I know it might sound impossible to start an embroidery business with no capital. But I did it sixteen years ago, and in this article, I’m going to share how I made it happen – and how you might be able to do the same.
I Started from a Tough Financial Situation
Before I had my own business, I worked as an employee for about seven years. During that time, I learned how to embroider, design, operate machines, sell, and deal with customers. Those skills helped me a lot when I decided to start my own venture, even though most things I learned by trial and error.
When I launched my business, I was in a difficult financial situation. I didn’t have a penny to spare. I lived with my mom, my partner, and my grandmother in an apartment we had built on my grandmother’s land. Expenses were at their peak, and I had a strong desire to change my reality.
But How Do You Start a Business Without Money?
I had no equipment or tools. I managed to get a small loan and used it to buy a sublimation kit and started selling personalized items. That brought in my first sales.
Start With What You Have, From Where You Are
To avoid extra expenses, I didn’t rent a commercial space. I started working from home and posting on social media. That brought in even more sales.
My advice: Do what you can with what you have, from where you are. You don’t need anything specific to start. If you have the idea and the drive, you can move forward.
People often sell us the dream of entrepreneurship as total freedom – traveling the world and living the good life. But the reality is very different, at least in the beginning.
The Initial Effort – Sacrifices and Tough Decisions
If you decide to start your own business, be prepared. In the beginning, you’ll do everything on your own. You’ll work twice or even three times as much as you did as an employee, and at first, you might not even see any income.
If you’re not willing to make sacrifices, think twice. Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. What’s important is to make informed decisions.
Outsourcing as a Growth Strategy Without Equipment
When I started, some clients asked for services I didn’t yet offer. Since I didn’t have the equipment, I began outsourcing to other established entrepreneurs. For example, if a client needed embroidered T-shirts, I would create the design, quote the job, and take it to a supplier.
Set generous delivery times – longer than what your subcontractor offers. That way, you ensure you meet your deadlines and earn your clients’ trust.
Mistakes Can Push You to Grow
I had problems with suppliers: poor customer service, late deliveries… That pushed me to get my own equipment. I presented the idea to my family, showed them I already had sales, and managed to get a loan to buy my first embroidery machine.
With the machine, I wanted more visibility. I still had a part-time job, so I saved money from my salary and rented a commercial space in a busy area.
Everyone Will Think You’re Crazy (And Maybe You Are)
Renting the store was a risky move. Everyone told me I was crazy, that I had a stable job and shouldn’t leave it. It’s normal that people won’t support you in the beginning.
Is it worth it? Honestly, yes. Even if you fail, you’ll learn a lot. But remember: this isn’t the only way. Some people grow within a job, and that’s perfectly valid.
How I Survived the First Months With the Store
Opening the shop was like starting a marathon. I had to cover rent, supplies, electricity… I still worked part-time, and my partner ran the shop in the afternoons.
I talked to my boss and agreed to reduce my hours. I gave him six months to find a replacement and challenged myself to make the business profitable enough within that time to quit my job.
Differentiation Was Key
One reason I wanted to stand out was because the competition wasn’t willing to take on certain jobs. Clients rejected by other businesses came to me. I looked for solutions, experimented, adjusted prices… and most clients ended up pleasantly surprised.
That attitude led to referrals, even from competitors. Some even subcontracted me.
If you do what others don’t, you have no competition.
I didn’t have the production capacity for large volumes, but I did personalized work others wouldn’t touch. That allowed me to charge more and maintain good profit margins.
Focus on a Niche – That’s How You Become Known
I focused on personalized products and embroidered caps. I learned techniques no one else used in my area and began innovating. That made me stand out. People came in saying, “I heard this is the best place to get a cap embroidered.”
Here’s the key: price isn’t what matters most. Profitability is. Don’t kill your business by undercharging.
You’ll Make Mistakes (And That’s Okay)
From machine breakdowns to order mistakes, problems will come up. And they’re necessary. The key is learning to solve them quickly – many problems can become opportunities for new services.
Don’t Let Ego Get in the Way
When things started going well, I made mistakes. I thought I was unstoppable, stopped listening, set bad prices, and made poor decisions. I’m sharing this so you don’t repeat my errors.
Value your first clients. Don’t trade them for high volume. Volume lowers profit margins, demands more work, and often isn’t worth it.
Strategic Partnerships – Another Growth Engine
Many entrepreneurs subcontracted me. They were custom product sellers, advertisers, garment makers… people who didn’t offer embroidery but needed it.
I offered them a complementary service. They made money, I made money. Plus, they handled the client, which saved me time.
My advice: Be active on social media. It’s an affordable and effective way to attract clients and build partnerships.
The Mistake of Overspending When Income Starts Coming In
When the business started generating income, I changed my lifestyle. I made the mistake of thinking the business’s money was mine. But it’s not.
The business’s money is to help it grow. If you don’t reinvest, your business will lose relevance. This nearly bankrupted me more than once.
Invest in customer acquisition and retention. Then invest in employees, machines, materials – whatever you need to meet demand.
Be a Leader, Not a Boss
Being a boss doesn’t make you a leader. I didn’t want to repeat the bad experiences I had as an employee. I started rewarding extra effort and maintained a formal yet fair relationship with my team.
Don’t try to be your employees’ friend. That can lead to over-familiarity and decreased performance. I’ve had to fire people over this and learned my lesson.
Final Thoughts – Is It Worth It?
Entrepreneurship has been the most terrifying, exciting, and rewarding experience of my life. I’ve doubted myself, failed, and wanted to quit… but I’ve also learned so much.
My advice: Try it. Start with low risk. If it’s not for you, you’ll know. But don’t be left wondering “what if.”
It’s not easy, it’s not magic, but if you’re not happy with your current situation, doing something is better than doing nothing.
Did you enjoy this article? Share it with someone who wants to start an embroidery business.
