Home-Based Embroidery Business

by Sumera Khan
(Karachi)

When I decided to start my own business from home, there were several ideas that I thought about. The first one was the usual that most of the women do when they start their own business - garments for women - you can make all the clothes you want, a fun thing to do in itself and sell them at exhibitions in hotels or at home by invitation or newspaper ad and if the clothes don't sell, you can always add them to your own wardrobe! Sounds like a win-win idea. But when I looked around I saw tremendous competition as I learned that most of the women in our country (Pakistan) actually have garments as their most favorite home-based business.

So I looked around more and met a friend who wears the most fabulous yet simple embroidered clothes on lawn prints that made those clothes look ever so beautiful. She told me that the simple lawn fabric is too casual to wear while these days lawn suits come with very beautiful dupattas in Broche fabric or in chiffon, so adding a bit of embroidery makes them look really nice. Now that was a few years back when the designers had not yet started to add embroidered motifs on their designed lawn prints. I asked her how she gets her embroidery done. She told me that she buys fabric from one of the designers and gives it to the embroidery guys who have their own patterns and she gives the color combinations and they make it for her.

She also complained that it is quite a hassle to get the embroidery done as the guys who do embroidery are never delivering on time and at times she gets her fabric back after a wait of months on end - and that takes away the fun of wearing new prints in the same season. That gave me an idea...whay should I not start an embroidery business at home!

That was the start of my idea for an ideal business for me - custom embroidery services. I started looking for my resource base. Thanks to the technology of today, doing custom embroidery no longer requires very expensive machinery and can be done with simply a decent personal computer and a sewing machine with embroidery capability. The customer base for ones designs is literally limited only by ones own imagination and marketing ability. Everyone from lawn fabric to party and wedding clothes to other crafts people are interested in having items which reflect their interests and individuality.

Machine embroidery can be done on most fabrics and is the best way to customize clothing and decorative items. You can purchase designs which are already made and you can also design your own through the latest in digitizing software. Next I needed a couple of machines and a master who was ready to work on a salary and could work both at my house and also take material with him to make it at his house. As luck would have it, I found a very good senior master who wanted to work on a regular salary as he had some fixed expenses to meet on a monthly basis and the best part was that he lived in a locality where many women worked form their houses to whom he could outsource when required. That really was a very strong plus point as my little business would also give other women a source of income.

To get everything right from the start, I got down to planning. Starting your own custom embroidery business is easy if you follow a few standard small business guidelines. Here are just a few of them to consider:

The Business Plan

No matter what business you decide to start, you 100% have to have a solid business plan. There is no way possible to have a successful business venture without one. The best way to develop your business plan is to think about all of the variables which go into your unique business, and what your ultimate short-term and long-term goals are for the business. With all of this information, you can sit down and formulate a business plan without it taking you a lot of valuable time.

Licensing and Regulations

Depending on the city you live in, you may have to get a business license to have a legal home-based embroidery business. The way to determine what the local rules and regulations are is to call up your local Chamber of Commerce and ask them what you need to do. Engage a referred lawyer to help you in putting the documents together and name your business to get it started. Also get a Chamber's membership as it helps in more ways than one to network and participate in exhibitions.

Financial Records

The best thing you can do for yourself is to keep good business records from day one of your business. Start with the fees to get a business license, and start recording every single business expense that you have. By doing this as you go you will save both yourself and your tax preparer a ton of headaches come tax time. Good financial management is extremely essential for any business.

Setting Your Prices

The number one mistake many home-based sewing businesses make is to charge too little for their services. You need to make a living, and you need to be pricing your items and services accordingly. Whatever you do, do not sell yourself short! Ask a going rate for your items and services and expect that people will pay you what your time and product is worth. This allows you to work smarter and not harder!

Marketing

Marketing is simply getting the word out and letting others know your business exists. You can market online, through a press release sent to your local newspaper, flyers, brochures, craft fair booths, exhibitions, etc. Anywhere you come into contact with potential customers you can market your items and services. You can even do simple things like always carry business cards, available these days very inexpensively, and hand them out to everyone you meet as you go through your days.

As you can see there are a lot of things for you to consider when you are thinking about starting a home-based custom embroidery business. However, your business can be very successful and profitable if you take the time to make it so!

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Jul 12, 2023
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Need to hire
by: Mrs rizwan

Please if you can contact me,as i need emboidery services any one here who knows hand and machine embroidery aada work welcome to contact me shahmeer1710@gmail.com

Jan 24, 2022
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Embroidery and Fashion is Best Startup for Home Base business for Ladies
by: Shahid Ishrat Khan

its good article about home based business. i am professional embroidery and fashion designer. i spend my big time with Pakistan top brands now i have started my own embroidery business in chakdara kpk as i have already computerized embroidery machines in chakdara Lowr Dir. my services are for all those ladies who want to start her own brand level Design collection and minimum quantity. all those who start new clothing business they face quantity issue because embroidery companies are not taking order for minimum quantity. i am always available for advice and services on. 03368028452

Shahid Ishrat khan

Chakdara kpk





Dec 02, 2020
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Email Address
by: MizLink Team

Dear Ms Zoya Khan,

We shall be pleased to help. Kindly send us your email address. You can send on

info@mizlink-pakistan.com

All the best,

MizLink Team

Nov 26, 2020
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home bases embroidery
by: zoya khan

AOA,
I have just started hand embroidery on winter shawls pashmina and on woollen shawls. I have prepared 30 different designs. Very good quality hand work has been done.
May you please guide me how to market it on online through web page.
Regards,
Zoya khan
Mardan kpk

Jul 31, 2018
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Good Work
by: GM RAJPUT

Yah ...Good Idea ....Thats good work.

Sep 24, 2015
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Business
by: Alina

Just wish to say your article is astonishing. The clarity in your post is just nice and I can assume you're an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission let me grab your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming posts. Thanks a million and please keep up the enjoyable work.

Alina

Sep 22, 2015
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Good post
by: Ford Stark

You are a great blogger!

When did you start your first entries?
I am also trying to develop my site Costumes-Now, but I can't understand how you write such great articles.
Could I suggest to place some ads on your blog? I really love your style and your audience, I think halloween costumes will be interesting for them.
I will pay you the amount you want, answer me, please! Thank you!

May 25, 2015
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Home Based Embroidery Business
by: MizLink Team

Dear Sonya Kris,

Thank you for your interest in our website and your kind words about it.

We would suggest that you add your page in 'Tell us what you do'. You can include 4 pictures on your page.

Other than that, please send your queries through our 'Contact Us' page.

Happy posting!
MizLink Team

May 22, 2015
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Good post
by: Sonya Kris

I see that you are a professional in this niche, so, may I ask you do a favor for me?
Could you help me place some ads of my costumelook website on your site?
It will be great if I could suggest some guest posts or banner ads, if it's possible - answer me here, please!
p.s. I will pay for your help good money, I really love your site. Thank you!

Jul 09, 2011
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Great Job!
by: MizLink Team

Thank you for sharing your experience and a great business model. We are sure that our readers will benefit a lot from your post.

We will be placing your post as a link on our products and Trades page as a token of our appreciation.


Jul 09, 2011
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Great post!
by: Anonymous

Thanks for a very informative post. Please put some pictures also.

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