🌻Let's Talk Shop! First 3months of my Crochet Small Biz! 🌻 Income/Expenses/Analytics 🌻

Hello! I'm Tina, I run 'Made with April' with my dog, April! This is a bit of a longer video so grab some water, a tea or a coffee, and maybe a snack! I wanted to share my insights in the first couple months of running a 'crochet small business', I know everyone has different experiences so I hope that mine is helpful to you. Keep in mind that my experiences will not be your experiences!
As always, please feel free to leave any questions in the comments below, or share your experience with running your small biz! Please do share anything in the comments - I read every single one and I would love to hear your thoughts/ideas/mistakes/overall experiences!
🌻Instagram🌻 @madewithapril
/ madewithapril
🌻Website🌻
madewithapril.com
🌻Etsy (Crochet patterns available here!)🌻
www.etsy.com/ca/shop/madewith...
🌻Ribblr (Crochet patterns available here!)🌻
ribblr.com/shop/madewithapril...
MARKET TOOLS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO:
Banner stand: amzn.to/3KRS28M
Tiered display stand: amzn.to/3LgO373
Grid Keychain holder: amzn.to/3N0djPZ
Square reader: amzn.to/41GGnQQ
Music by Aixie - Hazy Days - thmatc.co/?l=ECB0A040

[@badsissycrochet]

Make that 8 hour project even if you don't think it'll sell. If you bring it with you to your events and it's attention grabbing, people may not buy it, but they may buy something else at your booth now that they're there already looking!

[@madewithapril]

I got this advice from a friend too, they said it would make for a good display piece either way! Thank you for the support!!

[@carolinnemarquez9954]

I also think this is a good idea!! it will give your clientele an idea of other items you can make and maybe they will place an order :) I hope you continue to do well with your small business journey 🤍🤍

[@santac2740]

I'm not sure if you all feel the same like me. If i continuous make the same items, it does make me sick of it🤣🤣🤣

[@DocBree13]

Great advice!

[@orchestrafusion]

This was such a helpful video. And as far as your confidence thing about sitting and talking on camera, if the rest of your audience is made up of other crocheters, they'll use long videos like this as a sort of podcast while they crochet their own stuff, like I just did lol. I mostly just listened while I got through half of a scarf and really only looked up when you showed screenshots. I also love analytics lol

[@madewithapril]

Ahh thats true I totally do that when I watch videos too! Thank you for your support, it means a lot to me

[@ladyindigo3672]

This is funny because I was listening to this while doing my hair 🤣 Getting relatable advice

[@yasminmaxmath3731]

I actually think that not being a patience person but love crocheting is a curse 😂😂 My patience is like the tissues divide by two as the day goes by lmaoooo nooooo dont worry about your video, youre literally accompany me while im working and crocheting. Thank you for this helpful video!

[@madewithapril]

LOL so true hahaha Thank you for the support!!

[@lunamalicreations]

I loved the video I can’t believe you just started crocheting in November 2022 congrats to how much progress you’ve made!!! Your flowers are gorgeous!!

[@madewithapril]

Thank you so much!!

[@charlotteeardly7235]

Just ordered 3 of your patterns, I love the way you embrace your new crochet adventure!! Can't believe you started crochetting last November!! I also make flowers with my friend and we sell on craft markets in England. 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 Thanks for your videos, they are very inspirational!

[@madewithapril]

Thank you so so much!! 😭💖 it means a lot to me, I appreciate it!! I wonder what differences there are with the markets in England! That's so cool! Wishing you guys well on your future markets and thank you again for the support!!

[@charlotteeardly7235]

We started making flowers in January like you. We work in a school and added a few bunches in the staff room. It was an instant success, especially with mother's day in March in England. We decided to make bunches and gift them to companies such as nursing homes, the gym...in exchange of free advertising. I am on messengers if you want to see photos. Send me a message if you want 😊

[@CrochetEhCanada]

Hi Tina, My name is Sandy and my channel is Crochet Eh Canada. I'm in BC and we don't have to have a GST number until we make over $30,000 a year and my accountant told me I had to charge PST as soon as I got my Sole Proprietorship. The government will send you a letter telling you how often you have to file your PST. This is the first year I stopped doing craft fairs and opened my own shop. I just expanded and now have a yarn studio as well. Stressful?...yes...exciting?...absolutely. You're doing great. Keep going! Hugs

[@madewithapril]

Ahh yeah I definitely need to find an accountant soon hahaha Taxes are definitely the stressful part for me, having a yarn studio is crazy exciting!!! That's so awesome!!

[@jessicagodwin4394]

Hey :) not sure if you figured out writing things off but basically if you spend money on your business, clothes. Gas, fees, yarn, etc you “write it off” it just means you claim your expenses. Also you can get free tax advice from tax advisors at tax time, take advantage of that!!

[@madewithapril]

Haha thank you! I think that after all the advice I've gotten I may end up just getting an accountant hahaha

[@crochet_pie]

First of all, your flowers are sooo pretty. Second, I started crocheting around November too and the idea of starting a small business has been lingering in my mind, but I always feel discouraged thinking about whether people will buy them. I also get criticized for my lack of experience so this really helped me understand how that shouldn't be roadblock since I have been crocheting for at least an hour or two a day for the past 3 months. tysm for inspiring me :)

[@madewithapril]

I'm so glad!! Good luck and I hope it goes well for you!!

[@kyoongie]

So insightful! Thanks for the transparency over everything. I’m loving the content and seeing your business and channel grow 🥺

[@madewithapril]

KYOONGIE hehe thank you thank you I appreciate the support ❤ ❤

[@arieshill485]

I enjoyed the insight into your small business, I have been trying to get mine on its legs for awhile and your insight has given me hope!

[@madewithapril]

Glad it was helpful! Don't give up, sometimes you just have to change things up a bit or try something unexpected!

[@lee-so1rk]

i started in november too and didn’t start actually making things until january! cannot wait to see where your business and channel goes!!

[@madewithapril]

Thank you!!

[@craftzebra]

Thanks for sharing your growing business experience with us, Tina! I just purchased your lavender pattern through Etsy. I'm excited to try it! Your flowers and plants are all so beautiful. And, your channel is growing at a rapid pace. Please keep sharing your market adventures with us. Great video!💜💜💜💜💜

[@madewithapril]

Ahh thank you so much 😭💖 it really means a lot to me, I'm having a lot of fun sharing my adventures so I'm glad you're enjoying them!! Thank you for your support!

[@brynnshannon8278]

Hey I just wanted to say that this video was so helpful for me! I’m looking into starting my own side hustle and was overwhelmed and didn’t know where to begin. Your video is inspiring to just go and try it out.

[@madewithapril]

Definitely try it out!! Starting is the hardest part!

[@kazyaquin5493]

I just found your channel as I just started learning to crochet (like a week in lol). But when you were talking about the analytics that is SO relatable. And now I need a WoW video 😂

[@madewithapril]

LOL DO YOU PLAY WOW I'm obsessed again with SOD!!

[@phie_ahr]

Just found you a couple of days ago and at the time I was thinking "I should really start crocheing for real this time. I can make crochet flowers and create an eternal flower shop". And the you popped on my feed! Haha, it is fate.. I am in my first steps on crocheing at the moment. So far, I have a pink bear, a chumpy frog and I am in the middle of a little carrot. I have a long road ahead of me but I really like that I found you. It makes me want to keep going with my journey. Keep up the good work, I like your videos, your creations and your personality. I am waiting for more. See you 🧡💜

[@madewithapril]

Thats awesome!! The first step is always the hardest, it's also the most exciting though! It will be fun to learn new techniques and different patterns, etc! Thank you for your support and I'm wishing you good luck as well!!

[@alwayslearning9272]

This whole process, the pros and cons of everything etc, was really interesting to listen to, thanks for being so open about it all. I didn't know some of the analytic stuff, so was interested to hear about that. Hope things are continuing to go well for you. Thanks 😊

[@madewithapril]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jenclayton5815]

Love my fellow WoW crocheter videos!

[@idacardenas7884]

You are fun to watch, you have a great personality. Don’t give up on your cute little peaches, strawberries n persimmons. Add them to your flower bouquets on a stick…lol, you can make whimsical fruit / flower bouquets n I guaranty you, it will be very beautiful. I just started to learn crochet n I love to make flowers too n I had an idea to sell at markets as well n have people make their own. So when I saw your inspiring video, I was amazed n encouraged. Thank you so so much, You Are Awesome ❤ p.s. Isn’t it beautiful to see people admire your work, what a feeling n rush at the same time. Be Blessed ❤

[@madewithapril]

Ahhh thank you so much!! Reading this comment made me feel that special feeling and rush of emotions like you mentioned 😭💗 It's wat keeps me motivated to try new things and keep making more! Thank you so much!!

[@tommiegarcia7314]

I really liked hearing about your experience starting a shop. I've been thinking about it for a LONG time and it's time I just do it. ALSO, the "write off" part is giving David from Schitt's Creek lol

[@madewithapril]

Sometimes you just gotta take the leap hahaha!

[@b.c.2313]

Yup I fell in love with your honesty you also had me laughing. Enjoy looking at my analytics 😂

[@madewithapril]

Hahahaha I LOVE ANALYTICS

[@husious]

I would do the exact same with WoW logs!! Very insightful video and well thought out. Keep it up!

[@madewithapril]

Haha I was obsessed with WoW logs, thank you!!

[@cyndelmedina1251]

I love talking videos, and all of your videos 🌷❤️

[@madewithapril]

Ahh thank youu

[@sarahferguson0]

First off, i love your flowers and i think your ideas are unique and wonderful. You should really, REALLY understand business before you jump in. I don't know how it is in Canada but here in the states you can get in quite a lot of deep water if you don't understand how business works with regard to taxes and what not. Ask me how i know 😂 Also, again, not sure about Canada but here, the way business write offs work is you deduct those charges BEFORE you pay your final taxes. For example, you can write off stuff like your business cards, camera, yarn, other supplies that relate directly to your business. Let's say you make $20k in 2023. You deduct all your business expenses from the year of, let's say, $2500. You pay taxes on $17.5k. Here in the States there are a lot of things you can and can't write off so this is not legal advice, just an example 🙂 if you're a member of Skill Share there are several small business related classes you can take. As a person who lived through the nightmare of watching my best friend go through a horrible year because she didn't really know what she was doing before she started a business, educating yourself now will save you heartache down the road 🙂❤️ lastly, a Sole Proprietorship is a big risk as you will be personally liable for the debt your business incurs if something should happen. By far the safest route is an LLC as far as debt is concerned. Sole Proprietorship's offer zero protection from debt collectors if something should happen to you. Of course, you might not be too worried about that now but it's best to understand the pros and cons of each type of business set up and what each one can and can't protect you from, should you find yourself with business related debt and loss of income.

[@madewithapril]

Hahaha thank you so much, this is actually extremely helpful. I will be getting an accountant to help me out with my taxes so I'll be sending her all my info and money stuff because as much as I've tried to learn it's all very confusing 😅😅😅 but thank you so much! You're definitely right about safety first

[@tracy-thomass8345]

Your voice is soo soothing 😊

[@madewithapril]

Oh thank you! hahaha

[@renaj2942]

Been watching your videos recently and you've earned a subscriber and TikTok follower.

[@madewithapril]

Welcome aboard! Thank you for the support!!

[@duckiecreations]

Your flowers are beautiful! Just followed your etsy shop

[@madewithapril]

Aww thank you!!

[@kskorner74]

writing it off means that you deduct what you spent on expenses from your profit, which in turn, makes you responsible for less income taxes

[@CeeJayCrochets]

I usually watch from my personal account but happen to be on my business one now. This info was really helpful bc I’m really not feeling Etsy. I’m prepping for markets and want that to be my go-to, and will eventually get a website. Thanks for all the transparency and info!

[@madewithapril]

Etsy fees get higher every time i check i swear :'(

[@CeeJayCrochets]

@@madewithapril it’s so crazy 😭 I’m kinda glad nothing is selling rn bc I’m preparing to sell at markets.

[@mellyinspiredcrochet]

Had to buy your patterns just to support ☺️ plus I like written patterns. 😅 thanks for your tips and insight on your small business! I have a small crochet business for my plushies so I definitely understand some struggles. 😅

[@madewithapril]

Omg thank you so much!! You more than doubled my etsy sales 😂😂 It's definitely not easy starting out, thank you for your support and good luck to you too! I hope I was able to help!!

[@mellyinspiredcrochet]

@@madewithapril of course! 😊Supporting each other is how we can all become successful😅 Btw I’ve already made the lavender and sunflower patterns and I definitely recommend them! They turned out beautiful (for any subscribers reading this) ☺️

[@Nekozies]

Thanks for sharing!! I've been wanting to start a crochet business as well but not really sure about niche and all that 😅 kinda scared to take the leap into doing that 😬

[@madewithapril]

You never know until you try! Good luck!!

[@austynries]

I was not expecting the blue shrimp 😅😂

[@TalliasGuides]

I’ve just found your channel and am bingeing your videos! I started crocheting a week ago and have just made lavender flowers so far.. I’ve been making one every 1-2 days! I absolutely love your videos! You might not see this comment as the video was 4 months ago and I’m not sure if anyone else would want this or just me… but I’d definitely pay more on your Etsy if you offered a KZbin video along side your pattern so I could follow along, as I’m so new I’m really nervous about reading patterns but can follow videos really easily. I know some digital planner Etsy shops offer the link to private KZbin videos explaining how to use the digital planners and things like this. They just add the private video link into their digital download file. Just an idea! 😊

[@madewithapril]

Ahh thank you so much for your support!! I've definitely thought about it but unfortunately I hate making tutorials 😅 the filming and editing is so tedious and I'm not even good at putting out patterns for all the designs I have 😅 maybe one day though hahaha

[@haileewalker2541]

Vacuum seal the keychains! People do that with skeins and there usually isn’t any problems

[@madewithapril]

Ahh I'll have to try it, I might have to seal one and then wait a couple of days and unseal it to see if it changes the shape much 🫠

[@user-st1ru6kc9k]

Hi Thank you for sharing this video it is always inspiring to hear how crocheters started, business wise. I probably was notified of your video as I’ve been viewing on KZbin people who’ve created a business out of their crochet 🧶 Maybe one day I’ll actually start my own- a lot of hesitation as you say it is saturated but then again I’m not in the States or Canada. It could go either way 😂😢 All the best and take care and bless you. 💗🙏🏽😻🌸

[@madewithapril]

Thank you! Good luck to you too, it's saturated but everyone always provides something a little different - the thing about handmade things is that they will never be exactly the same even if two people follow the same pattern!

[@user-st1ru6kc9k]

@@madewithapril That is very true! Thank you 🙏🏽💗😊

[@janaegraber3907]

I was surprised to hear you played wow, I have been a long time player :)

[@madewithapril]

When covid started, I was obsessed! I tried to get into retail but never loved it as much as classic haha

[@sarahhogeland7212]

I like the chatting 🙂

[@madewithapril]

ahh I'm glad hehe

[@erinjones8372]

I had Etsy for a long time with my cards. It's not worth it in the end. So I feel you!

[@madewithapril]

Yeah the fees are crazy 🥲

[@maybe.maybel]

Hi, leaving some tax information for future people thinking about starting a small business (for Canadians only) : You are not obligated to register for GST/HST (Excise tax, so sales taxes!) with the CRA if you are a small supplier! The CRA defines a small supplier as being anyone (individual OR business) who makes less then $30,000 in sales over 4 consecutive quarters (so a year, does not need to match the calendar year). Small suppliers may choose to register to GST/HST if they wish, but this is not an obligation UNTIL you reach that $30,000 in sales. There are advantages and disadvantages to voluntarily registering for GST/HST. Advantage: being able to claim the GST/HST that you PAID when buying supplies, as a remittance. Disadvantage: the administrative work that comes with having to collect GST/HST when you SELL an item and then having to file a GST/HST return (for small suppliers this would be yearly, unless you choose otherwise). Unless you buy supplies that are very expensive (so high sales taxes paid), I don't recommend voluntarily registering, especially if this is just a hobby. This information can be found on the Government of Canada Website, just search up terms like "sole proprietorship" and "GST/HST for businesses". For your questions about how to declare small business income in your personal tax return (T1! The one that's due in April!.. so different then sales taxes) and writing off expenses you can message me if you want and I'll try to answer as best as I can but this is a whole other boat lol. Besides that, great video :)

[@madewithapril]

^^^^^^^^^ THANK YOU, Please read, everyone!!

[@ericadecker116]

thanks for sharing the prices and stuff, i live in Vancouver so the markets are insane here. Ive been making flowers for months but i cant get to the point of letting them go.... they are just to beautiful lol xD

[@madewithapril]

Hahaha sometimes I make a really pretty bouquet and it is hard to let it go

[@hannagraceadug7503]

I love your vidsss

[@madewithapril]

Thank you

[@claireseymour4902]

You sound like me with your hobbies😂. All or nothing. Are you by any chance neurodiverse. I absolutely love your crotchet-it is stunning!!!

[@madewithapril]

Thank you!! I have no idea haha maybe I'll look up a quiz or something but I do have some tendencies!

[@pallor17]

I had a similar experience at the one and only market I ever did. I was so excited that they had accepted me and I think I paid like $30 or something for the table, and I didn't make a single sale. The clientele at the market was totally the wrong type of client for my business and the whole thing was a total disaster. Turned me off markets for life, lol. The advertising was bad, and people at other tables started packing up and leaving early because hardly anyone showed up and they realized (faster learners than I am, I guess) that it was a total waste of time. So yeah, not likely to do anymore markets in the future, lol.

[@madewithapril]

Ahhh I'm always so sad when I hear that 😭 it sucks when a poorly organized market puts people off, but it is hard for new market goers to find affordable but still well planned ones. All the well known ones I was recommended when I started were $150+ and I just couldn't risk that starting out

[@Kittys_Creations]

My accountant brain is sweating at the finance/ accounts discussions XD. I hope you are having a look into everything you need if trying to avoid accountants fees as if not you likely will need an accountant. I am based in the UK so can't advise on Canadian based laws but imagine things like 'writing it off' will be the same everywhere and that is not covered by the government, if you are VAT registered you will pay vat or received vat on your sales and purchases, these are net'd together to determine if you pay this or receive this. (you will only receive money if you purchase more than you sell - this would be short term, or if you sell products that are except or zero rated for VAT.) I'd really recommend getting a software to help you keep track of everything and do your 'accounts' on as even if you end up needing an accountant you can do the bulk yourself to keep costs down. If available in your country I would recommend 'Xero'. Hope this is helpfulif you see this and not coming across rude as I do not intend for it to sound that way. I love your vlogs and products and positivity and look forward to watching your journey in this business/ hobby.

[@madewithapril]

Hahahaha thank you thank you it's not rude at all I really appreciate it! There's a site here called quick books I'm looking into to help me keep track of my finances, but I definitely learning as I go 😅 thank you so much I will keep these things in mind!!

[@Kittys_Creations]

@@madewithapril I am relieved to hear! I have used Quickbooks before, it is quite good but not the most user friendly (in my opinion) but that all depends what you use it for and personal preference. I had a quick google as was curious myself and the 3 main software's used here in the UK are all available in Canada. These are: Xero, Quickbooks and Sage. I would say avoid sage as it is quite technical for someone to learn if not used to accounting. Xero is by far the most user friendly with courses available to users and very intuitive, I taught myself it all through the Xero ran courses so didn't need any other training or packages to get up to speed, Quickbooks is possibly more affordable than Xero depending on the packages you need. I believe both have the functionality to upload photos of receipts (which will be key to cut down accounting fees) but check if that function is available in the base package or if it'll cost more to get that. Obviously everything is personal choice so I hope you find one that works for you :).

[@SoloAndSavvy]

Hi there new subscriber here! I need to start selling more on etsy but find no luck Just starting this video and i am so excited to see what you have to say

[@madewithapril]

Welcome!! Etsy is definitely hard to start up on, as is any platform!! Thank you!

[@CarmineAndAutumn]

Your shop is beautiful. I started crocheting a few years ago when I was 10, but now I’m gonna start selling my crocheted items. I’m making lil bouquets of flowers for my teachers when I go back to school. Also, I just like to watch crocheters videos cuz they’re not annoying plus I can learn a bit and crochet in the meantime, so I don’t mind ur talking vids. Where I live, I have to pay taxes or like register if I make over 1k a year, but I probably won’t be going to that many markets cuz I have school and will probably have way more homework next year. If I did, do you think that I’d have to do it on my own or would my parent have to do it? I’m under 15, not so sure lol, probably will just sell in the summer, on breaks, and maybe sometimes weekends

[@madewithapril]

Definitely! Since you're still in school you'll have to work around it a little, but it's still fun to do it when you have time!

[@CarmineAndAutumn]

@@madewithapril yep!!

[@vickichilders149]

I like your tulips in the background. Do you sell the pattern for them? 😊

[@madewithapril]

Thank you! I do! It's a 2 in 1 tulip and crocus pattern available on my etsy and Ribblr! The link is in the video description!

[@vickichilders149]

Great! Thank you 😊 Your flowers are so pretty

[@geminixia7442]

im looking to begin crocheting soon! i have only ever sewn before and even so ive only done a bit, im no good. im looking to get into making crochet plushies! any advice for beginners? (i haven't bought any supplies or ANYTHING yet so any advice whatsoever is immensely appreciated!) viewers feel free to give advice as well i am super grateful

[@madewithapril]

I don't make too many plushies but if you've never crocheted before I recommend getting a little set of several different hook sizes and maybe 2 or 3 different types of yarn to try out! Most people tend to favor one type of yarn and then make everything in that, for example most plushie crocheters tend to be biased for blanket yarn, since it's super fuzzy and soft! Since I usually make smaller plushies I go for a thinner yarn, usually Craftsmart or Lionbrand acrylic yarns from Michaels since they're cheaper! Sometimes you can get lots of yarn online from Facebook Marketplace for example for cheap! I know Amazon has a huge set of crochet hooks which will basically have you set for life, and will definitely run cheaper than buying one at a time. I also recommend using safety pins, earrings, or anything you have lying around as a stitch marker! Don't feel pressured to buy all the specialized crochet tools right away - a yarn bowl can be made of just a binder clip on a regular bowl! Most importantly, have fun and take your time! Try different things to figure out what you like!

[@Olive._cos]

how do you find the markets im struggling to just find some in my local area

[@madewithapril]

I went on instagram and facebook and searched #yycmarkets (yyc is Calgary), or #calgarymarkets, etc. I also follow some local news/radios accounts which often promote local events! I suggest seeking these out and then following the accounts of the markets or joining their mailing lists and checking out their websites to stay updated on when they do vendor calls!

[@issaazarcon7799]

Hi! Just wanted to ask if you applied/have a business license to sell at craft shows in Canada? Thanks!🫶🏼

[@madewithapril]

I am registered however as far as I can tell most people who sell at smaller shows don't have one!

[@-lily-5691]

I love your videos 🫶🏽

[@madewithapril]

Thank you!! 💕💕