Home studio silver jewelry maker

Individual buyers online and at craft fairs, people ordering gifts or wedding pieces, and small boutiques or gift shops that stock handmade work.

Selling finished pieces at a set price, charging more for custom commissions, and selling wholesale to shops at a lower per-piece price. Pricing should cover silver, your time and fees.

• Metalworking basics: sawing, soldering, filing, polishing
• Design and an eye for detail
• Photographing small items
• Patience and steady hands

• Torches, pickle solution and polishing dust need good ventilation, fire safety and eye and lung protection
• Check whether your city or county requires a home occupation permit and whether your HOA or lease allows a home workshop
• Register with your state for sales tax if you sell directly to customers, and check whether you need a local business license
• Check federal rules on marking and describing precious metals (for example, how you can use terms like 'sterling') before you advertise
• Consider product or general liability insurance and insurance for your tools and stock
• Cost of silver changes, so review your prices regularly

Estimates typically put startup costs at around $800 to $4,000, depending on tools, torch and bench setup, silver stock and photography gear. The cost of silver changes, so review your prices regularly.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $200 to $1,800, depending on how many pieces you make, your prices and your mix of online, market and commission sales.

Check ventilation, fire safety and eye and lung protection for torches, pickle solution and polishing dust. Also check home occupation permits, HOA or lease rules, sales tax registration, federal rules on describing precious metals like 'sterling', and insurance.