Businesses often wonder what they can legally deduct as an expense on their taxes.  Some small business owners are completely unaware of many of the deductions. 
“What can businesses deduct?” Kelly Phillips Erb, from Taxgirl, says is one of the most frequent inquiries she receives.
Kelly has answered this in a guest post at Problogger, 46 Tax Deductions that Bloggers Often Overlook.  Even though this post is directed at bloggers (one type of home business), most of the deductions are applicable for any small business…whether you’re operating solely on the Internet, utilizing a walk-in shop, or combining the two.
Your business may have added deductions…or may …read more

Whether you collect sales tax for mail order and Internet sales or in a quilt shop, you may find yourself in a quandry at times. 
*What if you live in a no tax state but sell to customers in a state where there is a sales tax?
*What if you have a sales tax in your state and sell to someone in another sales tax state?
*What happens when you and your customer both live in the same state that has a sales tax?  Sometimes, too, sales tax will vary from town to town, city to city, county to county within the same …read more

  What happens to your quilting or fabric  business when you move? With the traditional quilting or fabric store that depends on customers stopping in to purchase, you lose business when you relocate.  An Internet fabric or quilting business, often operated out of your home, continues wherever you may move.
Of course, with a business that’s entirely operated on the Internet, like Dorothy Thompson’s,  with no inventory, or one like Mark Allen’s business with CafePress taking orders and handling shipping, there’s no question about continuing if you move.  However, what about the business where you do have inventory and physically ship out orders?
If …read more

If you’re thinking of starting a quilting/fabric arts business, whether solely on the Internet or a shop in your home where customers stop by, it’s a good idea to develop a business plan. Even if you’ve started your quilting business and don’t have a business plan, you could benefit by developing one for future direction and growth.  If you’re considering going to a bank for a loan or start-up capital, you’ll definitely need to show you have a plan.
Laura Spencer at Writing Thoughts has reviewed a book, The Ernst & Young Business Plan Guide, that’s worthwhile to consider when you’re developing your business plan.
       …read more

Business owners, whether they operate from their home, a shop elsewhere, or solely online, find themselves taking risks…some more than others, as they venture into their own enterprise.  If you’ve ventured into any type of quilting or fabric art venture to promote and market your products and/or skills, you’ve had to take some risk…money, time, rejection.
You might like to learn more about this, the nature of business owners…whether they’ll take risks or remain in a rut…on my home business blog, Home Biz Notes, where I wrote about this topic , Home Business Owners are Risk Takers.
Also, Darlene McDaniel wrote about this …read more

                   When I wrote the meme post,  Simply Successful Secrets for a home business, I mentioned having fun.  Comments I’ve received let me know that others feel this is important, too.   Whether you have a quilting, fabric art, or related business, you can have fun while you earn an income.
Often we get so caught up into the challenges of our quilting business, the busyness,  the pressure of meeting deadlines, and the balancing act between business and family  that we forget to have fun.  We forget why we decided to develop our quilting/fabric art hobby or interest into a home business in the …read more

What should I name my business?
When you consider a name for your quilting/fabric art business, decide what you want to achieve, the customers you desire to attract, and the products/services you’ll be offering.  You want something that will catch attention and will be something people will remember.
When I operated a dressmaking/alteration business from my home (that evolved into my quiltmaking business), I used part of my sewing room for displaying and selling readymade original clothing and accessories.  What should I use for a name that incorporated all aspects of my business?
I chose MEA’s Boutique, utilizing my initials.  I didn’t realize at the …read more

If you operate a quilting/fabric arts business, developing a rapport with your customers so they’ll remain loyal and continue returning for your products and services is important.  Some call this branding…others regard it as developing customer/client loyalty.
So….how does a business generate such loyalty in their customers?  How will you develop your business so customers return repeatedly, whether to your shop, your online ordering site, your booth at shows, or your workshops.
*Produce a quality product; never shortcut on quality.
*Always meet deadlines; if you can’t, let your customer know and have a good reason.  Then let them know when you will complete the job.  Sometimes …read more

Many quiltmakers and fabric artists have turned their hobby into an income producing business.  It’s important that they develop a bookkeeping system for income and expenses.  If they’ve developed a business large enough that they have employees, there are other bookkeeping matters to consider.
The post about bookkeeping at my blog, HomeBizNotes, will give you a place to start with this topic. ( If you have employees, you may be interested in the post on minimum wage.)
Some of these topics seem far afield from quiltmaking and artistic creations.  However, if you have developed a business, whether small or larger, you must be concerned about keeping good records. 
          …read more

“How does someone get started in a quilting business?” I’ve been asked.
Sometimes this is a conscious decision and an outgrowth of one’s hobby.  Other times, as in my case, it’s accidental.  (Always be open to opportunities!)
I was doing dressmaking and alterations at the time, as well as sewing little girls’ dresses to sell in a local shop.  And I was a “clothaholic”. 
During America’s Bicentennial years, quilts became popular.  My mom, who operated a small general store in another state began to sell quilts that a friend made.  The demand became more than her quilting friend could handle. 
“Mary Emma, you’ve got all …read more