19 Business Ideas For Pottery Makers [2024]
As a pottery maker, you might be exploring new ways to turn your passion into profitable ventures. The year 2024 presents a variety of business opportunities tailored specifically for artisans like you. Whether you are looking to diversify your income streams or scale up your existing business, this guide provides practical ideas to consider.
From online retail platforms to personalized pottery classes, there are numerous avenues where your skills could translate into revenue. By leveraging modern tools and embracing niche markets, you could find new customers and expand your brand's reach. Dive into these ideas to determine which paths align with your goals and resources.
The possibilities are plentiful, whether you're a seasoned potter or just starting out. You could explore collaborations with local businesses, or even venture into offering subscription boxes. Read on to discover actionable insights and tips for making the most out of your pottery-making talent in 2024.
For each business idea, we'll show you real-world examples of other pottery maker businesses to help you see what it takes.
Here's the full list:
1. Start an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As a pottery maker, starting an online course sales business presents a lucrative opportunity to diversify your income while sharing your craft with a global audience. The e-learning market is booming, with projections to surpass $645 billion in the coming years, making it an ideal time to tap into this demand. Whether you're teaching basic pottery techniques or advanced sculpting methods, creating these courses could become a sustainable revenue stream by leveraging platforms built for e-learning. For more detailed insights, check out some success stories from entrepreneurs who have thrived in this space.
Why consider starting an online course sales business?
- You'll create a passive income source by monetizing your skills and knowledge.
- You can reach a wider audience beyond your local community, expanding your influence and customer base.
- Teaching your craft can be deeply rewarding, providing personal and financial fulfillment.
How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.
2. Start a niche website ($107K/month)
As a pottery maker, starting a niche website could be an excellent way to supplement your income and tap into new revenue streams. A niche website would allow you to share your expertise, attract a dedicated audience passionate about pottery, and monetize through various means like affiliate marketing, selling custom tutorials, or ad placements. By focusing on creating valuable content and building a loyal community, you could turn your love for pottery into a thriving online business.
Additionally, running a niche website can offer you creative freedom and scalability. Investing time in SEO and content creation can turn your site into a reliable source of passive income, making it a rewarding and profitable project.
Why start a niche website?
- Share your expertise, building a dedicated following interested in pottery.
- Monetize through several channels like affiliate marketing and ad placements.
- Create passive income streams while enjoying creative freedom and scalability.
For further inspiration, check out these niche website success stories.
How much you can make: $400 — $250,000/month
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
DPW (Digital Procurement World) is a fast-growing conference and community in procurement that has more than tripled in revenue since launching in 2019, capping out the year at €1.8 million, with 95% of their growth coming from inbound traffic leveraging LinkedIn and applying social selling techniques.
3. Start a subscription box business ($97.9K/month)
Starting a subscription box business could be a perfect fit for you as a pottery maker, providing a steady stream of income. Each month, you could curate a unique assortment of your handcrafted pieces, pottery tools, or exclusive glaze recipes, catering to pottery enthusiasts who eagerly anticipate each box. This business model not only showcases your creativity but also fosters a direct and loyal customer base.
For more detailed information on getting started, check out successful subscription box business stories on Starter Story.
Why starting a subscription box business?
- Generate predictable monthly recurring revenue by building subscription-based relationships.
- Educate and inspire your customers with unique, handpicked pottery-related items they can't find anywhere else.
- Grow your brand and reach new audiences by leveraging subscription boxes as a marketing tool.
How much you can make: $400 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $210 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Vowed Box Co. is a line of curated, quirky gift boxes with non-traditional brides in mind, offering four different products that have helped the business become profitable most months since its launch in 2018, with a monthly income of roughly $600.
4. Print on demand business ($411K/month)
Starting a print-on-demand business could be a great way for pottery makers to diversify their income streams. By using dropshipping and production services, you could sell customized apparel, home goods, and other merchandise that features your unique pottery designs without having to maintain an inventory. This allows you to reach a global audience through online platforms like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy while minimizing startup costs and operational hurdles.
Why start a print-on-demand business?
- You could generate passive income by selling products designed once but sold repeatedly.
- You could leverage your existing artistic skills to create unique designs that stand out in the marketplace.
- It requires minimal upfront investment, allowing you to start quickly and scale at your own pace.
For more insights and success stories, visit Starter Story's print-on-demand business section.
How much you can make: $200 — $3,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Founder Roy Kirchner shares how he started an eCommerce business specializing in 3D printing with an initial investment of $65,000, which now averages monthly gross sales of $330,000 and has partnered with international manufacturers and local businesses while offering technical support and education.
5. Start a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
Starting a YouTube channel is an excellent way for a pottery maker to supplement their income and potentially build a full-fledged business. By creating compelling video content, you could share your pottery techniques, tips, and creative process with a global audience, attracting revenue through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise. Your unique skills and experiences as a pottery artist provide endless opportunities for engaging, educational, and inspirational content.
A well-managed YouTube channel not only gives you a platform to showcase your artistry but also allows you to connect with other enthusiasts and potential customers. While building a successful channel requires consistent effort and quality production, the potential financial rewards and personal satisfaction can make it a highly rewarding endeavor. To learn more about starting a YouTube channel, click here.
Why start a YouTube Channel?
- You could create an additional income stream through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.
- It’s a fantastic way to build a personal brand and connect with a global audience.
- Sharing your expertise and passion for pottery can establish you as a thought leader in the niche, opening doors to further opportunities and collaborations.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $333,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of a young entrepreneur from Nigeria who started a profitable blog generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+ through sales of advertising space, sponsored posts, and information products, and shares his strategies for success including a Twitter growth challenge and guest post pitches.
6. Start a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog can be an excellent way for pottery makers to supplement their income by sharing their unique expertise and engaging with a passionate community of like-minded individuals. By identifying a profitable and underserved niche within the broader pottery community, such as eco-friendly pottery techniques or beginner’s guides to wheel-thrown pottery, you could create compelling content that resonates with readers. This platform would not only allow you to showcase your art but also monetize through affiliate links, collaborations with brands, and possibly even speaking engagements.
Why start a niche blog?
- You could generate a passive income stream by monetizing your content through affiliate marketing and brand collaborations.
- Sharing your pottery knowledge and passion can help you establish yourself as an authority, expanding your reach and influence.
- A well-executed niche blog can drive traffic to your online store or classes, increasing sales and engagement across your business.
For more insights on how niche blogs can be profitable, check out this niche blog profitability guide.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $650 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and millions in annual revenue by sharing the stories of entrepreneurs. Pat breaks down the early days and how he grew the business into something that changed his life.
7. Start a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
Starting a stock photography business can be a lucrative and complementary venture for pottery makers. As you create beautiful and unique pottery pieces, you could capture high-quality images of your work and sell them as stock photos to businesses for marketing purposes. This approach allows you to generate additional passive income while showcasing your craftsmanship in a different medium. You can build an impressive portfolio and leverage an online presence to sell your stock photos faster and at profitable margins. For more insights on starting a stock photography business, click here.
Why starting a stock photography business?
- You could diversify your income streams by selling images of your pottery online.
- High-quality photos of your pottery can attract attention to your primary business.
- Photography business can be started with minimal investment and time, making it an ideal side hustle.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $45,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.
8. Create a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
As a pottery maker, developing a mobile app can open up unique opportunities to supplement your income and engage with a broader audience. A well-designed app can offer tutorials, sell your pottery pieces, or even provide tools for users to design their own pottery digitally. With the rise of mobile technology, your app could reach customers globally, enhancing your brand visibility and generating substantial revenue through in-app purchases, subscriptions, or ad monetization.
Creating a mobile app allows you to diversify your income streams and innovate within the pottery-making niche. Whether you offer a virtual pottery studio, educational content, or a marketplace for your creations, the possibilities are vast and exciting.
Why create a mobile app?
- You could reach a wider audience. Mobile apps allow you to connect with potential customers worldwide, not just locally.
- You could diversify your revenue streams. By offering in-app purchases, subscriptions, or ad placements, you can create multiple income sources.
- You could enhance your brand. A mobile app can act as a digital storefront and interactive platform, building stronger customer engagement and loyalty.
For more information on starting a mobile app business and success stories, click here.
How much you can make: $1 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
BACH, an app that plans and books bachelorette parties, has grown from $0 to >$1M net revenue run rate in less than 6 months, gained over 100,000 users in their first 60 days, and has over 40,000 parties using the app this month.
9. Start a dropshipping business ($414K/month)
Starting a dropshipping business can be an excellent way for pottery makers to supplement their income or build an entirely new side business. Since dropshipping doesn't require holding physical inventory, you could sell complementary products like pottery tools, accessories, or even home decor items that align with your niche. By setting up an online store through platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, you could leverage your existing customer base and creative skills to market a diversified range of products while focusing on what you love most – creating pottery.
Starter Story has more about marketing strategies for dropshipping businesses.
Why start a dropshipping business?
- Low startup costs and no need for inventory make it financially accessible.
- Flexibility allows you to focus on pottery while exploring new revenue streams.
- Expands your product line, offering more value to your established customer base.
How much you can make: $6,000 — $3,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $8,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 10 hours/week
Entrepreneur Kamil Sattar has developed multiple six-figure drop shipping businesses, and his company, e-commerce mentoring, specializes in helping others create their own successful companies, with favorite platforms including using Shopify and apps such as Loox reviews and SMSBump.
10. Start a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast can be a fantastic way to supplement your income as a pottery maker. By sharing your expertise, stories, and techniques, you could attract a dedicated audience of pottery enthusiasts and aspiring potters. This opens up opportunities to monetize through sponsorships, donations, and even selling your own pottery products or classes to your listeners.
Why consider starting a podcast?
- You could establish yourself as an expert in the pottery community, increasing your credibility and brand awareness.
- Podcasts provide an intimate platform to engage with your audience and build a loyal fanbase.
- Monetizing a podcast through sponsorships or ads could become a valuable income stream alongside your pottery sales.
For more inspiration on starting your podcast journey, check out some of the successful stories by other podcasters here.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
11. Start an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
Starting an affiliate marketing business is an excellent way for pottery makers to supplement their income or even create a full-fledged side business. By promoting products and services that align with your pottery-making business, you could earn a steady stream of passive income through commissions on sales. This model is particularly appealing for pottery makers who want to leverage their existing audience and provide them with recommendations for tools, materials, and other related products that they already trust and use.
To get started, you'll need to find the right products and brands to partner with. For example, you could become an affiliate marketer for an eCommerce store that sells pottery supplies or even partner with a manufacturer to market their products. This allows you to integrate these products into your content seamlessly, offering value to your audience while earning commissions.
Why starting an affiliate marketing business?
- You could earn passive income by promoting products you already use and trust.
- It’s a flexible business model that complements your existing pottery-making activities.
- By offering helpful product recommendations, you’ll build stronger relationships with your audience.
For more insights on the profitability of an affiliate marketing business, check out this page.
How much you can make: $500 — $773,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $700 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
12. Start an email marketing tool ($992K/month)
As a pottery maker, integrating an email marketing tool into your business could open up new revenue streams and connect you more closely with your customer base. By using email campaigns, you could promote new collections, offer exclusive discounts, and keep your subscribers informed about upcoming workshops or events. An email marketing tool enables you to automate these communications, making it easier to manage your marketing efforts while focusing on creating your pottery.
For further details, you can explore tips for starting an email marketing tool on Starter Story.
Why start an email marketing tool?
- Provides a direct channel to engage with your customers, increasing repeat sales.
- Allows for targeted marketing, enhancing the promotion of your unique pottery pieces.
- Automation features save time, allowing you to focus more on your craft.
How much you can make: $120 — $20,833,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
H-supertools founder Hasan developed a set of free SEO and digital marketing tools generating $2k per month in profit using Google Adsense, affiliate marketing, selling ad spaces, and email, plans to launch a membership option, and has attained over 80k registered users and 300k monthly visits in less than two years.
13. Start a social media automation business ($139K/month)
Imagine managing multiple social media accounts effortlessly while driving engagement and growth. That’s the essence of a social media automation business. For pottery makers, this business could offer a unique blend of creativity and technology, allowing you to tap into the growing demand for automated social media solutions. Services would include scheduling posts, automating interactions, and analyzing data for clients ranging from small businesses to influencers. See success stories of social media automation businesses here.
Why consider a social media automation business?
- You already understand the power of branding and visuals, which are crucial for social media success.
- Automating social media frees up your time, allowing you to focus more on your pottery creations.
- With your creative background, you could offer unique, visually engaging automated content, setting you apart in the market.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
14. Start a cod farming business
As a pottery maker, starting a cod farming business could be an interesting way to supplement your income and diversify your entrepreneurial efforts. With cod being a high-protein, low-fat fish, you could cater to health-conscious consumers, potentially adding to your revenue stream while contributing to sustainable food sources. Moreover, with recent shortages in traditional North-Atlantic cod, tapping into this aquaculture niche might offer ripe opportunities for growth.
Why consider starting a cod farming business?
- Cod farming is experiencing increased demand due to shortages, making now an optimal time to enter the market.
- Diversifying your business with a cod farm could provide a steady supplementary income alongside your pottery sales.
- Running a cod farm could align with your handcrafted, artisanal values by supporting sustainable food resources.
For more details, check out Start a Cod Farming Business.
15. Start an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
Starting an AI-based business solution might seem unrelated to pottery, but it offers unique opportunities for entrepreneurial pottery makers. By leveraging AI, you could streamline various aspects of your pottery business, such as optimizing inventory management, enhancing customer service through chatbots, and personalizing marketing efforts. You don't need extensive tech knowledge, as many platforms offer user-friendly interfaces and robust support, positioning you well to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving market.
Why consider an AI-based business solution?
- Reduce operational costs by automating repetitive tasks like order processing.
- Gain valuable insights into customer preferences and trends to better tailor your offerings.
- Stay ahead of the competition by implementing cutting-edge technology, boosting both efficiency and profitability.
Curious about how to get started? Check out this page on AI-based business solutions and profitability.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $120,000/month
How long does it take to build: 125 days (?)
Mikkelsen Twins grew an online education company from scratch with over 800 students, making over 6-figures in profit every month thanks to their successful program, Audiobook Income Academy 2.0.
16. Start a cold email service business ($170K/month)
For a pottery maker, diversifying your income streams with a cold email service business could be a practical and lucrative endeavor. Leveraging your creative skills, you could craft compelling email campaigns that captivate and engage prospective clients. With the increasing demand for lead generation and targeted marketing, a cold email service offers a scalable business model that complements your artistic pursuits.
Why consider a cold email service business?
- Diversify your income: Balancing your creative pottery business with a rational, strategic marketing service could stabilize and boost your overall earnings.
- Use creative skills: Crafting compelling emails leverages your existing creativity in a new, profit-generating way.
- Market demand: Email marketing is an evergreen field with high demand, providing you with a steady influx of potential clients.
For more on how to succeed in a cold email service business, check out these success stories.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $450,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $200 (?)
How long does it take to build: 35 days (?)
GMass, an email marketing platform that allows users to send cold emails and email marketing campaigns with Gmail, has attracted over 500,000 user signups, including major tech companies like Uber, LinkedIn, and Google, and now generates over $200K in monthly recurring revenue through a successful content marketing strategy and focused ad spend.
17. Start a health and wellness app ($108K/month)
As a pottery maker, branching out into the health and wellness industry by creating an app could be a unique and profitable venture. Pottery-making already encourages mindfulness and creativity, qualities that naturally align with mental well-being—a key component of a health and wellness app. By leveraging these synergies, you could design a platform that integrates your artistry with personalized wellness routines, mental health exercises, and nutritional plans, offering users a holistic approach to improving their overall health.
Starting this business also allows you to tap into different facets of artistic expression, such as creating calming visual content or therapeutic exercises inspired by pottery. For more insights, check out some health and wellness app success stories that showcase how entrepreneurs have achieved success in this field.
Why start a health and wellness app as a pottery maker?
- You could create a distinctive niche by combining artistic mindfulness with wellness programs.
- Your app could offer unique features like pottery-inspired meditation or art therapy exercises.
- You'll diversify your income streams, reaching a broader audience interested in both health and creativity.
How much you can make: $600 — $300,000/month
How long does it take to build: 200 days (?)
Founder and CEO of SelfDecode, Joe Cohen, explains how his company helps people discover personalized diet, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations based on DNA and lab tests; generating about $2.7 million in revenue over the past year and raising $8 million in a crowdfunding campaign, SelfDecode provides personalized health recommendations prioritized on unique genetic variants, marking the future of healthcare.
18. Start a niche investment platform ($167K/month)
Starting a niche investment platform can be an innovative way for pottery makers to supplement their income and diversify their business ventures. By leveraging modern technology, you could create a transparent trading ecosystem that caters to specialized investors interested in alternative asset classes, such as fine art and collectibles. This approach not only taps into your existing network and passion for artistry but also provides recurring revenue through transaction fees and premium subscriptions. For more details and insights, you can explore startup costs and success stories.
Why consider a niche investment platform?
- You can merge your creativity with technology, offering a unique service to art enthusiasts and collectors.
- It opens up a new revenue stream through transaction fees and premium subscriptions.
- Provides an innovative way to cater to clients who seek diversified investment opportunities amid volatile stock markets.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $600,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Equity Residences is a luxury real estate investment fund that has raised $40 million from over 200 investors, offering them access to a portfolio of luxury vacation homes for investment and personal use, with a minimum investment of $161,500 and plans to acquire a further twenty residences ranging from $1.5M to $4M.
19. Start a wordpress plugin business ($33.4K/month)
Whether you’re a seasoned pottery maker or just getting started, diversifying your income streams can provide financial stability and growth potential. Venturing into the creation of WordPress plugins can be a great side business. If you’ve found a way to solve a problem within your pottery business, such as inventory tracking or customer engagement, you could develop a WordPress plugin to address that issue and sell it on platforms like CodeCanyon.
Why start a WordPress plugin business?
- You could leverage your unique industry insights to create plugins tailored for artists and crafters.
- WordPress plugins offer a path to a passive income stream while you focus on your pottery.
- Developing and selling plugins online can expand your technical skills and provide a creative outlet beyond pottery.
How much you can make: $120 — $120,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Wheely Sales CEO Josh created a lucky wheel popup that has grown revenue from $0 to $600/month in just 4 months since getting started and has attracted over 1.1 million users to his customers’ websites, all while proving that when it comes to creating a product, competition is validation.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
