Hiring Crafts Employees or Subcontractors!

Hiring Crafts employees or subcontractors..

This is something you may need to consider if you end up doing your business with the dinner dishes, and taking phone calls while dressing your kids!.. or making business calls in your jammies!..

I know in the beginning of a crafts business, there is no money to spend on hiring crafts employees!.. but if you sit down, and break up your day into your categories of duties.. you need to ask yourself some questions:

Could I do more of my crafts and the things I feel most qualified at if I hired crafts employees to help?

Would I save time and be able to focus on what I am best at if I hired crafts employees?

Would I be able to get more customers or make more money if I hire crafts employees to help?

If you answered YES to these questions.. then start considering.. why not start out by "sub-contracting" this is easier on the paperwork, you do not need to do deductions etc.. especially if you only need someone sometimes.. What if you are busiest in the summer getting ready for craft shows for the fall?.. Find someone who also has their own business that could invoice you for their time.. you pay them on their terms, but you can now focus on what is important to you and your business.. examples would be, why not hire a book keeper?.. you just pile up your receipts and hand them to this book keeper on a weekly, monthly schedule.. now your hands are free to create!.. or find someone to cut out your patterns, especially if you have tons of prep for your creations.. this is where family can come in handy!..

The one thing to keep in mind though is that there is a line between a sub-contractor and an employee.. if you need someone on a regular basis all year round, then its best to talk to your accountant about how to hire and pay deductions for this employee.. if you are at this point, that you need people everyday, then you are doing some serious crafting business!.. and its best to have an accountant that does your business tax return and that you can ask these questions..

If you are only in need of some occasional help, then a subcontractor is the way to go.. Check with the local craft supply store, or some of your crafts friends.. you might find that there is someone out there that makes their business, by helping businesses like yours!.. even check with the temp agencies, you pay them one bill, they take care of their own temp workers.. still make sure and check with your accountant or lawyer as to what type of insurances you should carry to have people working in your home or studio.. dot all your 'I's and cross all your 'T's.. keep your paperwork straight, and you could end up with a great TEAM with your crafts business.. giving you time to focus on the part of the business you love to do!

Many businesses have been known to fail, because the owner just did not keep up... not because they didn't have the talent or know how.. so don't let it get to the point of "burn out" before you decide you need some help!

If your business has grown enough to warrant help, then you should have an accountant and a lawyer anyways!.. someone that you can ask questions to.. ask around for some referrals.. from other small businesses like yours..

Now that you have your team assembled, your legals taken care of and your money and taxes being taken care of by the pro's.. now START CREATING!.. you can now be focused!