Handmade leather goods from a home workshop

Shoppers at craft fairs and markets, online buyers on marketplaces or your own site, and people ordering personalized gifts.

Sell finished items at a set price, with extra for monogramming or custom sizes. Margins depend on leather cost and how long each piece takes to make.

• Hand stitching and leather cutting
• Attention to detail and finish quality
• Product photos and basic online selling

• Check whether your city or county requires a business license or home occupation permit
• Check HOA or lease rules on running a workshop at home
• Register for sales tax with your state if required and collect it on taxable sales
• Leather dyes, glues and finishes can give off fumes, so ensure good ventilation and safe storage
• Consider product liability or general liability insurance, especially for market sales
• Don't use brand names or logos you don't own

Startup costs are typically estimated around $500 to $3,000, depending on the tools, leather and hardware you buy and how much you set up for photos and selling online. Starting with a small product line can keep costs near the low end.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $300 to $3,000, depending on your products, pricing and sales channels such as markets or online shops. The estimate assumes at least 8 hours a week of making and selling.

Check whether your city or county requires a business license or home occupation permit, and any HOA or lease rules. Also check state sales tax registration, ventilation and safe storage for dyes and glues, and insurance options.