I Sew and Need a Business Name for a Card...

I just started a business myself...and, as per a suggestion from here, it is called 'Sew much more". I do alterations, window treatments, custom designs and crafts.

I have a business license, and I am GLAD I got it! I have a small banner in the front yard (and a nasty neighbor on one side). I was pleased I had 'covered my fanny' so to speak.

Another name that was thrown out there as I recollect was 'sew simple'...

I wish you well! BUT, I do suggest you do it on the 'up and up'!!

Best Luck!

It sounds like you make a variety of things, & may be open to other ideas in the future. Therefore, how about "SEW WHAT?"

Definitely follow all the good advice below regarding your business, & how "official" you need to be in order to protect yourself. You never think there's going to be an issue, until there is, & then you will always be thankful that you took the proper steps!

Good luck! T. =-)

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but if you are buying fabric, making things and selling them you have a business. You will need to collect and pay sales tax. I worked for an account years ago and one thing I learned is the tax people who will nail you first is the sales tax people.

Another caution: you can't use any trademarked or copyrighted material. Basically if you have seen it in a book, movie, TV show etc it's trademarked. So that eliminates Disney, Marvel Comics, Dr. Suess, NFL, harley Davidson and many others. The selvage will say if it is copyrighted.

You should talk to a business attorney and/or an accountant for start-up assistance. You can also get help through SCORE, an organization through the Chamber of Commerence.

Sorry I can't come up with a business name.

Sew Fine

And it's a business. A small one, but still a business. Contact your local community college, or contact SCORE(http://www.score.org/about-score) for free help - I believe they are supported by the Small Business Association.

I think your idea is great but don't make the mistake of thinking you are not really in business. Even if you do this on the side and it is very small, you are buying materials, spending your time to make products, selling products and collecting money. That is a business.

Any $$$ affiliated with your "selling" will need to be properly documented. The IRS does not accept "I didn't know that" as an excuse. It is your job to cover all of your bases so that you stay out of trouble. You will need an federal id number, state sales tax number, W-9 and probably something I am forgetting. You will need to pay taxes per quarter, you will need tax and legal counsel to help you cover your bases or you could possibly face huge penalties.

Ask your banker, financial consultant or someone you trust to guide you. I realize it is a small business so you might not have to take as many steps as we did and still do with our business. When we started our company, we did have tax and legal counsel, we set up as an LLC, any and ALL $$ affiliated with our company is in separate banking accounts and very specifically detailed. I use QuickBooks Pro 2013 which is an easy program to learn and use. I do all of my quarterly taxes for payroll, etc online through QB.

Best wishes to you!!

What about "Sew Covered" a play on so covered. Covers for breast feeding, covers for seat belts, and covers for coffee cups.

ETA

My sister has an etsy business and she clears well over $10K per year. She files taxes and is an LLC. She has a small business checking account that she uses exclusively for her fabric, thread, patterns, machines, filler, trims, stabilizer, heat and bond, interfacing, and every little tiny particle she uses on her items.

She does NOT ever ever ever use that checking account for any purchases that are not directly related to her business. When she goes to Walmart and gets items for both her home and her home business she keeps her purchases separate and uses her business checking account for those items.

This makes your taxes much easier. The bank can help you send in the paperwork and tax fee. It's part of their services.

I also suggest getting the federal tax ID so you can officially be a business and can go to places where you can get wholesale prices. My sister gets fabrics directly from the manufacturers in many cases. She also claims part of her utilities for her business. She saves tons of money each year by being official.

She also checked into getting a license from Disney to use their fabrics. It's not hard if that's what you want to do. They just want their money for use of their property. How would you feel if I found a page where your designs were shown then I took fabric and made the same identical thing and made a ton of money? You would want someone to make me stop using you for inspiration and to make me stop stealing your ideas, your intellectual property.

Many stars don't really care but some of them do. Colleges will come into your home and take every single item that has their logo on it and file charges on you. So don't use collegiate fabrics. They like doing that.

Do you want it to be cutsie? Little stitches, sew convenient...etc? Or just use your name-C.'s Handmade treasures (I'm not very creative with names either, lol)
I asked a woman that was advertising sewing/embroidery services on a FB mom To mom group if she could sew super hero capes for me. She sent me a pic of the pattern (I was so excited!) then no other communication. So, I would be looking for a card that advertised the person being dependable-or communicating in a timely manner.

'Seamingly Perfect" ???
" Pins and Needles " ???