How to start an embroidery business

1. Decide what you will embroider

• Hats, polos, jackets, towels and bags each need different hooping and backing.
• Pick a small range you can do well. Repeat products are easier to price and fast to produce.

2. Machines and software

• Single-needle home machines are the lowest-cost start but slow for larger orders.
• Multi-needle machines let you load several thread colors and handle volume better.
• Digitizing software turns artwork into stitch files. Some makers digitize themselves; others pay per design.

3. Pricing

Embroidery is often priced by stitch count, since that drives machine time. Add the cost of the blank item, thread, backing and your setup time for a new design. Consider a one-time digitizing fee for new artwork and lower prices for repeat orders of the same design.

4. Find customers

• Local businesses, clubs, teams and schools order the same logo repeatedly.
• Online sellers need a maker to fulfill personalized items. On Makers2Makers you list what you make with your prices and turnaround, and sellers can assign orders to you or you can bid on open ones.
• Show real stitched samples in good light.

5. Keep quality repeatable

• Save test stitch-outs for each design and fabric.
• Keep notes on thread, backing and speed for each product.
• Ask sellers for vector or high-resolution artwork and approve the design file before production.

Common questions

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