Making homemade crafts and selling them online via Facebook etc

Hi I'm wanting to make homemade gifts mostly salt dough creations eg christmas decorations, garlands etc. I'm wanting to know do I need some sort of licence to sell them or insurances? Would I have to pay tax as I would only be doing it part time as a hobby but making money at the same time? They wouldn't be aimed at children due to buttons etc being used I done know if that would make a difference??
I just want to make some extra pennies with being a part time working mummy?
Any help would be fab x

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4 replies since 19th November 2013 • Last reply 19th November 2013

Reply #1:

Hi there, I sell crafts primarily on Etsy (www.etsy.com/shop/ElfinAdventure) from what I understand with Facebook you don't need a license and facebook encourages its members to sell items to their friends. According to Etsy rules, you only have to pay sales tax if you use an office building or warehouse for your crafting purposes. If you just make and sell from your home you're fine! I hope that helps let me know if you have any other questions!

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Reply #2:

I would suggest one in etsy. I also have one here https://www.etsy.com/shop/judithchen?ref=si_shop. I paid like 1 euro to open the shop (like 1,3 USD) to open the shop and 20 cents to list per item. The deal is good, because each item you sold only cost 1,3% which is nothing. The shop is also an easy set up. try to have a look around first and decide if you'd do in etsy or facebook. you can also do both, of course. For license I guess it depends on the items you made. Mine doesn't need one because most of my plush are my own design and characters, when I use someone else's pattern I only credit them in the listing.

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Reply #3:

I don't know about were you live, but around were I live I know about five shops that love to sell crafts made by local artisans. I sell some of my stuff at two places and get some good money for doing so. Some times you really got to look for these types of places. Most times they're kind of hidden away yet surprisingly get good business.

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Reply #4:

I don't know where you live, but in California (where I am) and many other states you are required to have a state Seller's Permit. Granted, most of the time no one on Etsy or other places check or require a copy or anything. But technically, you are not legally allowed to sell without a Seller's Permit. They are free to get. You just have to fill out a form. And you pay taxes once a year on your sales. It literally takes 5 minutes or less to do these taxes online.

You do not need insurance.

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