Home business ideas can come from anywhere at any time. They can even come from a passionate hobby. Do you knit or crochete? Try your hand at becoming an Instructor and get paid for doing what you love.
A home business idea formed while reading A Good Yarn by Debbie Macomber. I had read the first book in this series, The Shop on Blossom Street, I suspect the idea started, or blossomed (pun intended) with that book. The gist of the story is a woman opens a yarn shop; to supplement incoming dollars she decides to offer knitting lessons in the shop. The store, the lessons and the people she meets, changes her life. Giving classes in knitting is a great idea for anyone who is proficient in this craft. I am not. However that did not stop me from becoming yarn curious.
I did some searching for yarn prices, pattern prices, knitting needles etc. I found that yarn can be inexpensive or quite pricey depending on what you are looking for. Of course it makes sense to start beginner efforts with inexpensive yarn, but not so inexpensive (cheap) that the project items made are not wearable or useful.
Getting started
You could supply the yarn and the knitting needles and charge a larger fee for your inclusive lessons, or allow attendees to bring their own supplies and charge for the lessons only. Allowing people to buy their own supplies may present a problem if they are not familiar with needle sizes, weight of yarn and other information that would make them informed knitters.
Hold a class to help people get acquainted with the knitting process and to learn what supplies are needed to get started. If there is a yarn shop in your area, you may want to approach the owner with a suggestion that they offer knitting lessons if they are not already doing so. You of course will be the instructor. A back room in the store would be ideal for a class. This way students would purchase supplies from the knitting shop, perhaps with a percentage of the total purchase. If the shop owner does not want to be involved with having non-worker’s in her store, don’t give up she may still be willing to give your knitting students a discount on their purchases. This would be an ideal situation for you, the shop owner and your students. You would get the chance to have a business and make money, the shop owner would gain new customers and your students would learn to knit and save money on their supply purchases.
If you do decide to become a craft teacher, you will need to give some thought to what to charge per class. Will you charge per lesson or will you have five or ten lesson classes? Will you offer free snacks or invite students to bring sandwiches and you supply coffee or tea? You will need to think about advertising to get students, local venues such as the library, church, supermarket bulletin boards are usually free. How many students will you want per class?
If you are in a position where you must remain home, this is still an opportunity to make a bit of money. It just takes a little more ingenuity, especially if you have small children. If you have children and your potential clients/students have children you will need space for the little ones to play while mommy knits. Knitting lessons after lunch and near nap time could work best for this.
If you charge $10 to $15 per person per group of lessons, you can do quite nicely with your venture. You would need to check with your tax adviser about starting this type or any type home business to find out about home business taxes, what license, if any, is needed. Your tax advisor can also tell you the difference between being a consultant and a home business owner. Check out NOLO Legal Encycoledia at http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/faqEditorial-29131.html to get an idea about what it involves to have a home businesses.
So, what is your hobby? Do you think you can make a business from it?
See Blossom Street Series - Debbie Macomber (1-5) (The Shop on Blossom Street, A Good Yarn, Susannah's Garden, Back on Blossom Street & Twenty Wishes)
at Amazon or any online or brick and mortar store.
