Handmade jewelry from a home studio

Online shoppers, craft fair visitors, gift buyers and a few local boutiques or gift shops.

You sell each piece at retail through your own site, marketplaces and fairs, and sell some at a lower wholesale price to shops.

• Basic metalwork such as sawing, soldering and finishing
• Design eye and a consistent style
• Photographing and describing your pieces
• Pricing for materials and time

• Check whether your city or county requires a business license or home occupation permit, and check HOA or lease rules
• Register for a state sales tax permit if you sell directly, and check how your state treats online and fair sales
• Soldering, pickling acids and polishing dust need good ventilation and safety gear
• In the US, products marketed as gold, silver or sterling must be described accurately, so check the FTC Jewelry Guides
• Consider product liability insurance, and check metal and stone sourcing so you know what you are buying

Startup costs are typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on the metals, stones and tools you choose. Soldering and polishing need good ventilation and safety gear, so include those in your budget alongside materials and any insurance.

Products marketed as gold, silver or sterling must be described accurately, so check the FTC Jewelry Guides. Also check whether your city or county requires a business license or home occupation permit, HOA or lease rules, and your state sales tax permit.

Monthly revenue is typically around $200 to $2,500, depending on how many pieces you make and where you sell, such as online, craft fairs or boutiques. These are revenue estimates, not profit. Many people begin with about 8 hours a week.