Before this blog began, I had another blog named Five Brooms Art. In those days selling art online was a realistic goal. Then. The research on what it takes to sell online, have a small business, was too overwhelming for me. My dream was shelved.
It makes no sense to me that there isn't a standard model to follow for small business online sellers that is easy to navigate. In some states there may be. In Vermont there is not.
There's a lot to take in...what type and size of business, sole proprietor, self-employed, small business, physical address, money in the bank, name registration, domain name, insurance, file quarterly taxes with the IRS,budget, website, website venues, and more.
I like systems that are 1, 2, 3...sign here. Packet style.
The snafu of snafus is there isn't a packet. You need your boots on the ground setting up your business. Number one to me is to write a business plan. Then. How to make going forward easier?
Score10 Steps to start your business, Small Business Administration
Starting a business in Vermont
I've had a sole proprietorship which is the simplest way to go. However every single SCORE rep I met was a retired corporate man. Not one had founded nor owned a small business! I managed without their rather sheltered ideas, such as first rent office space, then install a computer and a receptionist, etc!! Too funny. I had a successful business for many years without any of the features they thought were indispensable.
ReplyDeleteLiz,
DeleteYour experiences are good to know.
Score around here, from what I last read about it, is retired people from various backgrounds. A person wanting help is matched up with a volunteer who has a background best suited to the client's need.
That's what they say, but it doesn't match the reality, which is old guys bringing in their friends, usually corporate. They have good pr.
DeleteI have to agree their PR is good. If I use them, then I'll post about it.
DeleteThere does seem a lot to prepare for to sell online. While I've never done any online selling (other than eBay) I did sell photo greeting cards and small framed photos at local craft shows when we lived in VA. It was something, both my husband and I did as he was selling small wood creations. We had fun as we knew many other artists and crafts people, but neither of us made any profit. Any sale monies I made were put into ordering photo reprint and card stock.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice,
DeleteSelling at craft fairs looks like a lot of fun, especially meeting other artists.
Do all the work and be worse off financially. That would be sad for sure.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Marie.
DeleteI'm going to look around the web to see if there's people out there dealing with those issues.
Like the 'broom art' ~ hard to make money with art sometimes ~ I'd rather give any art as a gift ~ oh well ~
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Friends often try to convince me that I need to get a web site so I can sell more work but just the thought of all the hoops that would need to be jumped through is enough to put me off. Much as I would like to sell my work more often than I do, the angst of creating such a venture is beyond my abilities. I'd much sooner put my time into creating art.
ReplyDeleteMaryanne,
DeleteA website, imho, is a lot of work.
I'd rather sell on a venue than have my own selling website. Spotify does look tempting though. And now, Amazon has a handmade section! It can be expensive, though, if you don't sell often.