Look, I’ve got nothing against hobby businesses. I’ve got a little side hobby business myself on top of my main business. And it’s ok to start small and cheap to learn on before you make the jump. But I won’t tell people interested in either of my businesses that they’re going to be successful by investing the bare minimum.

I went scrolling through tiktok for machine embroidery channels the other day and dear god is was so much cringe. 90% of the people on there are running “businesses” on single needle machines selling knockoff Nike sweaters on Etsy. It’s not cute or original just cause you added a random Disney character to it, and you’re lucky you haven’t been shut down yet. You probably don’t even cut your goddamn jump stitches. The things you make take you at least twice as long as someone running the proper equipment.

You’ll eventually either figure out you need to upgrade or you’ll burn out. The latter is far more likely. So stop making videos telling people all the need is the cheapest machine that only has a 4x4 hoop and only one type of stabilizer and a hoodie from Walmart to start a business. This is bad advice. This is why so many people show up on embroidery business groups saying “lol hi I don’t know anything but how do I sell my stuff? How do I make my machine stitch this jpeg?” And then 6 months later they’re selling their machine on marketplace.

Imagine opening a mechanic shop and all you’ve got is a dollar store toolset and you barely know how to pump gas. Cause that’s what you sound like.