5 Mistakes Craft Business Owners Make and How You Can Prevent Them

5 Mistakes Craft Business Owners Make And How You Can Prevent Them

Running a craft business can be tough, and mistakes are going to happen.

But not all mistakes are created equal. 

There are some mistakes I see small craft business owners make that can lead to getting discouraged and giving up!

On the flip side, when identified and examined, these same missteps can become powerful learning experiences.

Below, we’ll take a look at the top mistakes I see being made in new craft businesses and how to fix them so you can be successful right from the get-go!

1. Not Knowing How Much To Price Your Work

I see a lot of new business owners that don’t know how much to charge for their crafts!

If you don’t price your products right, you will lose money or not make any sales. 

If you price your stuff too low, you won’t make a profit. If you price your stuff too high, you won’t get any sales!

To make sales and still make a profit, you need to know how much to charge. The best thing to do is to look around at your competition and see how much they are charging for the same product.

2. Copying Another Designers Work

Copying another designer’s work is a big no-no in the crafting business and is frowned upon in the crafting world! Also, make sure that you research copyrights and trademarks before you start selling. Just because you see someone else selling Disney products, for example, doesn’t mean it’s ok!

Copying someone else’s work will get you into big legal trouble and should be avoided at all costs!

It’s ok to take inspiration from someone else’s work though. Just don’t copy their work exactly! Go to craft fairs in your area and see what is selling and then come up with your own version and make it even better than the competitors! Another place to get ideas is on Pinterest! I could spend hours on Pinterest! Just don’t fall down the rabbit hole! Join some Facebook groups to get ideas too. When I first started I would get a lot of ideas from other crafters in Facebook groups.

3. Not Setting Up A Business Bank Account

I see a lot of small business owners that don’t set up a business bank account when they first get started.

If you don’t set up a business bank account it makes it harder to keep your profits separate from your personal money. You also need a business account to be able to take credit cards.

I recommend setting up your business account as soon as possible. Not only will it help you keep track of how much you are spending but it will also make things a lot easier when it comes to tax time because you will have everything in one place. Having a business account will also allow you to accept credit cards making it a win-win for everyone involved! You can thank me later!

4. Not Knowing How To Use Your Machine

I’m in a lot of Facebook groups for Cricut and Silhouette and I see so many crafters that will post a picture of their product and then once it sells they will panic and then ask the group how to make it! Wait…… What???

Not knowing how to efficiently use your machine or how to make your product BEFORE you start selling it will only cost you time, money, AND frustration in the long run!

Before you start selling your product, make it a few times so you can work out any kinks that may come up. Plus the more you make something, the better it looks or turns out. You want to make sure that you are sending your Customers quality products!

5. Spending Or Borrowing Too Much Money!

A lot of business owners think that they have to have a lot of money to get started selling but the truth is you really don’t!

If you start borrowing money or running up your credit card you will only be asking for trouble in the long run. You will only end up with monthly payments or even worse, a high-interest credit card. Take it from someone that knows, I’ve been in a huge pile of credit card debt and had to pay them all off!

Instead of going into debt, start small. Buy enough materials to get you started with a few projects. Then once that stuff sells, THEN buy more materials, rinse and repeat and scale up that way. As the old saying goes, Rome was not built in a day!

Conclusion

Listen, my fellow crafter and business owner, mistakes in small businesses are going to happen.

But now, you’re armed with the knowledge to recognize them as missteps (course-correct/respond/react) quickly and in a way that will make you a successful small business owner.

What is the biggest mistake you’ve made in your small business? Tell me what it was and how you grew from it in the comments below!

Also, don’t forget to sign up for my email where I share even more tips on how to successfully run a craft business!