Harborside vs. Bonfire: which is better for a team store or fundraiser?
Bonfire is better when your buyers are spread out — each one gets their own package and there is no minimum to print. A Harborside group store is better for a team, school or club in one place: one box ships free to the organizer, nobody pays per-order shipping, and you can choose embroidery and approve a proof before anything prints.
Side by side
| Harborside group store | Bonfire campaign | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run | Free | Free ("100% free") |
| Minimum to print | 12 pieces, or everyone is refunded | None — prints from 1 sale |
| Shipping | One box to the organizer, free | $5.99 first item + $3.00 each extra, per order (US) |
| Delivery | 4 business days after the store closes and the proof is approved, plus transit | 7–14 business days after the campaign ends (US) |
| Decoration | Screen print, DTF, embroidery | DTG, DTF, screen printing (no embroidery found) |
| Fundraising | $0–$10 markup per item, paid to the organizer | Profit = your price minus a base cost that falls as more sell |
| Proof before printing | Yes — the organizer approves it | Not stated on the pages we checked |
Bonfire facts from bonfire.com and its help center (how-it-works, shipping rates, shipping times and print-minimum pages), checked October 7, 2026. Rates can change — check Bonfire's site before you decide.
Where Bonfire wins
- Supporters everywhere. Alumni, families in other states, a national fan base — Bonfire ships to each buyer, so nobody needs to hand out shirts.
- No minimum. A campaign prints even if only a handful sell.
- Ongoing merch. It is built for creators and causes selling over time.
Where a Harborside store wins
- No shipping on every order. At Bonfire's published rate, 30 separate one-shirt orders pay $179.70 in shipping between them; one box to a team in the same gym costs nothing here.
- Embroidery. Hats, polos and staff jackets can be stitched.
- A real proof of your design before production, checked by a person.
- Everything arrives together, in time for the game or event.
What it costs a member here
For a 30-piece store, a printed Gildan tee is $10 and a Gildan hoodie $22; add your fundraising markup on top. Prices are set by the quantity you expect, so a bigger store gets cheaper shirts. See how to run a team store.
Questions people ask
Is Bonfire free?
Bonfire says selling through its campaigns is free; buyers pay the product price and shipping.
Does Bonfire have a minimum?
Bonfire's help center says there are no print minimums with a few exceptions — a campaign prints from one sale.
Which is cheaper for a local team?
Usually a store that ships one box to the team, because each Bonfire order pays its own shipping.
Can I fundraise with a Harborside store?
Yes — add $0 to $10 per item; the markup is paid to the organizer.
Prices are our live checkout prices on October 7, 2026 for the garments named; garment prices follow the supplier and every product page shows today's price. No setup fees, no quantity minimum, free shipping over $50.