How to Make Money at Home - Seamstress and Alteration Service

Sew your way to success creating new apparel from a pattern as a seamstress or altering clothing to make money at home. Sewing is becoming a lost art and not all individuals wear the size clothes they pull off the store rack. If you are a skilled seamstress this is a home based business opportunity that is in demand. Here is how to start your small home business as a Seamstress/Tailor and make money at home.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Small Business Seamstress/Tailoring Services To Offer
   
   The basic alteration services include hemming, fixing or installing zippers, and sewing buttons patches. You could choose to offer sewing Brownie and Boy and Girl Scout patches to area Scout troops. Your home based business can offer making custom clothes (especially for the holidays), dresses for dance recitals, or curtains and drapes for home fashions.

2. Create Price List for Your Home Based Business
   A detailed price list of what you will be sewing should be printed with your business name and graphic prominently showing. Each service you provide needs to be priced with the cost of materials and your time included. Customers want to know your pricing, timeline, and any other policies they should be aware of. Do not under value your time and price your hourly fee appropriately. Do your research to see what others in your area charge and price your seamstress/tailoring services competitively.

3. Small Business Policies
   Join online chat groups and blogs to find out what other people have encountered in terms of having to set up policies. For example:
   • How long will you hold the garments after the pick up date has passed?
   • Is there a deposit necessary before you begin a job?
   • What will your policy be for payment? Will you accept checks, credit cards, or only cash?
   • What is your turn-around time for the specific jobs?

4. Getting Customers for Your Home Based Seamstress/Tailor Business
   
   Finding your initial clients will be the biggest challenge. Some practical steps in generating customers include:
   • Make a professional portfolio demonstrating the scope of your skills. If you do not have pictures ask friends and family if you could tailor or make clothing for them and document the before and after photos.
   • Create a catchy business name and have business cards made up. Use the same graphic on the portfolio, business cards, and everything else you create. This will generate 'branding' of your business.
   • Join your local Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, or other creative clubs in your area.
   • Talk to your local Dry Cleaner, Boutique, Dance Studio and formal wear business owners to see if a cross-referral relationship can be arranged. Referrals will become your best marketing tactic.
   • Pass out your business cards to everyone you come in contact with. You will be surprised how many acquaintances you have at the grocery store, church, kid's events, etc.
   • Post your business on Craigslist.com and other free online classified ad websites (see references section below).
   • Join the online social networking communities such as MySpace, Linkedin, Twitter, and Facebook. Facebook has an application where you can sell services online. Take advantage of all these sites and remember to use your graphic on each website.
   • Never underestimate the power of volunteering. This will allow you to meet new people within your community and spread the word about your home based business.

Tips & Warnings

• Household are busy and there is always some garment that needs the touch of a Seamstress or Tailor. Your skills at the sewing machine can make money at home as a home based business.

Resources

• How to Advertise a Small Business Online Free

[JoyfulOne]

on 5/11/2009 Great idea...now if only I could sew!

[veryirie]

on 5/10/2009 Sewing really is a lost art and that's a pity. It can be a great source of satisfaction and a way to provide a second income. Thanks!