How to Start a Sewing Business

In addition to making and altering clothes, sewing businesses also customize clothing through the use of embroidery and other decorative arts to create one-of-a-kind personalized fashions.

You may also be interested in additional business ideas for teens.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a sewing business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Sewing Business
  2. Form your Sewing Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Sewing Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Sewing Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Sewing Business
  7. Get Sewing Business Insurance
  8. Define your Sewing Business Brand
  9. Create your Sewing Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your sewing business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Sewing Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a sewing business?

Unlike many other types of businesses, a sewing business can be operated from home. A home-based sewing business has the added advantage of providing a higher level of comfort and privacy during fittings. It is possible to start a small home-based sewing business with very little initial investment. At a minimum, you’ll need:

  • A simple sewing machine capable of performing basic stitches and creating buttonholes
  • A serger for tailoring seams to prevent fraying
  • A full-length mirror for customers
  • An iron and ironing board for removing wrinkles from fabric
  • Fabric scissors and pinking shears for cutting patterns
  • A cutting wheel
  • Measuring tools for taking customer measurements and marking hems and cuffs
  • Garment racks for hanging clothing
  • A table for cutting fabric, drawing and designing

What are the ongoing expenses for a sewing business?

Ongoing expenses for a sewing business include:

  • Supplies such as material, zippers, thread, buttons, and trim
  • Utilities
  • Equipment maintenance
  • Website updates
  • Advertising

Who is the target market?

Preferred customers are those who require alterations of a garment. Many customers require the services of a sewing business to prepare for attending a formal event such as a prom or a wedding. Other types of customers include sports teams who require their team logos, names or numbers to be embroidered onto their team uniforms.

How does a sewing business make money?

A sewing business makes money by charging a fee for designing, making, or altering clothing. Prices are determined by calculating the amount of time and the cost of materials required for each order. Some sewing businesses design and manufacture custom apparel, while others focus on alterations.

How much can you charge customers?

Average prices for clothing alterations vary according to the type of alteration and the strength of the local economy. The price of hemming a garment may be as little as $15, while the price of a custom-made wedding gown can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars. It’s a good idea to research the services offered by local competitors when deciding what types of services to specialize in that would enable you to set yourself apart.

How much profit can a sewing business make?

A small single-person sewing business can earn an annual income ranging from between $18,000 and $67,000, depending upon experience, location, and the type of equipment the business owns. With one or more employees, a sewing business can earn much more, and some become successful enough to provide enough to provide franchise opportunities.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Many sewing businesses offer sewing classes to increase revenue and strengthen their ties within the local community. Others design and sell their own lines of clothing and accessories such as scarves. Partnering with other industries focused on clothing, like laundromats and clothing stores, to offer custom alterations can also prove to be a profitable strategy for increasing both your revenue and your customer base. Making garments to be worn by models in clothing stores is another great way to publicly showcase your work, which is the best form of advertising.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your sewing business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your sewing business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a sewing business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Certificate of Occupancy

A sewing business is generally run out of a warehouse, or other storefront if not out of a home. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a location:
    • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
    • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a sewing business
    • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
  • If you plan to purchase or build a location:
    • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
    • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your sewing business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Sewing Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Sewing Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a sewing business

It is great to provide potential customers with some physical media for your business, such as flyers and business cards. You should have a business logo that is consistent on all your marketing materials. Having a website is an important aspect of any business. Potential customers search online for products and services and having a website is imperative. Placing an ad in the local paper, especially before social events such as prom or Valentine’s dances, is a timely way to let people know about your services.

How to keep customers coming back

Visiting local fabric shops is an excellent way to spread the word about your services to those with an interest in sewing. As people become more environmentally and socially conscious, old-fashioned sewing circles are making a comeback. Inviting people to participate in creative activities that benefit the global as well as the local community is one of the best ways to attract, and keep, new customers.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

This business is ideal for people who enjoy creating fashion and helping people achieve the confidence that comes with looking their best. Many fashions are not ideal for all body types and sizes, and sewing businesses provide an alternative for people who do not conform to existing rigid size measurements.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a sewing business?

Some of the daily activities of a sewing business owner include:

  • Communicating with customers about their clothing needs
  • Taking customer measurements
  • Purchasing supplies such as fabric, zippers, and buttons
  • Creating and using patterns
  • Fitting and tailoring garments
  • Performing alterations such as hemming, shortening, lengthening, taking in or letting out seams to accommodate weight changes

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful sewing business?

The first prerequisite is an extensive knowledge of fashion. Previous sewing experience and familiarity with various types of materials as well as sewing machinery is also essential. Educational opportunities exist for those who wish to learn and practice the skills necessary to own and operate their own sewing business.

What is the growth potential for a sewing business?

The growth potential for a sewing business is excellent, with annual income ranging from approximately $28,000 to almost $110,000 depending on the level of expertise and the location of the business.

Not sure if a sewing business is right for you? Try our free Business Idea Generator and find your perfect idea.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a sewing business?

Experts advise not only thoroughly researching the local competition, but asking for advice from successful sewing business owners in other locations. Being well-informed about industry trends is crucial for the success of a sewing business that depends on the ever-changing world of fashion. In the age of the personal brand, one of the best ways to promote your new sewing business is by modeling your work in public with your own wardrobe. Nothing demonstrates your skills and talents—and attracts compliments and potential new customers– more than wearing your own unique, finely tailored and perfectly fitted clothing.

How and when to build a team

Businesses of this sort usually cannot accommodate a high volume of customers with just one seamstress/tailor. As such, when demand exceeds capability, businesses of this type benefit significantly from the addition of qualified workers. Other valuable additions to your company’s resources can include industry organizations such as the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals and the Custom Tailor and Design Association, both of which can help you find the team you need.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading