Tips for Starting a Pottery Business

by Maren Mikaelsen

Despite being one of the oldest professions in the world, pottery making is still a highly valued skill in a world that’s constantly looking to the past for solutions to many of today’s problems. There has, in fact, never been a better time to begin a business in pottery thanks to the wide reach of social media, business tools, and international online markets where just about every tool and material needed can be bought and delivered in just a few days.

But starting the business and finding success is the most difficult part of the process, and it all comes down to making use of the right tips and hints to get everything rolling.

Starting out

Starting a successful pottery business requires a mix of two main aspects: a talent for creating pottery that people would be willing to spend money on, and having enough business sense to know how much to charge, how to deal with customers, and what kind of markets to target. Skill is the first aspect that needs to improved before trying to start a business. This can mean taking the time to practice and refine any pottery-related talents, and to invest the capital necessary to have access to the best tool and materials that a successfully run business would require.

The Costs Involved

The costs needed to start up a business can pile up quickly, but they can be cut down slightly depending on a few factors. The first is the tools that are needed: should the very highest quality tools be used, or will cheaper tools be fine for the indefinite future? The place where the pottery is created should also be of considering: setting up shot at home or garage, or renting out a small studio until things start to take off.

Other equipment that a new pottery business will need includes:

  • Hand tools
  • Carving and decorating tools
  • Colourants and glazes
  • Different wheels
  • Work tables
  • Storage and display areas, which includes a place for damp pieces
  • A kiln, which is arguably the most expensive part of the tool-set
  • Pug mill, which can cost in the range of thousands
  • A computer with access to the internet for online marketing
  • Materials, such as clay
  • Gloves, overalls, shoes, etc.

The Steps Needed to Start

  1. Planning the business: Creating a clear and concise plan for the future and sticking to it as much as possible

  1. Sort out the legal stuff: Make sure that a new business is up to code with all legal requirements
  2. Register for tax: All official businesses are legally required to apply for business tax
  3. A business bank account: Important for businesses as it can give access to bigger loans and other facilities
  4. Permits and licences: For creating, selling, and distributing within the law
  5. Creating a brand: A brand that customers will recognise instantly
  6. Establishing a presence online: For buying materials, social media management, and selling.