How to Start Your Own Wire Jewelry Business

Making wire jewelry is a fun and fulfilling hobby. If enjoy it, you might have considered turning it into a business. After all, beautiful jewelry sells well, and what could be better than making a living doing something you love to do?

As businesses go, a jewelry business is fairly easy to set up. You can do the work in your own home, and there are lots of places where you can sell without having to pay high monthly rent. It doesn't require lots of expensive equipment, and you can do your work on your own schedule. You can even run your jewelry business while working at a job outside the home if you like. 

Still, there are some things you'll need to do to get started. Here's a quick rundown of the steps to take.

1. Come up with a business plan. You don't have to write a formal one unless you're seeking a loan or investors, but it's good to start out with some idea of where you plan to take your business. Determine how you'll come up with the money needed to get started, where you will sell your jewelry, and how you will market your business.

2. Decide how you will set up your business. In most cases, a sole proprietorship will work out fine, and you don't have to do any paperwork to set it up. You'll just need to do some things differently when you file your taxes.

3. Get a business permit if needed. Requirements vary by location, so check with your local government. Even if you don't have to have a business permit, you might want to register a DBA (doing business as) name so that you can set up things like a business checking account.

4. Look for places to sell your wares. Flea markets and craft fairs are good places to get started locally. If you want to sell online, you could set up your own website, sell on marketplaces such as eBay or Etsy, or both.

5. Have some marketing materials such as business cards and brochures printed. If you're on a tight budget, you might want to print your own when starting out. But when you have the money, having them done professionally will boost your image.

6. Start a mailing list. You can send emails to your customers very cheaply. Direct mail costs a bit more, but it can be very effective.

Starting a wire jewelry business can be done without a great deal of expense. Yet it has the potential to be very lucrative! If you love making jewelry and would like to have greater control over your time and your income, a home-based jewelry business might be for you.