Crafty Home Business Ideas

Image by tiddlywinker via Flickr

If you are blessed with crafting talents, you may be blessed with an instant home business niche idea. Selling crafts, either online or at craft fairs, is a wonderful way to bring in extra cash.

As with any home business start up, there are several key items to consider prior to selling your products.

1. Planning

All businesses must start out with a plan. Fail to plan and you plan to fail – which I’m sure is not the desired result that you’re looking for!

2. Target Market

Define your perfect customer and where you will locate them. Telling yourself that everyone will want to buy your products isn’t realistic, and again you will be setting yourself up for poor results and a lot of frustration.

3. Financial Planning

How much money is it going to take to produce your products, keep an inventory of both completed

products and the supplies to generate more. You will want to ensure that you are not going to sell yourself short and discover that you are paying out more than you’re earning.

4. Legal Issues and Licensing

It may be a good idea to consult with a lawyer regarding your home business idea. Alternatively, research your local government to ensure that you can legally start a home based craft business, if there are any special licenses required, etc.

Ways To Make Money

Online Sales

Selling crafts online is much easier than most people think. As long as you have an inventory of completed items that are easy to ship, you can start selling your items online without much difficulty. An easy way to get started is by creating an online craft store through www.Etsy.com.

Etsy is an online craft site that is very easy for sellers to use. Signing up for the site and setting up your store is free. The site charges a small listing fee and a 3.5% fee on each item sold.

While Etsy is an easy way to get started, you should eventually purchase your own domain (website address) and set up your own website or blog.

Image by miss-frugality via Flickr

Craft Fairs

Local craft fairs are another wonderful way to sell your crafts. Many areas have several of these, especially around the holiday season. Here you can set up a booth or table and the shoppers will come to you.

There is usually a fee for space or a table, but these are generally minimal. Check with the local chamber of commerce, churches or civic organizations to find out if there are events scheduled locally at which you can purchase a table.

Other Local Ideas

Another way to sell your items locally is take a cue from the direct sales industry and have a home party! Invite your friends and family over, and encourage them to bring a guest.

On the day of the party, create a nice display of your items. Let your guests touch and feel your items. If you do not have enough supply on hand, simply take orders for your items and deliver the item when it’s completed. Encourage your guests to have their own home party for your items by giving a special discount to your future hostesses.

If you are a crafty person, who enjoys crafting as a hobby, you can turn your favorite pastime into a moneymaking venture. Many people do not have these talents and will be more than happy to pay for your handmade items.

Don’t Under Price Your Work

Research other businesses that sell similar items to identify your competition. Many crafters don’t realize the value of their time and the costs involved of producing hand made goods which can result in low (if any) profits.

Popularity: 100% [?]