[Nfb-krafters-korner] Starting a Business in Crafts

Sun Oct 3 14:03:35 UTC 2010

Don't forget about insurance.  Both for you products and for your supplies 
and equipment and space you will be making these things in.  I am also 
trying to start up a soap making business and sell at a monthly craft fair 
here in town.  Brambleberry web site has some great information on 
insurance.

Yvonne
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eleni Vamvakari" <magkisa83 at gmail.com>
To: "List for blind crafters and artists" <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2010 7:59 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Starting a Business in Crafts

> Hi Greg,
>
> I know that my family is willing to help me as far as sending things
> to the post office so that won't be a problem.  On the off chance that
> they're unavailable, I could ask a trusted friend.  As far as craft
> shows, I would need to work on that in advance.  I might have my
> boyfriend, a family member or a friend take me.  I'm actually planning
> on starting this business with a friend.  The reason why I didn't
> mention this is because I'm sure it will create even more of a
> headache come tax time and I wanted the basics answered first.  She's
> visually-impaired, not totally blind like me, so could help with some
> of the more challenging aspects of creating these things until I feel
> more comfortable.  She's on SSD, so I'm not sure if she qualifies for
> the PASS or if it's only for those on SSI, if we could make a plan
> together or if I would be better off applying as an individual and
> listing her as an employee.  I don't want to do anything that might
> cause trouble in the longrun.  At any rate, I'm sure that we could put
> our heads together when it comes to some of the calculations.  There
> is also software that can help us keep track of purchases, costs of
> shipping and materials, income earned etc.  But I think that when it
> really comes time to crunch the numbers, we'll go to an accountant.
> You're absolutely right about yard sales and the like, which is why I
> would always attend one with someone sighted who has a good eye for
> catching these crooks.  I don't consider this discouragement at all.
> In fact, I'm very greatful that you're taking the time to explain all
> of this to me.  The more I learn the better.  I sincerely hope that
> this isn't going too offtopic, but perhaps the advice that I get and
> the questions that I ask could help someone else who's interested in
> starting a business in crafts.
>
> Thanks,
> Eleni
>
> On 10/2/10, NCBootman <ncbootman at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I never discourage anybody who wants to work. But, the fact is that one 
>> of
>> the biggest factors in failure of a blind person's work experience is due 
>> to
>> transportation. This is an area that you will need to have a rock solid 
>> plan
>> of how you will deal with the issue of transportation. Employers Will ask
>> and if you seek funding for a business, they will ask. So, spend a lot of
>> time with this and have alternatives. Alternatives are necessary because
>> what happens when you have a deadline for delivery or a show or just a
>> scheduled day and the main transportation fails. Drivers have surgery, 
>> get
>> mad, aren't in the mood, ...
>>
>> Another important area is if you are in a selling business, you'd better
>> love math or hire somebody to do it. There's the actual adding up of a 
>> sale,
>> calculating sales tax, figuring item cost, paying bills, reporting income
>> taxes, reporting to Social Security, and just doing the day to day
>> accounting. If you have a yard sale or go to the flea market and have no
>> backers of any kind, you've still got to deal with that crook who wants 
>> ten
>> $5 items for $25. They'll work so fast you won't even know what happened 
>> if
>> you aren't on your toes.
>>
>> Again, this is not discouragement. This is work related facts and must be
>> considered as a part of beginning work or any business. I'm happy to 
>> answer
>> any questions and do anything I can to help.
>>
>>
>> Greg
>> Greg
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Eleni Vamvakari" <magkisa83 at gmail.com>
>> Sent: Saturday, October 02, 2010 5:14 PM
>> To: "List for blind crafters and artists" 
>> <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-krafters-korner] Starting a Business in Crafts
>>
>>> Thanks Annette and Joyce.  I haven't gone to any crafts shows, since I
>>> don't know where any are located in my area and have no one to take
>>> me.  That said, my boyfriend might be able to if it's during the
>>> weekend.  I'm terrible with mathematics so all of this would just give
>>> me a headache if I tried it on my own.  That said, I've saved your
>>> questions and will attempt to work on them, if only for myself.  Your
>>> strategy for estimating is very logical.  But I will still seek help
>>> in actually writing these things out.  I didn't know that you needed
>>> permits or a business license just to sell on Ebay and/or Craigslist
>>> or on your own site.  I doubt that I could use my income in the
>>> beginning to cover my monthly living expenses but they'll probably
>>> lower my SSI payments etc. if I go this route anyway.  I'll check into
>>> these resources if I don't hear back from my counselor etc.  I'm not
>>> really sure how much The Comission would be willing to help me, since
>>> they already paid for a part of my college education and for an
>>> independence centre experience.  Still, it's worth trying.  But I'm
>>> really interested in this online course.  It sounds doable and I don't
>>> need to worry about transportation at all.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Eleni
>>>
>>> On 10/2/10, Blindhands at aol.com <Blindhands at aol.com> wrote:
>>>> Greg is right.  My state agency for the blind actually  drove me  to a
>>>> couple of classes that the small business  was giving.
>>>>
>>>> Joyce  Kane
>>>> www.KraftersKorner.org  (http://www.krafterskorner.org/)
>>>> Blindhands at AOL.com
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>
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>>
>>
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>
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