Startup Craft Business Advice

devonian20

Hello
I am currently looking into starting a small craft business where children would be able to come in and paint / make things. 

My question is around the type of business as I don’t really understand the types. Im cautious about being personally responsible if things didn’t work out. Can anyone advise?

lincroft1710

By "type of business" do you mean the option of being a sole trader or forming a limited company.?

DullGreyGuy

There is no way to totally distance yourself from it. Most will use a limited company structure to try and reduce their liabilities but 1) its not flawless and 2) some will want director guarantees from such a small company simply because otherwise they could just walk away.

Obviously adding working with children adds complexity and likely costs

Mistral001

Do such businesses exist?  I suspect they don't and that they don't for good reasons. 

Savvy_Sue

Mistral001 said:

Do such businesses exist?  I suspect they don't and that they don't for good reasons. 

There used to be a thriving 'paint a pot' business where children could decorate a piece of pottery. 

I don't know if that's what you mean by 'such businesses' ...

DullGreyGuy

Mistral001 said:

Do such businesses exist?  I suspect they don't and that they don't for good reasons. 

For children?

There are plenty (in London anyway) for adults. For kids the options tend to be more limited but certainly some exist such as painting plates etc. 

In less discrete circumstances clearly many playgroups etc do craft activities with kids and so in theory its doable unless the education setting gives any dispensations 

Mistral001

Savvy_Sue said:

Mistral001 said:

Do such businesses exist?  I suspect they don't and that they don't for good reasons. 

There used to be a thriving 'paint a pot' business where children could decorate a piece of pottery. 

I don't know if that's what you mean by 'such businesses' ...

I was thinking that painting is something that children do at school or a home anyway and hence perhaps not seen by parents as somthing that they need to pay for separately.

DullGreyGuy

Mistral001 said:

Savvy_Sue said:

Mistral001 said:

Do such businesses exist?  I suspect they don't and that they don't for good reasons. 

There used to be a thriving 'paint a pot' business where children could decorate a piece of pottery. 

I don't know if that's what you mean by 'such businesses' ...

I was thinking that painting is something that children do at school or a home anyway and hence perhaps not seen by parents as somthing that they need to pay for separately.

The one that used to be near us you painted it with proper ceramics paint and they then fired it for you to make it a usable piece that the paint wont come off in the dishwasher etc. Not sure how many have kilns to offer that nor how many really want a mug with a permanent painting by their 5 year old 

They also did pottery (hand building) but again its making something robust out of earthenware or use fimo type plastic clay at home thats less robust but can be made at home.

Theirs wasnt aimed just at kids and they'd been going for some time. No idea on if their revenue was mainly from the craft or cafe side of the business.

Savvy_Sue

DullGreyGuy said:

The one that used to be near us you painted it with proper ceramics paint and they then fired it for you to make it a usable piece that the paint wont come off in the dishwasher etc. Not sure how many have kilns to offer that nor how many really want a mug with a permanent painting by their 5 year old 

No, me neither, but I was touched to find that my mother still had a thumb pot (or was it a worm one?) made when I was 11, at school. So touched that I was unable to dispose of it, and it sits on my desk at work full of paperclips. 

I am also still using tea towels on which the boys and all their classmates drew their faces in primary school. They still have some entertainment value. 

I fear our own boys will find less to treasure. There's a coaster, and a very few pieces of 'art', but they were never that much into making and creating, except with Lego and K'nex! 

The pottery place I remember may well be the one DullGreyGuy is thinking of too, at least very similar. Some children would hold their birthday party there, so everyone would come away with a reminder of the day. 

[Deleted User]

@devonian20 how are the plans and ideas progressing ?