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If you’re running a quilt shop, chances are you’ve heard the question before: “Do you offer longarm quilting?”
Finishing a quilt by hand or on a standard sewing machine is time-consuming work. A longarm machine makes the process significantly faster and produces a more consistent result — which is why many quilters are happy to pay to have it done professionally. While demand is high, adding these services is a big step.
The machines are expensive, they require dedicated floor space, and operating them well requires training and a steady hand. One mistake on a customer’s quilt can be costly in more ways than one.
This blog lays out the real considerations on both sides so you can decide whether longarm services make sense for your quilt store.
Questions To Ask Before Committing to Longarm Services
Adding longarm services is a major investment that expands your store’s business model. Here are the key questions worth working through before you commit.
How Much Does a Longarm Machine Cost?
Before anything else, the cost of equipment is likely your first concern.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect to pay for longarm machines across three price tiers:
- Low-end (around $5,000): Models at this price point, like those from The Grace Company, typically don’t include a table frame — that’s an additional purchase.
- Mid-range (around $17,000): Options in this range, like Handi Quilter’s offerings, generally include a frame and a small digital display.
- High-end ($30,000–$54,000): Premium machines like the Gammill Statler Ascend come fully equipped with a large digital display and lighting system.
These machines can do impressive work, but the investment is significant. Before committing, it’s worth mapping out whether the service can turn a profit.
Most professional longarm quilters charge around two and a half cents per square inch for basic stitching, with higher rates for more intricate work. A standard twin-size quilt measures roughly 70 inches by 90 inches — about 6,300 square inches. At this rate, a single job brings in around $157.50.
If you purchased a mid-range machine at $17,000, you’d break even after roughly 108 quilts. That number shifts depending on the model you choose and what you charge — but it gives you a concrete target to work toward.
The real question is whether you’re confident you can reach that volume. If the answer is yes, longarm services could be a genuinely profitable addition to your store.
Related Read: How Much Do Quilt Shop Owners Make? 8 Tips To Boost Income
Do I Have Space for a Longarm Machine in My Quilt Store?
Before you get too attached to a particular model, make sure your store can actually fit it. Longarm machines vary in size, so check the dimensions of any model you’re considering. The Handi Quilter Amara 24, for example, offers a choice of 10- or 12-foot frame, with a depth of 5.5 feet.
Beyond the machine itself, you need enough room for the operator to move around it comfortably during use. It’s also worth confirming the machine will fit through your doors at delivery — an easy detail to overlook until it’s too late.
As a general rule of thumb, two feet of clearance on all sides gives you a workable setup. Less than that and the space can feel cramped, which affects both comfort and efficiency.
One more consideration: Floor space devoted to a longarm is floor space taken away from fabric displays, cutting tables, or customer browsing. That tradeoff is one to think through carefully before making a final decision.
Related Read: The Best Quilt Shop Floor Plan: Help Customers Find What They Need
How Will I Train Employees on the Longarm Machine?
Learning to operate a longarm machine well takes time — and so does training staff to do the same. Many manufacturers offer free tutorials to help you get started, but be prepared to invest real hours before anyone is working on a customer’s quilt.
If you currently run your store with four employees, you may need to bring on one or two more so you and a dedicated staff member can focus on training without leaving the floor short-handed.
The fear of damaging a customer’s quilt is one of the most common hesitations shop owners mention — and it’s a legitimate one. These are projects people have invested significant time and care into. Before accepting any client work, complete several practice projects to build confidence and establish a quality baseline.
Timing yourself during practice runs is also worth doing. The finishing work on a single quilt typically takes several hours, and most shops offering longarm services set a turnaround window of around four weeks. Knowing you can consistently meet that standard before you open the service to customers goes a long way toward building trust — and avoiding the uncomfortable conversation when a deadline slips.
Will Longarm Services Boost Sales for Other Items?
Offering longarm services at your shop doesn’t just create new revenue streams, it also grows the ones you already have. It’s common for customers to bring in a quilt top and purchase batting, backing fabric, and notions from you while they’re there — turning a service appointment into a retail sale.
Position a display of related supplies near your longarm machine and make it easy for customers to shop while they wait or drop off. Mention the option when clients book their appointment, and note it on your website so they plan to pick up materials in-store rather than elsewhere.
Longarm services also bring in quilters who may never have visited your shop otherwise. Once they’re through the door, they’re likely to browse — and a well-stocked store gives them plenty of reasons to buy.
What Tools Do I Need To Manage Longarm Services?
Longarm services introduce a new layer of operational complexity — work orders, customer communication, turnaround tracking, and profitability monitoring all need a home. The right software makes that manageable without adding to your administrative burden.
Like Sew is a cloud-based point of sale (POS) solution built for fabric and quilt stores. For each longarm job, you can create a work order, assign it to a staff member, and track its progress through completion.
Built-in SMS and email tools keep customers updated along the way — so they’re not calling to check in, and you’re not losing track of where things stand.
Customizable revenue reports let you monitor whether longarm services are actually pulling their weight. That data matters — especially in the early months when you’re still finding the right balance of pricing, volume, and turnaround time.
Related Read: 7 Reasons Like Sew Is Built Specifically for Quilt and Fabric Stores
Is Longarm Quilting a Good Fit for Your Store?
Longarm services can be a profitable addition to your quilt store — but only if the conditions are right.
Ask yourself these key questions before making a decision about longarm services:
- Can I afford the longarm machine and absorb the initial learning curve?
- Do I have floor space to fit the machine without compromising the retail experience?
- Am I willing to invest the time to learn how to use a longarm machine and train others?
- Do I have quilt store POS software to manage work orders, turnaround times, and customer communication?
If you can answer yes to all four, longarm services are worth pursuing seriously. If one or two give you pause, that’s useful information too — it may mean the timing isn’t right yet, or that there’s groundwork to lay first.
Like Sew is built to support quilt stores through exactly this kind of growth. Work orders, SMS and email customer updates, and detailed sales reports give you the visibility you need to manage longarm services well and measure whether they’re delivering.
Inventory management with fractional yardage ensures your stock counts stay accurate, and access to fabric vendor catalogs means your shelves are always filled with the right products.
Ready to see what Like Sew can do for your quilt store? Schedule a demo today!
