If you’ve been thinking about starting something on the side, learning how to start selling custom hats is honestly one of the easiest ways to begin.
A lot of people overthink starting a business. They feel like they need a big budget, a perfect plan, or everything figured out before they even begin. But that’s not how this works, especially not with hats.
You don’t need a warehouse.
You don’t need to order hundreds of products.
And you definitely don’t need to know everything from the start.
When we first got into this, it wasn’t some perfect setup. It was just trying it out, bringing hats to events, and paying attention to what people actually liked. Some designs didn’t sell at all. Others sold out faster than we expected. That’s how you learn.
So if you’re here wondering if this is something you can actually do, the answer is yes. This guide will walk you through how to start selling custom hats in a way that actually works in real life, not just something that sounds good on paper.
Why custom hats are actually a good business
There are a lot of side hustles out there right now, but learning how to start selling custom hats stands out for a few simple reasons.
First, it’s low cost to start. You don’t have to invest thousands of dollars upfront. You can start with a small batch, test what works, and build from there. That alone makes it way less stressful than a lot of other businesses.
Second, hats are something people already wear every day. You’re not trying to convince someone to buy something completely new, you’re just giving them a better or more meaningful option.
And third, hats have strong value. A simple design on a good-quality hat can easily sell for $25, $30, or even more depending on the style. That gives you room to actually make profit, even when you’re starting small.
One thing people don’t realize at first is how much built-in marketing hats have. When someone wears your hat out in public, other people see it. That turns into conversations, questions, and eventually more customers. It’s one of those products that naturally spreads.
That’s a big reason why more people are starting to look into how to start selling custom hats. It’s simple, flexible, and it grows with you.
Start simple with your hat styles
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make when they start selling custom hats is trying to offer too many options right away.
Different styles, different colors, different fits it gets overwhelming fast. And not just for you, but for your customers too.
When someone walks up to your booth or lands on your page, they don’t want to feel confused. They want something simple, something they can look at and immediately think, “yeah, I’d wear that.”
That’s why it’s better to start with just one or two styles.
Trucker hats are one of the easiest to begin with. They’re structured, breathable, and work with almost any design. They’re also usually more affordable, which makes them perfect when you’re testing things out.
Dad hats are another solid option. They’re softer, more relaxed, and people like them for everyday wear.
If you want something a little more bold, snapbacks can work too but those usually fit a more specific style and audience.
The point is, keep it simple. When you’re learning how to start selling custom hats, your goal isn’t to have everything it’s to figure out what actually sells.
And if you’re not sure where to start, you don’t have to guess.
We already carry the styles that people consistently choose at events and for bulk orders, so you can start with something that’s proven to work.
👉 If you want something easy and popular, start with our trucker hats
👉 If you want a more relaxed everyday look, check out our dad hats
👉 If you’re going for a bold, structured style, take a look at our snapbacks
👉 Or if you just want to see what’s working right now, browse all hat styles and pick what fits you
You don’t need ten options. You just need one good starting point.
Pick a style, try it out, and build from there.
Choosing how you’ll customize your hats
Once you pick your hat style, the next step is deciding how you’re going to put your design on it.
This is where a lot of people start to feel stuck, but it’s actually pretty straightforward.
Embroidery is the most common method. It’s stitched directly into the hat and gives a clean, professional look. It lasts a long time and feels high-quality, which is why a lot of brands use it.
The downside is that it usually costs more to start. There’s often a setup fee (called digitizing), and sometimes minimum order requirements depending on who you work with.
Patch hats are one of the easiest ways to begin. Instead of stitching directly into the hat, you create a patch and attach it. This gives you more flexibility and makes it easier to test designs without committing to large orders.
You can use leather patches, rubber patches, woven patches, or even printed ones depending on the look you want.
This is what a lot of beginners choose when they’re learning how to start selling custom hats because it’s simple and beginner-friendly.
There are also methods like heat press or sublimation, which are better for full-color designs, but those usually require more equipment if you’re doing it yourself.
At the end of the day, don’t overcomplicate this part. Pick one method, try it out, and adjust as you go.
Designs that actually sell
This is probably the part people overthink the most.
They think they need to create something super unique or detailed to stand out.
But in reality, simple designs almost always sell better.
When we started selling custom hats, some of the designs we thought would be the best didn’t sell at all. Meanwhile, the simpler ones kept getting picked over and over again.
Clean designs are easier to read, easier to understand, and easier for people to connect with quickly.
Stick to one or two colors.
Use simple fonts.
Make sure it’s easy to read from a distance.
Also think about who you’re designing for. That makes a big difference.
Are you targeting people in your local area?
Outdoor or lifestyle customers?
Small businesses?
Once you know who you’re trying to reach, your designs will start to make more sense.
And if you’re not a designer, that’s completely fine. Tools like Canva or Adobe Express are more than enough to get started. You can even hire someone to help with designs if you need to.
The most important thing when learning how to start selling custom hats is testing. You won’t know what works until you actually try.
Where to actually sell your hats
You can have great designs and good-quality hats, but if no one sees them, you’re not going to make sales.
That’s why where you sell matters just as much as what you sell.
Vendor events are one of the best places to start. Markets, fairs, and local events give you a chance to interact with real customers. You get instant feedback, and you can see what people are drawn to.
There’s also something about being able to touch and try on a hat that makes people more likely to buy.
Social media is another big one. You don’t need anything complicated just post your hats, show the process, and let people see what you’re creating.
Online marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon can also help since they already have built-in traffic.
And one of the biggest opportunities that people overlook is local businesses.
Businesses, teams, and organizations need hats all the time. Landing one bulk order can be more profitable than a full day at an event.
If you’re serious about learning how to start selling custom hats, don’t ignore that part.
Pricing your hats the right way
Pricing is where a lot of beginners struggle.
They’re afraid to charge too much, so they go too low. But that usually ends up hurting them in the long run.
The first thing you need to do is understand your costs.
If your hat costs $8 and your patch costs $4, you’re at $12 total. Selling that for $25–$35 is normal, depending on your quality and market.
That gives you room to make profit while still staying competitive.
Bundles are also a great way to increase how much people spend.
Things like “2 for $50” or “buy 3, get 1 free” work because people feel like they’re getting more value.
When you start selling custom hats, don’t price based on fear. Price based on the value you’re offering.
Start small and learn from it
You don’t need a huge inventory to start.
In fact, it’s better if you don’t.
Start with a small batch of maybe 12 to 24 hats and see what happens.
Watch what people pick up.
Pay attention to what they ask.
Notice what sells and what doesn’t.
When we first started selling custom hats, we learned more in one day of actually selling than we did from planning everything ahead of time.
That’s how you improve by doing it.
Building your brand over time
Your brand doesn’t need to be complicated.
It’s really just how people recognize you.
Your name, your style, your colors, and how you interact with customers all play a role.
Keep it simple in the beginning.
Stay consistent.
Don’t keep changing everything every week.
As people start to recognize your hats, that’s when things begin to grow naturally.
Common mistakes to avoid
Trying to do too much too fast is probably the biggest mistake.
You don’t need every style, every color, or every option right away.
Waiting for everything to be perfect is another one. If you wait for perfection, you’ll never start.
Ignoring customer feedback can also slow you down. People will tell you what they like, you just have to listen.
And finally, not being consistent. This takes time. Showing up regularly is what builds momentum.
Final thoughts
At some point, it really just comes down to a decision.
You can keep researching, saving ideas, and waiting until everything feels “ready”… or you can try it once and see what actually happens.
That first step doesn’t have to be big. It could be sketching out a design, ordering a small batch, or signing up for a local event just to see how it feels. Even putting a few hats together and showing friends or family is a start.
What matters is getting real feedback not just guessing what people might like, but actually seeing how they react. That’s where things start to click. You begin to notice what people pick up, what they ask about, what they’re willing to pay for. That kind of insight is something you can’t get just by planning.
And the truth is, every step after that gets easier. You’ll adjust your designs, tweak your pricing, and figure out what styles work best. It becomes less about guessing and more about refining what you already started.
It’s not about getting everything right the first time. It’s about getting something out there and building from it.
Once you do that, it stops feeling like an idea… and starts becoming something real.
Want to get started?
If you’re ready to start selling custom hats, don’t overthink it too much.
Just start simple.
Pick one hat style you like.
Make a few designs, nothing crazy, just clean and easy.
Then bring them to an event or even just post them online and see what people say.
That’s honestly how it starts.
Not perfect, not fully planned… I just started.
A lot of people get stuck right here though. Not because they can’t do it, but because they don’t know where to actually get their hats or patches made. That part can feel confusing at first.
And that’s exactly why we do what we do.
We make it easier for people to just get going without having to figure everything out from scratch.
If you need hats or patches, we’ve got options that are already working for a lot of people’s stuff that actually sells, not just looks good.
We do embroidered patches if you want something clean and classic.
Leather patches if you want that popular look everyone’s into right now.
And UV printed patches if you want more detail or full color.
Nothing complicated. Just options that make it easier for you to start.
You don’t need a huge order either. Start small, test a few designs, and see what people go for. That’s really the fastest way to learn.
If you’ve been sitting on the idea for a while, this is probably your sign to just go for it.
Start with a few hats. Try it out. See what happens.
And if you need help getting those first hats made, we’re here for that too.
That’s it.