the base cost. That margin shrinks once you factor in shipping to your group or any handling fees, so build those into your math early rather than after the sale.

A storefront model usually looks different, since per-unit shipping gets added to each order instead of being split across a bulk batch.

  • Calculate your break-even price first, then add your target donation amount per shirt on top.
  • Factor in shipping costs separately whether you’re paying for bulk delivery or supporters are covering their own.
  • Decide early whether sales tax will be baked into your listed price or collected as a separate line item.

A bulk package example shows that ordering 10 custom shirts for about $99 breaks down to roughly $9.90 per shirt before markup.

Production turnaround for most custom apparel runs on a schedule that needs a buffer before your event date. Our turnaround guide covers what to expect once your order closes.

Charitable status doesn’t give your organization a free pass on sales tax. Selling t-shirts is a retail transaction in the eyes of most state tax authorities, even when the proceeds go to a good cause, and some states have specifically ruled that a charitable purpose does not exempt shirt sales from sales tax.

A few practical steps keep you out of trouble:

  • Check your state Department of Revenue’s rules before you set a price, since requirements vary widely from state to state.
  • Decide whether you need a sales tax permit or whether your vendor can collect and remit tax on your behalf.
  • Keep documentation showing how the merchandise sale supports your mission, since this can reduce the risk of the sale being treated as unrelated business income.
  • Hold onto invoices and order records for your own files, even when a vendor handles the tax collection.

Pro Tip: Ask your vendor directly whether tax is included in the listed price or added at checkout. Getting this answer in writing before you launch saves a headache during reconciliation.

A short internal memo describing how the fundraiser ties back to your organization’s purpose can go a long way if questions come up later. It doesn’t need to be formal, just clear enough to show the sale wasn’t purely commercial.

Step-by-step preorder campaign checklist

Running a preorder campaign goes smoother when you work through it in order rather than improvising as deadlines approach.

  1. Set your fundraising goal and the target contribution you want from each shirt sold.
  2. Choose your model: a supporter-facing storefront or a bulk order you’ll distribute yourself.
  3. Finalize your design and get a proof approved before opening orders.
  4. Set a firm preorder deadline and communicate it clearly to supporters.
  5. Decide how you’ll collect payment and whether tax is included in your price.
  6. Gather sizes and order counts from supporters before the deadline closes.
  7. Confirm final shirt counts and place your production order.
  8. Communicate shipping or pickup details once production is underway.
  9. Track order status and keep supporters updated as shirts ship or become ready for pickup.
  10. Reconcile payments, costs, and proceeds once the campaign wraps up.
Phase Typical timing
Preorder window open 2 to 4 weeks before closing
Orders close to production start Allow a short buffer for final counts
Production time Varies by order size and provider
Shipping or pickup Add buffer time after production completes

Our fundraiser idea checklist has more detail on timing each step if you’re planning your first campaign.

Shay’s Print Shop: how we support preorder fundraisers

We built our bulk packages for exactly this kind of project. Our Custom T-Shirts – 10 for $99 package uses 100% cotton shirts printed with DTF, giving you a durable product at a price that’s easy to explain to your team.

  • We keep pricing simple: one package price covers the shirts, with no hidden per-item fees added later.
  • We print on 100% cotton with DTF for a soft feel and a print that holds up through regular washing.
  • We offer fast turnaround so your shirts arrive with room to spare before your event.
  • Before ordering, have your design file, sizes, and quantity ready so we can move your order through production quickly.

This guide is written by Jon Will.

A quick note on choosing your approach

Most organizers overthink this decision more than they need to. If your team has a few hours to spend collecting sizes and handling pickup, bulk preorders save real money. If your team is stretched thin, a storefront that ships directly to supporters is worth the extra per-unit cost just to get your time back.

— Jon Will

Ready to start your shirt preorder?

We make bulk preorders simple: pick your package, upload your design, and we handle the rest with fast turnaround and shirts that hold up to real use.

Custom T-Shirts – 10 for $99 | 100% Cotton Personalized Shirts for Events, Businesses & Family Reunions

Before you order, have these ready:

  • Your design file or logo
  • A size breakdown for your group
  • Your preorder deadline

Start with our Custom T-Shirts – 10 for $99 package, or check out our Custom Tumbler option if you want to add a second item to your fundraiser.

FAQ

Do fundraiser t-shirt sales require collecting sales tax?

Yes, in most cases. Federal tax-exempt status does not automatically exempt merchandise sales from state sales tax, so check your state Department of Revenue rules before setting prices.

How far in advance should we close preorders before our event?

Close your order window 2 to 4 weeks before production needs to start, then add shipping time on top. This buffer protects you if sizes need adjusting or if a few supporters order late.

Is there a minimum order size for bulk fundraiser shirts?

It depends on the provider. Bulk package minimums vary by provider, but many start around 10 shirts, suitable for smaller groups seeking bulk pricing.

What happens if a supporter wants a refund after ordering?

Refund policies vary by provider, so confirm this before launching your campaign. Ask specifically whether refunds are available before production starts and what happens once shirts are already printed.

Does charitable status exempt our organization from sales tax on merchandise?

No. A charitable purpose does not exempt t-shirt sales from sales tax in most states, and documenting how the sale supports your mission can help reduce the risk of the income being treated as unrelated business income.

Sources

Where to verify tax and nonprofit merchandise rules

Tax rules for fundraiser merchandise vary by state and by organization type, so it’s worth checking primary sources before you set your pricing.

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