Can I make a pottery business?

Pottery is one of the best hobbies that can be turned into a profitable enterprise. Starting a pottery enterprise requires neither large sums of money nor extraordinary abilities. As long as you have knowledge of the fundamentals of pottery making, practice, and basic apparatus, you can start selling your art as a side gig or as a full-time endeavor.

This mini-guide provides fundamental information on how to start a pottery business, separated into three categories: the space and equipment you’ll need, the legal requirements for starting a business*, and how to market and sell your art.

The area and equipment, including clay, wheels, kilns, and other instruments.

While you will need your own equipment to launch a pottery enterprise, you do not need your own studio. Any space where you can work comfortably and safely can serve as your pottery studio, including a spare room, the cellar, the garage, or even the attic.

As your business expands and profits grow, you can always locate more convenient locations. Be sure to read and comprehend the safety information on all equipment you’ll be using, particularly kilns, which require special setup depending on factors such as heat, size, and voltage. Here* you can learn more about kilns and safety.

Regarding equipment, much depends on the types of items you intend to create and the techniques you employ to create your art.

Evidently, clay will be required. If you are already considering establishing a pottery business, you are likely a subject matter expert. If you would like to read more, you can find everything you need to know about clay for pottery crafting on this page.

Using handbuilding techniques, it is always possible to create pottery without the use of significant equipment. However, if you are going to establish a business, you will need a pottery wheel and a kiln, as they speed up and improve the efficiency of production.

1. Here is a guide on what to look for when purchasing a pottery wheel if you are still unsure about which wheel to purchase.
2. Kilns are available in a variety of configurations. It depends on how many items you intend to discharge simultaneously. We sell pottery furnaces ranging in size from 0.11 to 53 cubic feet at Soul Ceramics.

The legal procedures to start a new business

In the United States of America, the legal requirements and filing fees for establishing a new enterprise vary by state. You can operate your business as a sole proprietorship or register as a Limited Liability Company, or LLC.

Being a sole proprietor means that you create and sell your art on your own; there is no separation between you and your business, and as a result, the money you earn from selling pottery is taxed at your personal tax rate. A limited liability company, on the other hand, is a distinct legal entity that is taxed separately and has its own tax identification number. Therefore, technically you will not sell the pottery, but rather the LLC will.

One option may be preferable to the others. It depends on the size of your pottery business, the amount of money it generates, how you wish to be taxed, how you wish to safeguard your assets, and a number of other variables.

Promoting and selling your art: marketing for pottery businesses

Marketing is the sole most important tool for generating sales if you wish to launch a business.

There are a variety of digital and traditional marketing strategies that can help you sell pottery.

However, digital marketing is the best option for small enterprises with limited resources.

Digital marketing includes promoting your pottery business via social media, your own website, an eCommerce store, or other ecommerce platforms and marketplaces. Compared to renting a showroom or other type of retail location, selling pottery through digital platforms is by far the most cost-effective option for those who are planning to launch a small business from scratch.

You can sell pottery online in a variety of methods. You can create your own eCommerce store and promote it independently, or you can sell your art through a well-known and trafficked ecommerce platform/marketplace in exchange for a commission.

Using Shopify, you can, for instance, establish your own eStore and list your products on your own website. Then, you could generate traffic by running paid ads on Facebook and Instagram, by establishing a strong social media presence and directing your followers to your website, or by employing content marketing strategies to generate organic traffic.

Etsy, on the other hand, is an example of a great ecommerce platform where you can easily establish an account and begin selling pottery without having to create a full website or run ads.

Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade goods and craft supplies where artists, such as potters, can offer and market their products. It is not free; fees are assessed based on the items sold. To get started, you only need to pay 20 cents per listing. Yes, 20 cents!

You can learn more about Etsy and how to sell your pottery there by reading the information provided here.

If you want to learn more about creating and promoting your own eCommerce store, you can read Shopify’s guide to launching an online business.

If you need assistance selecting the proper equipment to launch your pottery enterprise, we can assist you. Check out our products page to view all of the novice and professional pottery wheels and kilns available in our store. You can always reach out to us, and we’ll help you choose the best equipment to launch your pottery business based on your unique requirements.