Custom Quilt Artist Business Plan

Sew Distinct

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Company Summary

Sew Distinct is a sole proprietorship, owned by Sally Stitch. I sell original, high-quality custom quilts to discerning customers who give them as gifts or keep them as heirloom artworks. Sew Distinct also contracts with two local hand-quilters with roughly 20 years of experience, to do the quilting work on non-machine quilted pieces. Sew Distinct quilts are manufactured in the owner's home, and sold directly to my customers in northwest MyState, as well as over my website. I have several years of experience as a quilter, and have an exceptional gift for transforming the vaguest ideas and descriptions into beautiful and meaningful quilt designs which both giver and recipient appreciate.

Sew Distinct works to provide custom, individually designed, warm and snuggly quilt art to customers who value originality but don't have the time or skills to create such pieces on their own. By working with my customers in the design phase, I give them the satisfaction of having input into their gift or artwork, without the intense investment of their own time and labor that would be necessary to produce such a quilt. The result is a personalized, usable, beautiful quilt which will be appreciated for generations to come.

2.1 Start-up Summary

To begin my business, I will need a stock of materials, and time to begin the first commissions for the business, which are currently being negotiated with two interested buyers, who have offered to advertise my business through word of mouth with friends and family members.  I plan to begin my official advertising campaign by placing brochures in likely locations around Sweetville and Nicetown, MyState and by creating my business website (see sample pages from website, attached).

Initial inventory consists of threads and a basic fabric library:

  • between 1/4 and 1 yard each of 300 different cotton fabrics, covering hues and shades in all color groups 
  • 3-4 yards each of 25 different cotton backing and background fabrics

These fabrics will give me the necessary initial range to execute a wide variety of designs which rely on subtle color grading and variation for their effectiveness. The fabric library will be supplemented month by month, as designs are finalized and as particular fabrics need replacing, or new, more popular ones, become available.

Expenses include:

  • a fabric board, at least 8'x8', in order to lay out patterns vertically for display to clients and during the design process
  • initial marketing materials (brochures and website)
  • extra insurance to cover the value of the inventory and the sewing machines, as well as work in progress

I would also like to have a decent initial fund of cash in my business account, about $1,600, to cover unforeseen expenses such as repair of the sewing machine, or promising new advertising possibilities (like a local quilt convention) which could affect the cost of business independent of initial sales revenue.

The number in Other current assets is for a second sewing machine.

Start-up Funding
Start-up Expenses to Fund $950
Start-up Assets to Fund $3,600
Total Funding Required $4,550
Assets
Non-cash Assets from Start-up $2,000
Cash Requirements from Start-up $1,600
Additional Cash Raised $0
Cash Balance on Starting Date $1,600
Total Assets $3,600
Liabilities and Capital
Liabilities
Current Borrowing $2,050
Long-term Liabilities $0
Accounts Payable (Outstanding Bills) $0
Other Current Liabilities (interest-free) $0
Total Liabilities $2,050
Capital
Planned Investment
Sally Stitch $2,500
Other $0
Additional Investment Requirement $0
Total Planned Investment $2,500
Loss at Start-up (Start-up Expenses) ($950)
Total Capital $1,550
Total Capital and Liabilities $3,600
Total Funding $4,550
Start-up
Requirements
Start-up Expenses
Legal $50
Fabric Board $200
Brochures $50
Insurance $100
Supplies: Rotary heads, pins, extra machine needles $200
Website Development $350
Total Start-up Expenses $950
Start-up Assets
Cash Required $1,600
Start-up Inventory $1,000
Other Current Assets $1,000
Long-term Assets $0
Total Assets $3,600
Total Requirements $4,550

2.2 Company Ownership

Sew Distinct is a sole proprietorship, owned by Sally Stitch.

2.3 Company Locations and Facilities

The company is located in the home of Sally Stitch. Some quilting work is done off-premises, in the home of the contracted hand-quilters. All locations are maintained smoke-free, since fabric items can easily absorb odors.

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Start-up Funding
Start-up Expenses to Fund $950
Start-up Assets to Fund $3,600
Total Funding Required $4,550
Assets
Non-cash Assets from Start-up $2,000
Cash Requirements from Start-up $1,600
Additional Cash Raised $0
Cash Balance on Starting Date $1,600
Total Assets $3,600
Liabilities and Capital
Liabilities
Current Borrowing $2,050
Long-term Liabilities $0
Accounts Payable (Outstanding Bills) $0
Other Current Liabilities (interest-free) $0
Total Liabilities $2,050
Capital
Planned Investment
Sally Stitch $2,500
Other $0
Additional Investment Requirement $0
Total Planned Investment $2,500
Loss at Start-up (Start-up Expenses) ($950)
Total Capital $1,550
Total Capital and Liabilities $3,600
Total Funding $4,550
Start-up
Requirements
Start-up Expenses
Legal $50
Fabric Board $200
Brochures $50
Insurance $100
Supplies: Rotary heads, pins, extra machine needles $200
Website Development $350
Total Start-up Expenses $950
Start-up Assets
Cash Required $1,600
Start-up Inventory $1,000
Other Current Assets $1,000
Long-term Assets $0
Total Assets $3,600
Total Requirements $4,550