WAHM > Stay at Home Mom Work Ideas > Selling a Service > Embroidery Service

Start an Embroidery Service from Home

What you will be doing.  This is the way that we personalize our items. It could be a tote bag, a shirt, a hat, or a jacket. Personalization adds our special touch to our homes and businesses.

As an embroiderer, it is your skill that will work its magic for businesses. Through practiced techniques, creative designs, and attention to customer service, your custom embroidery business will grow by leaps and bounds.

How to start.  Take a look around. Do you see a lot of embroidery work? Are there some embroidery stores in the area? Maybe the embroidery shops cater to people looking to personalize shirts and gifts for others. Your niche could lie in schools, local sports teams, small businesses, and the like. The key here is to find a unique area that can be exploited with your business plan.

Since your business deals with logos for others, come up with a nifty logo and design for your business that testifies to your skills. The business can be started at home and grow from there. Gauge the need for substantial startup capital for this business.

Starting costs. Going with a franchise operation means at least $50,000 in investment costs for your business. The perks of a franchise include advertising help and startup support. If that is a steep amount for you, invest in an embroidery machine and the software, designs, material to create samples, ink, and thread.

A computer, fax machine, telephone, and printer allow you to communicate and receive orders from clients in a variety of ways. A catalogue of designs, sample swatches, and types of fonts will need to be created. This book can be used at business presentations. Create two: a clean copy for business presentations and one for shows. Look to spend several thousand dollars to get started with the proper equipment.

Skills needed.  A creative eye is necessary. Coming up with new designs that have not been used will thrill your customers. Many embroiderers have a stock standard of designs, fonts, and colors. You can top that with a few standards and some more daring ideas.

The work will sell itself, but you need to get in the door to show it. A prepared speech for the cold call and one for the presentation if you get a call back from those businesses you want to reach go a long way to impressing potential clients.

Marketing.  Be seen everywhere that you can. Whenever possible, wear some of your creations. Carry a tote that is embroidered with your name or initials. Join sewing organizations to find out about local and national events you can attend and showcase your business.

Set up shop at flea markets and trade shows to take orders from customers. Bring the catalogue of samples for others to see when they visit your booth. Don’t neglect the Yellow Pages and trade magazines.