Art Business Resources
Hello and welcome spring! Happy April, everyone! The sunshine is shining and I am feeling grateful for all of the abundance in my life. That’s why this month’s blogpost is another share-all. I am providing a list of all the resources I have researched and tested these past nine months of starting my art business. Please know that the resources I am sharing with my community today are still new to me, but I will update my website as this list fluctuates and evolves. It is my intention to prop the gate open and let everyone in on all the information and tools I have collected. Know that my list is not perfect. I am not a creative coach, business coach, or advisor of any kind. Please get professional help with financial, legal, tax, and business advice because again - I am not a professional. But please do enjoy my list! And share away. Also keep an eye out for a Resources page on my website where I intend to post updated lists of art supplies and art business resources in the future. Cheers from my paint cup to you!
Permits:
Business license: First things first, I secured my California Business Operations Tax Certificate through my city’s website. I live in Sacramento, California and I was able to call and talk to someone on the phone. They told me what I needed: a Business Operations Tax Online Application and a Home Occupation Permit (since my studio is located in my backyard). My BOT was $190 for the year and I only had to fill out the one form for both of my items. Phew!
Seller’s Permit: I secured my California Seller’s Permit through CDTFA - CA Department of Tax and Fee Administration. It was free.
Business Services:
Squarespace or Shopify: I went with Squarespace to design and host my website and online shop. It is fairly easy to use and integrates well with Google Workspace and Flodesk (my newsletter service). I am still a little jealous of Shopify’s Shop App and direct integration into social media. I might switch in the future, but I got my Squarespace website up FAST and I am relatively happy with how it looks.
Flodesk: My favorite digital marketing service provider helps me design my monthly newsletters. You can use Flodesk to “design and send on-brand marketing emails, create high converting sales and checkout pages, publish opt-in forms to grow your list, and build powerful email automations.” I tried Mailchimp. It was clunky and I had no control over fonts, colors, and branding. I love Flodesk. It is a little pricey. Look for that 50% your first year coupon!
Google Workspace: Gmail, Google Meet, Chat, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and more! All integrate with my Squarespace website.
Bank of the West: the best commercial bank that I have found. I still have my credit union, but I knew I wanted a larger bank for my business. Bank of the West seems to at least try to use its financial services to support economic activities that are good for communities and the planet.
Trunk: Multi-channel inventory syncing and management. Perfect for creatives selling on multiple online platforms as well as making in-person sales. Trunk helps me prevent duplicate entries and optimize my workflow. It tracks your inventory across sales channels.
Stripe: My payment processing platform on Squarespace.
Paypal Business: another option for processing payments online.
Square: for credit card processing point of sale (in person sales at shows, markets, and and studio visits)
Etsy: Sellers pay $0.20 for each item they list and a 6.5% transaction fee for every sale, but darn it - the girlies love Etsy. I love Etsy! People who go to Etsy are looking to make purchases on handmade products. The platform is streamlined and folks love that discounted shipping. So yes, I do have an Etsy shop, but I intend to direct folks to my website’s shop.
Faire: I am looking into it, but Faire is another great platform where retailers can make bulk orders of maker’s handmade goods. Artists and makers get to set their wholesale and retail prices and minimum order amounts.
Quickbooks: Not the biggest fan, but it integrates with Etsy and Squarespace. I keep track of spending and finances using this platform and app. I like that I can photograph my receipts using my smartphone.
Turbotax: Again, not a fan but it integrates with Quickbooks.
USPS Business: USPS Business Customers get access to complimentary services that make shipping customer orders easier plus it integrates with my Squarespace online shop.
Printing
Archival prints: I use a local professional print shop, Sacramento Giclee, to scan my original artwork and print archival reproductions of my artwork. They are very profesh.
Bus cards and postcards: VistaPrint
Vinyl Stickers: I am in the process of ordering stickers via StickerApp. I will let you know how it goes!
Washi tape: I ordered custom Jennifer Peart Art washi tape through Alchemy Merch. So far, they have provided top-quality customer service. I like all the email updates throughout the production process. My washi tape is enroute! I cannot wait to share it with you all!
Packaging/Branding/Shipping Supplies:
Postage scale: I found this Weighmax W-2809 Stainless Steel Digital Postal Scale on eBay. It was new. I payed $14 for it. It measures packages up to 90 lbs.
USPS priority mail Tyvek mailers: I have streamlined my archival print sizes so that I print 8x10” artwords onto 11x14” paper and I mail them flat in an 11x14” Tyvek USPS Priority mailer found here. All my other prints are larger and I mail them rolled in heavyduty cardboard tube mailers.
Cardboard tube mailers: I use 4x36 inch or 3x30 inch heavy duty cardboard shipping tubes from Staples. Both tubes come in huge packs of 24 with caps.
Non-USPS shipping envelopes: Eco enclose is great for recycled and plastic free mailing supplies. They are pricey. Wait for their shipping discount coupons.
Cello bags: I use 11x14” cello sleeves and 16x20” cello sleeves from ClearBags.com. Sign up for their coupon emails and wait for their free shipping campaigns.
Backing Board: I use 4 ply 11x14” backing board to support my archival prints in their cello bags. They are from ClearBags.com.
Logo sticker roll: You can purchase custom logo sticker rolls through VistaPrint here. I use 2 inch and 1 inch logo stickers for packaging purposes.
Thank you postcards: VistaPrint again. Here is the link for custom postcards.
Print your own labels at home with these Avery TrueBlock Inkjet Shipping Labels, 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" from Staples. No label maker required! Print them using a regular inkjet printer at home.
Glassine paper roll: to protect original artwork and archival prints.
Fragile sticker roll: I found these on Etsy.
Do-Not-Bend stickers: Same shop as above. Etsy for the win.
Custom Stamp of Authenticity: Design and order a cute custom little stamp through Zazzle here. I use this stamp on my Certificate of Authenticity Certificates.
Chipboard to secure and support flat artwork: I get mine at Blick, but it is REALLY difficult to cut. Pre-cut chipboard is extremely expensive so I am currently looking for local community access to a large guillotine paper cutter. Maybe my former school district or a print shop?
Shipping Prints, Smaller Original Artwork, and Rolled Artworks:
I have yet to figure out how I want to ship my larger stretched canvases as well as framed artworks. Stay tuned! Below is my current archival print shipping set up.
USPS: It is my intention to support the USPS as much as possible. I have streamlined my art sizes and print size offerings to fit into USPS Priority mail packaging. I am looking into the benefits of offering free shipping as a marketing strategy. You can read more about that here and here.
USPS Priority mail: I use these 11x14” tyvek envelopes to ship my 8x10” prints and smaller original artworks flat. All other prints and rolled artwork go into the heavy duty shipping tubes from Staples. I use 4x36” and 3x30” size heavy duty tubes. That heavy duty factor is key!
Tools and Supplies
iPhone 14: Love my cameras!
MacBook Pro: I am a sucker for Apple products. I blame art school.
Printer: Mine stinks. I need a different one. I do not recommend mine. It's an EPSON ET-2850. Don’t buy it. I use it to print my Certificates of Authenticity, my Artwork Care Instructions, and my shipping labels.
Scanner: My EPSON V600 Photo Scanner scans at a really high quality. Perfect for scanning (editing in Photoshop in between) and uploading to my portfolio
Camera: Canon ENTER DSLR. She’s pretty basic, but she’s all I need to photo my artwork for my website and marketing.
Postage scale: I use Weighmax W-2809 Stainless Steel Digital Postal Scale from eBay to weigh my packages and estimate shipping fees.
Photographing artwork
Mockups: Create mockups of your artwork framed, printed, printed on totes, cards, etc. Some sites are free!
Canon DSLR: I have a ENTER Canon that I borrowed from a friend. I will be purchasing it off of him soon as it has worked well for me. The timer is the only bell/whistle I need on a DSLR camera.
Tripod: I have a heavy duty tripod my partner gave me.
Camera head: You know, the thing that helps you adjust the angle of your camera on the tripod to match the angle of your painting on the easel. I still need one. Heading to B&H Photo to find one with a level on it.
Lighting: I am looking into how to light my artworks on folks' walls. Luckily, the natural lighting in my studio is great, but I’d like to take some installation shots of my artwork some day.
Editing artwork
Macbook Pro
Adobe Photoshop: Photoshop comes as part of $19.99/mo subscription to the Adobe Creative Suite
Wacom One Tablet: I like it okay. It’s big and needs to be plugged into both the wall and your computer. I think I need some accessories to make my pencil move across the tablet screen more smoothly. I prefer the Apple pencil and the wireless option of the iPad, but the Wacom mirrors my computer’s Photoshop editing which is key for my digital painting.
Promotion:
Flodesk for email newsletters and marketing. See my notes above.
Bus cards and business postcards: Printed via VistaPrint. I love my business postcards! They are exactly what I wanted! They are printed on textured paper to look like watercolor paper and the corners are rounded. Love it!
Content Creation:
iPhone 14
Canva: Useful even though I have Photoshop! Easy to use templates. Lots of new features and designs everyday.
iPad + Procreate app + Apple pencil: Great for digital painting and content creation
Canvas lamp: a great small business to support + a superior product! I love this lamp for videoing my tabletop processes hands-free.
Tripod: Just a simple one for my DSLR. It was gifted to me. Perfect for videoing my painting process and studio activity hands-free. I need a heavier duty one for the outdoors or maybe just some weights for the bottom.
Other:
Certificate of Authenticity: I made a template for you here. Customize or copy-and-paste to your heart’s desire. Add your logo and don’t forget to leave room for a certified authentic artwork stamp or sticker. Print on quality cardstock paper.
Artwork Care Instructions: I recommend including care instructions with all original artwork and archival prints. There are a lot of great websites out there outlining key ways to make your medium endure wear, tear, and time.
Commission Contract: Using Adobe Acrobat online (part of the Creative Suite), I made an e-contract complete with e-signature email requests. It’s pretty great. It even stores the signed contracts in your Adobe cloud.
Archival flat file storage: I am currently shopping around for one and it seems like there is only one brand out there - Safco. There are a lot of secondhand oversized gray ones selling online, but I need a smaller one for my studio. The Safco website says they honor lower prices found elsewhere, so I intend to give them a ring here soon. Wish me luck!
Things I am currently looking Into (so stay tuned for more resources)
Taxes
Legal
Small business insurance and liability insurance
Custom framing
Shipping original art and framed prints
The Satchi website
Behance website
Networking on Linked In
Marketing on TikTok
Marketing on Pinterest
Marketing on Etsy
NFT Marketplaces
Selling art directly from Instagram
Securing a professional photo session
Ordering custom patches
Ordering hats with my artwork on them
Submitting my work to galleries
Submitting my work to interior designers and stagers
Applying to art residencies
Renting a space and planning my own gallery pop-up event
Painting murals
Participating in Sacramento Open Studios
Participating in art markets and craft fairs
Printing greeting cards and postcards
