The Ultimate Guide to Starting & Scaling a Handmade Business

Your ultimate guide to starting & scaling a handmade business is here! Are you wondering what are the steps you need to take to start your own handmade business? This video is your one-stop-shop to answer your questions when it comes to how to start a craft business from home. In it, I'm sharing step-by-step the things you can't miss to get up & selling! After watching, if you have any other questions about starting & scaling a handmade business, feel free to let me know down in the comments.
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⬇️ Get your bookkeeping templates from Paper + Spark:
paperandspark.com/shop/
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⬇️ Additional Resources mentioned in this video:
Download a free step-by-step checklist of the financial & legal stuff you need to do to get set up properly: • Financial checklist fo...
Search for your business name in the US Trademark Database: www.uspto.gov/trademarks/search
Search for your business name URL at Google Domains: domains.google/
Get a bookkeeping system to support you (made especially for physical product sellers!): paperandspark.com/shop/
How Paper + Spark spreadsheets work: • OUTDATED - How a Paper...
How to price for profit with handmade goods: • Pricing Handmade Goods
Watch the free workshop, When to Worry about Taxes as a Handmade Seller: paperandspark.com/tax-workshop/
Read my blog post all about understanding online sales tax: paperandspark.com/salestax
What states have sales tax? www.salestaxinstitute.com/res...
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⬇️ Let’s connect:
Facebook: / paperandspark
Instagram: / paperandspark
TikTok: / paperandspark
Pinterest: / paperandspark
Twitter: / paperandspark
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👋 Hi! I'm Janet LeBlanc
I’m a Louisiana girl now living in South Carolina, a Certified Public Accountant, a serial-entrepreneur, and a mom of two. My passion is helping other creative women bring their entrepreneurial dreams to life with confidence. As an accountant and data nerd, I love creating tools + resources to help you achieve financial success in your biz and personal life.
Why should you listen to anything I have to say? Because I’ve been in your shoes! I started a handcrafted jewelry shop on Etsy back in 2011 as a side hustle from my accounting job. During my time in the handmade community, I heard a lot of the same frustrations and questions over and over. Concerns like, when am I supposed to register my shop? Do I have to charge sales tax to my customers? When do I claim this on my tax return? What sort of bookkeeping system am I supposed to use?!
In 2014, I finally united my love of handmade and accounting and founded Paper + Spark. In 2015, the first iteration of the Etsy Seller Spreadsheet debuted. This product completely changed the course of my entrepreneurial journey. Creating spreadsheets isn’t the sexiest or most glamorous product to design (although I like to think they’re pretty, for spreadsheets), but getting the chance to help creatives feel more confident about their money has been SO fulfilling and I am grateful to serve you today!
🌐 Visit Paper +: Spark to learn more:
paperandspark.com/
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#handmadebusiness #creativebusinessowner #onlinestore

[@kcbrown5037]

I’m selling candles, wax melts and hanging fresheners

[@paperandspark]

That's awesome KC! I bet your studio smells really good!

[@hshear]

Thank you for the info. I am in the process of relaunching my business, but with a different product. When I started this a few years ago, I did not have much success. I had my friends but outside of that it was hard. I accounted for the fact that my products were more made to order which is difficult to sell, but also it was more for special holidays/occasions which is hard to sell with too. Then, it cost a lot to make the tutus or costumes and used a lot of time. Launching a new product with a shortened business name I believe will help. Shopify and TikTok are great for getting your products out there as well since Etsy is so saturated. lol my new product has such a higher demand and marketing ability too. I think it’ll be More successful. Your video is helping to organize things too

[@paperandspark]

Lots of lessons learned! I hope your new business does great!

[@davidklenk5253]

Great video Janet!

[@paperandspark]

Thanks so much :)

[@coffeedogcrochet]

This is so helpful! But what about federal income tax? I’ve never done my own taxes so this part is particularly scary.

[@paperandspark]

If you're operating as a sole proprietor (one of you) there is not actually anything you "do" to tell the IRS you're starting a business - you just want to be prepared to enter your business sales & expenses on a Schedule C at income tax time. It goes with your personal tax return. I have a video on that coming soon! In the meantime, these are two great resources to learn more about income taxes for your business - paperandspark.com/gltchecklistyoutube/ paperandspark.com/schedule-c-overview/

[@Katice634]

Thank you. I’ve been sitting on starting my business for 10+ years because I just didn’t know how to start. I’ve had my business license and website for a year now but haven’t launched it because I wasn’t sure what product to start with first. I’m focusing on accessories for women.

[@paperandspark]

You got this!!

[@EarthlyJewelsTV]

Hi im planning to buy your bundle. Ive been selling here and there but havent really seriously recorded anything and would like to start being aerious in the new year. I dont know how to transition from a hobby/starup to starting to get aerious in recording material, cost of good etc. i have tons of materials but how do i start on bringing everything into the record books esp if i no longer have receipts for old materials The transition is what always keeps from me from going forward. Do you have a video about this? Or any info or advice?

[@paperandspark]

Hey there! You're not alone - this is where a lot of crafters start out. Generally no receipt means no tax deduction. But for all the materials you start your business with that you DO still have receipts for, you can enter them into your inventory. I have a whole course on going from hobby to business called the Get Legit Toolkit®. If you're on my email list, I'll be having a Cyber Monday deal on it :)

[@EarthlyJewelsTV]

@@paperandspark awesome. My husband is getting me the spreadsheet bundle for my bday. Maybe i can get the course for myself 😍

[@EarthlyJewelsTV]

Also do you mentor. Im all over the place in my craft. I like to do all different things and i need help with direction so i can finally have a real business. Do you have some kind of mentorship program?

[@paperandspark]

Hi there, the closest thing to mentorship I do is via my program & mastermind, Next Level Numbers. You can learn more about it at nextlevelnumbers.com :)