Expert: Shasta McLaughlin - 10/21/2008

Question
I love making handcrafted things. no matter what the item id i can make it look great!
I have a website in the process of being set up.
to start my own crafting business from my home do I have to have a business lisence or insurance of some kind?
I want to cover all the stops before i continue marketing my products...
if there are people doing the same kind of crafts as i am will i have any problems?


Answer
Kimberly,

I get asked about business licenses often so I wrote a post on my blog about them.  You can view the answer at http://extravaganzacrafts.com/Blogs/2008/10/license-requirements-for-art-and-cra...

Basically every city, county and state has different requirements for business licenses so you have to start at your city offices and hopefully they will have a number for your county and state offices.

Insurance depends on your needs and should be discussed with your insurance agent who can help you find the proper company, agent, and policy to fit your needs.

If other people are doing the same types of crafts as you are there will definitely be more competition which means your product or service needs to be better in some way.

Don't copy other peoples crafts because some will hold copyrights and will actually sue people who infringe on those rights.  Ask your friends and family what items they need that they don't find out there.  Check out local shows for ideas and look as much for what isn't there as what is.  Use your creativity and you will come up with something to make and sell.  When you find an item that many people need that not many people are providing then you have a product that should sell well.

If you have more questions please let me know.

Good Luck,

Shasta McLaughlin
The Extravaganza Craft Productions