Stop! Look! Listen!

Will there be regulations that restrict you from doing this from your home?  Or in another location? Will you need a business license? 

When I operated a dressmaking business with gift shop and later my quiltmaking business from our home, a number of years ago, there were no regulations that prevented this.  However, would there be regulations now that directed the size and type of sign I placed before our home, objected to deliveries and pick-ups, and raised complaints because too many people and traffic came to my door?

These are factors to consider, if you’re going to expand your quilting interests.  Some home and apartment leases may even object to online businesses, particularly if they involve pick-up and deliveries. 

I’ve written about this topic at Home Biz Notes as well as here at Qulting and Patchwork…articles you may want to glance over as you accumulate more information if considering turning your quilting hobby into a money making venture.

More Objections to Businesses in the Home 

Local Ordinances May Cause Concern for Home Businesses

Look Before You Leap Into a Home Business

Check Out Zoning/Licensing Before Starting a Quilting Business at Home

Post from: Blisstree

What Regulations Will Affect Your Quilting Business?

This is the Christiansen family in Utah, who developed an online business based on the sons’ need to learn how to tie their ties.  They decided to create a web site to disperse this information…and then sell ties and related items.

I’ve mentioned them at my Home Biz Notes blog, in the post, Fun Story About a Tie Tying Home Business.

Is there something about your quilting and fabric art experiences that others would like to learn about…something you could develop into a blog or web site and then promote or sell your products or services there?

Additonal Quilting & Patchwork Related Posts:

How Do Customers Know Your Quilting Business Is Open for Business?

Developing a Business Plan for Your Quilting/Fabric Arts Business

Pay Attention to the Small Details in Your Quilting Business

Post from: Blisstree

Springboard Ideas for Your Quilting Business

 Quilters and fabric artists have been asking me questions

Yvonne has just posted a list of Popular November Home Biz Notes Posts You May Have Missed.  To make it easier to locate those you’ll find helpful, Yvonne has categorized them.  (I’m so fortunate to have such an organized co-blogger!)

If you can’t find the information you seek there, check out other blogs on the Business Channel.  Also, let me know of other questions you have.

Other Related Posts:

Staying Excited and Motivated in Your Quilting & Fabric Art Ventures

Do Quiltmakers and Quilt Businesses Need Resumes?

Mistakes to Avoid in Your Quilting Business

Post from: Blisstree

Links for Quilters With Business Questions

Kelly, at b5media’s Taxgirl, will be answering year end tax questions about charitable donations, individual tax planning or reporting.  For submitting your question, Ask the Taxgirl.

You also may want to visit Kelly’s Taxgirl blog at the b5media Business Channel for tax questions in general.

Post from: Blisstree

Quilters, Tax Time Is Coming!

Quilting moms (and grandmoms) do work.  Bridget Wright, at the new b5media blog, Biz Chicks Rule, addresses this topic, Really, Really, I DO Really Work!  I’ve also discussed, at Home Biz Notes, how work at home moms can feel and look professional.

Since more and more women (and men) are working from home nowadays, we don’t run into this mindset so much.  However, it’s still there to some extent. 

How have you handled this situation, when you’re torn between needing to meet a deadline with a quilting or fabric art project and requests on your time from friends and family ?

Post from: Blisstree

Quilting Moms (and Grandmoms) Do Work

                          Those of you with friends and family who consider your quilting and fabric arts “just” a little hobby, may be interested in checking out the periodic myth destroying taking place at Home Biz Notes.  Co-blogger Yvonne Russell came up with the idea and readers are sharing the myths about home businesses that are untrue.

Many quilters are involved in this art for the pure enjoyment it adds to their lives. However, for others, this interest evolves into a small (and perhaps eventually a large) business whether it’s making products, teaching classes, giving talks, writing books, or producing a TV show.

You probably will encounter along the way some of the myths that Yvonne talks about in this series about home business myths.  You even could share your experience with her by leaving a comment or writing her over at Home Biz Notes.

The latest, Home Business Is Not Just a Cushy Job, explores the realities of a home business and and destroys the myth that it’s total fun every minute.  (In my case, making quilts for customers generally was enjoyable…but not taking a quilt apart, removing the batting, and putting in new because it seeped through the fabric in tiny tufts.  All this renovating was done at my time and expense!  However, the customer was totally pleased with the results.) 

What experiences in myth destruction have you had?

Post from: Blisstree

Quilters – Check Out the Myth Destruction at Home Biz Notes

At Home Biz Notes, I’ve written a post on this topic, Home Business Owners Should Consider Retirement Plans,  I also refer to Miranda’s information at Yielding Wealth which will provide you with data and details.  It’s often puzzling to know what you should do about a retirment plan.  Hopefully these two blog posts will start you on the track of thinking about your future as you develop a successful quilting related business.

Post from: Blisstree

Retirement Plans for Quilters

Celine at Pimp Your Work has some good tips about writing e-mails in her post, 7 Ways to Make Your E-mails Unprofessional.  She writes sort of “tongue in cheek,” but has some very valid points to make.  I hope you aren’t practicing any of these!

Take time to use the proper English (or other language) you’ve hopefully learned in school and let readers know you care about accuracy, professionalism, and neatness. 

I’ve even seen writers express the idea that they don’t need to proof their e-mails.  “After all, that’s not serious writing,” they comment about casual ones.  This might be true and is okay about those to close friends and family.

However, just about any other writing on the Internet might be seen by others.  You never know who could be in that online group, chat group, or reading your blog.  For a quilter/writer..maybe the editor who had expressed interest in your book.  For a quilter who sells items…perhaps a customer who now wonders if you’re careless with your work.

Take time to think about your e-mail and who may see it.

(Oops!  Have I made any errors in this post?)

Post from: Blisstree

Do Your Quilting E-mails Reflect Professionalism or Sloppiness?

“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 not be able to use all of these.  However, take a look and begin thinking about those that could apply to you.  Kelly also offers excellent advice at her Taxgirl blog.

Post from: Blisstree

Tax Tips for Quilting, Fabric Art & Other Craft Businesses

On the b5media Business Channel, we wrote posts about mistakes to avoid in your business and business related endeavors. 

You might want to check out, at Home Biz Notes,  my list of 9 Mistakes a Home Business Owner Shouldn’t Make and see if any of these apply to you.  Or perhaps you can use them to make your business more successful. 

These tips can apply to many ventures, whether  it’s making quilts and fabric art for sale, operating an online quilt shop, or running a walk-in fabric and supply store.

Post from: Blisstree

Mistakes to Avoid in Your Quilting Business