The fastest way to get a commercial embroidery machine is to get pre-approved for equipment financing before you shop. Then you know your budget and can order the day you pick a machine. Beacon Funding, a Northbrook, Illinois equipment finance company founded in 1990, finances embroidery machines for small businesses, with most decisions in about 24 hours.
This guide is for shop owners and new embroidery businesses that want an embroidery machine that can help pay for itself. We’ll walk through six steps, to get your first commercial embroidery machine on the floor, from getting pre-approved for financing and setting your budget to choosing your equipment and preparing for production. If you’re shopping for a machine, start with Hirsch Solutions, our equipment partner: they specialize in commercial-grade, single-head and multi-head embroidery machines.
Because Beacon Funding and Hirsch Solutions work together, you can get pre-approved and pick your machine without bouncing between vendors. See our current financing perks on Tajima machines.
In this article...
- Get Pre-Approved for Financing
- How Much Does a Commercial Embroidery Machine Cost?
- Count Your Weekly Order Volume to Choose a Single Head or Multi-Head Machine
- Select Your Equipment and Schedule Delivery
- Plan Your Software and Training
- Prepare for Delivery and Your First Run
- What Does It Look Like When a Shop Keeps Growing With Financing?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Ready To Get Your Machine?
Six steps to get your first commercial embroidery machine on the floor:
Step 1: Get Pre-Approved for Financing
Getting pre-approved helps you understand how much you can finance before choosing a machine. Apply with Beacon Funding and we’ll review your application and tell you what your financing amount will be, so you can pick a machine of your choice. Learn more about pre-approval for equipment financing.
Discuss your payment plan options
Beacon Funding offers different financing options through our flexible financing programs. Some of them include:
- 100% Financing: qualified businesses can get their embroidery machine with no down payment and put it to work right away.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: hold off on your first payments for up to 90+ days so you can start using your equipment before your first payment is due.
- Equipment Upgrade: upgrade your embroidery machine with no additional financing charges.
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For more detail, read our guide on how to finance an embroidery machine.
Step 2: How Much Does A Commercial Embroidery Machine Cost?
Now that you know your financing amount, compare it with the cost of different embroidery machines to find an option that fits your budget.
New Tajima machines from Hirsch Solutions can cost between $13,000 to $155,000, depending on the model, needles, and heads.
| Machine type |
Price range |
| New Tajima single-head machine |
$13,000 to $36,000 |
| New Tajima multi-head machine (2, 4, 6, 8, or 12 heads) |
$47,000 to $155,000 |
Note: ranges are for new Tajima machines.
Your price depends on the model and options you choose. Some items and accessories may cost extra, so ask about them before you order:
| Cost to plan for |
What to ask |
| Hoops and frames |
Which sizes come with it? |
| Software |
Included or sold separately? |
| Setup and training |
Included or an added fee? |
| Delivery |
Who pays, and how long does it take? |
All together, that’s why commercial embroidery machines span such a wide range: a basic single-head machine with no added options sits near $13,000, while a loaded multi-head machine with training, software, and delivery built in can reach $155,000 or more.
Whatever the final number is, you don’t have to pay it all at once. Equipment financing lets you spread that cost into a low monthly payment, so the machine can start generating revenue for your shop before you’ve paid it off.
Want to see your low monthly payment? Use Beacon Funding’s equipment financing calculator.
CALCULATE YOUR PAYMENT
Features to compare when shopping
Commercial embroidery machines commonly include these features:
- Automatic thread cutter: cuts the thread automatically between color changes, so you don't trim by hand.
- USB port: lets you load your own or customer designs from a flash drive.
- Touchscreen display: shows the design and lets you make changes directly at the machine.
- Built-in designs and fonts: gives you ready-made options for quick lettering jobs.
- Speed control: lets you slow the machine down on fabrics that need extra care.
- Hoop sizes: determine which job types a machine can handle, like caps and jackets.
Step 3: Count Your Weekly Order Volume to Choose a Single-Head or Multi-Head Machine
Your weekly order volume helps you decide which machine best fits your business needs.
Estimate how many pieces you stitch each week and what you stitch most. That number tells you how many needles and heads you need. A machine that is too small slows every job, and one that is too big costs more than your orders can cover.
Write down:
- The items you stitch most, such as caps, left-chest logos, jackets, or team uniforms.
- The pieces you expect each week.
- How fast your customers want orders back.
Single-head machines cost less and suit small runs and custom work. Multi-head machines finish big orders faster, which helps when you land team or company jobs. Our single-head vs. multi-head comparison goes deeper.
Hirsch Solutions carries both. You can browse Hirsch's single-head lineup or explore Hirsch's multi-head machines.
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Step 4: Select Your Equipment and Schedule Delivery
Once you’ve chosen your embroidery machine, share the equipment details with Beacon Funding to finalize your financing paperwork.
We will update your documents with the final monthly payment and financing terms. Once you sign the documents, we will issue your purchase order, and you can schedule your machine’s delivery.
Step 5: Plan Your Software and Training
You need design software to create and manage your files, plus training to learn it.
Good software is:
- Easy to use: drag-and-drop tools save time.
- Smart: some programs use AI to help build designs.
- Flexible: cloud tools let you edit from a phone or tablet.
Step 6: Prepare for Delivery and Your First Run
Expect delivery, setup, and a test run before your first customer order. Stitch a few samples to check thread tension and design quality. Then start production.
If you can, see a machine run in a store or another shop before you buy it.
Here's what to check:
- Is it easy to thread and use?
- Is it too loud or too slow?
- Do the stitches look neat?
- Do the screen and buttons make sense?
What Does It Look Like When A Shop Grows with Beacon Funding’s Equipment Financing?
The six steps in this guide above get your first machine on the floor. Here’s what the same process looks like a few years in, once growth starts pushing your equipment needs further.
El Pony Style is an apparel and embroidery company owned by Jesus Romero. He started with a single Tajima machine, the kind of entry point for shops running smaller, custom orders. As his order volume grew, so did his equipment. He added a second embroidery machine, a dedicated printer for color work, and later a third machine to keep pace with bigger runs.
Financing each addition meant he could take on larger orders and turn them around faster, without waiting to save up the full cost first.
Here’s what Beacon Funding financed for Jesus over the years:
- 2014: Tajima TFMXIIC1506/450WCT embroidery machine
- 2015: Used Tajima TEMX-C1501/WCT embroidery machine
- 2018: OKI Pro8432WT ProColor printer
- 2019: Used Tajima TMAR-K1504C/450WCT embroidery machine
Two of those four purchases were used machines, which kept his expansion affordable even between big growth jumps.
"I am happy with the financing; it is easy."
-- Jesus Romero, Owner of El Pony Style
Read El Pony Style’s full financing story: 4x Repeat Embroidery Equipment Financing Success.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a commercial embroidery machine cost?
New Tajima single-head machines cost about $13,000 to $36,000, and new Tajima multi-head machines (2 to 12 heads) cost about $47,000 to $155,000. See our embroidery equipment financing page to learn how financing spreads the cost over time.
How fast can I get approved for embroidery machine financing?
Decisions can be reached in as little as 24 hours. You can apply with Beacon Funding to get started.
Can I finance a used embroidery machine?
Yes, we finance used embroidery machines. Terms depend on your application and the machine. See our used equipment financing page and talk with one of our consultants before you buy.
Should a new shop buy a single-head or multi-head machine?
A single-head machine suits small runs and custom work, and a multi-head machine suits bigger orders. Let your weekly volume decide. Our single-head vs. multi-head comparison has more.
Do I need a down payment?
Not with Beacon Funding’s 100% Financing option, which lets qualified businesses get embroidery machine with no down payment. Terms depend on your application.
Ready to get your machine?
We can help you get the embroidery machine your shop needs. Reach out to our team to get started.
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