31 Pros & Cons Of Starting A Handmade Goods Business (2024)
Please note that the data provided in this article are estimates and may vary depending on various factors, and should not be considered as perfect or definitive.
Trying to understand the pros and cons of starting a handmade goods business?
Here are all of the pros and cons of selling handmade goods online:
Learn more about starting a handmade goods business:
Where to start?
-> How much does it cost to start a handmade goods business?
Need inspiration?
-> Other handmade goods business success stories
-> Marketing ideas for a handmade goods business
-> Handmade goods business names
Other resources
-> Handmade goods business tips
Pros Of A Handmade Goods Business
Pros | Description |
---|---|
Flexibility |
You can put as much time into the business as you'd like. If you like the work and have some initial experience, you can start small and manage all aspects of the business on your own. |
Ability to start your business from home |
It's not necessary to have a physical storefront or office space to get your business started. You can do everything from the comfort of your own home, at least in the beginning! |
Scalable |
With businesses and processes changing daily, there will always be demand for new features, products and services for your business. Additionally, there are several different business models and pricing tiers you can implement that will allow you to reach all types of customers. |
Meaningful business connections |
You never know who you will meet as a handmade goods business. This could be the start of an incredible business opportunity! |
High customer retention rates |
Once a customer invests in your product, they've invested their time and energy to utilize your product/service which is highly valuable to them. Typically, your product or service becomes indispensable to your customer. |
High margins |
The gross margins for your handmade goods business are typically around 50%, which is considerably high and allows you to grow your business and manage costs easily. |
Easy to encourage "impulse buy" |
In the handmade goods business, you have a much higher chance of encouraging your customers to buy on impulse - you can easily alter the price, placement, packaging, and promotional value to influence the decision of your buyer. |
Unlimited income potential |
With starting a handmade goods business there is no cap as to how much income you can make. The stronger your business skills and the more energy/time you put into your career, the more you'll make. |
Amazing perks and discounts |
Working in the handmade goods business comes with its perks! As a seller for these products/services, you typically also get to enjoy industry perks and discounts. |
Predictable income stream |
Your businesses income stream tends to be predictable based on the number of customers you have signed up. This makes financial planning and outlooks much more seamless! |
Higher likelihood of getting referrals |
This business is all about referrals, which can be a a very impactful way to attract and retain customers. It's critical that you have a great referral program in place that incentivizes your customers to tell their friends about your product. |
Simple business model |
A handmade goods business has the advantage of a simple business model, which makes launching and building the business more seamless. |
Control your own destiny |
Starting A Handmade Goods Business allows you to control every aspect of your life and make your own dreams come true every day. |
Greater Income Potential |
With this business, the sky is the limit in regards to your income potential. |
You can work from anywhere! |
Not only can you start your handmade goods business from home, you can also run your business from anywhere in the world. This is the entrepreneur dream. |
You can promote and sell your product on Amazon |
Although there are some disadvantages to consider when selling your product on Amazon, there are also a host of benefits. Mainly, Amazon is the world's largest online retailer, so you're bound to tap into new business and reach an entirely new audience. |
You establish yourself as an expert |
With starting a handmade goods business, you establish yourself as an expert in your niche, which builds your credibility. In return, customers are more likely to trust you and refer you to other friends and family. |
Can build solid foundation of clients |
It's unlikely you will have one-off customers as a handmade goods business. Typically, you have a solid foundation of clients that use your product and services regularly. |
Low maintenance customers |
In this industry, customers are known to be very appreciative and low maintenance. This can help with your stress levels and allow you to focus on growing your business. |
Results and revenue happen quickly! |
Unlike other businesses, it can be relatively quick to start seeing results and revenue. As long as you follow all the steps to validate your idea before launch, you are likely to see quick results and ROI. |
Cons Of A Handmade Goods Business
Cons | Description |
---|---|
Motivation of employees |
If you plan to have a sales/content team on board, finding creative ways to motivate them can be a challenge. It's important that you're able to offer great incentives and a good work environment for your employees. |
Stressful work |
This line of work can be stressful for both you and your clients. This type of transaction is a significant financial decision for your client, so expectations are very high for you. Although this career path can be very rewarding, it also comes with its challenges and stressful moments. |
Niche Market |
A niche business is not necessarily a bad thing, in fact, it can be the key to your success. However, it can be more challenging and time consuming to find the perfect niche market and target audience. |
Churn |
In this business, customers can cancel their membership or subscription for your services - which can make revenue forecasting challenging and unpredictable. It's important to focus on your churn rates and trends so that you can prevent this as much as possible. |
Time commitment |
With starting a handmade goods business, all responsibilities and decisions are in your hands. Although this is not necessarily a negative thing, work life can take over at times. This can place a strain on friends and family and add to the pressure of launching a new business. |
Difficult to build trust with your customer |
With starting a handmade goods business, there can be minimal face-to-face interaction, which means it can be a lot more difficult to establish trust with your customers. You'll need to go the extra mile with your customer to grab their attention and business. |
Impatient customers |
You may offer an engaging user experience for your customer, but customers expect a lot and may be impatient if they aren't pleased with your product or service. |
Learning Curve |
When you start your own business, you no longer have upper management to provide you with a playbook for your roles and responsibilities. You should know the ins and outs of every aspect of your business, as every decision will come down to you. |
Equipment Breakdowns |
Over the years, your equipment can get damaged, break down, and may need repairs which can be expensive. It's important you prepare for these expenses and try to avoid damages/wear & tear as much as possible. |
Technical issues can be frustrating |
Technical issues are common in this business. If you struggle with the technical side of things, you may want to consider outsourcing this responsibility to save yourself the time and frustration. |
More challenging to earn passive income |
It can be more of a challenge to make passive income in this business. Often times, the amount of revenue you bring in is limited by the amount of time you have in the day. |
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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.