Embroidering clothing and other fabric goods is a great way to make money, and can be done out of a room in your house. Embroidery lets you apply graphic designs to cheap t-shirts by using a special sewing machine with different bobbins and needles for each thread color.
There are several kinds of embroidery machines: single-head machines allow for one garment to be printed at a time, while multi-head machines are used for multiple garments at a once. If you are considering starting your own embroidery business, a single-head machine will do just fine. When your business grows, you can add another machine or a multihead to meet and exceed production requirements.
When buying an embroidery machine, it’s important to consider whether the brand you choose has reliable technical support. Regardless of whether it’s the embroidery operator’s fault or a machine issue, a busy business cannot afford to have their machine down or not functioning properly. Bear in mind Murphy’s Law– your machines will likely have issues when you need them the most, which is why reliable technical support is key.
Beyond just the equipment, you’ll need a networked computer with embroidery software, embroidery hoops, platens, thread spools, needles and spare parts. You will also need tables for laying out garments, garment hangers, a steamer for working out wrinkles, and office telephone, fax, desk and office supplies.
Your networked computer can help you digitize your embroidery businesses, though if you’re new to the business you will not be digitizing like the pros any time soon. This doesn’t mean you’re incapable of learning digitizing– before you learn how to digitize, you need to gain the necessary embroidery experience. You have to be good at embroidery first before you really become a good digitizer, but this is another topic altogether.
Instead of going for a fancy digitization, get a low-level digitizing software as part of a package with your machine. This kind of software will allow you to view, organize, convert, edit, and do lettering that can also be upgraded in the future.
And then there’s the nitty gritty: if you’re operating a business, it’s always a good idea to apply for local business permits from your town hall, get state tax licenses from your state taxation division and a Tax Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service. Furthermore, the Internal Revenue Service will require you to apply for an Employer Identification Number if you plan to hire employees. Your business may be structured as a sole proprietorship, limited liability company, corporation or partnership depending on the company’s size and business strategy. Forms and information can be found by visiting your secretary of state website.
