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How To Turn Your Creative Work Into a Viable Business Venture

Are you considering taking your artistic hobby and turning it into a business? This can be an exciting but also daunting prospect. It’s one thing to be comfortable creating and talking about your art. Creating or teaching art for profit, however, involves a whole other set of skills. You shouldn’t be dissuaded from launching a business just because it’s new to you, however. After all, you know you are capable of thinking creatively and rising to new challenges. Once you know what steps go into starting a business, and which resources are available to you, you should have full confidence in your ability to make this a reality.

What kind of business are you considering?

The type of product or service you intend to offer will dictate your needs for your business. If you are considering selling your work, decide whether a physical or virtual store will be better for you – or perhaps even a combination of both. There are many ways that artists can turn their creative work into a sellable product. Obviously, you can sell your artwork, but you could also do commission work, create greeting cards, or develop business logos. Also, decide how much of your business can be done from home, so you know whether you need to rent or acquire additional space. If you intend to offer classes, will they be online or in-person? If you are selling digital products such as graphic design, you likely will need less space and can look forward to more passive income.

Set up your workspace.

The aesthetics of your workspace are especially important in your case: you don’t want an interior design that is cluttered, unsightly or impedes creative flow. If you have any clients or customers coming to your physical workspace, remember that your office aesthetic will influence their perception of you and your art, so be sure you have good lighting and airflow to highlight your curated design. Showcase your work as part of your interior decoration—and highlight the work of other artists who inspire you, too. Don’t neglect the pragmatic side, though. Make sure you have good plumbing and wiring that is up to code. You will need to have adequate access to high-speed internet, especially if you are offering online classes or workshops.

Seek the help of professionals as you launch your business.

You don’t want the labour of launching a startup to suck away all your creative energy, so permit yourself to ask for help, especially from trained experts who can help you make the right decisions. A business mentor can help guide you as you come up with a business plan, a marketing plan, and even guide you on how to manage your accounts.

You might also want to hire a professional accountant to assist you with your taxes — although a lot of the headaches associated with your books can be tackled through your software. Take payroll for instance. You might be wondering, “what is payroll in the grand scheme of things?” After all, it’s just you and your craft. But the government requires you to keep careful records and pay both yourself and them properly. That means tracking and paying payroll deductions and getting that money to the government on time, and it also means setting aside funds for your retirement and healthcare. So consider a robust app to help you along in this department.

It’s a wonderful feeling when you can make a living doing what you are passionate about. So turning your artistic work into a business venture can be deeply rewarding for you, and provide you with personal fulfilment as well as a steady income, for many years. Just seek out resources that can help you as you step into this new phase in your life.

Elijah Dawson

Elijah Dawson created lookforjobshere.com while he was furloughed from his retail management job at the beginning of the pandemic. With many still looking for work, he hopes his site will assist and motivate them as they look for their next big opportunity.