Are you about writing a business plan to start an arts & crafts business? If YES, here are 100+ sample art & craft business plans & templates for FREE download.
The arts and craft industry encompasses goods that are handmade by artisans or those skilled in a particular trade or profession. Small businesses engaged in the art and craft trade include everything from art galleries to handmade textiles to culinary products. The products that are made in the industry are not only attractive but are useful as well, that is why it is easy to turn an art and craft related skill into a business.
The total size of the US creative industry is now $43.9 billion, according to a new research from the Association For Creative Industries, until recently known as the Craft and Hobby Association. This industry, apart from being easy to get into is equally profitable. If you are artsy, and you want to turn your hobby into a money making venture, here are a few businesses you can look to starting.
100+ Sample Arts & Crafts Business Plans & Templates
If you are good with using wood to make stuff, then you may want to start a woodworking business. The industry is a profitable one, and there are quite a number of things you can make with wood. You can start with repairing wooden objects before you progress to making your own woodwork. Some of the things you can consider making include; children’s toys, house decorations, furniture, and what have you.
Starting a photo booth business is becoming increasingly popular, as it delivers high profits with little outgoing costs. The demand for photo booths is on the rise as people now make it a point to rent photo booths for their events. This art related business can net you a good income if you position it right, and you are able to do great publicity for the business. You can choose to buy an existing business or you can set up your own.
3. Animation Studio Business Plan
Animation is a method in which pictures are manipulated to appear as moving images. An animation studio is a company that produces animated media. The companies conceive of products to produce, own the physical equipment for production, employ operators for that equipment, and hold a major stake in the sales or rentals of the media produced.
This is one of the big businesses in the art and creative industry, and it is far from saturated. You can start your own studio small and grow it big.
4. Furniture Making Business Plan
Making and selling furniture is yet another business you can start in the art and craft industry. Before you can start this business, you have to make sure that you are quite skilled and are trained in the art. Before you start, you have to decide specifically what kind of furniture you will create, such as home furnishings, office furniture or cabinetry.
Specify the materials you intend to use, such as wood, metal and upholstery. Identify your target market, for example decide if you will sell to residential, resort or commercial customers. Answering all these questions would give you a map of how to set up and run your business.
5. Screen Printing Business Plan
Screen printing is a printing technique whereby a mesh is used to transfer ink onto a substrate, except in areas made impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil. Starting your own screen-printing business can prove to be a lucrative endeavor.
Customized imprinted T-shirts, banners, bags and other items are purchased by businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations, sporting leagues and a variety of other industries. Retail shops resell their personalized items for a profit, while other companies may use them for branding and advertising purposes. Your profit making potentials rest in you ability to compete in the market.
6. Wedding Photography Business Plan
If you love taking photos, starting a wedding photography business can be a great way to make some extra income on the side, and you can even turn it into a full business. The first thing you should do as a professional wedding photographer is to understand the wedding photography business.
You can start that by finding out about the wedding photographers operating in your local area, the kind of clients they are targeting and the pricing they are offering. If you have a DSLR, website, a stack of business cards, plus tons of experience, you can start off your own wedding photography business.
7. Candle Making Business Plan
Most people buy candles at one point or another, making them a great product for you to create and sell. To start a business, you first need to learn the appropriate skills for candle making. You also need to make your business legal and figure out where you are going to sell your candles to the public.
Making and selling candles is one profitable art and crafts business in the industry as it is easy to find avenues to sell your candles and also, the raw materials for making candles are not expensive or exotic.
8. Photography Studio Business Plan
A photography studio is a workspace that is used to take, develop, print, record and duplicate photographs/videos. Photographic training and the display of finished photographs/video may also be accommodated in a photographic studio. The studio may have a darkroom, storage space, a studio proper where photographs/videos are taken/shot, and also display room and space for other photography work.
Starting a photography business requires a wide set of skills and talents to make it work. If you are a photographer it means acquiring the skills for the operational side of the business and vice versa if you’re not a photographer.
9. Laser Engraving Business Plan
Laser engraving is a profitable way to start a business in a growing industry that takes only a small investment. Laser systems are so easy to use that you’ll be able to start using one in no time. The systems are also affordable, they usually pay for themselves in a short amount of time.
Whether you choose to open a store front business or work from home, you’ll find laser engraving a profitable new way to start a laser engraving business. You can personalize several products and materials with a laser etcher, including glass, masonite, marble, leather, paper, wood, tile, coated metal, ceramic substrates, plastic, nylon and bamboo.
A bead is a small, decorative object that is formed in a variety of shapes and sizes with materials such as stone, bone, shell, glass, plastic, wood or pearl and a small hole is drilled in it for threading or stringing. Beads making is so wonderful because it turns creativity into pure profit.
With a little creativity, anyone can make beaded jewellery. But to get started, you can take two weeks training course with any fashion house on bead making. To make beads, you will need some metal strings for connecting the beads, wire cutters, a tape measure, pins, clasps and different types of beads, of course.
11. Jewelry Repair Business Plan
As long as there’s jewelry, there will always be need for jewelry repair. Jewelry repair businesses provide an essential service in the industry. Skilled jewelry repair professionals can make a good income with the right resources and the right publicity model. Repairing jewelry can be a stand alone service or a service offered at a jewelry store. A good repair service can offer watch repair and sales, jewelry appraisals, jewelry design, and jewelry sales.
No matter its location, in a shop or at a jewelry store, repair services will be attractive to potential customers. In fact, a 2009 Jewelers of America report showed that 10% of retail jewelry sales are in repairs. A jewelry repair business, through time and effort, can become very successful and rewarding.
12. Antique Mall Store Business Plan
The market for antiques and collectibles such as coins, jewelry, books, figurines and memorabilia etc. has continued to soar from generation to generation. This is because we still have people who appreciate antiques and collectibles.
Depending on the scale you want to start, the startup capital for this type of business can be small and it can as well be high. As a matter of fact, it is advisable to run an antique mortar and brick store alongside an online store if indeed you want to maximize profits in this business.
An art gallery’s purpose is to sell art and to keep the gallery in business, and it is one of the few businesses where the customer doesn’t mind price increases.
Galleries have multiple roles, both visible and invisible: to incubate and support their artists, often by going above and beyond the normal work of putting on shows, promoting their artists, and selling their works; and to providing services such as financial management or book publishing, in order to help out their artists. This is a profitable business to start especially if you have the finance and skills.
14. Freelance Photography Business Plan
Freelance photography is the taking of photographs as a contract or self-employed photographer. As a freelance photographer, you will usually work under contracts specific to each of your clients. You market your services through professional portfolios, websites, and social media to find potential clients.
The average hourly rate for a Freelance Photographer is $25.03 per hour. Hourly rates range between $11.62 – $99.52 per hour. This can translate into a profitable business for you.
15. Coffin Manufacturing Business Plan
Coffins, or funeral caskets, are containers in which the dead are buried. When people die, it is natural for them to be buried, and one of the means of burying dead people is to put their remains in coffins and have them buried six feet down the ground. This goes to show that people who manufacture coffins will go run out of business. Caskets may be assembled from pine boards, cherry or mahogany, but it is now quite popular to use steel in making coffin.
16. Pet Photography Business Plan
Pet photography is a fun and profitable niche business that allows you to combine a love of animals with technical skill in photography. A growing number of owners are interested in displaying professional photos of their pets, and they are willing to pay a premium for high-quality images.
You need to work quickly when photographing pets. Even if they’re dozing, a cute expression can disappear in an instant, so you need to have quick reflexes for you to be able to take great shots.
17. Graphic Design Business Plan
Graphic design is important for any business wanting to create credibility in their industry or field. The more content you provide that helps solve a problem or relieve a pain point, the more the audience will trust your advice and start to regard you as an expert in your field. Graphic design is a very broad industry.
According to a recent study, the current market for graphic design is worth $15 billion in the United States alone. Logo designing and branding takes up about $3 billion of that market on its own. There are lots of avenues to explore. So if you want to start your own graphic design business, you need to understand your own skill level.
18. Paper Craft Business Plan
Paper craft is the collection of art forms employing paper or card as the primary artistic medium for the creation of one, two or three-dimensional objects. Paper sculptures are said to be the most difficult to master because it involves drawing, design and complex interlocking pattern making skills.
But if you already have the skills, then you can go ahead and make a business out of it by making and selling your designs and crafts. If you have an interest in the business, but not skills yet, you can go ahead and take some classes.
19. Artworks Retail Business Plan
Artworks come in various forms and they appeal to people differently. If you have a knack for making pretty artworks, or you have accumulated quite a number of them, you may consider starting an artwork retail business. One way people retail art is by setting up art galleries, but if you do not have enough in the way of funds to go this far, then you can set up pop-up retail stores for your art.
These pop-up shops can even be set up on a part-time basis as part of a sharing economy with other related companies. You are guaranteed to make profits whether to set it up on a part-time or full-time basis.
20. Antique Sales Business Plan
Starting a business that buys antique pieces and resells it for a profit is a terrific new venture to set in motion. You can source your antiques through various means and look for a suitable location to set up your business. Providing you have the skills and equipment necessary, you can even offer customers antique restoration service. You can also retail your antique online.
There are two ways to do this; the first is to purchase the items listed for sale on the site yourself. The second option is to operate the website as a posting service for individuals and antique dealers to list their antique items for sale. This type of specialty retailing has the potential to generate very large profits for the owner-operator of the business. However, careful planning and research are required prior to opening the store.
21. Hydro Dipping Business Plan
Water transfer printing, also known as immersion printing, hydro dipping, etc, is a method of applying printed designs to three-dimensional surfaces. The resulting combinations may be considered decorative art or applied art. Hydro dipping works because when the spray paint is on the water, it does not mix, so when you submerge the object, the paint sticks to the base coat providing a water proof sealant on the outside of the object. Hydro dipping is increasingly popular and there is a high demand for it. You just need to know where to look and who to ask.
22. Face Painting Business Plan
Face painting is part of what adds fun to parties and carnivals. This art is not restricted to kids and teens alone; adults also indulge in the fun. From flowers and ladybugs to cartoon characters and jungle animals, there are a wide variety of face-painting options for kids and adults.
As a face painter you get to express your creativity and share your art with others. This type of business is not capital intensive and you can start the business from your savings. With the right personality, you can easily sell your services.
23. Coin Collection Business Plan
Coin collecting has been a much enjoyed hobby for enthusiasts for many years, but it could also be a profitable business. When collectors are in need of a particular coin to complete their collection, they look to dealers to supply that coin. If you have a passion for coins, or just for making money, you could be one of those dealers. Whether you already own a collection of coins or are just getting started, setting up a business soliciting coins may be easier than you think.
24. Monogram Business Plan
Monograms are embroidered emblems, usually initials, stitched on towels, sheets, hats, jackets and other items. If you enjoy embroidery and sewing, starting a monogram service in your area could allow you to earn a living while having fun.
This business can be very profitable. Many customers that start out with a 15 needle embroidery machine in their home end up with a 4 head and lots of customers over time. One of the reasons this business is so profitable is the low cost of embroidery supplies.