Getting Started in the Crafting Business

My wife isn't who you'd typically think of as a "crafter", but at least a couple of times a year, she gets onto a kick about some idea and produces something really awesome. Little by little, we have a growing collection of seasonal wreaths made from intertwined grapevines, and she just finished making some really cool covers for our 10-year-old chaise lounges. She loves the feeling of a job well done, but the couple of times I've made the mistake of suggesting that she could sell things like that, well... for her, it would take the fun out of it.

My next-door-neighbor, on the other hand, has decided to make a business out of it. She sets up a little assembly line to produce whatever she's working on and store them as she's done with them. Her husband has built a portable display rack that they can take with them to craft shows, which they do several times a year.

The point is that you may be able to sell an item or two here and there, but if you really want to actually make some money at it -- enough to justify your time -- you have to treat it as a business. That doesn't mean you can't start small and test it out to learn and to decide if you really want to be doing it professionally -- in fact, that's exactly what you should do.

If you're thinking about professional crafting, our Arts & Crafts Guide, William T. Lasley, has some tips to help you make an informed decision and get you started:

• Getting Started Selling Crafts
• Crafting for Dollars
• 5 Things to Know When Starting a Craft Business
• 10 Mistakes to Avoid Selling Arts and Crafts
• Getting Started At Local Craft Shows