The Complete Heat Transfer Shop Setup Checklist
Tools Every Apparel Decorator Actually Needs
Starting a heat transfer business is simple.
Building a professional, consistent, profitable heat transfer shop is not.
After working with thousands of apparel decorators using screen print transfers and DTF, one pattern is clear:
Shops that thrive don’t just own equipment.
They build systems around it.
This guide outlines the essential tools every heat transfer shop needs — from garment preparation and heat press accessories to workflow organization, shipping, and design infrastructure.
Whether you’re launching your first t-shirt business or refining a growing production floor, this checklist will help you build a shop that produces consistent, professional results.
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Quick Overview: Heat Transfer Equipment Categories
This guide is organized into the following sections:
Heat Press Accessories & Maintenance
Heat Printing Surface & Pressure Management
Transfer Preparation & Cutting Tools
Shop Safety & Operator Protection
Workflow, Staging & Production Efficiency
Shipping & Fulfillment
Photography & Marketing Essentials
Design & Art Development Infrastructure
Pre-Application Garment Preparation
Why Garment Prep Impacts Transfer Quality
Before a transfer ever touches heat, garment condition matters.
Lint, surface fibers, pilling, loose threads, moisture, and seam distortion can all interfere with adhesion and surface finish. Even the highest-quality transfer can struggle if applied to an unprepared garment.
Professional decorators treat garment prep as part of production — not an afterthought.