How to Start an Embroidery Business

Embroidery is the handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. Embroidery is most often used on caps, hats, coats, blankets, dress shirts, denim, stockings, and golf shirts. Embroidery is available with a wide variety of thread or yarn color.

An interesting characteristic of embroidery is that the basic techniques or stitches on surviving examples of the earliest embroidery—chain stitch, buttonhole or blanket stitch, running stitch, satin stitch, cross stitch—remain the fundamental techniques of hand embroidery today

Embroidered, custom apparel and accessories is a huge business that is easy to start with an embroidery machine and basic business skills. While it can be a little tricky to choose equipment and find the right customers to target, it's possible to start small in your spare time and build a full time embroidery business.

The embroidery business is one segment of the multibillion dollar apparel decorating industry, and may be started from a spare room in your home if necessary. Embroidery involves application of graphic designs to wearable goods and fabrics using a special sewing machine with multiple bobbins and needles for each thread color. Single-head machines allow a single garment to be printed at one time, while multi-head machines are used for larger production runs. Commercial machines are operated by computers with special design programs that guide the machines when embroidering patterns, and require some skill to set up, operate and maintain.

Classification

In drawn thread work and cutwork, the foundation fabric is deformed or cut away to create holes that are then embellished with embroidery, often with thread in the same color as the foundation fabric. These techniques are the forerunners of needlelace. When created with white thread on white linen or cotton, this work is collectively referred to as whitework. In canvas work threads are stitched through a fabric mesh to create a dense pattern that completely covers the foundation fabric. Traditional canvas work such as bargello is a counted-thread technique. Since the 19th century, printed and hand painted canvases, on which the printed or painted image serves as a guide to the placement of the various thread or yarn colors, have eliminated the need for counting threads. These are particularly suited to pictorial rather than geometric designs such as those deriving from the Berlin wool work craze of the early 19th century. Counted-thread embroidery patterns are created by making stitches over a predetermined number of threads in the foundation fabric. Counted-thread embroidery is more easily worked on an even-weave foundation fabric such as embroidery canvas, aida cloth, or specially woven cotton and linen fabrics although non-evenweave linen is used as well. Examples include needlepoint and some forms of blackwork embroidery.In free embroidery, designs are applied without regard to the weave of the underlying fabric. Examples include crewel and traditional Chinese and Japanese embroidery.Embroidery can be classified according to whether the design is stitched on top of or through the foundation fabric, and by the relationship of stitch placement to the fabric.

Materials Surface embroidery techniques such as chain stitch and couching or laid-work are the most economical of expensive yarns; couching is generally used for goldwork. Canvas work techniques, in which large amounts of yarn are buried on the back of the work, use more materials but provide a sturdier and more substantial finished textile. The fabrics and yarns used in traditional embroidery vary from place to place. Wool, linen, and silk have been in use for thousands of years for both fabric and yarn. Today, embroidery thread is manufactured in cotton, rayon, and novelty yarns as well as in traditional wool, linen, and silk.Ribbon embroidery uses narrow ribbon in silk or silk/organza blend ribbon, most commonly to create floral motifs.

In both canvas work and surface embroidery an embroidery hoop or frame can be used to stretch the material and ensure even stitching tension that prevents pattern distortion. Modern canvas work tends to follow symmetrical counted stitching patterns with designs emerging from the repetition of one or just a few similar stitches in a variety of hues. In contrast, many forms of surface embroidery make use of a wide range of stitching patterns in a single piece of work.

Machine

Much contemporary embroidery is stitched with a computerized embroidery machine using patterns "digitized" with embroidery software. In machine embroidery, different types of "fills" add texture and design to the finished work. Machine embroidery is used to add logos and monograms to business shirts or jackets, gifts, and team apparel as well as to decorate household linens, draperies, and decorator fabrics that mimic the elaborate hand embroidery of the past

Things Needed

• Training
• Business plan
• Permits and licenses
• Financing
• Work space
• Equipment and supplies

Instruction

1. Obtain training from embroidery machine manufacturers at their facility if available. Most companies also offer online video training or publish manuals for distance training.
   
2. Create a business plan for your embroidery business with help from the U.S. Small business Administration website, your local field office of the Service Corps of retired Executives, or by hiring a business consultant. A copy of your business plan will be necessary if you will finance your embroidery operation.
   
3. Choose a business structure for your embroidery business and file the paperwork. The 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.
   
4. Choose an embroidery machine. Most embroidery machines connect to a computer and include software to produce digital designs. Look for a machine that offers a warranty, training and support, since mastering the software can be difficult. Choose a machine that will fit your production goals and the type of material you plan to work on, and software that will produce the results you need. It's possible to start small with a home embroidery machine or embroidering by hand and investing in a larger machine as your orders grow.
   
5. Apply for local business permits from your town hall, state tax licenses from your state taxation division and a Tax Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service. The Internal Revenue Service will also require you to apply for an Employer Identification Number if you will hire employees. Forms and filing instructions may be found online through appropriate local, state and federal government websites.
   
6. Obtain financing from personal funds, through a lending company or lease equipment from the manufacturer.
   
7. Prepare a work space in your home, rent or purchase a storefront or building for your embroidery company. The space must be of sufficient size for your equipment, and equipped with adequate electricity and climate control. Embroidery machines are sensitive to humidity and temperature, and will require air conditioning and heating as temperatures warrant.
   
8. Purchase your embroidery equipment, supplies, work space furniture and office essentials. Your needs will vary but will include at least a single-head embroidery machine with networked computer and 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.
   
9. Learn basic business skills, or hire a part time assistant for support. You'll have to manage accounting, orders, customer service and marketing.
   
10. Find a location to work and sell your items. Many embroiderers start at home. You'll need a clean space that is large enough to hold your computer, embroidery machine and supplies. You'll also need some office space for files and administrative tasks. If you choose a storefront or plan to have customers come to your home, find out local zoning requirements that affect traffic and parking.
    
11. Advertise in journals and local newspapers. Contact sporting goods stores and other custom stores in your area to advertise your services.

Tips

• Learn about the custom embroidery market. Join embroidery and custom apparel associations to get the latest news, trends and ideas for how to start an embroidery business. Attend trade shows to network with suppliers and other embroidery professionals. Read journals and books about custom embroidery.
  
• Call your local government offices to find out what kind of licenses you need. File with the IRS to register your company.
  
• Talk to a lawyer, accountant or other business adviser about how to start an embroidery business. You'll have to deal with financial aspects like taxes and accounting, and insurance and liability issues to cover your goods and property.
  
• Let your friends and business associates know that you are starting a custom embroidery business. The quickest way to get started is with word of mouth advertising.
  
• Locate suppliers for other items you'll need, like thread, clothing and accessories. Create a system for ordering supplies quickly when you need them. Keep your supplies inventoried so that you know when you are running low on items.
  
• Research machinery types and choose one that is right for your needs before you buy. For example, single-head embroidery machines are fine for occasional users and small-volume shops, but will not keep with high-volume orders due to limited production speed.

Warnings

• Embroidery equipment can cause serious injury if used improperly. Only allow trained personnel to operate equipment and keep bystanders at a safe distance.
  
• Embroidery equipment is expensive and requires periodic maintenance. Follow all manufacturer's recommendations to keep your equipment running properly. Failure to do so may result in expensive repairs.

Reference

• Embroidery
• Embroidery Business
• How to Start an Embroidery Business