Start Your Own Craft Business - 9 Benefits Of Working From Home
If you think you might want to start your own craft business, there are plenty of reasons why working from home at your own craft business can be a great opportunity.
1. Flexibility
Unless you commit to opening a retail store that requires fixed work hours to sell your crafts, you will have enormous flexibility in your work hours when you start your own craft business. If you're not working at a 'day job' while you're launching your craft business, you will be available during the day for family. A home craft business can be a good solution if you want to spend more time with your family but want to make some income and stay active in the business world.
2. Work to Your Strengths
You get to structure your own working conditions when you start your own craft business. If you are more focused in the afternoon and evening, you can chose to work at those times. As long as you're meeting your customers' needs, you can work in the way that works best for you.
3. Money
As an employee, you are limited by the wage your employer is willing to pay and the going rate for your particular field of work. As a business owner, you are only limited by the brains and motivation that you put into building your business. If you start your own craft business, the more effort and smart planning you put into your business, the more you will benefit directly from your own work.
4. Responsibility
It's your business. There's no boss hanging over your shoulder, causing you stress or undermining your bright ideas. If you think a project is a great idea, you get to make it happen. You get to build something from the ground up that is your own and a reflection of your values. Any business success is always your success.
5. making money with Art
If you love art and creativity, then making money with art can be a very rewarding benefit if you start your own craft business. When you get to do what you love, it doesn't feel like work. There are times, when I am working on a new design or writing about a topic that's fascinating to me, and I feel guilty that I am having too much fun. It might sound funny, but at times, I do have to remind myself that I am working.
6. No Commute!
As someone who used to waste 10 hours and $70.00 per week on time and gas money commuting to work, I still love the feeling of rolling out of bed and 'commuting' about 25 feet to my home office and studio.
$70.00 per week in gas is a $3500.00 per year expense just to get to work. 10 hours per week traveling to work adds up to 500 hours - almost 21 days - per year that I now get to spend with my family instead of sitting in traffic.
7. Part Time Flexibility
You can start your own craft business on a part time basis. Unlike some other types of businesses, you don't have to jump into it full time right away. If you're not ready to or interested in giving up your day job, or if you have other responsibilities that require a lot of your time, you can grow a craft business in a way that meets your other personal, financial and career needs and goals.
8. Relatively Low Costs
Compared with a business that requires a formal retail or office space outside of your home, the amount of money required to operate and start your own craft business can be relatively low. You will need to be very careful and strategic about where you spend your money and the nature of your product if you need to operate on a shoestring, but it is possible to be thrifty with craft business startup costs.
9. Limited Child Care Needs
If you don't also have a traditional job, it's often possible to limit your child care expenses when you run a home craft business. Although I still have child care needs, I was able to take my son out of formal daycare when I started to work from home. That decision saved me about $6500.00 per year in child care expenses, and in some locations child care is much more expensive than that.
The Bottom Line
There are plenty of fantastic potential benefits inherent in running a home craft business. Working from home is not without its challenges though. If you think you'd like to start your own craft business, I would suggest that you find a good mentor who can help you to learn everything you can about the business.
An experienced mentor will help to steer you away from common pitfalls and think through the benefits and challenges of starting a home craft business. That way you will make well informed choices that are a good fit for your needs and expectations.
Jewelry designer and career coach Lisa McGrimmon publishes inspiri-art-and-craft.com, a guide for selling crafts. To learn more about starting your own craft business sign up for Lisa's free craft business newsletter.
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