Stepping Stones - Ten Steps To Starting Your Own Hand Made Crafting Business
December 4th, 2008

Starting your own craft business is a huge step to take; it can even be a little bit daunting. One of the biggest hurdles for any new business is actually getting the ball rolling and knowing where and how to start. Below are ten steps to help you on your way to starting the dream business you've always wanted.

1) Concepts:

The idea stage to starting your business is a very important step as it is where all of your ideas come into play. Before you start delving into any stead fast plans ask yourself some questions like:

What sort of crafts do I want to create and sell?

Will they be jewellery, statues, kits or something else?

Has my craft been done before, if so how can I make it something people want to buy?

Will my products be something another would like to buy?

What type of people will be my primary target, adult, children, teenagers or all of them?

Will you be willing to take bulk and consignment orders?

Stabilizing these ideas will help know what sort of market you want to get into, and will help you know who to target to sell your items.

2) Where and How:

Where you have your business is important because with each way you will have different set of circumstances and customers. Do you want to have your business at home, in a shop, studio, on the internet or do you want to sell your crafts through a craft show? If you choose to work through craft shows, will you have the ability to travel regularly? If you decide to work through a shop or your home you will have to consider if the place is easy for you customers to find and for you to work in. Another thing you need to take into account is what sort of layout and display you want and need.

3) Finances:

Once you have worked out what sort of business you want to run and where, you will have to figure out if you have the finances to support it.

Will you have to keep your current job to fund your business until it takes off or do you have the funds already?

Will you need to borrow?

Have you taken your living expenses into account or any unexpected costs?

How much will it cost for the initial materials and production?

Getting an idea of your financial situation will help you in the planning of your business immensely.

4) Registrations, Licenses and Legal:

The next step in the process of starting your own business is to register your business name and getting all the licenses and permits necessary. There will be different types of permits and regulations depending on what type of business you are running. Ask your local business registration office as they will be able to advise you on what you need.

5) Insurances:

If you are running your business through your home or a shop make sure you get all the necessary insurances to cover you. The three main types are:

Business insurance, to cover any accidents and injuries.

Public risk insurance, to protect yourself against claims of negligence.

Income protection insurance, to protect your income if you cannot work for some reason.

Another insurance you should take into account is health insurance, if you are no longer working for someone else.

6) Taxes:

Before you start you business seek advice on taxes that you need to pay or what products and services is tax deductible. An accountant will be able to help you make a friendly tax strategy and inform you on information that you may not be aware of.

7) Business Plan:

Having a good business plan will help you and your business growth immensely. It will help you outline your goals for your business and what you want it to become. A business plan will also help you keep your business on track and how you wish to operate it now and in the future.

8) Marketing:

Marketing is necessity for any business so having a marketing strategy is a must. Consider how you want to get the word out on your business. This can be done in numerous ways like:

Advertising through the paper, television, the internet and in magazines.

Flyers and pamphlets that host regular product updates, shows, demonstrations or specials.

A newsletter, offline or online, that has information about your up and coming products and projects, fact sheets that the readers can learn from.

Or through everyday things like your letter heads, envelopes, stickers on your car or t-shirts.

9) Production and Materials:

Consider how much time you it takes to make your crafts that you want to sell. Setting up a partnership with a local company where you can get your materials from, when you need them is something you should look into doing. Ask yourself how much time you will need to complete orders and if there is anyway that you make your crafts quickly without losing quality. Organizing your production times and having materials on hand will help you keep everything on time and running smoothly.

10) Selling:

The fun part! Once you have products ready to sell consider their overall costs and take everything into account like labor and materials before adding a profit. Taking this all into account will make sure you are making money not losing it. Having the ability to take all types of payment is always handy as different customers will want to pay by different ways. Always have a friendly and helpful attitude when selling your products to a potential buyer.

These are just some steps to help you on your way to starting your own craft business. As you go there will more steps that you will need to take and learn to aid in the growth and success of your craft business

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