Make Money Crafting: 45+ Profitable Crafts to Sell in 2023

Are you passionate about creating handmade crafts and looking for ways to monetize your skills? The world of crafting offers endless opportunities to make money crafting while doing what you love. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the exciting journey of turning your crafting passion into a profitable business. Get ready to discover various crafts you can make and sell, learn how to price your creations, market your business, and much more!

Key Takeaways

  • Start your craft business with handmade jewelry, home décor and bath products for high demand & great profits.

  • Set competitive prices to attract customers & maximize profits through marketing strategies like special keywords, descriptions, social media & email lists.

  • Manage time effectively by taking breaks throughout the day and staying organized with task management apps.

Crafting as a Business: The Basics

A picture of a craft business owner working on their craft

Embarking on a craft business journey can be a rewarding and lucrative venture for those with a passion for creating handmade items. Grasping the fundamentals of launching a craft business is crucial, particularly if your business strategy includes online sales. One of the most important aspects of a successful craft business is identifying your target market and pricing your DIY crafts accordingly, so they appear reasonable to customers.

Operating a craft business can offer immense satisfaction! Tasks that come with it include posting to social media, updating an online shop, and taking equipment for repairs. There are also legal tasks such as registering your business and filing taxes, which require both time and money. Focusing on the most profitable crafts can help ensure success.

To guarantee your craft business thrives, consider customer demand, set competitive yet profitable prices, obtain necessary business licenses and paperwork, and focus on marketing and branding. Continuously innovate and adapt to market trends, especially when selling handmade crafts.

Finding Your Craft Niche

A picture of a craft business owner looking for a craft niche

In the craft industry, carving out your niche is vital to establish your brand and cater to a specific audience. Some ways to reach potential customers and showcase your crafts include:

  • Opening an Etsy shop
  • Participating in farmer’s markets, craft shows, art shows, and conventions
  • Engaging on social media
  • Selling online through online handmade marketplaces or Shopify.

Identifying a lucrative target market is critical as it ensures a dedicated customer base who are interested in your products and are potential buyers. Sharing your journey and expertise through a craft blog can also help attract potential customers (and help your business make affiliate and ad income).

When selling to retailers outside of your city, consider the shipping costs as an investment in your business growth. Retailers may be more likely to place an order if they know the shipping costs are worth it. This is especially important when you sell handmade crafts online, as shipping can be a significant factor in customer decisions.

Top Profitable Crafts to Make and Sell

A picture of Etsy where craft business owners can sell their crafts online

Items such as handmade jewelry, home décor, and bath products rank high on the list of profitable crafts to manufacture and sell. These crafts have high demand and good profit margins, making them excellent choices for your craft business. Implementing creative ideas in your craft business can help you stand out from the competition and attract more customers. Opening an Etsy store can help you reach a wider audience and increase sales.

Shipping costs and online shopping behavior can be key factors in your success. Consider the following strategies to increase your chances of success:

  • Make several items before selling them and offer various options, including customizable pieces if possible.

  • Reduce overhead costs by cutting unnecessary expenses, which can help increase profits.

  • Track overhead costs to ensure you’re using your resources wisely.

  • Calculate ROI (Return on Investment) to use your time and money more effectively.

  • Focus on crafts that have a high potential to make money, which can ensure a successful business.

Discovering a unique market, producing and selling stickers, crafting paper flowers, customizing plain pet collars, and employing recycled materials are just a few examples of fun crafts that can be both enjoyable to make and profitable to sell. Now let’s dive deeper into the top profitable crafts: handmade jewelry, home décor items, and bath products.

Handmade Jewelry

Handmade jewelry - Make Money Crafting: 45+ Profitable Crafts to Sell in 2023

Jewelry is a popular choice among crafts that make money, especially when you sell online through platforms like Etsy or your own website. Handmade jewelry is one of the most rewarding crafts to turn into a business, with various types of jewelry to make and sell such as:

  • Personalized necklaces

  • Bracelets

  • Clay & wood earrings

  • Pressed flower earrings

  • Metalsmith made jewelry

  • Barrettes and hair clips

  • Wedding jewelry

  • Body jewelry

  • Ear jackets and climbers

  • Chocker necklaces

  • Beaded jewelry

  • Gemstone jewelry

In addition to these popular items, you can also explore other exciting crafts like wire-wrapped jewelry, which is a fantastic way to get into jewelry making. Essential tools for creating beautiful jewelry include wire cutters and pliers. Beadwork, which is the craft of attaching beads to each other or to a surface one at a time, is another exciting option to explore in the world of handmade jewelry.

When selling crafts that require a lot of materials, remember to factor in material costs for a successful outcome. You can reduce material costs for jewelry making by taking advantage of bulk ordering and being creative with repurposing or recycling secondhand supplies. The costs of starting a jewelry making business can be relatively low. This will depend on the kind of jewelry you’re producing.

Home Décor Items

Make money crafting pillows

Home décor items are popular and profitable crafts to make and sell, offering a variety of craft ideas. You can create:

  • Wooden pieces

  • Wall décor

  • Champagne flutes

  • Christmas wreaths

  • Decorated mugs

  • Pillows

  • Curtains

  • Chairs

  • Tables

  • Table centerpieces

  • Candles and candle holders

  • Frames

  • Rugs

  • Nursery decor

  • Wallpaper

To start making Christmas wreaths, gather thrift store finds or any crafty materials. For creating a design on champagne flutes, painting or printing skills can help you create something truly unique and stunning.

You can get creative and personalize mugs using vinyl, stencils, or even paint. If you want to make many mugs, consider investing in a decal printer. It can offer custom designs that will make your mugs stand out. Another great idea is making handmade custom dry erase boards, which can be an excellent addition to your list of DIY projects to sell. With a wide variety of home décor items to create, you’ll never run out of inspiration.

Bath Products

Handmade soaps

Bath products are another profitable craft category to explore. The process of making bath products is incredibly rewarding, as it involves measuring, melting, and pouring ingredients to produce a slab that can be cut into several bars of soap. You can also make candles, bath bombs, and body scrubs with rich oils and soothing botanicals. Here are some options to make and sell for a profit:

  • Homemade soaps

  • Handmade lip balm

  • Bath bombs

  • Bath product gift sets

  • Nail polish and stick-on nails

  • Sugar scrubs

  • Body butter

  • Essential oil rollers

  • Bath salts

  • Spa travel kits

  • Linen sprays

  • Shower steamers

  • Perfume

  • Wax melts

  • Shower oil

  • Lotion

Selling bath products has many amazing benefits, including creating wonderful gifts and home décor items, offering relaxation and pampering for yourself, and the potential of making money by selling them online.

Pricing Your Crafts for Profit

A picture of a craft business owner pricing their crafts for profit

Setting the correct price for your crafts is a key factor influencing profitability. To set the right prices, consider material costs, labor, and the current market value. When selling crafts wholesale, most retailers expect to buy products at a great price of 50% of the retail cost. To make the most of the shipping fees for your products, consider increasing the price of your product slightly to cover the cost of shipping within your city, and then pass on half of the shipping cost to customers in other provinces.

Material costs, labor costs, and overhead costs can all affect the bottom line of your craft business. It’s important to track these expenses to ensure you’re using your resources wisely and calculating ROI to help you use your time and money more effectively. By considering these factors, you’ll be able to set competitive prices for your crafts that will attract customers and maximize profits.

Marketing Your Craft Business

A picture of a craft business owner marketing their craft business

Effective marketing of your craft business is imperative for drawing in customers and boosting sales. Creative marketing tactics can attract and convince buyers to purchase from you. These tactics include using special keywords in your listing descriptions, providing comprehensive descriptions and taking great photos.

Leverage social media, email marketing, PR marketing, local partnerships, and content creation to maximize the visibility of your products. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook are great for getting the word out about your craft business. In addition, starting an affiliate program for your product business can help drive referrals from content creators.

Blog posts can help your craft business reach the right audience, engage them, and turn them into buyers. Use Pinterest marketing to drive readers and buyers to these posts. A powerful email nurturing plan and providing freebies released over days or weeks can keep your subscribers engaged. An email list is an excellent way to generate revenue, offer helpful information, and showcase your products to potential customers. It’s also a great way to build brand loyalty and drum up excitement. We recommend using Flodesk for email marketing.

Selling Platforms for Your Crafts

goimagine for selling crafts

Selecting an appropriate platform to sell crafts online is necessary to broaden your customer base and optimize sales. You can create an online shop easily, either with a platform like Shopify for your own website, Etsy or goimagine for a marketplace shop, or you can choose to sell in person at craft shows and other events. you can also sell wholesale through sites like Faire. We recommend a combination of these, but having your own website is best if you want to make the most of an email list.

To make your listings stand out, include clear photos and a detailed description of your product. When setting the price, consider the effort and resources you put into the craft and account for shipping and other related costs.

Craft fairs, craft stores, and boutiques, and flea markets are all great venues for showcasing and selling your handmade items locally. Staying active online and in person can help foster trust and inspire buyers to make purchases from you.

Time Management and Productivity Tips for Crafters

A picture of a craft business owner managing their time and productivity

Adopting time management and productivity strategies can assist crafters in maintaining a work-life balance while operating a prosperous craft business. When setting goals and creating a schedule, be realistic and set achievable goals that will keep you motivated. Create a schedule that allows for flexibility and breaks to help you stay energized and motivated.

Taking regular breaks throughout the day can help you stay focused and productive. Additionally, delegating tasks to others when possible can help manage your workload. Staying organized is essential for optimizing your time and maximizing your productivity. Some helpful tips for staying organized include:

  • Using task management apps to keep track of tasks and deadlines

  • Setting calendar reminders for important deadlines and appointments

  • Creating to-do lists to prioritize tasks

  • Breaking larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps

  • Keeping a clean and clutter-free workspace

By implementing these strategies, you can stay organized and make the most of your time.

Expanding Your Craft Business

Broadening your craft business may include introducing new products, penetrating new markets, or partnering with fellow crafters to boost sales and enhance your brand. By exploring the latest trends, trying out innovative materials, or collaborating with other crafters, you can add exciting new products to your craft business.

Actively researching potential customers, attending craft fairs to showcase your products, or utilizing social media to expand your reach to new audiences are strategies you can use to target new markets for your craft business. Forming strategic partnerships, joining a supportive craft collective, or creating a dynamic joint venture are opportunities available to collaborate with other crafters and grow your craft business.

Legal Considerations for Craft Businesses

An image of a person crafting a handmade product, showcasing the potential to make money crafting while considering legal considerations for their craft business.

For craft businesses, legal considerations encompass:

  • Acquiring the required licenses and permits.

  • Understanding tax-related matters to comply with regulations and safeguard your enterprise.

  • Having a privacy policy and a disclosure as key documents for protecting your business and its customers.

In some jurisdictions, you may not need licensing for a small home-based business, but it’s worth looking into whether you need a permit or license to sell crafts at home or on Etsy.

By obtaining the necessary licenses and permits, and understanding the tax implications of your craft business, you can ensure compliance and protect your business from potential legal issues. This will help you build a successful, sustainable, and profitable craft business.

Summary

We’ve covered everything you need to know about making money crafting, from the basics of starting a craft business to finding your niche, pricing your crafts, marketing, and selling your creations. We also shared time management and productivity tips to help you balance work and personal life while running a successful craft business. Additionally, we discussed legal considerations and shared inspiring success stories of crafters who made it big.

Now it’s time to turn your passion for crafting into a profitable business! With determination, creativity, and the knowledge you’ve gained from this guide, you’re well-equipped to embark on the exciting journey of making money crafting. So go ahead, unleash your creativity and start building the craft business of your dreams!

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you really make money crafting?

Crafting can be profitable! Make money doing something you love by starting your own home business. With the right supplies, internet connection, and know-how, you can turn crafting into a lucrative venture.

What crafts are the most profitable?

Creating jewelry, art, photography and soap and candles are the most profitable craft businesses due to their wide appeal and high demand.

What is the best crafting business to start?

If you’re looking to start a craft business, wax melt and candle making or fashion accessory making could be a great option for you. With plenty of other great ideas such as basketry, ceramics & pottery, flower crafts and glass crafts available, there’s sure to be the perfect craft business for you.

How do I price my crafts for maximum profit?

Price your crafts competitively, taking into account material costs, labor, and market value. This will help you attract customers and ensure maximum profits.

What are some of the best online platforms to sell my art and crafts?

Etsy, Shopify, and Facebook Marketplace are great options for selling your crafts and getting them out into the world!