Choosing the right commercial embroidery machine or monogramming machine to start your new business venture, or expand your existing one, can make a huge difference in your embroidery or monogramming business.

Updated for 2019, new updates have been made by each of the manufacturers and new features have been added to each brand. So, how do each of the following top commercial embroidery machines stack up against each other?

Keep in mind that your business is living and growing. Even if you do not yet see a need for a specific feature, it’s possible that exact feature could have a huge impact as your business grows.

For example, the Avance 1501C has the largest jacket back size of any other commercial embroidery machine represented in this top list of single head machines.

You may not have a huge call for large jacket backs now, but chances are good that you will want this and other features like it as you learn all the little tricks and techniques for using that extra size (patches, case covers, towels, etc.). It’s important to keep your options open to take advantage of new opportunities as they come along. Let’s learn how.

Here we review not only the machines and features, but the brands and the companies that sell them. We cover distribution strategies as well. There are several different distribution strategies that manufacturer’s use, and the way they go about selling makes a difference to the end user.

Support, Training and Warranty options are also HUGE factors in the long term success of your business.  Many small businesses can’t get off the ground because they don’t understand their machine’s full potential.  Or they don’t understand how to price embroidery.

Also, even though the embroidery machines made for the embroidery or monogramming business have similar features. They each use different methods for expressing those same features. The manufacturer may or may not emphasize particular things in their marketing.

For example; they will all embroider on caps, but cap frames may or may not be included with a particular purchase. Machine stands are typically available or included, and they all typically have some kind of tracing/laser option.

Each will usually have a “table” for embroidering on heavy items like jackets, blankets, or caps etc., some manufacturers include these things for free and others do not.

ALL will do 3D text and small lettering – it’s just a matter of specific fonts which are included or not and the quality of the small fonts.

Lastly, any commercial embroidery machine also qualifys as commercial monogram machine.  However, they are an improvement over the 6 or 10 needle monogram machines because of their larger sewing field, their more commercial construction and their capacity for 15 needles. It’s important to have multiple jobs ready pre-loaded on the embroidery machine for smoother production from job to job.

That’s a 30% premium over the Avancé 1501C! During the last century, the Tajima brand was the market leader in the US in terms of Market Share.  They made their reputation when larger embroidery shops (those with over 100 heads of embroidery) dominated the professional embroidery and monogramming business. That’s where their good reputation started.

Since then, Tajima has been in rebuilding mode facing stiff competition and a market that values flexibility and value. The 2018 new Tajima embroidery machine touts a few good features and a larger commercial embroidery machine field than the model previously reviewed.

Happy is well known for its home embroidery machines or expensive consumer machines similar to the Brother PR1000e Entrepreneur Pro. Along with their multi-needle home the Japanese conglomerate that owns Happy now makes a 15 needle commercial machine, the HCD2.

The lack of included hoops, smaller jacket back size, and the rather simplistic “Stitch N Sew” software tend to keep the machine in the wheelhouse of the home styled machines.  This is somewhat surprising considering the machine is priced higher than the other commercial embroidery machine listed.

The PR1000e has the smallest sewing field, is lacking in included supplies, no hoops included, no stand, only 10 needles as opposed to 15+, no trade in, only a 2 year warranty. In fact, the only reason this unit is included in the comparison is because of its retail price, at almost $12K, and offer’s home embroidery machine owners essentially a more expensive home machine for their upgrade path.

If additional growth in your business and being able to satisfy all the requests of your customers is important.  Consider another brand.  That’s our recommendation here.

For example, if your main competitor was using an Amaya XTS commercial embroidery machine and you owned an Avancé 1501C, you could offer a 45% LARGER DESIGN. Which do you think a customer would prefer?

They both take the same amount of time to hoop and load. But don’t take our word for it.  Speak to an embroidery industry professional about which system is right for your business.  Use the links at the side to learn more, or dial the phone number above to speak with an industry advisor now.

Where You BUY your commercial embroidery machine matters

There’s a difference between how you use a system for home or hobby use, obviously, and what kind of dealership you buy from as well.

There are really 3 kinds of distribution strategies that commercial manufacturers are using in today’s marketplace:

Issues with Growth

Equipment Fatigue – If you made the choice to spend as little money as possible up front and went with a more consumer embroidery machine you will quickly find that the components and construction just aren’t up to high volume work.

Software – A basic embroidery application might be fine for a low volume shop, but as you get busier and earn more business you will need more capabilities – consider an upgrade to a software package like Sierra Stitch Era Training Employees – one of the first steps to growing is adding a person or people to actually run the equipment while you run the business – free ongoing and self-paced training classes are vital!

ColDesi offers them free for the life of your machine. Adding and Upgrading – once your business is ready to expand in capabilities you’ll need to look into adding more “heads” to your operation through upgrading or adding on.

Networkable machines, like the Avancé 1501C, allow you to purchase another commercial embroidery machine and hook it up to the same computer that your 1st one is connected to so you get a 2 head or dual function system. Great for production!