For apparel decorators in the early stages of launching a business – or promotional products distributors looking to in-source their decorating needs – equipment is a necessary capital investment. Whether you’re in the market for an embroidery machine, screen-printing press, direct-to-garment (DTG) printer or are interested in creating your own direct-to-film transfers, it’s imperative to ask the right questions to be sure you purchase a machine that will meet your needs for years to come.

1

What type of production output do I need?

The first thing you need to do is think about the volume of work your business will be handling. Are you purchasing decorating equipment so you can take on a few print-on-demand jobs here and there, or do you intend to handle production for all your apparel orders? A single-head embroidery machine could be just the thing to allow you to personalize small orders, but if you’re looking to add logos to hundreds of polos per campaign, a multi-head machine may be your best bet.

2

How much space do I have?

Certain decoration techniques require significant square footage, while others are more compact – there are desktop DTG printers designed for homepreneurs, for instance. But if you’re launching a screen-printing business, you’ll need a darkroom with an exposure unit to burn screens, a conveyor dryer or other method to cure inks once they’re on a garment, and a washout booth to clean screens – in addition to a manual or automatic screen-printing press. Carefully measure your production space before selecting equipment to ensure everything will fit. Don’t forget about doorways; you’ll be in trouble if your shiny new machine gets stuck on the way in.

3

What kind of features will I need?

Reach out to vendors and attend industry trade shows to learn about all the latest features and capabilities decorating-equipment companies can offer. Consider which are necessary to run your business efficiently, which are nice to have, and which are just bells and whistles. Don’t forget about computer equipment to load decorating and graphics artwork software onto. Many vendors will sell such programs as part of startup packages.

4

How am I going to pay for this?

Can you afford to pay for the equipment upfront, or will you finance? Be sure to calculate your return on investment to help you determine whether a piece of equipment is a good buy right now. First look at the total cost of ownership – including the cost of maintenance, repairs and replacing parts – and compare that to your expected output. How many shirts do you expect to print in a month? At that rate, how many months will it take to earn back your initial investment?

5

What kind of training and support does the vendor offer?

As you consider buying decorating equipment, be sure to ask your vendor about training and support plans. Will they help with installation and getting you up to speed on how everything works? What happens when something goes wrong? Do they have a robust technical support team at your disposal? Are there webinars, classes and other online resources to help you improve your skills? Can they connect you with reputable equipment-repair technicians in your area?