Are you a budding entrepreneur but you lack ideas on what craft business to start? If YES, here are 100+ best business ideas in the arts & crafts industry.
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+ Best Business ideas in the Arts & Craft Industry
A dance troupe or dance company is a group of dancers and associated personnel who work together to perform dances as a spectacle or entertainment. There are many different types of dance companies, often working in different styles of dance. One way to make money out of this business is to give performance at events that are related to your dance company. Yet another way is for you to offer dance classes to the public in exchange for money.
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.
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.
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.
The photography business can be easily overlooked, after all, you can easily take one with your smartphone, but the fact remains that photographs play a very big role in the society and in the business world. Businesses need pictures of their products for brochures. Realtors need images of the homes they’re selling. Magazines need photos related to the articles they’re publishing, etc.
A photography business is one easy business to start, as you only need money to purchase your equipment, and of course you need to have the training too. There are various niches you can focus on and you can as well focus on more than one, it’s all up to you.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
15. Wedding Photography Business
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.
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.
17. Photography Studio Business
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.
For many people making crafts is a hobby. It can be a form of relaxation, or a way to provide handmade gifts to family and friends. But some people make supplementary income by selling crafts, or even do it as a full-time job. The craft industry encompasses goods that are handmade by artisans or those skilled in a particular trade.
Small businesses engaged in the craft trade include everything from art galleries to handmade textiles to culinary products. Often, craft industry entrepreneurs operate independently and are not franchised. To make money selling crafts, doing the actual crafting is only part of the process. Finding ways to sell your crafts is what would guarantee you success in the business.
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.
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.