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Starting a business is scary!
You must learn about licenses and taxes, create amazing products, promote your business, deal with customers, figure out shipping, and so much more. That’s a lot of things to learn and manage.
However, starting a handmade business can be one of the most rewarding things you do in life. You become your own boss and you have uncapped earning potential.
That’s a big deal!
Tons of business owners are making fulltime incomes selling the things they make. It is a great way to achieve financial freedom if you have a good plan and enough drive.
If you’ve been dreaming of starting a handmade business, don’t let your fears hold you back any longer! You can do it. Nothing is so hard that you can’t figure it out.
It’s ok to be scared. It’s normal. Your fears are not going to magically go away. Even when you start to make money, you’re going to find something else to worry and be scared about.
It’s better to face your fears and start moving forward. You’re never going to have the life you want if you’re not willing to try.
So, what are some of your fears? Let’s talk about what’s really holding you back from starting a handmade business. I hope you can find the motivation to get started.
Are you afraid you won’t be able to figure everything out?
There is definitely a lot to learn, especially if you don’t have any experience running a business. However, you can learn as you go. Even people who have been running a business for 20+ years still learn new things.
Start by creating a checklist of things you need to do or figure out. This will help you take actionable steps towards making your handmade business dreams a reality.
Here’s a sample checklist to start with:
- Decide What You’re Going to Sell
- Choose a Name for Your Business
- Decide Where You’re Going to Sell
- Create a Logo and Branding Material
- Create Policies for Your Business
- Register Your Business
- Apply for a Business License
If you don’t want to figure everything out on your own, I can help point you in the right direction. I write all about starting and running a handmade business. If you want to learn more, sign up for my email list. Each week, I’ll send you posts that will motivate you and help you run your business better.
You can also join my Sewing Society Facebook Page if you’d rather not get emails.
Are you afraid of investing money in your business and not seeing a return?
I think one of the biggest things that holds people back from starting a handmade business is the startup costs. Does this sound like you? Are you afraid your business won’t be successful, and you’ll lose all the money you invest?
I understand. It’s true that you could lose your money. All business investments are risky.
But here’s something we can both agree on…
If you don’t invest any money in your dreams, they will never come true.
I also want you to know that it doesn’t take as much money to start a business as you think.
Here’s a sample of some startup costs:
- Getting a Business License ($50-$75)
- Creating a Website ($60/year)
- Hiring Someone to Create a Logo ($50)
- Buying Supplies to Make Your Products (???)
I think it’s fair to say you can start a handmade business for less than $250.
I am not a lawyer and I cannot give legal advice, but you might not even need a business license to sell the things you make. Tons of people sell on Etsy and other sites without a license. This is obviously legal, or Etsy would not allow it.
Eventually, you will want to get a business license because it can protect your personal assets from liability and give you credibility as a business owner. However, I know tons of people try their luck selling online without getting a business license first.
I don’t recommend skipping the website. You need a place people can go to learn more about your business and products. Etsy will let you sell things, but the problem is that people won’t remember your business. When someone asks your customers where they bought that cute bag or necklace, they’ll say, “I got it on Etsy!” That’s bad news for your business because you’ll have zero brand awareness.
I think setting up a website for your handmade business is a must. It gives you more control over how you present your products, deal with your customers, and run your business. Even if you do choose to sell on Etsy, a website is valuable.
You can skip a lot of the startup expenses if you’re worried about investing too much. There’s nothing wrong with taking it slow. It’s more important that you take steps towards your business dreams than simply waiting for the money to make it happen, because that may never happen.
Are you afraid of negative feedback?
There will always be people who do not like your business or your products. This is a simple fact you must accept. Yes, it is scary, but negative feedback happens to all business owners. There are many ups and downs to owning a business, and negative feedback is challenging to handle.
Be prepared to get a bad review or an angry customer at some point. It is bound to happen. What’s important is that you learn from your mistakes and continually improve. You can’t make everybody happy, and you need to remember that.
Are you afraid your products are not good enough?
Are you one of those people that constantly tweak the things they make and are never satisfied with the result? If so, you are a “Perfectionist.” That is not a good thing if you want to run a handmade business.
I’ve written about how “Perfectionism” can doom your business before you even start. After all, “Perfectionism” is just a fancy term for “Procrastination.” Running a business is about results. If you want to be successful, you need to get to a point where your products are good enough.
Even if your products are not perfect, that doesn’t mean people won’t love what you have to sell. Continue to sell and raise your prices as your products get better. Customers don’t need perfection, and they probably won’t notice the flaws you obsess over with your products anyway.
Perfectionism is one of the harder fears to overcome. Just put your products out there and see what happens. Do it! Stop second-guessing! You’ll start to feel more confident as you receive positive feedback.
If you want success, you need to find a way to push past your fears. Successful business owners have passion, confidence, and drive. Be brave. You can do it.
Next, read: 3 Characteristics You Need to Run a Successful Handmade Business
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