Workwear and club embroidery shop

Trades and small firms, schools, sports clubs, hospitality businesses and community groups needing uniforms and branded items.

Per-item pricing on bulk orders, digitising fees, and a markup on garments you supply. Regular uniform contracts and repeat orders bring in the steadiest income.

• Running embroidery machines efficiently
• Digitising and artwork preparation
• Quoting, selling and managing deadlines
• Basic bookkeeping and stock control

• Commercial lease terms, business rates and planning use of the unit, check with your local council
• Multi-head machines can cost tens of thousands of pounds each new, so consider second-hand or finance and budget for digitising software, a heat press and initial stock
• Public liability insurance, plus employer's liability insurance if you take on staff
• Machine finance and equipment breakdowns, which can stop production
• Copyright and trade mark issues when customers ask for branded or licensed designs
• VAT registration becomes compulsory above the turnover threshold, check current rules with HMRC

Startup costs are typically around £20,000 to £90,000, depending on whether machines are new, second-hand or financed, plus digitising software, a heat press and opening stock. Treat these as estimates.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on order volumes, your customer mix and how well you keep machines running. Breakdowns can stop production, so allow for that.

Check commercial lease terms, business rates and the permitted use of the unit with your council, insurance including employer's liability if you hire, machine finance, copyright and trade mark issues on branded designs, and VAT registration rules with HMRC.