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The short answer
School uniform suppliers win contracts by approaching schools months before resumption with samples, a clear price per set and proof they can deliver on time. Price each set from fabric, trims, embroidery and labour, then add a margin; in the labelled example below a shirt-and-shorts set costs ₦6,400 to make and is quoted at ₦9,500. Agree deposits, sizes and delivery dates in writing.
Every school term brings new pupils and outgrown uniforms. Private schools especially prefer one approved supplier, so parents buy the right colour and cut. For a tailor or small garment business, one school can mean hundreds of sets a year. The work is seasonal and the deadlines are hard: a uniform that arrives after resumption is a lost contract.
How schools choose a supplier
- Quality of a sample set: fabric weight, colour-fastness after washing, stitching, buttons.
- Price per set and whether the price holds for the whole order.
- Capacity to deliver in the agreed time, by size.
- Willingness to sell to parents directly, at the school or from a shop, or to supply the school in bulk.
- Reliability for top-up orders during the term.
Most decisions are made by the proprietor or bursar, often a term in advance of the September resumption. Approach in the term before, not the month before.
Approaching schools
- Start with schools within reach of your workshop; delivery and fittings are easier.
- Make one sample set in the school's current colours and bring it washed once, so they see how it holds.
- Bring a one-page price list: per set by size band, embroidery, delivery, and your payment terms.
- Offer a measuring day at the school for new pupils.
- Ask what went wrong with the last supplier, then show how you will avoid it.
If the school also sells books and stationery, the uniform can be part of a wider shop arrangement (see running a school uniform and book shop).
Fabric and trims
Buy fabric by the roll from textile wholesalers once you have an order, and buy the whole order's fabric from one dye lot so colours match. Keep a swatch of each school's fabric with the supplier's details. Thread, buttons, interlining, zips and labels are small costs that add up across hundreds of sets; price them per set, not per bag.
Pricing per set: a worked example
| Item | Example cost per set |
|---|---|
| Shirt fabric | ₦1,800 |
| Shorts or skirt fabric | ₦2,200 |
| Thread, buttons, interlining | ₦400 |
| Crest embroidery | ₦500 |
| Labour (cutting and sewing) | ₦1,500 |
| Cost per set | ₦6,400 |
| Quoted price | ₦9,500 |
| Margin per set | ₦3,100 |
For an order of 300 sets, revenue is 300 × ₦9,500 = ₦2,850,000 and cost is 300 × ₦6,400 = ₦1,920,000, leaving ₦930,000 before rent, power, delivery and rework. Larger children's sizes use more fabric, so quote by size band rather than one flat price, and allow for about 3% rework on any large order.
Cash flow
Fabric for 300 sets must be paid for before you sew. Many suppliers ask for a deposit from the school; whatever you agree, put the deposit, balance date and what happens to unsold sizes in writing. Count your cash need: in the example, fabric and trims alone are ₦4,400 per set, so ₦1,320,000 for 300 sets.
Delivery, sizes and the busy season
The weeks before resumption are when suppliers lose contracts. Plan backwards from the delivery date the school gives you, and allow for power cuts, a late fabric delivery and a machinist who falls ill.
- Get the size list from the school as early as possible; where it is not ready, use last year's split by class as a guide.
- Cut and sew the commonest sizes first, so most pupils are covered even if a few sizes run late.
- Pack each set in a labelled bag with size and class, which saves hours on distribution day.
- Keep a small stock of each size for new admissions during the term; these top-up sales are often at full price.
- After delivery, ask the school for a short written note that the order was received complete. It helps when you approach the next school.
If you supply parents directly rather than the school, agree with the school whether you may sell on its premises and on which days. Some schools prefer suppliers to sell from a shop nearby so that no money changes hands at the gate.
Quality problems to avoid
- Colours that fade or run after the first wash: wash-test a sample of each fabric lot.
- Embroidery that frays: agree stitch density with the embroiderer and check the first ten crests.
- Shrinkage: pre-wash a metre of fabric and measure it before cutting a large order.
Registration and invoices
Schools increasingly ask suppliers for a registered business name and proper invoices. The Corporate Affairs Commission's fee schedule (gazetted 29 May 2025) lists business name registration with certified copies at ₦20,000 and name reservation at ₦1,000. If you are VAT-registered, VAT remains 7.5% under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025; ask a tax adviser whether you need to register.
What to check first
- The school's decision-maker and the date they choose suppliers.
- Your real capacity in sets per week, including finishing and ironing.
- A fabric supplier who can supply the whole order from one lot.
- Written terms on deposit, delivery date, sizes and returns.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Business Account lets you send schools proper invoices and take parents' payments through bank-transfer checkout free of charge. Parents paying uniform and school costs may also find back-to-school costs useful.
Questions people ask
How do I get a school uniform contract in Nigeria?
Approach the proprietor or bursar a term before resumption with a washed sample set, a price per set by size, and clear delivery terms. Offer a measuring day and show you can handle top-up orders.
How much does it cost to sew a school uniform?
It depends on fabric, size and embroidery. In the labelled example, a primary shirt and shorts set costs ₦6,400 in fabric, trims, embroidery and labour, and is quoted at ₦9,500.
Where do tailors buy school uniform fabric?
From textile wholesalers in large markets, by the roll. Buy the whole order from one dye lot so colours match, and keep a swatch for repeat orders.
Do I need to register my business to supply schools?
Many schools ask for a registered business name and invoices. CAC's 2025 fee schedule lists business name registration with certified copies at ₦20,000.
Sources
- Corporate Affairs Commission: New Schedule of Fees (Gazette No. 92, Vol. 112, 29 May 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Forvis Mazars: Nigeria's tax reform in focus, 2025 NTA VAT key business changes (16 Mar 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.