Starting DTF Printing Business: Lease or Buy DTF Printer

DTF printed products have broad, marketable appeal, which makes them a perfect product for a business to start or grow. Custom apparel such as T-shirts, clothing, and baby onesies can be sold through many marketplaces like Etsy, Shopify, Amazon Handmade, or any branded online store. Many custom product makers have also leveraged niche audiences on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook Marketplace, and local pop-ups and craft fairs to see notable success.

With demand this high and channels to sell this flexibly, it is no surprise that DTF printing offers real business potential. But before you're ready to start producing and selling, you'll need to decide how to obtain your equipment. Starting a DTF printing business puts you in the position of two major options: leasing or rent-to-own a printer, or buying a printer outright. Do you rent a DTF printer to minimize up-front costs, or do you spend money buying one for long-term value?

Both paths will get you online and operating, but they have quite different operational and financial requirements. Let's take a closer look at each path to see which is going to provide you with the biggest return as you begin your business.

Opting for a lease—or a rent-to-own option—may sound like a great way to start a business in the DTF print market especially if you are hesitant to spend a lot of money upfront. The biggest benefit is financial accessibility, you don’t pay thousands dollars in one lump sum, it spreads your payments over time as a fixed monthly payment. The early stage budget meaning will be easier to manage if you can opt for leasing, then there might be some basic support or limited warranties included with some leasing packages, shifting some of the maintenance burden away from the buyer's shoulder.

However, as time goes by, the actual lease cost will be easy to see. You will likely be spending way more than the actual printer value. As a quick reference, the lease rate may be $250/month for 12 months, $3,000, while the actual price you could have paid for the same model is around $2,800 meaning you paid $200 more for that lease.

In addition to the increased spend to own the product, restrictions exist when leasing. For example, you may be told you have to use certain ink or film specifications, may not be able to change print settings, or pay fees if you terminate the lease early. On top of that, you don’t necessarily own the equipment until the end of the lease period (if at all), which means the machine you’ve invested in may never be fully yours unless you pay more.

While leasing can work for very short-term needs or for those who want to test the waters without committing fully, it generally offers less flexibility, less value, and slower returns for those serious about growing a long-term DTF printing business.

Purchasing your own DTF printer may be more expensive up-front, but it will often be the cheapest and most empowering route for serious business owners. Rather than sending monthly checks to a leasing company, you're investing in a true asset, equipment that you own outright on day one. Ownership means complete freedom, you're able to use the inks and films you want, print settings that best suit your workflow, and you're able to upgrade or sell the machine further down the line as your business grows.

The cost varies based on the model & features of the printer, but most good entry-level DTF printers are between $2,800-$3,500. Unlike leasing, there are no hidden interest costs or restrictions tied to a contract. That means every product you print contributes directly to your bottom line, instead of going toward paying off rental fees. If you're producing consistent orders—say, 10–15 shirts a day—your printer could pay for itself in just a couple of months.

Another major benefit is profit margin . When you own your printer, you can reduce operating costs while sourcing low-cost supplies and printing on demand. You don't have to outsource the printing, and you won't be tied down to someone else's terms. There are numerous DTF printer suppliers that will include excellent customer support, training, and warranty protection with no lease arrangement, so you will never be left on your own.

Briefly, you will find it more convenient and flexible to own a DTF printer of your own, and it will likely be simpler to become profitable. It is the best option for someone wanting to build a serious printing business for scale, not just to experiment with a hobby for the short term.

Although leasing may be a viable step into DTF printing, it could seriously hinder your ability to grow and scale your business. The biggest hurdle when leasing is “flexibility”. Most leasing agreements have limitations on optional upgrades, supplier switches, and modifications based on your business needs. When customer demand peaks, leased printing might not meet your production volume, but you’re tied to monthly payments for a machine that is no longer able to keep up.

Leasing limits creativity and experimentation, too. Some leasing contracts stipulate the type of ink, film, or substrate you can use. If you wanted to try various new materials or new supplies to manage costs, but you were stuck only using the supplies permitted under the leasing agreement.

From a cash flow perspective, ongoing monthly payments can impact cash flow in the early stages of your business. If you’re not able to reinvest profit back into marketing, product development, or expanding your product offerings, you’ll be wasting funds on a machine that you might never own.

When you buy your own DTF printer, you’re not just buying a printer; you’re purchasing original creative freedom, profitability, and longer-term growth. It’s your machine; you can create whatever you want, whenever you want, with whatever materials you choose. You won't have to worry about your use, contracts, or other restrictions/limits, so you can play around as much as you want to discover what you can create, what products, and what print settings will best work for your brand.

Once you have your machine/printer, you can print at any time of day or night without the hassle of rental, limitations, or costs. Such a flexibility cannot be ignored when running a business, especially during peak seasons or when doing last-minute custom orders.

Financially, buying a printer will also mean a higher profit margin. Since you're not losing money every month paying for leasing charges or gouging consumables, more of each sale finds its way into your pocket. You also have the freedom to purchase your own ink and film at a lower rate, which helps reduce your cost per print in the long run.

Most importantly, with a printer, you can pay for it back in a flash. For example, if you're only selling 10 shirts a day at a $7 markup per shirt, that's $2,100 a month in profit. You could then pay an $2,800 printer off in less than two months—and everything after that is profit.

Ownership also builds confidence and credibility. It's easier to establish a serious brand when you control the production process from end to end. You’re not just printing products—you’re building a business on your own terms.

Lauren, a recent college graduate from California, was eager to start her own custom clothing business using DTF printing. To keep startup costs low, she chose to rent a printer for her first month. The low upfront cost and included support made leasing feel like a safe way to test the waters.

During that month, Lauren tracked her expenses closely—factoring in rental fees, materials, and profits. She quickly realized that renting was cutting too deeply into her margins. After doing the math, she saw that buying a printer would be more cost-effective in the long run.

With the profits from her first month, Lauren decided to buy a DTF printer through a flexible installment plan. The model she chose cost just a little more than what she’d spent on renting—and gave her full ownership and control.

By the second month, with her new printer set up in her home studio, everything changed. She could print at will, accept additional orders, and try new things with inks, films, and designs. Without rental charges siphoning off her profits, Lauren invested more in advertising and introduced new lines such as tote bags and hoodies.

Renting a DTF printer might feel like an easy way to begin, but it usually ends up costing more over time. Rental agreements restrict your freedom of action, hinder your speed to scale, and chew into your profits—making it more difficult to grow your business over time. If your intention is to make DTF printing a genuine source of income, ownership is the wiser approach.

With your own DTF printer, you're in control from day one. You create on your schedule, with your materials, and keep more of your profit per product you sell. It's the fastest way to break even, grow up, and build a business that belongs to you.

Time to put the renting behind you and build something of substance?

Find InkSonic's range of guaranteed, starter-class DTF printers, and let us help you choose the configuration that meets your needs.

👉 [Browse printers now] or book a free consultation with our team to get started today.