Craft Business Survival Kit:

Tools of the Trade

If you are going to have a successful small business, there are certain tools that you must have.  I understand, entirely too well sometimes, how difficult it can be to operate on a shoestring budget. I am listing several resources that are both functional and affordable.

It is imperative that you portray your business as professional if you are serious about making it work. Don't worry, there's only a couple of things that you really need, but you don't want to shortcut them. Take the time to read over this. Your business is worth it.

It's your choice which companies that you decide to go with. Regardless of which companies you select, some of the tools themselves are essential if you want to own a prosperous home business.

Business Phone

If there's any way possible, you need a phone dedicated to your business. You'll need a phone # on your business cards, when you submit your items to catalogs, wholesalers, etc... You know the old saying, you only have one chance to make a first impression. You don't want your three year old to answer the phone with the TV blaring in the background when you finally get that "make it or break it" call.

The most obvious way to get a dedicated phone is to get another telephone line added to your home, but this can get expensive with the monthly charges. Don't worry, we've found a couple of other ways to do it without breaking the bank!  Find out more

Professional Looking Photos

If you sell online, sell to wholesalers, try to get your product in catalogs or do fundraisers, you will need good quality photos. Unless you're a photographer on the side, there will be a huge difference between the photos you take with your family camera and professional product photos.

Regardless of how you sell your crafts, sooner or later, you will need to get your products photographed by someone that has all the right equipment. Until you make that commitment, let us give you a few tips on taking product photos at home.

Fax Line

Faxing documents is still commonplace. If you don't have a fax line, it would not be a bad idea to get one. This is easy with the technologies of today. For a very small fee, you can even get a fax # where the faxes just dump into your email with no equipment to buy. Check out the different solutions to this problem.

Business Cards

Probably one of the cheapest things you can do to make you feel like you have your own small business is get some business cards. I know that may sound cheesy, but trust me on this one. Get some. You'll see what I mean. Oh yea, in addition to making you feel good, they'll also come in handy to give out. When you are in business, people expect you to have a business card.

I've got a few sources that you can try. Some free, Some low cost. Either way, you really need to get some business cards if you are serious about your business. More...

Website

You don't have to have a website right away, but it will really simplify things for you. It's so much easier to refer someone to your site than to try so send information through the mail. In the "Instant" world that we live in, people do not like to wait on anything. They want convenience. They want quick access to information and products.

Websites don't have to be difficult or cost a fortune. Find out who makes it easy for you. More...

Craft Business Magazines

If you love what you do, then chances are that you love learning more about it. That's great because, if you're going to succeed in your business, you need to continuously be learning. One highly recommended way of doing this is to receive periodicals specifically related to your business. The super part about this is, if you do have a business, these magazines may actually be tax deductible! I am going to let you in on my absolute favorite place to get magazines! I have personally ordered numerous magazines from them. I am a comparative shopper and their prices have always been SUPER almost to the point of unbelievable! And Yes, I actually did receive the magazines. Get My Recommendations Here- You'll love these magazines regardless of where you purchase them! Take a Quick Look and see for yourself.