Start a Manufacturing Business at Home
From craft hobbyists to woodworkers, metal workers or painters, almost any creative endeavor can form the basis of a home-based manufacturing business. Starting your own home-based manufacturing business requires courage, persistence and some basic manufacturing skills, but anyone willing to learn the basics can succeed. A home-based manufacturing business provides flexible work hours and low overhead, making it an ideal business for home-bound entrepreneurs to begin.
Instructions
1. Choose the type of product you'll be making based on your interests, knowledge and skills. Even if you've never made anything before, there are countless products you can make, from wood products or furniture to artwork and home-made crafts. Even food items or computers can be manufactured at home. Brainstorm a list of possible product ideas, then narrow your list down to one or more at which you can truly excel.
2. Check with your city hall or planning commission regarding local regulations or restrictions on home-based businesses. As a rule, residential neighborhoods are zoned to prevent retail businesses, but home-based businesses that don't create disruptive noise, fumes or traffic are permitted. Be sure that whatever your product, you adhere to all relevant rules and regulations regarding how it is manufactured. Food items especially are heavily regulated.
3. Create a dedicated work area in your home that's exclusively dedicated to your business. Ideally, a spare bedroom or basement area where you can work undisturbed makes an excellent home work space. Even if it's just a closet, keeping all of your business-related work and materials together will prevent you from having to search for tools, materials, designs and working space when you're ready to sit down to work.
4. Make some samples of each of your products that can be shown to prospective buyers. You may want to make several of each product so you can show only your very best work. Take pictures of your best samples to include on promotional flyers or brochures, or to include in online classified ads or websites. Whether you'll have many items on hand for immediate sale or not, always have at least one sample available to demonstrate to new customers.
5. Set the price of each of your items, being careful to factor in all of the material costs as well as the time it takes you to make each one. You may want to begin setting prices based on how much money you'd like to earn for each working hour. Don't forget to include the time that you'll spend promoting and selling your work as well as the time it takes to manufacture it.
6. Design business cards, stationary, flyers and brochures that you can use to promote your new business. Each item you use should attractively and professionally represent your products and business. Never use promotional materials with misspellings, typos or other errors. Your products will be judged by the quality of these aids, so may you want to hire a graphic designer to help you create professional materials.
7. Market your product as broadly as you can. Some places to consider marketing your products are craft shows, art galleries, furniture or gift stores and local festivals. You can also sell a many items one on one as your share your business with family, friends and acquaintances, or online with websites like Craigslist, Ebay, Etsy or with your own dedicated business website.
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