Understanding Order Minimums, Setup Fees & Artwork Prep in Screen Printing & Embroidery

CHRIS LIMON
5 days ago
2 min read

When ordering custom apparel for your business, event, or brand, it’s important to understand how pricing works in screen printing and embroidery. At Monday Morning Merch, we believe in keeping things clear and upfront so you know exactly what you’re paying for — and why.

Why Order Minimums Exist

In both screen printing and embroidery, every design requires setup before production begins. That setup takes time, specialized equipment, and materials, which is why most professional shops have minimum order requirements.

Our minimum order is 48 pieces per design. From there, the more you order, the more you save with price breaks:

48–71 pieces
72–95 pieces
96–143 pieces
144–215 pieces
216–299 pieces
300–399 pieces
…and so on — bigger orders mean better pricing per piece.

Common Fees in Custom Apparel Production

Here’s a breakdown of fees you might see on your invoice:

New Screen Fee – $25 per screen (screen printing setup)
Reprint Design Fee – $10 per screen (reordering the same design)
Color Change Fee – $10 (switching ink colors mid-run)
Digitizing Fee – $50 (embroidery setup)
Vectorizing / Color Separation Fee – $100–$150 (art prep for print)
Neck Label Size Tags – $1.40 each
Woven Tags – $1.40 each

These charges ensure your order is produced with precision, durability, and brand consistency.

Artwork Prep: Key Terms You Should Know

Color Separations – In screen printing, each color in your design is printed with its own screen. Color separation is the process of splitting your artwork into individual color layers so each can be printed separately and perfectly aligned. This is essential for crisp, vibrant prints.

Digitizing – In embroidery, your design needs to be converted into a stitch file that the embroidery machine can read. Digitizing maps out stitch type, direction, and density so your design sews out clean and professional.

Vector Art – Vector graphics use paths instead of pixels, so they can be scaled to any size without losing quality. Common vector file types include .AI, .EPS, and .SVG. They’re ideal for both screen printing and embroidery because they allow for precise, high-quality results. If you don’t have vector art, we can create it for you.

Why These Steps & Fees Matter

While some of these charges might seem like extras, they’re actually critical steps in the production process. Without proper digitizing, color separations, or vector files, your finished product wouldn’t meet the professional standards your brand deserves.

Your Local Partner for Quality Merch

At Monday Morning Merch, we’re proud to serve San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, and the greater Central Coast. Whether you need 48 shirts for a staff uniform or 3,000 hats for a nationwide promotion, we guide you through every step — from artwork prep to delivery — so your merch turns out exactly the way you envisioned.

Ready to get started? Contact us today for a custom quote and let’s create something your customers will love.

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