Return on investment

Most people who are thinking about starting their own quilting business want to know roughly how long it will take them to pay for the machine.

We studied machine quilting services and pricing from all around the United States and we put together some averages.

Estimates to pay off longarm

• Average queen size quilt is approximately 90 X 100 inches and takes about 3-5 hours to quilt.

• The average price for machine quilting with a design that is fairly simple (by no means heirloom quality) is approximately $0.02-$0.03 cents and up per square inch.

• At this price, that queen-sized quilt would bring you approximately $180 – $270 in labor costs alone. You are able to make additional income from batting and thread if you choose.

• It would take approximately 135 quilts to pay off our top-of-the-line Millie 30 at $30,500. This would be an average of 3 quilts per week to pay off your machine the first year of your business!  At 1 quilt per week, your machine would be paid for in just 3 years.

• It would take approximately 121 quilts to pay off our top-of-the-line Millie at $27,300. This would be an average of 2.32 quilts per week to pay off your machine in just 1 year!

• It would take approximately 113 quilts for that first year to pay for a Freddie at $25,400, or an average of 2.17 quilts per week.

• For the Lucey, priced at only $18,400, it would take approximately 82 quilts to pay for your machine, or an average of 1.57 quilts per week for the first year.

• For the Lenni, priced at $15,500, it would take approximately 68 quilts to pay for your machine, or an average of 1.32 quilts per week for the first year.

• For Larry, priced at $9,300, it would take approximately 41 quilts to pay for your machine, or an average of  .78 quilts per week for the first year.