Acwuire much monies>place order>wait a hundred years>rake in all the newfound popufur and murr

I don't have a fursuit, but this is what I've heard from several suiters.

1) Decide what you want your suit to look like. (Look at other people's suits, consult your imagination...)
2) Commission sketches of what you want; front, rear, side, head detail, other details as needed. Pick an artist whose style is similar to what you want, tell her/him want you want it for. (It makes a difference!)
3) Find and review the styles of as many makers as you can.
4) Pick out the ones whose style comes closest to what you have in mind.
5) Research those for quality issues, eliminate any that have given their customers trouble.
6) Contact any who offer estimates, describe what you have in mind, show them your sketches, ask for estimates. (Tell them that you're not ready to buy yet, you just want a ballpark figure to save up to. They really, really need to know this!)
7) Pick the top 3-5 estimates and start saving up for the highest. (Thank the others, let them know you're pursuing other offers. It matters!)
8) Meanwhile, you can prepare by making a duct tape dummy and take other measurements as needed, (mainly head, neck, face; ask the makers.)
9) When you have enough money, check each of your top 3-5 makers to see which if any of them are accepting commissions at the time.
10) a) If none of them are accepting, ask to be put on waiting lists. (Let them all know that you're on or trying to be on multiple waiting lists. They really, really need to know this!)
10) b) If more than one are accepting, pick the best, (price or maker, up to you), and send them the dummy, the measurements and whatever down payment they demand.
11) Wait. Wait. Wait some more. Ask for an update, hopefully get one, possibly make a further partial payment. Wait still more.
12) At some point, you might be asked to do a fitting; you and the maker meet, you try on the fursuit, the maker makes note of any problems and takes it away to fix them. This might not happen.
13) Make the final payment and receive the final fursuit.
14) ?????
15) PROFIT!

You find a maker you enjoy. And draw a ref sheet. Then throw money at them until a suit falls out.

Don't: you can't see or breathe for shit while they're on. It's difficult to eat, drink, shit, piss and talk to people while wearing one. just sayin. I never understood the appeal, and when I finally got one the whole experience just made me feel super awkward (like: oh shit I'm in public wearing an animal costume. what if my friends/people from my professional life see me)