Does anyone ever make enough money to pay for the longarm set up?

That's not a stupid question!!!!!

I'm curious too!

I didn't buy mine to make customer quilts - I wanted it for myself - I am lucky that I don't have to recoup the cost.

Well, I figured it out.......at an average of $100. a quilt, I'd have to do 180 quilts to pay for this longarm setup that I'm working on (I'm babysitting it for a friend - lucky me!) This is not counting the classes and templates or extra designs I've bought. I figure I can't do but maybe 3 quilts a month average due to my health and our desire to travel.....so it will take me 60 months to pay for the machine. So does that work for you? Oh, it took me 6 months to get brave enough to do it for others.

Not me. But then, I didn't buy mine to make money. It's strictly for my own pleasure. I don't want any stress in my life. Besides, I had one job, I don't want another one. :roll:

That does work for me, thanks, so it is possible, cool!!

I was lucky I bought a long arm from distant family member
on my husbands side of family for $1000.00 ( no directions
so Im learning on my own. not doing bad) I have not started doing for others. not brave enough as of yet.
But I have a friend that has been doing this for quite a few
years. she has put her kids though college and then some.
it has been a great pay off for her. she is so backed up
when she gets orders they are 6 months out.

AHH>>.but do not forget the OTHER costs...

business lic, accountant, insurance, supplies, depending on your area, how long it takes you to get established, etc, etc. you are looking at about a 3-5 year period before it will be paid off! And that is only dependent on how much your initial investment is and how much you keep adding to it!

my daughter and I split one.mostly for our own use with occasional customer work. .it will never pay for itself-but it is what we love to do

The demand for long arm services in my area is very big. The minimum is now .02 per inch and that is for very simple work, no batting, thread, or backing is in that price. Some charge a loading fee of $20.00 plus the quilting costs. Some of the long arm pro's do not trim the excess, when they return the quilt, it comes right off the frame and given back. The back log can be as long as 3-6 months. If you want a quilt for done for Christmas you have to reserve your spot about in August/Sept. If you wanted custom work best to reserve your spot in July. Some quilters now have a spot reserved from year to year for Christmas work. Custom work can range from .04 per sq.inch to .10 per sq.inch.
So much depends on what you can charge for your work... and how hard you want to work. If you approach it like a regular job .. you can make money..once your skills are up to a level where you can charge for your work.
People develop relationships with there longarm professional.. and if they are happy with the work stay with that person. So you build a client base.