Article: Before you begin planning to establish a home sewing business, you first need to honestly assess your abilities as a seamstress. Taking an objective view of your skills can help you decide if starting a sewing business is the right option for you.  An excellent way to assess your skills is to compare your work to other seamstresses in your area. Is your work comparable or better? You can't expect to be successful if you can't compete.  Do you frequently have people asking you who sewed your clothing? If so, this might be a good sign that your skills are in demand, especially because word of mouth can be a powerful advertising tool. Consider how having a home sewing business will fit into your lifestyle and even that of your family. Knowing whether or not the time, emotional, and physical demands of being a seamstress fit in with your lifestyle is important if you want to run a successful business.   Are you able to handle the physical demands? Sewing for money may mean you are sitting or hunched over a sewing machine for long hours. Think about if being a seamstress with a home business fits your personality. Client management is a significant part of the job and if you don't like working with people, this may not be the right choice for you. You will need to allot a specific space in your home for your business, especially if you are going to meet with clients. Are you willing to give up space in your home? You may also want to consider your location. If your home is in an isolated region, it may be difficult for potential clients to reach you. Seamstresses earn on average about $29,000 per year. This amount can change depending on how often and where you work. Only proceed with your plans if the average pay or below meets your financial needs.   The average salary for seamstresses in general works out to $13.85 per hour, which is above the minimum wage. For home seamstresses, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics cites an average annual income of 23,430, or $11.26/ hour.  An excellent way to gauge prices is by checking the prices of comparable services in your local area. You want to stay competitive with your prices while making sure you're compensated fairly for your work. A mentor may be able to help you figure out fair prices for you and your clients. One aspect to consider when assessing your prices is how quickly you sew. If it takes you a longer time to sew or you are quick, you'll want to adjust your prices based on your speed to help ensure you're getting paid an amount commensurate to your skills and work. Remember that you will have to pay taxes and other fees for your business. You'll need to have a high-quality, heavy duty or industrial sewing machine to withstand repeated use. You'll also need a supply of fabrics, threads and needles. If you need to invest significantly in starting your home sewing business, it may not be the right decision for you.   You will need a second sewing machine on hand in case your first needs repair. Remember that quality equipment is the core of your business and will allow you to garner income.

What is a summary?
Assess your abilities as a seamstress. Think about how a home sewing business will fit into your lifestyle. Examine if a home sewing business meets your financial needs. Check your current sewing equipment.