Long Arm Quilter for fun or profit?
 

I'm about to finally have my dream come true by purchasing a long arm quilting machine. I'm curious if those that own one, purchased if for fun or profit. If for profit how did you get started and do you have any tips?

Definitely for fun. I am so blessed to own one that I can use for myself or my family & friends. I don't think I could deal with the challenges of quilting for others. Not my idea of fun.

I bought mine to make finishing my own quilts easier. Since then I have quilted occasionally for friends (who insist on paying me). After DH died and I moved, I thought I would buy robotics and start a real business, but I haven't done so, at least not yet.

I just use mine for fun. My daughter and I quilt the quilts we make on it. She does some quilting for others, but I don’t.

For profit?
Some suggestions----first, have you had experience with a LA? If not,lots of practice..
do you belong to a guild? When you think you are ready for clients, take yours to show and tell...
print up some business cards and drop off at lqs
get all your business paperwork decided upon and prices and breakdowns...
then word of mouth....
And be prepared to have less time for your own projects......but it can be interesting and rewarding
many more ideas and suggestions, I'm sure will be posted, but you have to find the path that works for you, ad far as the allotted, your way of getting the best results...etc..... And remember it will always be a learning experience,,at least for me it was.........

I intended to quilt for others after I retired, but found it hard to do anything for myself when I did that, with my limited time. I also found it to be more pressure than I expected. So I quit quilting for friends. I haven't been able to quilt for myself, either, yet, but hope to soon. (Too busy as executor after my mom's death, selling her house, etc. Should be able to mostly finish up with that in the next month or so, and get back in my quilting groove.)

I also bought it just for fun. I make for family, friends, Project Linus and Quilts of Valor. I'm retired and don't want the pressure of quilting for others. I quilt Quilts of Valor that have been pieced by other people and sometimes, that's a challenge. I'm picky with my pressing, removing those "whiskers" of threads, flat borders, etc. I know people that quilt for money and they seem to do well. Mine is just for fun!

I purchased mine to do my own quilts, it’s a hobby for me. I’m not the type of person who would enjoy doing it for others, as that is far too much pressure to meet someone’s “expectations”; hats off to those that do!
There are several Facebook groups for longarm quilters and I think you’ll find that most are very very friendly and helpful.
If you really want to do it as a business, talk to others and be realistic with your expectations. There are those that take to longarming like a duck to water and are amazing at what they do, then there are the rest of us. It takes lots of time, patience and practice to become proficient with your machine. Good luck and keep us updated!

I mainly bought mine to finish my own quilts. After sending all my tops out to be quilted I did the math and my machine is paying for itself. I do also quilt for close friends and family and do not do custom work. If they want a panto or free motion edge to edge then I will quilt for them. I do not have a "business" so to speak and by word of mouth I am as busy as I want to be. I recommend MQR forum for a place to answer any questions you might have concerning the business side of long arming. It is also an excellent supportive group for any thing longarm related.

I purchased mine for fun. When I first started, a local professional quilter contacted me to see if I would be interested in quilting for hire. I went to her house & worked with her for a couple days, which helped me decide. Fast. She spent a lot of time fixing/massaging/reworking customer's quilts. The first quilt she loaded had a really wavy border, which she took off & reapplied. the next quilt we did had seam intersections that were pressed so poorly that the panto she was trying to show me could not be easily done because you kept hitting them. Another the top was OK, but the backing was seamed so unevenly, she wound up re stitching. Well, you get the picture. It might have been just a bad batch, but I declined the work. I now just quilt for me & friends & family. If one of them gives me a top with an issue, I have no problem handing it back & telling them to fix it!