Craft Business Goals for the Beginner

With this economy, job security is out the window. With that being said, many financial advisors are telling individuals to have more than one source of income. As a result, many crafters have jumped head first into the business world by selling and marketing their crafts.

If you have ever craved job independence, or simply want to some extra revenue, starting a craft business could be a solution for you. Unfortunately, many people never get started out of fear or because they have no idea where to start, but the ones who persevere have really been seeing some rewards.

In 2011, take a leap and start a craft business. However, before you overwhelm yourself with the details, set some basic business goals so that you can take your crafts from being a hobby to providing you with some income.

Craft Business Goals for a Beginner #1: Figure out how much time you have.

Some of you may have full time jobs, a family to take care of, or other engagements. Take an afternoon to sit down and actually figure out how much time you have to dedicate your business a week.

Once you have that established, make a weekly schedule with time carved out for working on your craft business. Different strategies work for different people, so just come up with something you know that you can stick to.

Craft Business Goals for the Beginner #2: Figure out who your ideal customer is.

When starting any business there is a lot of research that must be done. Start by asking yourself questions about your potential customers. Who would buy your crafts? Where do they hang out? Where do they shop? Do they use social media? What does you ideal client look like? All of these questions will help you prepare the necessary strategy for getting more customers.

Craft Business Goals for the Beginner #3: Explore your selling options.

The next step would be to figure out how you want to sell your crafts. Do you want to sell them locally or globally? Do you want to have your own website or do you want to use an online marketplace like Etsy? Of course, there are people out there who do all of the above; however a beginner should probably stick to what is easiest for them to maintain.

Craft Business Goals for the Beginner #4: Calculate the cost of running a business.

An important part of running a business is figuring out exactly how much it costs to run it. Start by asking yourself the following questions: How much does it cost to make my craft? Do I need to pay any fees for a website, listing, or booth at a fair? How much does packaging and shipping cost?

By calculating your expenses you can then figure out exactly how much you should charge for your crafts.

Setting some simple business goals will give you a clear understanding of what steps you need to take. Rather than overwhelming yourself, use these goals as your step ladder to starting your business.

Sources:

Meylah

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