Branded Workwear: Is Kitting Out Your Team Worth the Cost?

This article has been published as part of an advertising collaboration.

Businesses spend money on advertising in plenty of places, from websites and social media to printed leaflets, vehicle graphics and local sponsorship. Branded workwear sits in a slightly different category because it can serve two purposes at once: giving staff suitable clothing for work while putting the company name, logo or contact details in front of people they meet during the working day.

That doesn't automatically make branded workwear good value. A cheap polo that quickly loses its shape, an oversized logo that staff dislike wearing or a bulk order of sizes you never use can turn a sensible idea into wasted money, while protective clothing brings safety responsibilities that matter far more than how prominent the branding looks.

The useful question is therefore not whether every business should buy branded workwear, but whether the garments solve a genuine operational need and provide enough additional visibility to justify what you spend.

What can branded workwear actually do for a business?

Branded workwear can give customers an immediate visual clue about who works for the company, particularly when employees visit homes, work on shared sites, make deliveries or operate in customer-facing premises. It also puts the same name and visual identity into places where the business is already working, without buying another advertising placement each time somebody leaves the office.

That can be especially useful for trades and service businesses. A plumber, electrician, gardener, cleaner or maintenance worker may spend much of the day on customer premises or moving between jobs, so a company logo on clothing can reinforce the business name during activity that would be happening anyway.

There is still no sensible way to promise a particular number of leads or sales from a uniform. Treat the branding as an extra benefit attached to useful work clothing rather than assuming every person who sees a logo will become a customer.

Is branded workwear cheaper than conventional advertising?

There isn't a useful direct comparison because branded workwear and paid advertising do different jobs. A digital campaign can be targeted, measured and switched on or off, while workwear keeps being worn until the garment needs replacing and does not carry a separate media charge each time somebody sees it.

That repeated use is where the economics can become interesting. If a £25 branded polo is worn 50 times before it needs replacing, the clothing cost works out at 50p for each day it is worn, although the garment still has to be useful enough for the employee's actual job before the advertising value matters.

I wouldn't move money out of advertising that already produces measurable enquiries simply to fund uniforms. It makes more sense to ask whether your business already needs to buy staff clothing and, if it does, whether adding sensible branding creates enough extra value to justify the customisation charge.

How much does printed workwear cost?

The total cost of printed workwear normally has at least two parts: the garment itself and the cost of applying the design. Quantity can have a noticeable effect on the second part, which is why ordering one replacement shirt can cost considerably more per logo than ordering a batch.

One supplier, JRS Industrial Supplies printed workwear, currently lists its print charge before the cost of the garment at £8 ex VAT for one item, £5 each for 2 to 9, £3.50 for 10 to 34 and £1.80 each once an order reaches 250 or more. Those are the supplier's current published charges and could change, so check the live price before using them for an order budget.

That pricing also shows why the cheapest order isn't necessarily the smallest one. Buying a few sensible spares can reduce the customisation cost per garment, but ordering 100 shirts simply to reach a cheaper print tier makes no sense if half of them will sit unused in a cupboard.

Should you choose printed or embroidered workwear?

Printing and embroidery suit different designs, fabrics and budgets, so there isn't one method that wins for every business. Think about what is being applied, where it will sit and how the garment will be used before choosing based on appearance alone.

JRS currently uses Direct-to-Film printing for its printed workwear, which transfers a printed design onto the garment. It also offers embroidery, where the design is stitched into the material, and its published embroidery charges vary by order quantity in a similar way to its printing prices.

A detailed, multicoloured or larger design may lend itself to printing, while a smaller chest logo on a polo, fleece or jacket may suit embroidery. Ask for an artwork proof where available, check how the method should be washed and consider ordering a sample before committing to a large team order.

Don't choose the garment around the logo

The job should determine the garment before the branding does. Someone working outside in winter needs very different clothing from a receptionist, kitchen worker or member of a retail team, even if everyone works for the same company.

Start with comfort, movement, temperature, pockets, washability and durability. A team that dislikes what it has been given is less likely to wear it consistently, while an item that has to be replaced frequently because it was too lightweight can cost more over time than buying a better-suited garment at the start.

This is also why one uniform item for every role isn't always the best approach. You can keep colours and logos consistent while choosing different garments for employees whose day-to-day working conditions aren't the same.

What changes if the workwear is also PPE?

If an item is personal protective equipment, its protective purpose comes before the marketing value of the logo. The Health and Safety Executive's PPE guidance says employers must provide suitable PPE free of charge where a risk assessment shows workers need it, while the equipment must be properly assessed, maintained, stored and used correctly.

PPE can include high-visibility clothing, safety footwear, helmets, gloves and other equipment designed to protect against workplace risks. Branding an item doesn't remove those duties, and a logo or print placement shouldn't compromise visibility, protective materials, fit or the way different items of PPE work together.

The HSE also makes clear that employers cannot charge covered workers for PPE they need to do their job. If you are buying branded safety clothing, choose the compliant and suitable item first, then work out what personalisation can safely be added to it.

Can branded workwear be claimed as a business expense?

If you're self-employed, HMRC allows qualifying uniforms and protective clothing as allowable business expenses, but normal everyday clothing is excluded even when it is bought specifically for work. That distinction means it is risky to assume that putting a company logo on any ordinary item automatically makes the whole purchase tax deductible.

HMRC's more detailed uniform guidance says a permanent and conspicuous badge can sometimes be enough to make otherwise ordinary clothing recognisable as a uniform, but each case has to be judged on its facts. Clothing that merely uses company colours or looks similar across a team isn't automatically treated as a uniform for tax purposes.

I have a wider guide to what expenses you can claim on your HMRC tax return, which covers work clothing alongside other business costs. If the tax treatment of a large workwear order matters to your decision, check the current HMRC rules or speak to your accountant before claiming it.

What about workwear bought for employees?

Employers face a slightly different set of tax and reporting rules from sole traders buying clothing for themselves. HMRC says most uniforms and protective clothing can qualify for exemptions from tax and National Insurance, while other employer-provided clothing can have different reporting consequences.

That makes the definition of the clothing important. A recognisable uniform or necessary protective garment isn't treated in the same way as giving an employee an ordinary jacket or fashionable shirt that could readily be worn away from work.

For a business kitting out several employees, it is worth deciding from the start whether the garments form a genuine company uniform and who owns them. Keep invoices and a clear record of what has been supplied, especially if you intend to include the cost in the company's accounts.

How many sets of branded workwear should you order?

There isn't a universal number because the right quantity depends on the role, working week and how often clothing needs washing. Someone doing dirty manual work may need more changes than an employee wearing a branded fleece only for occasional customer visits.

Think through a normal week before ordering. If an employee works five days and the clothing can't realistically be washed and dried every evening, one or two garments won't be enough, while ordering a dozen of every size for a small team could leave a lot of expensive unused stock.

Spares also have value where a damaged garment needs replacing immediately. The aim is to have enough clothing for the team to use it properly, plus a sensible replacement buffer, without tying cash up in garments for employees or roles that may change.

Measure the real cost per wearer

Comparing the price of individual shirts can hide the real cost of a workwear programme. A better calculation includes the number of items each person needs, customisation, VAT where relevant, delivery, replacement garments and any different seasonal clothing required through the year.

For example, a team of ten people receiving three polos each means 30 garments before you add jackets, sweatshirts or high-vis clothing. If you later discover the chosen polo doesn't wash well enough for daily use, replacing the entire order can cost far more than the small saving made by buying the cheapest garment initially.

Durability therefore has a financial value. Ask about fabric weight, washing instructions and whether the same style is likely to remain available for repeat orders, particularly if maintaining a consistent uniform matters to you.

Don't forget staff sizing and fit

A uniform only works if people can comfortably do their jobs in it. Ordering everybody the same cut or assuming a nominal medium fits every employee in the same way can create unnecessary returns, unused stock and staff who avoid wearing the clothing.

Get sizes before placing a bulk order and check the supplier's garment-specific size guides rather than relying purely on what employees usually buy on the high street. Where a team is large enough, samples or a fitting session can reduce the risk of getting a major order wrong.

Also think about changes over time. New starters, employees leaving and changes in size mean repeat orders are almost inevitable, so keeping accurate records of the garment code, colour, logo file and print position can save a lot of work later.

Keep the logo practical

A company logo doesn't need to dominate the garment to do its job. A clear chest logo can identify the business in customer-facing situations, while a larger back print may make sense for tradespeople or teams working in public where the front of the garment is less visible.

Contact information needs more thought. A short website address or recognisable business name may be readable from a reasonable distance, while trying to squeeze a phone number, website, email address, slogan and list of services onto one shirt can leave the design cluttered.

Remember that every extra print position can affect the cost. Decide what somebody realistically needs to see and keep the artwork simple enough that it remains recognisable after repeated washing and normal wear.

Plan repeat orders before you place the first one

The first workwear order is easier to manage if you think about the second one at the same time. Save the final approved artwork, note the exact colours and garment codes, and keep a record of where each logo was positioned.

That becomes useful when one employee needs a replacement or a new starter joins several months later. Ordering an apparently similar navy polo from another range can leave one person visibly different from the rest of the team, even though both products looked identical on a screen.

Supplier continuity matters for the same reason. Check whether individual replacements can be ordered without a large minimum quantity and whether the supplier stores your branding information for future orders.

Can branded workwear strengthen a team identity?

A consistent uniform can help create a common appearance across a team, but claims that simply buying branded clothing will increase morale or productivity should be treated cautiously. Research into employee perceptions of uniforms has found links with factors such as confidence, customer interaction and professionalism, while also noting that the effect on actual productivity is harder to establish.

Staff involvement can matter more than the logo itself. Asking people who actually wear the clothing about fit, temperature, pockets and movement before placing an order is more likely to produce something they can comfortably work in.

That is another reason not to choose workwear solely from a marketing perspective. The person wearing it for eight hours has very different priorities from the person looking at the logo proof on a computer.

Is branded workwear worth the investment?

Branded workwear is easiest to justify when you already need suitable clothing for your team and the branding adds another useful function. A consistent logo can help customers identify employees and expose the business name during day-to-day work, while a carefully planned order can spread the customisation cost across a garment that is worn repeatedly.

The case becomes weaker if clothing is bought mainly because it appears to be cheap advertising. Poor fit, unsuitable materials, excessive stock and unnecessary branding positions can all absorb money without doing much for either the employee or the business.

Before ordering, work out what each role actually needs, calculate the cost per employee, decide whether printing or embroidery suits the design and check the tax or PPE rules that apply to you. If those pieces make financial and practical sense, the marketing exposure becomes an extra return from money the business is already putting into useful work clothing.

Frequently asked questions

Is branded workwear worth it for a small business?

It can be if the clothing is genuinely needed and your team regularly works around customers or the public. Compare the total garment and branding cost with how often it will be worn, how long it should last and whether it also replaces clothing you would have needed to supply anyway.

Is printing or embroidery better for workwear?

Neither method is automatically better. Printing can suit larger or more detailed designs, while embroidery can work well for smaller logos and garments where a stitched finish suits the material and intended use.

Can a self-employed person claim branded workwear as a business expense?

HMRC allows self-employed people to claim qualifying uniforms and protective clothing, but ordinary clothing remains excluded even when it is worn for work. Whether branded clothing qualifies can depend on the nature of the garment and how clearly it functions as a uniform, so check the rules rather than assuming every logoed item is deductible.

Does an employer have to provide PPE for free?

Yes, where a risk assessment shows PPE is required, employers must provide suitable PPE free of charge to workers covered by the regulations. Branding must not interfere with the PPE's protective function, suitability or compliance.

How many sets of workwear should each employee have?

There is no single number that suits every workplace. Think about working patterns, washing and drying time, how dirty the role is, seasonal clothing and how quickly a damaged item would need replacing.

What should I check before ordering printed workwear?

Check garment sizes, fabric, wash instructions, logo position, branding method, minimum quantities, replacement availability and the full price including VAT and delivery. For PPE or high-visibility clothing, safety suitability must come before appearance.