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Crafting as a BusinessRunning your arts and crafts business is similar to running any other small business, but there are important differences. I've created this site to work in cooperation with many other sites to help you learn more about buying your supplies, producing your work, marketing your finished goods, and managing your business so you can enjoy the prosperity you so richly deserve for your diligent efforts and hard-won skills. Many people treat arts and crafts as a hobby, and that's fine, if it's what you want to do. However, if you want to consistently make a profit, you have to treat it as what it is -- a business. Learn to manage it properly, track your expenses and income diligently, learn about marketing and writing ad copy, and do all the other things that are necessary to comply with the laws and to get ahead financially. While I can't possibly help you do all of this, I'm going to do my best to point you towards more information on these topics. It's up to you to get organized, continually educate yourself, improve your skills, learn more efficient production techniques, produce products your customers want to buy, effectively market and deliver those products, and then invest your earnings and watch your nest egg grow. It always helps to set aside part of your income -- pay yourself first -- for when times aren't going so well, when you want to take a vacation, when you want to retire, or whatever else you want to do with your hard-earned money. On a completely forgettable TV show a couple of decades ago, I heard a quote that has proven to have been quite unforgettable:
When your outgo exceeds your income, In my opinion, that succinctly states the essentials of running a business. Watch your expenses and don't buy things you don't need. Then pay attention to producing more income, and your financial future will be much rosier! I've seen few successful businesses that don't have at least a business plan and a marketing plan. There are sites linked from here where you will find help in creating these important documents for your business. If you're in western North Carolina, you may want to visit Mountain Microenterprise Fund's website and check with them about their next course in your area. Other options include contacting your local community college or chapter of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives). More links to similar organizations and websites will eventually be found lower on this page, below the recommended books. On this page, I'll point you to sources of information and supplies that I think will help you run your arts and crafts business as a business -- not as a hobby. If you have any suggestions, please let me know and I'll pass them along here and in my newsletters. Communities at About.com for Crafts BusinessesIf you're going to sell your products over the Internet, you'll want to learn more about ecommerce. You can learn more about managing and growing your arts and crafts business at About.com. Additionally, I've learned quite a lot about small businesses, entrepreneurs and public relations. I've found that by watching my expenses closely, I don't have to worry about, nor concentrate so closely on, earning more income. You can save significant money by living more frugally and redeeming coupons. You can find lots of information at About.com on making and selling your crafts. For instance, you can learn more about basketry, beadwork, candle- and soap-making, ceramic arts, crafts for kids, crochetting, cross-stitching, drawing and sketching, family crafts, making jewelry, knitting, needlepoint, painting, quilting, sewing, weaving and spinning, and woodworking. (whew!) Recommended booksI've read some of these books and recommend them personally. The others are recommended due to reviews and critiques I've read at Amazon.com and various mailing lists, newsgroups, and organizations, where they are recommended highly. Crafting for Dollars - Editor's Pick! The Crafts Business Answer Book and Resource Guide Decorative Painting for Fun and Profit Earn a Second Income from your Woodworking Handmade for Profit by Barbara Brabec. - This is an outstanding book. I recommend all of Barbara's books. - Editor's Pick! (See a list of all of Barbara Brabec's books.) How to Start Making Money with Your Crafts How to Show and Sell Your Crafts Make Your Quilting Pay for Itself Selling Your Dolls and Teddy Bears The Business of Crafts, the Complete Directory of Resources for Artists Other books for making and marketing crafts are on the Marketing Crafts page. Links to Other Organizations and WebsitesI've moved all the links from this section into my new Directory, where you'll find all the latest links I've found as I research various topics of interest. I still have lots of links to be added, and I'll be updating the directory as often as possible.
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