How to Start a Home-based Craft Business

by Kenn Oberrecht, Patrice Lewis

Overview

Everything you need to know to run a profitable and satisfying craft business from your home From business and financial planning to marketing your business both online and through traditional outlets, this comprehensive guide provides practical solutions and solid advice on how to tap your creative skills to earn a living. Learn all about business plans, finding supplies on the Internet, publicity, zoning ordinances, and much more. Whatever your goals are, join the thousands of successful crafters, artists, and entrepreneurs, and experience the satisfaction of establishing and building your own home-based craft business. Look for useful charts and worksheets throughout the book, including: Market Survey Form
Estimated Start-Up Costs
Profit and Loss Projection/Report
Balance Sheet
Sample Invoice

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762769292
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	07/05/2011
Series:	Home-Based Business Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Kenn Oberrecht is the author of more than two dozen books and numerous articles in home-and-workshop magazines. He lives in North Bend, Oregon.  Reviser Patrice Lewis is a freelance writer and author of The Home Craft Business: How to Make It Survive and Thrive. She and her husband have run a home woodcraft business since 1993. Visit her website at www.patricelewis.com.

Table of Contents

	Introduction	xi
Chapter 1	Starting Your Home-Based Craft Business	1
	Look Before You Leap	2
	Should You Start Your Own Business?	2
	Hobby vs. Business	8
	Part Time vs. Full Time	9
	Learning Your Craft	10
	Artist vs. Artisan	13
	Specialist vs. Generalist	14
	Salable Crafts	14
	Artisan Turned Manager	16
Chapter 2	Working Out of Your Home	19
	The Pros and Cons of Self-Employment	20
	Setting Up Your Business Space	23
	Handling Growth	29
	Working with Others	30
	Separating Business Life from Personal Life	36
Chapter 3	Financial Planning	39
	Start-up Costs	40
	Opening Bank Accounts	42
	The Personal Financial Statement	43
	Columnar Pads for Accounting and Bookkeeping	45
	Profit-and-Loss Projections and Reports	45
	Balance Sheets	48
	Cash-Flow Projections and Reports	50
	Credit and Borrowing	53
Chapter 4	Financial Management	57
	Pricing for Profit	58
	Managing Accounts Payable	63
	Managing Accounts Receivable	65
	Purchasing	71
	Numbering Systems	75
	Is the Lowest Price Always the Best Price?	75
	Fiscal Conservatism	76
Chapter 5	The Legal Aspects of Your Craft Business	77
	Sole Proprietorship	77
	Partnership	78
	Limited-Liability Company	80
	Corporation	80
	Zoning Ordinances	81
	Naming and Licensing Your Business	81
	Hiring a Lawyer	84
	Insuring Your Home-Based Business	85
	Trademarks, Patents, and Copyrights	87
	Contracts	93
Chapter 6	Writing a Business Plan	95
	Why You Should Write a Business Plan	96
	Organizing Your Business Plan	98
	Cover Page	99
	Table of Contents	101
	Executive Summary	101
	The Organizational Plan	101
	The Financial Plan	102
	The Management Plan	106
	The Marketing Plan	108
	Appendixes	110
Chapter 7	Taxes and Record Keeping	111
	Using Your Home as a Business	113
	Use Test	113
	Using a Vehicle in Your Business	117
	Using a Computer in Your Business	121
	Business Expenses	122
	Depreciation of Business Property	123
	Estimating Your Taxes	125
	Record Keeping	126
	Capitalizing Start-up Costs	128
	Sales Tax	130
Chapter 8	Using a Computer in Your Business	133
	Getting Started with a Computer	134
	Hardware Overview	138
	Software Overview	143
	Buying a Computer System	145
	Computer and Software Sources	148
	Working the World Wide Web	148
Chapter 9	Managing Your Craft Business	155
	Setting Goals	155
	Job Planning, Forecasting, and Scheduling	156
	Business Planners and Calendars	158
	Business Files	167
	Problems in Managing Your Business	171
	Productivity	173
	Business Communication	183
	Follow-Up	185
	Procrastination	186
Chapter 10	Marketing Your Craft Business	187
	Creating a Marketable Reputation	187
	Market Analysis	188
	Selling to Shops and Galleries	190
	Craft Fairs and Trade Shows	191
	Dress for Success	192
	Hiring a Rep	192
	Publicity and Promotion	193
	Public Relations	195
	Displays and Donations	197
	Advertising Your Business	199
	Internet Marketing	203
	Developing New Products, Services, and Markets	206
	Selected Bibliography	211
	Source Directory	213
	Associations	213
	Book Publishers	213
	Computer Companies	214
	Craft Supplies	217
	Direct Sales Outlets: Business and Office Equipment and Supplies	218
	Direct Sales Outlets: Computer Products	219
	Magazines	221
	Multifunction Peripherals	224
	U.S. Government	224
	Index	227
	About the Author	239

Editorial Reviews

Answers basic artisan questions of what it takes to start and run a successful crafts business from one’s home.. .. This [book] packs in the advice.”  —Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher