Creating a business plan as an artist might feel overwhelming, but it's essential if you want to turn your creative work into a sustainable business. I've broken down a practical, numbers-driven approach into seven steps you can follow to stay focused and profitable.
Key Points
- Create a detailed inventory of your artwork and creative services to understand what you can sell.
- Break down income goals and sales targets to determine how many pieces you need to sell and at what price.
- Build a professional artist website with clear pricing and a straightforward buying process.
- Diversify income streams with art licensing, prints, and commissions to stabilize earnings.
- Grow an email list and prioritize regular, engaging newsletters to build audience relationships and drive sales.
Business Plan for Artists
Creating a solid business plan is essential for artists who want to build a sustainable and profitable creative career. This guide breaks down the steps you need to take, from inventory planning to marketing strategies, helping you turn your passion into a thriving business.
Step 1: Make an Inventory of What You're Selling
Before anything else, you need to know exactly what you're offering. This includes your original artwork, prints, commissions, and any creative services you might provide. List each item and determine how many pieces you're realistically able to create and sell in a given period. Your inventory directly affects how much you can earn, so be specific.
Think about what you're already making and how you can diversify your offerings without overwhelming yourself. For instance, prints and limited edition series can help you sell at multiple price points without creating new work from scratch.
Here's a detailed guide on how to make prints at home.
Step 2: Understand Your Numbers
Art is a numbers game. If you want to make $50,000 a year from your art, you need to break that down into sales goals. Let’s say you sell paintings at $500 each — you’ll need to sell 100 pieces to hit your goal. If you also sell prints for $50, those can help fill in the gaps.
Your audience size matters too. If you have 1,000 people on your email list and 3-5% of them purchase art around $250, you can calculate expected earnings. Higher-priced commissions and original work often come from repeat collectors who already trust your work.
Here's why you should never use a pricing calculator to price your art.
Step 3: Price Your Art Strategically
Pricing isn’t just about the size of your work or the hours you spent creating it. It’s about perceived value, your audience's purchasing power, and your sales goals. Avoid underpricing to make quick sales — it devalues your work and makes scaling harder.
A better pricing strategy includes:
- Setting price tiers: originals, prints, commissions.
- Factoring in production costs and profit margins.
- Being consistent in how you present prices across platforms.
Need help with this? Check out my artwork pricing guide here.
Step 4: Build a Strong Artist Website (Your Business Hub)
Your artist website is the foundation of your business. It's where sales happen, so it needs to be clear, professional, and easy to buy from. List your prices, make purchasing straightforward, and include a shop section where people can directly buy your work.
Key pages to include:
- Portfolio showcasing your best work.
- Clear sales pages for each item.
- About page with your artist bio (Here's some bio inspiration).
- Contact page for commissions or inquiries.
Learn more about optimizing your artist website for SEO here.
Step 5: Test Launch Strategies for Sales
A well-planned art launch involves presenting a new collection or body of work as a timed event, creating urgency and excitement among your audience. By selling your next collection as a limited-time launch event rather than keeping it perpetually available, you can build anticipation, generate more sales, and encourage collectors to act quickly. This strategy often works well when paired with pre-launch teasers and exclusive early access for your email subscribers.
Steps for a successful launch:
- Announce your work to your email list first.
- Build anticipation through social media teasers.
- Open sales for a limited window.
Test different launch strategies to find what works best for your audience. Typically, collectors respond well to scarcity and exclusivity.
Step 6: Diversify Your Income Streams
Relying solely on original art sales can be limiting because it often requires constant creation of new work to maintain income. Expanding into art licensing, limited edition prints, and teaching workshops can stabilize your income by creating multiple revenue streams. Art licensing, for instance, allows you to earn royalties from the same piece of art repeatedly without needing to part with the original piece, offering a more passive form of income.
Consider exploring:
Step 7: Grow Your Art Newsletter
Your email list is your most valuable sales tool. Social media platforms can change or block your reach, but your email list gives you direct access to your audience. Aim to send at least one weekly newsletter sharing your process, behind-the-scenes insights, and new work.
Tips for effective art newsletters:
- Share personal stories and insights into your creative process.
- Include calls to action (like inviting them to collect new work).
- Highlight testimonials and past collector experiences.
See examples of great artist newsletters here.
A focused business plan keeps you from guessing and helps you grow your art career with confidence. Whether you’re just starting or refining your approach, following these seven steps will help you build a creative business that lasts.
Example of a Business Plan for Artists
Creating a business plan as an artist is essential for building a sustainable and profitable career. This plan outlines clear steps for financial goals, marketing strategies, and income diversification, helping artists stay focused on growth and creativity.
Section | Details |
---|---|
Business Overview | I am a professional artist specializing in original paintings, prints, and commissions. My focus is on creating unique, high-quality artwork while diversifying income streams through art licensing and limited edition print sales. |
Inventory and Offerings |
– Original artwork priced between $500 – $2,000. – Limited edition prints ranging from $50 – $200. – Custom commissions starting at $750. |
Financial Goals |
– Annual revenue target: $50,000. – Monthly revenue goal: $4,200. – Sell 100 original pieces or equivalent combinations of prints and commissions. |
Marketing and Sales Strategies |
– Develop a professional artist website for direct sales. – Grow an email list with a weekly newsletter sharing artwork updates and sales announcements. – Utilize social media to build awareness and drive traffic to my website. |
Diversification Plan |
– Art licensing agreements with royalty-based income. – Teaching workshops and offering instructional materials. |
Budget |
– Materials: $5,000 annually. – Website hosting and maintenance: $500. – Marketing: $1,500 annually. |
How do I write an art business plan?
Writing an art business plan involves defining your goals, listing your inventory, setting sales targets, and establishing pricing strategies. Start by making an inventory of what you plan to sell, such as original pieces, prints, or commissions. Break down how much you need to sell to reach your income goals and create a plan for reaching your audience through a website, newsletter, and launches.
Should I get an LLC as an artist?
Whether to get an LLC depends on how you plan to structure your art business. An LLC can help protect your personal assets if your business faces legal issues and can make you appear more professional when dealing with galleries or clients. Consult with a tax professional to see if it fits your situation.
How do you write a business plan for a creative business?
A business plan for a creative business involves outlining your artistic offerings, income goals, marketing strategies, and financial planning. Detail your revenue streams, such as selling art, licensing, and teaching, and include audience-building strategies like email marketing.
What type of business should an artist have?
Artists often operate as sole proprietors when starting out, but an LLC or S-Corp may be suitable if you’re earning significant income or working with higher-risk projects. The best structure depends on your income, liability concerns, and long-term goals.
How do I start a small art business?
Start by clarifying what you want to sell and who your audience is. Build an artist website showcasing your work and make it easy for people to buy. Develop an email list and stay consistent with outreach. Pricing your work strategically and testing launches can help you build momentum.
How do you write an artist budget?
An artist budget includes tracking your income sources and expenses. Break it down into categories such as materials, website hosting, marketing, and professional development. Also, forecast sales income from different product types like originals and prints to ensure profitability.