I am currently on my 4th wood stapler in my business. I started out with a very inexpensive hand stapler. When that broke, I upgraded to a better hand stapler. Then I moved to an electric. After a couple of years, sick and tired of playing with the electric I finally invested in an air compressor and top notch staple gun. If I think about it, I probably could have bought the air compressor and staple gun with the money I spent on all the other staple guns. The air compressor is so easy to use, I wish I had bought it years ago.
Sometimes it may seem like we are saving money by not investing in the better equipment, but are we really? There comes a point when it makes more sense financially to spend the money on equipment that will really help your business, then to struggle along with the wrong tools or machines.
If you are still sewing your panel hems by hand, because you think you can't afford a blind hemmer machine, do a little cost analysis. Ask a friend who owns a blind hemmer to keep track of how long it takes them to sew in their bottom hems on a single or double width drapery. Now do the same with a similar panel that you are sewing by hand. I bet there's a huge difference in time. Time you could be spending working on new projects or marketing for new clients.
Most of the time people stumble along with the wrong tools because they feel they don't have the money to pay for something. Or, they are afraid to make the investment and commitment.
If money is the problem it's time to look at where your cash flow is going and how you can reinvest some of it back into your business.
To help you evaluate where best to spend your money and how much it's really going to cost you, start with this project.
Take your computer or a piece of paper and make four columns. In the first column list all the equipment you currently are using. Sewing machines, sergers, staplers, tables, saws, computers, cell phones, fax machines etc. If you are feeling particularly ambitious add in smaller hand tools that could stand to be upgraded.
In the second column you are going to evaluate your equipment. Write down poor, good, best. In the next column is your wish list. If any of your equipment is listed as poor or only good, write down what type of equipment you would like to replace it with. For example, if you have a hand stapler in column one write air gun in the last column. Are you still working with a home straight stitch? Write down industrial. At the bottom of the list write down any other equipment you want, but don't currently have.
In the final column rank all the new equipment by number. Number 1 is what you most need to help your business run more efficiently. Number 10 is what would be nice to have, but not crucial.
Once you've completed this project look at the equipment you most need. (I say need rather than want, because upgrading your equipment is something your business NEEDS to move ahead.) Do a little research into the cost of the top item on your list. Then set a deadline for when you want to buy it and after every job or once a month start putting money away to purchase it.
When you finally get that new equipment you're going to love it so much you'll wish you bought it years ago.

How to know it's time to invest in new equipment:
1. You're still using dial up on your computer.
2. You can sew by hand faster than your sewing machine can straight stich.
3. You are still sewing all your panel hems by hand.
4. The stapler you're using is not electric or air.
5. Your kids play ping pong on your table on your off hours.
6. You just pinned 4 widths of pinch pleat panels by hand.
7. The ink for your fax machine costs more than the machine itself.
8. Your phone is still attached to the handset by a cord.
9. Your answering machine has your children's voices on it and they are in college now.
10. You are still cutting wood with a hand held miter saw and miter box.
11. You've never used a serger.
If you don't know what to look for when buying new or used equipment, here's an article about just that thing.