What supplies do I need??

Robert, I went outside of the box and put mine in the study :) Edward, please heed Robert's advice. I had done quite a bit of sewing as well, but no one could prepare me for the HUGE learning curve I have faced running a commerical machine. Robert can attest - I have come to him panicked several times. I am also very green and just starting out, and although I am getting a decent amount of business, my clients have NO IDEA how long it takes me to come up with their designs that are not just logos I can have digitized. If I worked it out, I am probably making like $2/hr or something ridiculous. But I am having a blast, so it is so far been worth it :)

Are you buying a home model Brother?

Edward, hopefully you are familiar with your new equipment that is coming...if not, spend time getting to know how it works and if it has any issues. When you get an order, you won't be so frustrated trying to figure it out when it counts. Also, until you learn how to digitize (if you will) find someone now that will do it on contract so you have availability to creating logos for customers when requested. As far as supplies, pick an array of thread colors that are commonly used, then purchase a little at a time as customers demand custom colors.. this is not like sewing, it is challenging but give yourself time to figure it out. And always, always, always trace out a design before sewing it out! That is a sound I will never forget!

but what made you want to get into the business without knowing much about it? If someone offered me a complete screen printing shop I would not take it.. don't know a thing about screen printing so it would be useless to me.

Ouch, Cart before the Horse! If you go to Best Buy and pick up some Business Plan software for about $30, by the time you go through that process and have a formal written plan you will have nearly all your questions answered.. The software is very intuitive.. kinda like using Turbo Tax for your taxes.. it knows many of the things you don't know.. so it fills in lots of the blanks of things you need to think of to start and run a business.

For just .. buy this and buy that.. then I would call an embroidery supplier that sells Madeira or Robinson Anton threads, (google them) tell them what types of product you have in mind to sew on.. and they will be more than happy to sell you what they think you need from deciding whether you need Rayon or Poly thread, what kind of Pellon you need, what needles, etc. The company you bought your machine from should also be able to guide to to reputable suppliers. But unless you know exactly what you want to sew on, you are going to buy MORE than you will use.

Also for any design to turn out great, you need to good in digitizing or you need to find good digitizer

And, call a dealer or find some training somewhere, and get it no matter what the cost. It'll help tremendously.

very cool! I am so glad to hear your story.. it is not the norm from what I see. Too many people seem to get into the business thinking they can make a fortune and haven't a clue about what it takes. Low entry threshold so many line up to put machines in their garages or spare bedrooms.... only to learn later that they were mistaken and the machines just sit there...