Thread: Starting a business with belly dance related items

Hello, I am so sorry if this has been asked before, but I couldn't find it under search.

I can sew and have for a long time. I can make clothing, home decor, and belly dance accessories (veils, tops, skirts, cover ups, etc.) People always say to me, "You could totally make a business out of this." I know I could, but I have no idea how to get started. I have made things for fellow dancers and just charged them a basic fee. I can not make costumes, lol... I would for myself, but not ready to do that as of yet. Way to complicated, lol.

But, what it comes down to is supplies. For those of you who make items:

Do you buy wholesale? Or, do you go to a place like JoAnns?

If you buy from wholesale where? Does anyone have any online links? I live in MA, but have no idea where a wholesale fabric store is. Of course I would drive anywhere close to me.

Do you charge for labor? How much?

Where is the best place to sell? EBAY? Etsy? or on Bhuz?

What about your own website, how do I get one of those? I am pretty good with html and animated graphics.

Do you get a Tax ID number and a business checking account?

I am so sorry for all the questions, but any input you ladies give me would be awesome!

Oh! and any book suggestions on starting a business would help as well! Thanks.

The Small Business Administration has classes and materials on starting a business.
http://www.sba.gov/

Thanks catwomyn!

Hello and welcome to the retail world ;-)

For me - I walked into this knowing that it would not be a huge money maker for me but it is a labor of love. ;-)

First - start with the state/federal/county laws. I would connect up the the small business administration office near you. I did a quick google search and found this: UMass Amherst: Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network | MSBDC

I strongly believe in getting a tax ID and being a legal business. This will help you when tax time comes around. Your local SBA will help you. That is how I got started.

As for next steps - I feel that it is important that you develop a business plan. Sit down and figure out what you want to sell, how you want to sell it (festivals, online, etc) and what are your goals. Again - your local SBA has counselors willing to help. All for FREE!!

Depending on how you want to do your business - buying when you need may be the way to go. Again - your business plan will help you with this.

If you have questions - feel free to PM me. I am happy to share my journey stories ;-)

Thanks ravenadesigns...

I am only going to do this as a side job and see how it goes. When I was young I always wanted to do fashion design, but I ended up being a RN instead. That is my day job. I love belly dancing too, but that is my hobby and I only do it for fun! It is funny that starting dancing I never knew that I would sew so many things and people actually enjoy them.

Being plus size, I have always had to make most of my things or buy something that I can extend or add too. And when fellow dancers started to ask where I got this or that, they asked me to make them things.

Hello -

Even though it is a side business - please still make it legal.

My business is also a side business (I work full time as a software product development manager) but I pay taxes on all sales.

Even as a small side business - your local SBA will be willing to help and point you in the right direction.

Also - you may want to look into a DBA (doing business as). That way - you can have people write checks to your business and not you. So much easier to keep track of.

Thanks again! I have SBA saved on my favorites so I can read up on it.

Definitely, want to do it legal wouldn't be funny to have the IRS knocking on your door.

One of the dancers in my troupe has a costume making business. She buys her supplies from a variety of sources, both online vendors & places like joann. We're always bringing her the Joann sales coupons!
You might want to post your question about suppliers on the Fitness, Beauty, & Costuming board--you'll probably get a lot of great recommendations for suppliers & wholesalers.
I would think that buying fabric wholesale would be difficult because you'd have to buy wholesale lots and who knows how many people will want something made out of that fabric...maybe it would make sense for things like elastic, interfacing, et cetera...

Thanks Nayastrance!

I will go over to the other board and see if I can do a search on fabric vendors. I know have I have ton of other vendors that I have seen people suggest.

:)