Home studio potter selling handmade tableware

Shoppers at craft fairs and online, gift buyers, independent shops and cafés wanting handmade pieces.

You sell finished pieces directly at a retail price, or wholesale to shops at a lower price. Small sets and custom orders can add to this.

• Wheel throwing or hand building
• Glazing and firing knowledge
• Consistent quality across a set
• Basic photography and selling online

• Kilns need suitable power supply and ventilation, so check with an electrician and your home insurer
• Check your lease, mortgage or council rules about running a workshop from home
• Pieces used for food and drink must be safe, so check food contact rules and use suitable glazes
• Public liability insurance is usually needed for markets, and product liability cover is worth checking
• Breakages in firing and posting can eat into profit, so plan for them in your prices

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £6,000, depending on your kiln, wheel and materials. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £300 to £2,000, depending on how much you make and where you sell.

Check your kiln's power supply and ventilation with an electrician and your home insurer, and your lease, mortgage or council rules on home workshops. Check food contact rules and glaze safety, and public and product liability insurance for markets.

You need wheel throwing or hand building, glazing and firing knowledge, consistent quality across a set, and basic photography for online selling. The estimate is at least around 10 hours a week. Plan for breakages in firing and posting.