How to organize a sewing business - a detailed production business plan, determine the profitability of opening + 7 sections of the business plan + 4 potential risks.
Opening costs: from 610,000 rubles.
Payback period: 12-18 months.
Before you think about how to open a sewing business, you need to understand that without the necessary knowledge there is nothing to do in this area.
The fact is that many experienced tailors are moving from working at home to opening a private workshop, and competition is increasing significantly every year.
Small ateliers should not be taken into account as competitors, since they do not sew on such a scale, but only to order.
When opening a sewing business, it is worth choosing a specific direction in which to work, something relevant.
If the area of work being performed is scattered, the quality of the products produced may decrease.
In order for the business to be sufficiently relevant, you can work in the following areas:
- sewing children's clothing (children's clothes are always more expensive than adults, and you have to buy them much more often, since children grow quickly);
- tailoring of fur and leather products (can be sold significantly above cost);
- tailoring of costumes for wedding ceremonies;
- sewing outerwear (coats, raincoats, jackets);
- sports paraphernalia (tailoring personalized sports suits, sewing team uniforms).
Detailed business plan for sewing production
First of all, you need to draw up a sensible business plan for sewing production in order not to miss important aspects of the organization and indicate the sequence of actions.
For example, if you order from another city, you will only have to pay for delivery.
But if from another country, then there is also an import tax.
Required staff
The main means of operation of this production are employees.In order to sew high-quality products, you need experience and knowledge, and even better, a diploma in this specialty.
In order to save money, you can hire several employees with extensive experience and appoint them as senior staff.
Others may be less experienced but learn as they go.
This should not affect the quality of the product in any way.
To motivate employees to work more productively, and seamstresses of the first category to contribute to the training of less experienced ones, in addition to the rate, you can pay a percentage of the profit (if the monthly plan is fulfilled).
Calculation of personnel costs:
How to find clients in the clothing business?
As mentioned above, without advertising many clients in the clothing business cannot be found.However, nothing will say about the company as well as a job well done.
Therefore, you always need to monitor quality.
You need to search for clients long before work begins.
The sooner orders begin to be fulfilled, the sooner the business will break even and begin to make a profit.
This is done before hiring people, purchasing equipment and renting premises.
Start with small supplies, and as demand increases, scale up your business and conquer new markets for selling your products.
Monitor the quality of the produced goods, provide better conditions than competitors.
This will help you earn a name in the market, thereby gaining a firm foothold in the clothing industry.
Sales of products
Another important fact is the sales of products, after all. The greater the volume of goods supplied, the greater the profit.
Nowadays, more and more people go shopping online.
Using this, you need to make your own website or sell products using.
If your business is just growing and you don’t have your own boutique yet, then you can open a point on the market.
You can also agree on the supply of goods to stores, thereby expanding the range of places for selling products.
The store, in turn, will make a profit from increasing the price of the product.
Calculation of advertising costs
General calculation of the cost of starting a sewing business
Profitability of opening a clothing production
The payback period for a sewing business will be no less than a year or a year and a half.
Because it takes time for a business to develop.
Time to establish wholesale sales, speed of production, and perhaps even expand its scale.
With all this, the business has a good, even high profitability, which is equal to 60% (of course, subject to the prosperity of the business).
It is also worth considering the scale of production: a small workshop will pay for itself faster, but a larger enterprise will bring greater profits.
A young woman entrepreneur shares her experience of opening and running a sewing business in the video:
Possible risks when starting a sewing business
In any business there are a number of factors that can make it unprofitable, and maybe even unprofitable.
- A long payback period can lead to a lack of funds.
- The lack of clients will lead to operating at a loss.
- Lack of skilled workers in the market.
- The cost of materials, when ordering abroad, will fluctuate along with the currency.
In order to sewing business brought a decent income and quickly paid for itself, all possible risks should be eliminated in advance.
Or, at least, prepare to minimize the negative consequences.
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Since the demand for quality clothing is constantly growing, the clothing industry brings good income to its owners. To properly organize such a business, you need to take into account a lot of different nuances. We will talk about where to start sewing production in this article.
Choosing a direction
Before opening a sewing business, carefully analyze the market in your region. Thanks to this, you can decide what exactly to sew and for whom. You will have to spend a lot of time on such research, so be patient and look for your gold mine.
The market is constantly changing, so you need to carefully monitor which products are in greater demand than supply, as well as which product items can be sold at lower prices. Try to use only reliable data for your research, since the success of your enterprise largely depends on it.
If your financial capabilities allow, seek help from specialists who will help you figure out how to open a sewing business from scratch. It is better to spend money at the start than to suffer serious losses in the future.
After that, think about where you can sell the finished products. This could be a clothing store, a market outlet, or wholesale buyers. At the same time, we should not forget that sellers also want to make a good profit, so offer them goods at affordable prices.
The most popular types of sewing production:
- Baby clothes;
- Bed sheets;
- Teen stuff;
- Clothes for adults.
If you do not have experience in this area, hire a qualified assistant-consultant who will calculate the costs and advise whether it is worth launching a particular product into mass production.
Business registration
Let's figure out step by step how to officially register a sewing production as a small business:
- Registration of a legal entity or individual. After you decide on the organizational and legal form of the enterprise, as a rule, it is an individual entrepreneur or LLC, you should submit a package of documents to the tax office. They will be reviewed within 5 working days, after which the decision of government agencies will be announced to you. If it is positive, you will be issued a certificate of registration;
- Making a seal. You will have to spend about 500 rubles on this. Another 2,000 rubles will be needed to open a bank account;
- Registration of permits in SES, Rospotrebnadzor and Gospozhnadzor.
Scheme: sewing production
Selection and arrangement of premises
If you decide to organize sewing production as a business, first of all you need to find a suitable premises. A small enterprise can be located on 50–70 square meters. meters. This is quite enough to install all the necessary equipment.
It is most convenient to rent premises in an industrial zone on the outskirts of the city. In this case, you can find an inexpensive option that meets all technical requirements.
Don't forget that sewing equipment runs on 380V. In addition, the SES and fire inspection may impose certain requirements for the premises. All this needs to be taken into account at the start, so that nothing is changed during the work process.
Workshop equipment
If you are planning to open a sewing production, the business plan should include the costs of purchasing the following equipment:- Cutting machine;
- Overlock;
- Ironing device;
- Button machine;
- Cutting knife;
- Tables;
- Cutting equipment.
Since the sewing production technology for different products is practically no different, all sewing enterprises are equipped with the same equipment.
Staff
The success of the sewing business largely depends on the qualifications of seamstresses and their professionalism. Personnel selection is a critical stage that should be given special attention. Each employee must have some experience in the sewing industry. In addition, seamstresses must be polite towards clients.
If you can't find qualified employees, hire two professionals who can train new workers. Having received the necessary knowledge, they will be able to work no worse than specialists.
Range
The price segment of manufactured products largely depends on the place in which you work. If it is a small provincial town, you should not sew expensive designer clothes. Choose simple, accessible models that can be implemented at an affordable price.
The profit of an enterprise can be increased through mass sales. But we shouldn’t forget about our competitors. Before you start production, ask what fabrics they use to make their products and at what price they sell them. Thanks to this, you will be able to correctly formulate your assortment in order to receive a good income.
If there are several large clothing enterprises operating in your region, it is better to choose another line of activity. In addition, the financial capabilities of potential buyers should be taken into account. For example, in rural areas where people receive small salaries, it is not practical to sell expensive things.
Financial calculations
Sewing, like any other business, requires certain financial investments. You need to allocate 250 thousand rubles to purchase equipment. You will need another 50 thousand rubles for fabric and consumables. In addition, you need to pay rent for the premises and pay salaries to employees.Experienced businessmen advise not to save on the purchase of equipment and fabrics, since low-quality goods may remain unclaimed and you will suffer serious losses. It is better to buy consumables from regular, trusted suppliers.
It is possible to organize such a business with minimal capital investment. If you have never done sewing, you should not risk a large sum right away. Rent a small space, buy used equipment and get to work. When the business begins to develop, you can rent more spacious premises and re-equip the enterprise with expensive sewing machines.
Advertising
Everyone knows that without advertising you cannot succeed in any type of business. Therefore, care should be taken to ensure that the advertising campaign is organized at a high level. Thanks to this, potential customers will learn about your products faster.
In order for the sewing business to bring good income, you need to produce high-quality goods that will be in demand among consumers. Don't leave any little thing unattended as it can have a devastating impact on your business.
Video on the topic Video on the topic
Sales of finished products
Many novice entrepreneurs make a serious mistake at the start. When drawing up a business plan for clothing production, they forget to include a clause on the sale of finished products. A person spends money on purchasing equipment, consumables and salaries for seamstresses, but the finished product lies in the warehouse unclaimed and, accordingly, does not bring any profit. As a result, the entrepreneur is forced to take out loans to pay wages and pay rent. Debts grow, and after a certain time the company has to declare bankruptcy.
To prevent this from happening, sales of finished products must significantly outstrip production. Experienced entrepreneurs who have been working in this field for a long time believe that it is better to start such a business with one sewing machine. If you work to order, regular customers will appear, thanks to which you will be able to determine the need for a certain group of goods. When the number of orders begins to grow, you can expand the business to a sewing workshop.
The clothing business involves making clothes and household accessories. A business in the clothing industry will definitely bring profit if you have a creative approach. You can open a salon of designer clothes, a production of soft toys, or a workshop for the production of workwear. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination.
When opening a sewing enterprise, determine the direction of production:
- clothing - household, special, everyday, children's, adult;
- fabric toys;
- home textiles;
- other accessories.
Plan production volumes - the starting investment in the business, the size of the premises and the number of personnel will depend on the chosen figure.
Industrial workshop for mass tailoring of clothing
Having chosen the direction of work, register a commercial structure - LLC or individual entrepreneur. The list of documents for registration is presented in the table.
Table: lists of documents for registration of LLC and individual entrepreneur
Applications are reviewed within five working days. Based on the results, you will be invited to the local tax office and given a package of documentation for a legal entity or entrepreneur. After registration, open a bank account and order a company seal.
OKVED codes suitable for clothing production:
- 18.2 - sewing textile clothing and accessories;
- 18.21 - creation of workwear;
- 18.22 - sewing outerwear;
- 18.24 - other clothing and accessories.
When drawing up a business plan, take into account the legal requirements for production premises, make a list of equipment and plan the hiring of employees. Calculate the costs of starting production and monthly expenses. Analyze demand and draw conclusions about possible sales volumes and business returns. Below are examples of business plans for a production workshop and a mini-atelier.
How to choose the type of business - small, medium or large
There are three types of manufacturing enterprises: small, medium and large.
Small enterprise for the production of exclusive clothing models
To open a small enterprise, it is enough to have premises and 400,000 rubles. for the purchase of equipment and consumables. The average production volume is 25–50 products per day. A small-scale sewing business is suitable for entrepreneurs who have limited capital and want to produce exclusive items and sell them at prices above the market average.
To organize a workshop with a capacity of 150–200 products, costs of about 5,000,000 rubles are required. At the same time, a powerful workshop pays for itself faster due to wholesale sales of products to large retail chains.
Analyze the regional specifics of the market and identify possible buyers. Find out in what volumes sellers purchase goods on the market, and in what volumes - chain stores. Think over the range of products, focusing on the needs of customers and your resources.
Sewing technology
The process of manufacturing garments consists of the following stages:
- model design;
- designing and transferring the model to fabric;
- fabric cutting;
- sewing, finishing of the product.
The fashion designer draws an image of the future item, and then forms it from fabric on a mannequin
A fashion designer does the modeling. He draws up a sketch of the future product, selects colors and types of fabrics. The designer converts the sketch into a drawing, calculates the dimensions of the parts and the amount of material. He also produces patterns and technical documentation. In an atelier or sewing workshop, the functions of a fashion designer and designer are performed by a cutter - he communicates with the client, takes measurements, cuts out parts, and brings the product into compliance with the specified parameters. The cut parts are sent to the sewing workshop, where they are turned into a finished product.
Opening a garment factory or workshop to produce goods for sale
In garment factories, products are produced in batches for wide consumption. The workshop is equipped with one or more production lines. The advantages of a workshop over a home workshop are the ability to set affordable prices and sell large quantities of products.
Premises requirements
So, you have decided to open a clothing workshop. Now choose a room suitable for production. The workshop area depends on the number of goods produced. So, to produce 100 units of product, 60–70 sq.m. are needed. area. Before renting a premises, invite fire and sanitary inspection authorities to inspect it and obtain permission to operate.
To ensure that the room complies with fire safety standards, equip it with a fire alarm, emergency exit and fire extinguishers.
Equipment
Having finished renting the premises, proceed to purchasing equipment. Make a list of required units, including:
- sewing machine;
- overlock;
- machine for cutting fabric;
- household iron;
- steam generator;
- cutting knife;
- button apparatus;
- tables and racks;
- consumables - threads, tailor's scissors, chalk and others.
Overlock is a machine for processing the edges of fabric, one of the key ones in the sewing industry.
The total costs for equipment are 250,000 rubles, for fittings - 50,000 rubles.
Required Personnel
The success of the clothing business depends 70% on the level of personnel training. When opening a small production, hire:
- two cutters;
- three seamstresses;
- cleaning lady;
- order taker.
At first, the designated number of employees is sufficient. Later, you will be able to involve fashion designers, designers, and highly specialized seamstresses in your work.
To save money, hire 60% experienced employees and 40% beginners - perhaps students. Having gained experience at your enterprise, they will work there for many years.
Pay your staff according to the “salary + interest” system. Create a production plan and reward employees with financial bonuses for achieving their goals.
Raw materials and consumables
Explore the wholesale databases of fabric manufacturers. Select suppliers based on the price-quality ratio. If you can negotiate direct contracts with the bases, you will save on supplier markups and reduce production costs.
While studying business, ask questions on forums, look for successful entrepreneurs in your region and learn from their experience, make acquaintances, including with suppliers.
Ideally, find a mentor willing to accompany your business. He will tell you where to find high-quality fabrics and accessories, how to purchase equipment and organize the sale of goods.
What is better to sew: assessment of options for making children's, women's clothing, workwear and other types
To find out what products will be in demand in the region, work in several directions simultaneously. Combine the tailoring of evening dresses with the production of fabric souvenirs, and the production of workwear with the production of accessories for the garden. Make sure that the combinations are not absurd - it is strange when a company that produces hammocks and canopies produces chiffon scarves.
After selling the first batch of goods, analyze the demand again and clarify the portrait of the target audience. Review your pricing policy if necessary. So, if you sew summer sundresses of a simple cut, and your consumer is young mothers, you should not inflate your prices.
In any region there is a stable demand for children's clothing - if you can get a certificate for sewing one, consider that you have found a “gold mine”.
Study not only demand, but also supply in the market. Look into competitors' stores, see what they produce and at what prices they sell. Don't try to steal the ideas of other entrepreneurs - use your own ideas to attract buyers.
To prevent your business from burning out at the very beginning, calculate your income and expenses. Determine the payback period of the business. An example of calculations for a workwear sewing workshop with a productivity of 75 products per day is given in the tables below.
Table: initial investment
Table: monthly expenses
Table: Projected Income
The level of income and profit of an entrepreneur depends on the volume of products produced, consumer demand, the availability of a client base and partnerships in the field of trade.
Sales organization
Possible sales channels for clothing products:
- Network shops;
- private entrepreneurs;
- direct sales;
- trade via the Internet.
At the initial stages, agree with the owners of small stores about the supply of your goods for sale. Later connect large networks and then create your own online store.
Video: master class on sewing production
Where to start opening a mini-atelier or workshop at home
Opening a home studio is easier than opening a sewing workshop. To do this, you just need to have a modern sewing machine and equip a room in your apartment as a workshop. To develop your business, purchase equipment and organize an advertising campaign. Print and distribute leaflets, create an advertising website or group on a social network. Study fashion magazines and try to find a “zest” for your products to attract customers who value exceptional things.
A workshop equipped in an apartment must be organized
Premises, equipment, personnel
When you're ready to expand your business and move into rental space, create a business plan. Choose a room of 60–80 square meters. m., meeting the standards of the SES and fire inspection authorities, with good ventilation and a 380V electrical network.
Buy 2-3 sewing machines, racks, an overlocker, a couple of tables and mannequins. Hire employees if you are willing to provide them with wages. The key workers of the atelier are the administrator, the cutter and the seamstress.
Starting capital and payback forecast
Below are tables calculating the costs of opening a mini-atelier with the number of employees - 3 people and output - 1 product per day.
Table: costs of starting a business
Table: monthly expenses
Table: projected income and payback
As you can see, a small studio quickly pays for itself, but does not bring much profit to the owner. To increase your income level, you need to expand your business or focus on producing exclusive items at high prices.
How to promote a sewing business
To make your studio successful, establish a work schedule that is clear and convenient for clients. If you are located in a shopping center, keep the opening hours consistent with the center's opening hours.
Create a business card website with a clear description of your services and a group on a social network to maintain contact with customers.
If you sew clothes, pay special attention to customers with a non-standard figure - once you please them, and they will come back for new wardrobe items regularly.
Comply with the deadlines and quality of order fulfillment. The best advertisement is the conscientious work of the staff and polite customer service.
If you know how to sew or have always dreamed of learning it, but lack of free time and motivation did not allow you to do it, then you will probably be interested in finding out whether it is possible to turn your hobby into a profitable business.
So, many argue that today it is almost impossible to make big money by sewing clothes and accessories. Every day new shopping centers open, which allow you to buy clothes for every taste and color. In addition, for those who like to save money, there are many sites on the Internet that sell extremely cheap, low-quality items.
But despite this, handmade work has always been and will be in value. After all, handmade products have their advantages:
- Uniqueness
Hand-sewn items are unique. The customer and the contractor always have the opportunity to independently choose the material for the product, fittings, model, and come up with and implement original design solutions.
- Quality
Needless to say, an item sewn by hand by a master has the highest quality guarantee. The seamstress measures everything by hand, monitors every seam, and can test the product for strength. No mass production can compete in this indicator with handmade work.
- Exact compliance with requirements
If you sew a product to order, then you are repeatedly interested in the customer’s wishes, you can sew a product that fits perfectly in size, and take into account the characteristics of the person’s figure. At the same time, the likelihood that the buyer will receive what he wanted as a result is very high, in contrast to simply buying an item in a store.
What does it take to make money from sewing?
In order to make money by sewing, you first need sufficient cutting and sewing skills. But even if you don’t feel like a professional in such a complex matter, it’s never too late to learn. In this case, at first you shouldn’t take difficult orders, but it’s better to practice on pajamas, clothes for animals, children’s undershirts, etc. In addition, on the Internet you can always find the patterns you need with a detailed description of the work.
Obviously, sewing supplies are also necessary, and most importantly, a sewing machine.
Where can I get a sewing machine?
A good sewing machine costs a lot, but who said you have to buy one? Of course, having your own tool is always an advantage, but if you do not have the financial means to purchase it, you can borrow an old sewing machine from friends or relatives. Many people inherited sewing machines from their grandmothers; they may look shabby, but they often work properly. Such sewing machines have their drawbacks: large size and weight, lack of automation. But their main advantage is that they are most likely ready to give you them to use absolutely free and for a long time. After all, for the most part they only take up space in the apartments of those who do not know how to sew at all.
When you earn your first big profit, immediately invest it in the purchase of your main tool for earning money - a modern sewing machine.
How to organize work?
If you seriously decide to make money by sewing products, then the algorithm of your actions may be as follows:
- Find sewing patterns for fashion items on the Internet.
These can be toys, pillows, clothes (adults and children), interior accessories, things for animals. Everything that is in demand among network users. There are a lot of communities on social networks that offer product patterns, read the feed and follow the users’ likes.
- Sew a couple of items and try to sell them.
These can be small products that do not require a lot of time and effort. Set the optimal price (not too high) and try to sell the product to your friends or by writing an ad on the Internet (for example, on your page on a social network). Evaluate for yourself how well and quickly you managed to sell the product.
- Create a group on a social network and accounts on handicraft sites.
In your community, post photos of finished products and be sure to indicate that you accept orders and work individually with each client. Invite friends to your group, even if there are few of them, but they will all be really interested in what you offer.
There are also sites online where you can sell your products. For example, the Crafts Fair. Be sure to create accounts on such sites and offer your product.
- Gradually increase the prices of your products.
The more people are interested in your work, the higher your price can be. As a rule, a person who receives one good order is likely to return again. At the same time, agree to any (not exorbitant) price, as long as the work is done efficiently.
- Work with customers directly.
Try to find regular customers. To do this, do your work efficiently, meet deadlines and leave your contacts. Working with regular clients will allow you to gain confidence in your work and receive a stable income.
Sew for sale...???
- Create your website
A personal website is your business card. Take its creation extremely seriously, pay attention to accessibility, performance, and design. Your own website will not only attract new customers, but also help retain existing ones. In order to make a good website, seek the help of professionals or try your hand by reading our article on website creation
- Increase your skill level.
Fashion does not stand still; new models, fabrics, and modern technologies appear every day. Study fashion magazines, watch TV shows, read forums on the Internet. If you are always in trend, your work will definitely be in demand. Don’t forget to learn new things, master various technologies, read specialized literature.
- Open your own studio.
When your financial affairs take off, don’t save money on opening your own atelier. Rent a small room, arrange everything to your liking, invite familiar needlewomen and your income will increase significantly.
Where to sell handmade products? Websites for selling handicrafts.
So, on what sites on the Internet can you sell handicrafts?
- Arts and crafts fair
Perhaps the most popular site for selling handmade products. You can sell anything here: clothes, souvenirs, accessories, bags, toys, etc. The competition on the site is huge, the choice of products is very large. But the traffic is also good; most buyers come here for handmade products. At the same time, the site has a system of cash contributions, so read the rules carefully.
- lovemade.ru
The site is an analogue of the Crafts Fair. Attendance here is somewhat lower, but the conditions are milder. You can put up 10 works for sale for free, the monthly fee is 100 rubles.
- Communities on VKontakte
Various VKontakte groups and communities serve not so much for selling your products, but for their promotion and promotion.
- Avito
You can always buy and sell something on Avito, including handmade products. The site is developing, reliable, here you can contact the buyer directly.
Read also:
On the eve of summer, you can prepare and set up your own small factory for sewing bustier tops or corsages, which have been in trend for several seasons. Some sewing skills, neatness and a desire to promote your product can work wonders. We offer you an interesting idea for a business - for those who sew or for those who are ready to learn it, since the process itself is technologically simple.
Relevance of the idea
Before proceeding to the description of the idea itself, I would like to focus on its relevance. It's no secret that fashionistas all over the world are guided by world stars and their clothing style. Celebrities never tire of delighting us with fashionable outfits, and you can often see our bustier tops or corsages on them. Here is a clear example of this:
Figure 1 Stars in similar tops
It would also be appropriate to consider the demand for such products using the Yandex.Wordstat service. It should be borne in mind that the season has not yet begun, and as the weather gets warmer, the number of requests will constantly increase:
Figure 2 Demand for the product
For different requests, both mid-frequency and low-frequency, in total you can achieve more than good results by using different promotion channels (we’ll talk about this a little later).
Determining the target audience
What’s great about this idea is the ease of identifying the target audience. We sew for young girls and women in the age range of 15-35 years old who understand fashion. They are the main “carriers” of the trend and the bulk who in the future will place orders with you if you have good positioning. If you search the Internet, you will find a lot of evidence for these words:
Figure 3 Portrait of the target client
Required Resources
In order to start production (and this is mini-production), you need to have a minimum of tools and materials, and it is also worth considering several important nuances.
Let's start with tools and materials. For objectivity, we will take 1 type of fabric, but you, of course, can experiment as you want. Please note that as part of this experiment, a simplified pattern was used, which is suitable even for novice dressmakers without the use of rigilin and other complex sewing nuances. The ideal option for selecting fabric is a fiber that stretches in the transverse direction.
The most important tool is a sewing machine*. You can also use simple household models. This business option, of course, is suitable and will be more promising for those who already have such a tool, since, without knowing how to sew, it makes no sense to buy a machine just for illusory benefits in the hope of learning. Minerva B29 - I have been using this model of household sewing machine with 29 sewing operations for several years now:
Figure 4 Sewing machine model option
*The cost of the sewing machine is not taken into account in the overall calculation of the starting capital. It is assumed that the needlewoman already has this tool.
You will also need product patterns. This point should be discussed in more detail. The thing is that at the very start you should think about how you will deal with the size range. There are several options to choose from:
- You can sew to order, offering an example of the finished product, and then, based on the measurements of a specific client, work on tailoring.
- Or initially create different sizes.
Based on practice, we can say that the first option is much preferable, since you do not yet know how many clients you will have, what sizes they will have, because it is no secret that the majority of the fair sex has a non-standard figure. For tailoring, we only need a few measurements, but their correctness directly determines how the finished product will fit on a person, its attractiveness, and, therefore, your potential reputation:
Figure 5 Required measurements for work
Thus, we will carry out calculations based on the first option. The patterns look something like this. When creating the pattern, I created a simple cut bodice:
Figure 6 Approximate view of patterns
If someone has difficulty creating a pattern, you can indicate the required size and ask the appropriate question on the forum - I will send you a ready-made version of the pattern in PDF format, created in a special program.
But here you can take a ready-made, proven similar pattern, there are also variations in sizes.
You also need the fabric itself for sewing. Of course, the more varied your assortment is, the better, but, in fact, for sewing samples and beautiful design, several types, or even one, are enough.
What can be produced at home for sale?
We will calculate profitability based on 1 type for convenience. For beginners, I recommend printed stretch denim or knitted cotton (not too stretchy) - it’s a pleasure to work with such fabric!
Finally, it is worth purchasing some accessories - these could be snakes or buttons of your choice. If we talk from the point of view of the simplicity of processing technology, then a snake (zipper) will be the best option.
Figure 7 Preparation of accessories
That, by and large, is all we need for our work.
Start-up capital
As noted above, we do not take into account the cost of a sewing machine in calculating the starting capital. For the rest, we will proceed from the cost of 1 top. At a minimum, this is exactly how much you need to sew in order to present your skills and put your work up for sale, on the same Avito board, for example.
*To sew one top, we will need a length equal to the length of the product. This measurement can also be individual, depending on the client’s wishes. My top came out 20 cm long.
It follows from this that for sewing 1 product we will spend 395: 100x20 = 79 rubles + the cost of a zipper is 10 rubles - a total of 89 rubles, rounded up to 90 rubles.
Without exaggeration, we can say that our minimum starting capital does not reach 100 rubles (including the presence of a sewing machine).
Calculating profitability
As for calculating profitability, everything is simple: you should analyze data from online stores selling similar tops and present the approximate earnings on tailoring.
As we see, the cost may vary depending on the brand and style, however, if you consider that you will sell your handmade products (!) at a price of 1500 rubles for 1 top, then the net profit in this case will be 1500-90 =1410 rubles, i.e. profitability is more than 1,500%!!! Do you agree, is it worth the risk?
Manufacturing technology
Naturally, each craftsman’s manufacturing technology may differ.
But, approximately, it is always like this:
- Preparing fabric for cutting
- Layout of patterns on fabric
- Cutting out parts
- Stitching, sewing in a zipper or buttons (if the fabric is very stretchy, you can do without a zipper)
- Treatment
Figure 8 One of the finished product options
Figure 9 Model with a snake at the front
I usually make double tops, in which case their cost doubles and amounts to 180 rubles, but they can be worn on both sides, that is, in fact, you get 2 products in one, and if you are interested in combining fabric, then this becomes excellent competition advantage.
It remains to decide on the promotion channel (website, social networks, message boards, word of mouth, and so on). The idea is more than viable, especially since they correctly say that you should start preparing the sled in the winter, in our case in the spring.
Questions and answers on the topic
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To earn extra money, women are looking for jobs where they need to sew clothes at home, making a profit from such work. Here are several options for those who know how to sew and want to make money from it.
It is not at all necessary to look for an employer. People go to ateliers to have their clothes repaired or have something new made to their individual design. But in such establishments, prices are usually inflated, and therefore consumers prefer to turn to seamstresses at home.
Before you begin, determine the following points:
- Will you work directly with clients? If you hire a cutter, you won’t have to communicate with people. You can also negotiate with the seller so that your products are sold on the market, and you receive a percentage of the sales.
- What sewing experience do you have? To begin with, you can sew one thing, for example, bed linen. Over time, you will improve your skill and be able to diversify your assortment.
- Where will you sew - at home, in a studio or rent an office. Location is also important - it should be convenient for you to get to.
- Do you have the necessary equipment. You will need: a sewing machine, a sewing kit and an overlocker. If the latter is not available, then you can buy it, or do work where it is not needed.
- What will be your working hours? If you are on maternity leave, you can work at any time of the day. If you are officially employed, then evenings or weekends are suitable for sewing. The main thing is to manage your time correctly so as not to get tired. Set up your workplace where you will have everything you need and no one will interfere with your work.
- How to advertise your services. You can use various methods: advertisements in newspapers, radio, forums on the Internet, social networks, as well as word of mouth, posting advertisements and placing flyers in mailboxes, distributing business cards.
- When to start. Most orders are in the summer. Then it’s worth starting.
- Where is the best place to learn sewing? A great option is a atelier as an apprentice. In a short time you will learn a lot and, in addition, you will receive a salary.
You can set up your own business and sell products online. To do this, you need to take photos of your works, create a special page on social networks and post them there, and also collect reviews. You can also make money by selling ready-made clothes online, read more at
With proper promotion of the group, you can find many customers. It is advisable to read about how to promote on social networks and use all available tools, as well as find as many regular customers as possible.
Since sewing requires measurements, you will have to communicate directly with customers - at your place or at their home. Also, the performer must have all the necessary instruments at home.
You can also find an employer who is willing to provide work on making clothes from home. This is more profitable for him, since he needs to spend less on office maintenance
You should study the market, current prices for such services and basic requests from consumers. Then you can set up a profitable job sewing various products at home, receive many profitable and paid orders, or try other ways to make money on the Internet.
Advantages and disadvantages of home working
Pros: the ability to plan your work day, be distracted by household chores and children, eliminate some expenses (for example, paying for travel to your place of work, purchasing business suits that meet the dress code, etc.)
Cons: you want peace and quiet at home, and clients can come at any time. Therefore, constant maintenance of exceptional cleanliness of the house is simply necessary. No full days off and long working hours. Difficulties also arise when communicating with clients. You need to be polite even with the most capricious customers.
There are quite a lot of competitors in this business, but if you do your job conscientiously and better than others, then your clients will not leave you anywhere.
Here are some tips from housewives who successfully sew at home and earn good money:
- To start sewing, you do not need to have a special education or complete any courses. The main thing is that you have the necessary skills. At first, it will be useful to carefully examine how your dresses, blouses, and blouses are sewn, to study how they are sewn and how the edges are processed. It's not that difficult to repeat this. You can also rip out old things and make patterns for new ones from them. Of course, it is better if you have the appropriate education and experience working in a studio. This will help you do things with more confidence and clearly know what to do and how to do it.
- The quality of your products will significantly improve the overlocker, so buy it, maybe even a used one.
- Today you can find many offers from seamstresses. For your products to be competitive, they must be of high quality. Curtains, bed linen, furniture covers, suits for matinees, and clothes for people with non-standard figures are in good demand. Also, many sports require the tailoring of special clothing - figure skating. pop or ballroom dancing, equestrianism.
- Work only with people you like. Among the disadvantages of the job is that you may encounter dishonest clients who will ruin your reputation with their negative reviews.
What can you sew?
- Curtains. This is a business for those who can think outside the box and have sufficient experience. On the Internet you can find various master classes on creating beautiful and unusual curtains.
- Clothes for pets - capes for dogs and cats. Sewing for animals really pays off. The work is quite simple, and the pay for the products is decent.
- Covers. Covers for furniture and car seats have long been in great demand.
- Bags and backpacks. This activity is for experienced seamstresses. You can create sports bags, travel bags, original clutches, and laptop bags.
- Kids toys.
- Original outfits for dolls.
- Costumes for children's parties and matinees.
What equipment is needed
- Sewing machine (the cost of modern good machines is from 20 thousand rubles). To begin with, you can buy a Soviet-type machine; it takes any fabric and is inexpensive.
- Overlock (it is better to take from well-known manufacturers). If you do not have your own funds, you can take out a loan to pay for the purchase. You will find favorable offers from banks.
- Ironing board.
- Iron.
It’s good if you have all kinds of buttons, fasteners, chains, multi-colored ribbons, and beads in your arsenal. All this will help you create a unique design. Fashion magazines and pictures with models, which will be useful for consulting clients, will not be superfluous. A mannequin is a very useful item for a home sewing workshop.
How to look for clients
There are several effective ways.
- Through friends, acquaintances and relatives. Do your work efficiently, and soon the so-called “word of mouth” will start working.
- Advertisements on poles, on the Internet, on the radio and in newspapers.
- Advertising brochures. Give them to friends and strangers, bring them to the hairdresser, beauty salon or other places where people often sit and wait their turn. Can be distributed through mailboxes.
- Contact companies that do sewing. They may need your services, for example, with an increase in the volume of orders or an urgent order.
- Try contacting stores that produce decorative items - tablecloths, bed linen, blankets, pillows, clothes for animals or dolls, carnival costumes, soft toys, etc.
- Offer cooperation to interior designers.
How much do seamstresses earn at home?
