Should I Start a Full-Time Stained Glass Business?

The answer to that question is different for different people. It partially depends on what you mean by "a craft business." My experience is working in stained glass. If you are referring to making stained glass pieces for sale, I caution you that you need a steady market for the items or you'll be frustrated. Very few people are making a living as full-time glass artists-but some are.

We have found that selling any type of art is difficult, at best, and the people making money on it are usually the ones selling tools and supplies to other artists and crafters. If you combine selling supplies, doing custom work and teaching classes, you have a much better shot at quitting your day job and making a living from your art.

That being said, I also caution you that it will probably cost more than you expect, in both time and money. Having your own business is a lifestyle, not a job, and it means you will spend many more hours working for yourself than you did as someone's employee. Be sure the work is something you love or you will quit within a few months!

Online vs. Brick and Mortar
Yes, you can make money selling online, but "if you build it they will come" doesn't work for websites. You need a real plan for promoting your site, and you need time to build a following.

Brick and mortar stores are right there in the community. They generate a buzz in the local papers when you open. They attract shoppers who might be in the center on other business. They give and air of stability because people see your name up there every time they pass the location.

However, storefronts cost a lot compared with online stores. Rent is just the beginning. Add to that insurance, licenses, utilities, telephone, advertising, and little items like fire extinguisher updates and pest control. The list seems endless sometimes, and they are part of considering the costs before you open the business.

Online storefronts in websites like Etsy and Artfire are very inexpensive, but your competition is huge, too. Enter a search for "stained glass" and see how many thousand hits you get. Nothing is easy if you want to be a business owner. We have found that a combination of both online and in person stores work best for us. But each takes time and money. Only you can determine which is the best for your start-up stained glass business.

Keep your day job!

This is the point I'd most like to stress. If at all possible, hang on to your job while you start your business. See how things work out for a period of time before you make a commitment to jump into the work full time. This will allow you some "breathing room" before you make the plunge and give you time to see what you're really getting yourself into. It's fun to make a nice panel or suncatcher for a friend, but do you want to make 150 palm trees on a deadline? (I had an order for 160 palm trees for a wedding, and let me tell you, it ceased to be fun after about 50 of them-then it was work!) After a trial period, you will have a better understanding of what it will take to run your business on a daily basis.

Notice I said "if at all possible." We were fortunate because I could keep my job while my husband threw himself into the studio full-time. It gave us the income we needed for our personal bills as we tried to develop a regular income from the studio. If you work with a partner, this is more likely to happen. One of you can work full-time or both can work part-time to insure there is some money available if your studio income is slow starting.

Start small.

Find an area of the house with some available free space and set up a studio where you can work. It should be a place where you can leave your glass, supplies and tools out between sessions. Get a sales tax license so you can order wholesale stock. Start making some gift items for neighbors and family, and ask them to spread the word to their friends and neighbors.

Treat your business like a business. Keep good records, pay taxes and act like a professional at all times. As the business expands and grows, you can decide if you want to start a "real business," or just keep it at the hobby level. The stained glass business is different from any other business, and it takes a special person to make a go of it. I know I could make more money more easily working for someone else, but on those days when the studio is full or fun people working on a variety of glass pieces, and new people walk through the door looking for help, I really love what I do. Whatever you decide, have fun with it, and remember life is too short to give up on a dream too quickly.

Always do the research before making any decisions about starting a business.

While you are the expert (hopefully) in your craft, there are many aspects to business ownership that may be very foreign to you. One of our best steps in preparing to open our business was contacting the Small Business Administration, and getting an advisor from their S.C.O.R.E. program. I urge you to do the same. Our guy was wonderful! He worked with us through determining where to look for a storefront, what insurance and legal assistance we would need, and how to determine if there was a need for our type of business in the area. When you contact your local office, they assign you someone local to help you. That's invaluable, too, as they know the business environment in your area and can give specific advice and assistance.

Where will you purchase supplies? Is there a good spot available to locate your storefront? Do you need to be in an area where there already is a lot of traffic or will your business generate it's own? What glass and supplies will you stock, and which will you special order for customers as needed? What will initial inventory cost? Where will you get financing? Be sure to check on local ordinances about licenses, permits, etc. Here are a few links that may help you in the research process: Information on business plans, state by state license information, articles regarding selling your crafts.