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I would like to start a small business in my home doing alterations and repairs. Could someone please let me know what the current charges are for work of this type?

Hi Cheryl. One place to start find your fees for your area would be at you local cleaners. Alterations would command a higher price than repairs. In my area of the country, machine hemming unlined pants go for 5.00. Shortening the sleeves on mens lined blazers go for 20.00. Replacing zippers goes for 15.00 plus the cost of the zipper. I hope this reply helps. Good luck and happy sewing.

I would not touch a pair of pants for less than $8.00 per pair no matter where you are. If you do quality work they will pay it. I have been sewing for 30+ years now and have clients as far away as Greece because of the quality of my work. Do a good clean professional job. Alterations are a lost art, the department stores no longer have a seamstress on duty except the high end ones. I base mine on time for the job sometimes. Hope this helps.

I live in western Ky,,,cant find alteration work,,, the cleaners here seem to have all the help they need,,,,,,,,,,

Hello every body, I just happen to find this website, Do any one have an answer for this question I have! I love sewing and I want to start a small business doing purses and tote bags, also I want to Alteration aside to help me bring some income! I sew like fitting the hem on pants,skirts putting bottom, and I can make one kind of drape, like the balloon style. I really will love to find a school where some can show me dressmaking working with patterns. 1. do I need to have a license for Alteration or a certified? or some kind of paper to prove then, when I go to apply for work. or do I need to report to IRS, of me doing Alteration at home?
I really appreciate if someone can send me an e-mail. RosaelinaV@ymail.com
Thank you.

Hi Rosael,
Each state has their own regulations regarding licenses. What doesn't have to be licensed in one state is a must in another. Yes you will have to report your income to the IRS if you are doing it as a business and not as a hobby. You need to read the business versus hobby literature from the IRS. For some handy sewing business tips visit sewingforcash.com

Hello to Kelly in Lebanon
Thank you for responding my e-mail.
I wanted to ask you, I do sewing and its in my condominium where I'm renting. and I started to do some purses and tote bag as a hobby. In between I would like to do Alteration so I can have some income coming in. " Now I only know how to sew by hand the hem and the rest on sewing machine but I would love to learn more of pattern dressmaker. My question for that, if I only know how to sew and fix the zipper, buttons,hem the pant. Do I need a licenses, in my home were I'm renting? Now here what I did last week, I have stop at the cleaner where I live, an talk to a lady in there about if she could fix a coat I have for a year, and needed to have it in, this lady work there and she said that she only fix bottom,and hem the pants, that all she dose!
Now the question for this, do I need to be certified? to get a job? and work on in a cleaner shop? in order to be hire?
I ask the lady about that and she couldn't answer my question? I came out, with a question in my head, wondering how you get hire?
All I would like to know is to do the legal way,so I don't have to deal with its.
Also Kelly I will be looking into the website you just sent to me.
I'm glad you answer my e-mail. and thank you so much.
The way things are going over here, with jobs, I really feel like moving out of state.... But anyway thank you. Hope to here from you.
Rosael

Sylvia in Chicago, Illinois said: Hello I am looking for a seamstress please email me if you are interested in projects like pants, skirts, blouses, punchos and more. It would be one project at a time. If you are interested I can send contract info to you.

Sylvia
bouyedesign@msn.com

Hello this Rosael, you sent me an e-mail regard you need a seamstress, an I'm from California.
I was living in Pleasant Hill,California. I just move to Walnut Creek, California.
I don't know anybody that do seamstress over in your hometown. I'm trying to get a job of seamstress over here were I'm leaving. I wish I knew someone.
I wish you luck. Hope someone see this e-mail so they can sent you an email.
thank you for sending me an e-mail. take care.

very imformative and helpful.