10 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Screen Printer

Choosing a screen printer can feel a little overwhelming, especially if you’re ordering custom apparel for the first time. There are shirts to choose from, artwork files to figure out, colors to approve, deadlines to think about, and about a hundred tiny details that can make a big difference in how your final order turns out. I get it. At The Awesome Company, we work with businesses, schools, teams, nonprofits, families, and event organizers all the time, and our goal is always the same: to make the process feel easy, clear, and actually fun. Whether you already know exactly what you want or you’re starting with a rough idea, asking the right questions before you place your order can help you feel confident from the very beginning.

Why It’s Important to Ask the Right Questions

Before you choose a screen printer, it helps to know what you should be looking for. Not every print shop works the same way, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Some shops are built for huge bulk orders. Some specialize in quick-turn projects. Some offer design help, while others expect you to come in with perfect, print-ready artwork. The most important thing is finding a studio who understands your project, communicates clearly, and helps you make the best choices for your budget, timeline, and end goal.

When you ask the right questions upfront, you can avoid a lot of common headaches later. Things like unclear pricing, low-quality garments, blurry artwork, missed deadlines, or surprise fees are much easier to prevent when everyone is on the same page from the start. At The Awesome Company, we never expect our customers to know all the ins and outs of screen printing before they come to us. That’s our job. We’re here to walk you through the process, explain your options, and help you feel excited about what you’re creating.

1. What Types of Printing Services Do You Offer?

The first question I’d ask any screen printer is what types of decorating services they offer. Even if you come in thinking you need screen printing, it’s helpful to know whether that is truly the best option for your project. Screen printing is one of our favorite methods because it creates a bold, durable print that works beautifully for t-shirts, sweatshirts, event apparel, team shirts, and company merch. It is especially great when you’re ordering larger quantities with the same design.

But screen printing is not always the only option. Depending on your artwork, garment type, order size, or budget, another decorating method might make more sense. At The Awesome Company, we offer screen printing, embroidery, DTF heat transfers, and design support, so we can help you choose the method that fits your project best. For example, embroidery may be perfect for a polished company polo or premium hat, while DTF can be a great choice for smaller runs, detailed designs, or colorful artwork.

A good screen printer should be honest with you about what will work best, even if that means recommending a different method than the one you originally had in mind. Our goal is never to push you into one option. It’s to help you get custom apparel that looks great, feels great, and makes sense for what you need.

2. What Garments and Products Can You Print On?

The next question to ask is what types of garments and products the printer can work with. Custom apparel is not one-size-fits-all, and the product you choose can make a big difference in the final result. A simple cotton t-shirt, a soft hoodie, a performance polo, a tote bag, and a hat all have different materials, textures, and decorating needs.

This is where having a helpful print partner really matters. You may know you want “shirts,” but there are still a lot of choices to make. Do you want something lightweight or heavyweight? Budget-friendly or premium? Casual or professional? Are these for employees, customers, students, volunteers, a sports team, or a special event? The more your printer understands how the apparel will be used, the better they can guide you toward products that make sense.

At The Awesome Company, we help customers choose garments and products that fit the purpose of their order. Whether you need company uniforms, school spirit wear, event shirts, team apparel, branded merch, hoodies, tote bags, or hats, we can walk you through options that match your design, budget, and timeline. A good finished product starts before anything ever hits the press. It starts with choosing the right item for the job.

3. Do You Help With Artwork and Design?

This is a big one, especially if you’re not a designer or you’ve never ordered custom apparel before. A lot of people come to us with a logo, a screenshot, a Canva design, a hand-drawn idea, or even just a sentence that says, “Can you make this look good?” And the answer is yes, we can help.

Before choosing a screen printer, ask what kind of artwork support they offer. Do they need a vector file? Can they clean up a low-resolution image? Will they help with sizing, placement, colors, and layout? Will they tell you if your design is too detailed for the print method you chose? These details matter because even a great idea can turn into a disappointing shirt if the artwork is not prepared correctly.

At The Awesome Company, we love helping customers bring ideas to life. If you already have print-ready artwork, amazing. We get very excited about that. But if you don’t, that’s okay too. Our design team can help adjust your file, clean up your artwork, or create something custom for your project. You should never feel embarrassed for not knowing what a vector file is or what “print ready” means. That’s what we’re here for.

4. What Is Your Minimum Order Quantity?

Minimum order quantity is something you definitely want to ask about early in the process. Every print shop handles this differently, and it can make a big difference depending on the size of your project. Some screen printers require large minimums before they’ll even start an order, which can be tricky if you only need a small batch of shirts for your team, business, family event, or fundraiser.

Screen printing is usually most cost-effective when you’re ordering a larger quantity with the same design. That’s because there is setup involved before the actual printing begins. Screens have to be created, ink colors have to be prepared, and everything needs to be lined up just right before production starts. The more pieces you print, the more that setup cost is spread out across the order.

But that doesn’t mean smaller orders are impossible. At The Awesome Company, we help you figure out what makes the most sense for your quantity, design, and budget. If screen printing is the right fit, we’ll guide you through it. If another option, like DTF heat transfers, makes more sense for a smaller run or a highly detailed design, we’ll explain that too. Our goal is to help you get the best result, not talk you into something that doesn’t fit your project.

5. How Do You Price Custom Apparel Orders?

Pricing is another important question to ask before choosing a screen printer. Custom apparel pricing can vary a lot from project to project, so it is always helpful to understand what goes into your quote. The final price usually depends on the garment you choose, how many pieces you order, how many ink colors are in your design, how many print locations you need, and whether your artwork needs any extra help before production.

For example, a one-color design printed on the front of a t-shirt will usually be priced differently than a full-front design with multiple ink colors plus a sleeve print or back print. The type of garment matters too. A basic cotton tee, a premium hoodie, a performance polo, and a tote bag will all have different price points. That is why it is so important to work with a printer who explains your options clearly instead of handing you a confusing quote with no context.

At The Awesome Company, we want you to feel comfortable with what you’re ordering and what you’re paying for. We’ll help you understand what affects the cost and where you may be able to adjust your order to better fit your budget. Sometimes that means changing the garment style, simplifying the design, adjusting the print locations, or choosing a different decoration method. A good screen printer should help you make smart decisions, not leave you guessing.

6. Can I See Samples of Your Work?

Before choosing a screen printer, ask to see examples of their past work. This can tell you a lot about their print quality, attention to detail, garment options, and overall style. A good screen printer should be proud to show you what they’ve created, whether that’s customer orders, behind-the-scenes videos, finished apparel photos, embroidery samples, or examples of different print methods.

When you’re looking at samples, pay attention to the details. Does the print look clean and crisp? Is the placement even? Do the colors look strong? Does the garment itself look like something people would actually want to wear? Custom apparel is not just about getting your logo onto a shirt. It’s about creating something that feels professional, comfortable, and worth keeping.

At The Awesome Company, we love sharing our work because every project tells a story. From business apparel and school spirit wear to event shirts, hats, hoodies, tote bags, and customer merch, our team puts care into every order that comes through our shop. You can check out our past projects, social media, customer spotlights, and behind-the-scenes content to get a feel for who we are and what we do. Seeing real examples can help you feel more confident before starting your own project.

7. What Is Your Turnaround Time?

Turnaround time is one of those questions you should always ask before placing a custom apparel order, especially if you need your items for a specific event, launch, spirit week, fundraiser, company meeting, or holiday gift. Even a simple order has several steps before it is ready to go. Products need to be selected and ordered, artwork needs to be approved, production has to be scheduled, and the final order needs to be checked, packed, and finished.

A good screen printer should be upfront with you about their current timeline and what could affect it. Things like garment availability, order size, artwork changes, number of print locations, and how quickly you approve your proof can all impact when your order is completed. If you have a hard deadline, say that early. It helps your printer guide you toward realistic options and avoid last-minute stress.

At The Awesome Company, we always want to set clear expectations from the beginning. We’ll talk through your timeline, help you understand what needs to happen before production, and do our best to keep the process moving smoothly. The earlier you start, the more options you usually have, but if you’re working with a tighter deadline, we’ll help you figure out the best path forward.

8. Do You Provide Proofs Before Printing?

Before your order goes into production, ask if the printer provides a proof. A proof is basically a preview of your design on the garment, showing details like placement, size, colors, and print location. This step is so important because it gives everyone a chance to make sure the order looks right before anything is printed.

I always tell customers that proofs help protect both sides. They help you feel confident about what you’re approving, and they help us make sure we are producing exactly what you asked for. It is much easier to adjust a design on a proof than it is to fix an order after the shirts are already printed.

At The Awesome Company, we want you to feel good about your order before it ever hits production. We’ll make sure the important details are reviewed, including the garment style, design placement, colors, sizes, and quantities. A good screen printer should never make you feel rushed or confused during this step. Clear communication before printing leads to a much better finished product.

9. How Do You Handle Quality Control?

Quality control is another question that can tell you a lot about a screen printer. It is not just about getting ink onto a shirt. It is about making sure the artwork is lined up correctly, the print looks clean, the garment counts are accurate, the sizes are right, and the final order is packed with care.

A strong quality control process should happen throughout the order, not just at the very end. From checking the artwork and garments before production to reviewing the finished pieces after printing, those little details matter. You want to know that someone is paying attention before your order is boxed up and sent out the door.

At The Awesome Company, our team takes quality seriously from start to finish. Every order moves through different steps, and our employees play an important role in helping make sure things are checked, organized, folded, packed, and ready for our customers. We care about the final product because we know your custom apparel represents your business, school, team, event, or organization. We want you to open that box and feel excited about what you see.

10. What Makes Your Company Different?

The last question I would ask is simple: what makes your company different? There are a lot of places that can print a shirt, but not every company will offer the same level of care, communication, creativity, or purpose. When you’re choosing a screen printer, you’re not just choosing a vendor. You’re choosing a partner to help bring your idea to life.

This is where values matter. Ask about the company’s experience, their process, their customer service, and what they care about beyond the finished product. Do they take time to explain your options? Do they help with design? Do they communicate clearly? Do they stand behind their work? Do they make the process feel easier?

At The Awesome Company, we are proud to be more than a custom apparel shop. Yes, we offer screen printing, embroidery, DTF heat transfers, and design support, but we also have a bigger mission. We create meaningful employment opportunities for autistic and neurodivergent adults while helping businesses, schools, teams, nonprofits, families, and events create custom apparel they’re proud of.

When you choose us for your next project, you’re getting a team that cares about quality, creativity, and people. We’ll help you choose the right products, prepare your artwork, understand your options, and feel confident from start to finish. To me, that’s what choosing the right screen printer is really all about.

Why Choose The Awesome Company for Your Next Screen Printing Project?

Once you know what questions to ask, the next step is finding a screen printer who can answer them clearly and honestly. That’s where we come in. At The Awesome Company, we want the custom apparel process to feel approachable, creative, and exciting, not confusing or intimidating.

We offer screen printing, embroidery, DTF heat transfers, and design support, which means we can help you choose the best option for your specific project. Maybe screen printing is perfect for your large company t-shirt order. Maybe embroidery makes the most sense for a polished hat or polo. Maybe DTF is the better fit for a smaller order with a detailed, colorful design. We’ll walk you through those choices and help you understand what will look best, last well, and fit your budget.

We also know that not every customer comes to us with perfect artwork or a fully formed idea, and that is completely okay. Our team can help with design, file setup, product selection, placement, and all the little details that go into making your apparel look great. Whether you’re ordering for a business, school, team, nonprofit, fundraiser, family event, or special occasion, we want you to feel supported from the first conversation to the final pickup or delivery.

And of course, one of the biggest reasons to choose The Awesome Company is our mission. Every order helps support meaningful employment opportunities for autistic and neurodivergent adults. So when you work with us, you’re not only getting custom apparel made with care. You’re also supporting a workplace built around inclusion, creativity, purpose, and pride.

To us, that makes every project a little more awesome.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a screen printer is about so much more than finding someone who can put ink on a shirt. It is about finding a team that listens, communicates clearly, understands your goals, and helps you make the best choices for your project. The right printer should make the process feel easier, not more stressful.

Before you place your next custom apparel order, take a little time to ask these questions. Ask about printing methods, garment options, artwork help, minimums, pricing, turnaround time, proofs, quality control, and what makes the company different. The answers will tell you a lot about the kind of experience you can expect.

At The Awesome Company, we would be honored to help bring your next idea to life. Whether you need custom shirts for your business, spirit wear for your school, uniforms for your team, merch for an event, or a totally custom design from scratch, we’re here to help every step of the way. Reach out to us when you’re ready to start your next project. We’d love to make something awesome with you.

• What should I ask before placing a screen printing order?

  Before placing a screen printing order, ask about printing options, garment choices, artwork requirements, minimum order quantities, pricing, turnaround time, proofs, and quality control. These questions help you understand the full process before production begins.

• Is screen printing good for small orders?

  Screen printing is usually most cost-effective for larger orders because of the setup involved. For smaller orders, another option like DTF heat transfers may be a better fit. At The Awesome Company, we can help you choose the best decorating method based on your design, quantity, and budget.

• Do I need print-ready artwork for screen printing?

  Not always. Print-ready artwork is helpful, but you do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out. Our design team can help clean up artwork, adjust files, create custom designs, and make sure your artwork is ready for production.

• How long does a screen printing order take?

  Turnaround time depends on your order size, garment availability, artwork approval, number of print locations, and the current production schedule. It is always best to start early, especially if you need your order for a specific event or deadline.

• What makes The Awesome Company different?

  The Awesome Company offers screen printing, embroidery, DTF heat transfers, and design support, all with a friendly, helpful approach. We also create meaningful employment opportunities for autistic and neurodivergent adults, so every order supports a mission rooted in inclusion, creativity, and purpose.