Discover the best art business ideas and start making a living pursuing your artistic and creative passions.
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Hello artists! Are you searching for the best art business ideas to make money? Look at this big list of ways that artists and creative entrepreneurs can earn cash.
If you’re artistic, you have a huge advantage over most of the population. Your talent and creativity allow you to earn money with your passion for art. You can start a business and use your art skills to create beautiful items for sale.
However, besides creating the actual work of art, you have to learn how to run a business. So here are the best art business ideas to use your artistic skills to make money. We’ve got nearly 100 business ideas to choose from, including physical 2D and 3D art, art instruction, and everything in between.
Creating tangible art is your passion, and you’re ready to build your own art business around that passion. All you need is a business idea. Whether you specialize in 2D art or 3D art, we’ve got some great ideas here to choose from.
Do you love painting, drawing, or even calligraphy? Here are some of our favorite 2D art business ideas:
Do you love sculpting or weaving or sewing? 3D art can be a rewarding way to create tangible pieces that can be both beautiful and practical. Here are some of our favorite 3D business ideas:
Some people might think of an artist as someone who hides in a studio, trapped in a trance of creative fervor. It might sound lonely. But it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of ways you can express your artistic talents surrounded by lots of people. You could even be the reason those people are gathering.
Here are some of our favorite artistic entertainment business ideas:
We’re in the digital age. And that means art has entered the digital age, too. Starting a digital art business can be a rewarding business opportunity, especially if you want to stay mobile or even work remotely.
Here are some of our favorite digital art business ideas to consider:
There are plenty of artists who excel at what they do, but when they try to teach others, they fall short. That’s because teaching is an art form of its own. And if you’re good at teaching and art, you have a unique opportunity to make money by teaching others.
Here are some of our favorite teaching business ideas for art entrepreneurs:
If you love making art and you also love making a paycheck, it’s worth considering commercial art. You can sell artistic products directly to clients, or you could offer your skills directly to businesses. Or you could use your artistic connections to help people enjoy art in a way they never expected.
There’s a wealth of possibilities in commercial art; here are some of our favorites.
Here are 29 of the best online art marketplaces to sell your arts & crafts.
With over 100 art business ideas to choose from, you now have plenty of options to monetize your creative talents. Whether you’re designing custom jewelry, teaching art classes, or selling digital designs online, taking the next step to create an LLC or corporation can provide essential liability protection and tax advantages for your creative venture.
By establishing an LLC, you’ll not only gain credibility with clients and marketplaces but also create a solid foundation that allows you to focus on what matters most — expressing your artistic vision while building a sustainable business.
Turning your art into a profitable business starts with identifying your niche and understanding your audience. Whether you create physical artwork, digital designs, or offer services like teaching or custom commissions, it’s essential to position your work where your ideal customers are looking. Build a professional portfolio — either online or in print — that clearly showcases your style, skills, and pricing. From there, choose a mix of sales channels, such as online marketplaces (like Etsy or Redbubble), local art fairs, social media platforms, or your own website to start selling your work.
To increase your income potential, consider offering multiple price points and formats. For example, you can sell originals, prints, and digital downloads of the same artwork. This way, you can get multiple income sources from the same piece. Plus, if the piece does well, your original might become even more valuable.
If you’d like to take it even further, try diversifying your offerings. You could add services like workshops, commissions, or licensing your art for use on products. As you grow, continue building your brand presence through consistent visuals, strong storytelling, and excellent customer service to keep people coming back — and recommending you to others.
The most profitable businesses are those that sell services with low overhead costs. For art businesses, this could include website design, graphic design, art teaching, and more. These businesses don’t require a lot of expensive supplies or equipment, but they have the potential to generate a lot of income.
We can’t really answer this question for you; you need to pick something you’re passionate about and that you have the talent to execute. Passion will help you stay dedicated to your business even when things are tough.
From there, try to pick a business idea that has a market; you need customers to make a go of it in your business.
Start by deciding what items or services you plan to sell: artwork, custom jewelry, photography, or something else. From there, thoroughly research your target market learning sales channels, competition, and pricing levels. Craft a simple one-page business plan that states your products, prices, costs, marketing strategy, and operations.
Pricing is both an art and science for all businesses but especially so for creative entrepreneurs.
Start by researching your target market to find items similar to yours to establish a price range. Then compare your materials and target customers to determine your starting price point.
If in doubt, aim higher rather than lower. You can always lower prices for special customers, holiday sales, or bulk purchases. But it’s a lot harder to raise your prices down the road without facing customer pushback.
Ultimately, it depends on your exact situation. You’ll likely need to get a general business license from your city or state. You’ll probably also need a sales tax permit so you can collect and remit sales taxes. If you have employees, you might need an employer identification number (EIN), too.
Some states also require you to get a specific license if you’re selling at events like local craft fairs and trade shows. If you’re a live performer, you might need a permit to perform downtown or in local parks.
Every artist’s license requirements will be a bit different. If you need help, our business license report is a helpful place to start.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 800,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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