how much should i charge?
 

I've done embroidery but have never charged anyone. I would like to start making some money though. A friend just asked me if I would embroider six lab jackets for her employer. The want the office name on the first line, which is 34 characters. They want the doctor's name on the second line, which is from 24 - 32 letters. I have played with it using six different fonts and the embroidery would be an inch to an inch and a quarter high to three and a half or four inches wide. Can anyone help me with pricing? Thanks so much for any help!

Somewhere I read they charge by the number of stitches. I'd go to a professional embroiderer and ask about their pricing.

Hi, the going rate is around $1/1,000 stitches, and some people charge $0.50 extra for thread color changes over 3 or 4 and often have a $5 or $10 minimum. So figure out your design and divide by 1,000. Sounds like a lot of money, but when you figure in stabilizer, thread, your time and all those bucks you paid for your embroidery machine...

I was asked to embroider 100 football shirts for kids with the team name and the individual's name - turned them down - I didn't want to have to replace (at my cost) any shirts that I messed up on. And I really don't want to turn my hobby into work. Check with companies in your area to see what they charge and base your prices accordingly.

Keep in mind, that if you start charging to do embroidery and then something happens to your domestic machine, your dealer can refuse to honor any warranty on it. If it's just a one time thing, I wouldn't worry, but if you plan on making it a business, the stitch count on your machine during service, could allow them to see that the machine is being used commercially and that can void your warranty.

I just paid $14.00 for the name "Wendy" to be embroidered on something...at a commercial shop....I have my own machine, just wanted to see the difference!

Also, if more than just a name, there can be a design charge. I think the last time I checked it was and additional $125.

Don't know prices, and don't do embroidery. I can only wish you luck and hope all goes well.

Thank you so much for that information! I doubt that I would be doing that much though to sell.

What will you charge for the "set-up" ? Thread costs??? Stabilizer???

No way would i take this on. That is a LOT of characters. Unless you are using a multi needle embroidery machine, I would decline. Send them to the professionals.
Sandy