Guide · Startups
The Startup's Guide to Ordering Swag on a Tight Budget
Budget Series·How-to
Early-stage teams don't need less merch — they need smarter merch. A handful of well-made items usually beats a large order of cheap ones, and costs less overall.
Prioritize what gets reused
One good hoodie or fleece gets worn for years. A stack of cheap tote bags or pens rarely survives a month. On a tight budget, spend on fewer categories rather than spreading thin across many.
| Budget tier | Suggested approach |
|---|---|
| Under $500 | One apparel item, small batch (10-15 units) |
| $500-$2,000 | Apparel + one desk item for the core team |
| $2,000+ | Full onboarding kits, still ordered in small batches |
At a startup's scale, avoiding bulk minimums often saves more money than negotiating a bulk discount would.
Avoid the bulk-discount trap
A 20% bulk discount on 200 units still costs more than a right-sized order of 20 — and the extra 180 units become dead inventory. Order to headcount, not to hit a discount tier.
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