Why I’m Starting a Print-on-Demand T-Shirt Business at 45 (With No Experience)

Written By Scallywags nScoundrels

If you had told me a few years ago that at 45 I’d be designing T-shirts and running my online store, I’d have laughed you right out of the room. I’ve never run a clothing brand. I don’t know the first thing about screen printing. And I don’t have a garage full of boxes or a $5,000 heat press.

But here I am — building designs on my laptop, setting up an online store, and figuring out how to market shirts I’ve never physically touched.

So why am I doing this? Let me explain.

1. I Wanted Something That Was Mine

For years, my work life was built around someone else’s schedule, rules, and goals. I wanted to create something where every win and loss belonged to me.

Print-on-demand makes that possible without the massive startup costs. I don’t need to rent storage space, ship packages myself, or gamble thousands of dollars on inventory I might never sell. I upload designs, and the printing company handles the rest.

2. I’m Tired of Waiting for “The Right Time”

There’s never a perfect moment to start something new.
I don’t have decades of design experience. I don’t have piles of money to throw at ads. But with POD, I can start small, experiment, and scale up without the huge risks of traditional retail.

If I kept waiting until I “knew enough” or “felt ready,” I’d never start. And I’m not willing to let the next 10 years look like the last 10.

3. I Like the Challenge

Sure, POD takes away the headache of printing and shipping, but there’s still a big learning curve:

  • How to create designs people actually want.

  • How to set up and brand an online store.

  • How to market to strangers and turn them into customers.

I’ve spent most of my life in environments with a clear playbook. This? There’s no manual. And that’s exactly what excites me.

4. It’s Not Just About Shirts

Yes, the product is T-shirts — but what I’m really building is a story.
I want people to follow along, watch me make mistakes, celebrate the wins, and see what it looks like to start an online business later in life with no prior experience.

Because if I can do this at 45 with nothing but a laptop and an idea, maybe it inspires someone else to take their own leap.

What’s Next

I’m starting small. My first step is to create 3–5 designs, set up a print-on-demand store, and share the entire process here.

If you’ve ever dreamed of starting something but felt “too old” or “too late,” stick around. We’re in this together.

Your Turn: Have you ever jumped into something completely new later in life? I’d love to hear your story.

Scallywags nScoundrels