Small business tailor shop business plan. How to open an atelier for tailoring and repairing clothes
People are constantly in need of new clothes, so the business of making and repairing them can be a very profitable idea. But, as in any other business, this has its own subtleties and secrets. Let's try to figure them out.
Features of the sewing business
When opening an atelier for tailoring and repairing clothes, you should not expect quick profits. At first, the income will be spent on purchasing the necessary equipment, because it is quite expensive to purchase everything at once. Expenses also depend on whether you will rent or buy a room.
One way or another, investments should be serious enough. The average tailoring business plan for a small business assumes that the establishment will pay off in a year. If you plan to deal only with repairs, it will be much cheaper to start a business. In this case, the room may be smaller, and only a couple of sewing machines will be required from the equipment.
Opening an atelier is a little more difficult, because it requires more employees and special devices. In general, a stable income can be expected from a sewing workshop of any format, even if its level is not very high.
Format selection
Before starting work, it is worth deciding how wide the profile of the institution will be. At the initial stage, you can deal exclusively with repairs, but in the long run it is not very cost-effective. Therefore, it is worth deciding right away whether your enterprise will be narrow-profile or if you plan to cover a wide range of services. In the first case, you will need to try to achieve maximum quality in a particular area, for example, in tailoring wedding dresses.
The second will require more special equipment and staff. The best solution would be a combination of several types of services, for example, clothing repair, tailoring of accessories and outerwear. An experienced seamstress in an atelier should be a versatile specialist in order to work on any order, if necessary.
paper questions
Once the format of the atelier has been chosen, it is worth doing the paperwork. You need to start by determining the legal form, and then purchase or rent a room, where you can officially register. It is important to decide in advance whether you plan to open an individual entrepreneur or LLC.
For tailoring and repairing clothes, the first option is more appropriate, as it will be easier to keep tax records and accounting calculations. When choosing a line of business, indicate a mixed direction indicating such items as the provision of personal services to the population, the production of clothing from textiles, the repair of household products and personal items. You also need to register with a pension fund, get a work permit from the fire department.
Location selection
One of the important initial stages is the selection of premises. For the first time, it is best to rent a suitable territory, and in the future it will be possible to purchase it. It is best to choose a place where there are constant flows of people. For example, you can rent a point in a shopping center.
Another good option would be a tailoring and repair shop in a residential area or a workshop near a specialized fabric store. It is also not bad when there are household services nearby, for example, for making keys. This increases the likelihood that the client will stop by on the way there and to you. To begin with, a room up to twenty square meters in size will be enough. Try to find a place with the optimal ratio of the number of visitors and the amount of rent.
Purchase of equipment
The range of special tools and sewing machines is simply huge. Buying everything at once does not make much sense, it is better to buy only the most necessary. To get started, you will need a professional model sewing machine that performs various operations, an overlocker with which to process edges and seams, a hemming machine needed to process the bottom of skirts and trousers, a good steam iron for the studio and an ironing board, a cutting table.
In addition, you need accessories such as special scissors and rippers, needles, rulers, threads, measuring tapes and thimbles. You will also need a fitting room for the studio. When choosing equipment, try to purchase new and reliable models. After buying used devices, you will have to spend money on debugging and repairing them.
Furniture and interior details
In addition to sewing equipment, before you open a clothing repair shop, you need to purchase furnishings for it. 
A cozy atmosphere will not do without good lighting and places for waiting customers, the administrator will also need a workplace.
Pay attention to the quality of lamps and ceiling lights - in dim light it is unpleasant and difficult to work. Furniture for a sewing studio should be as comfortable as possible, this also applies to tables for seamstresses and sofas for visitors. The fitting room should have mannequins and hangers on which clothes will be displayed.
Among other things, you will need a certain number of fire extinguishers. About how many of them you need, you need to find out from the fire safety service. Before starting work, you will also need special forms for receipts or a cash register that will print receipts. It is illegal to receive money for your services without documentary evidence of their provision; such activities are punishable by fines.
Recruitment
Even a well-thought-out business plan for a small business tailoring studio can be useless if the recruitment approach is wrong.
The success of an enterprise to a large extent depends on the level of the craftsmen who work in it, so experience and qualifications are of great importance. Pay attention to references from your previous job.
