Starting an arts and crafts business
Information and guidance on starting up an arts and crafts business in Northern Ireland.
If you have a particular talent for arts and crafts, you may want to turn it into a business, either as a part-time enterprise or as a full-time endeavour.
Although every sector is unique in its own way, the basic principles of business best practice and legislation should be considered. This includes meeting standard requirements:
- registering as self-employed or a limited company
- filing Self Assessment tax returns
- getting public liability insurance
- considering VAT, depending on your turnover
You will also need to make sure your taxes and more general requirements such as marketing, finance and business planning are in order.
If you are starting up, you will need to look into whether or not you are infringing someone else's intellectual property (IP). You will also need to take steps to protect and monetise your own IP assets.
Some arts and crafts businesses can easily be run from home, selling goods by direct marketing or over the internet. If this is viable for your business, read up on marketing and find out how to set up a small business website.
Pricing your artisan product
When you work out the prices for your work, you need to take into account your time and the cost of any materials, as well as the profit you need to make to cover your general business overheads. See how to price your product or service.
You could test prices at craft markets before scaling online or in retail. Market selling will help you establish whether your product is viable - whether you can make it at a price that is attractive to customers, and which will be financially worthwhile for you. If you find that an aspect of what you are doing is too expensive or too time-consuming, consider your processes and the design of your workflow and supply chain.
It's possible that by going to a different supplier for materials or outsourcing a part of your work, you may be able to save a significant amount of time or money.
See more on growing a craft business: A guide for makers and designers.
Sector support
If you live and work in Northern Ireland and you create quality contemporary craft, you may be eligible for Craft NI support. On their website, you can find up-to-date training, support and opportunities available to craft businesses in Northern Ireland.