32 Artsy Business Ideas To Start In [2024]
Are you Interested in starting artsy business ideas in 2024?
If you are a talented artist or simply interested in art, you can start various artsy business ideas and earn a decent living doing what you love.
We put together a list of the best business art business ideas you can start.
In this list of ideas, you can find:
- Home-based art businesses to start in 2024
- Low investment artsy business ideas
- Unique art business opportunities for beginners
Here are 32 top artsy business ideas:
1. Start a handmade goods business
A handmade craft business entails selling own-crafted products on online platforms like Alibaba, Etsy, an independent website, or social media.
To succeed in selling handmade goods, you'll need solid creative skills. Your creativity can help you build a strong brand.
And with online marketplaces, handmade shopping has become a popular trend.
In recent years, consumers worldwide have shown their support of independent businesses and entrepreneurs, especially those venturing into the handmade goods business.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $150,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
PortraitFlip is a successful startup that delivers handmade portraits globally with a clientele base in the USA and yields 3.5crs through their 100% customer satisfaction guarantee, and they started with an initial investment of only Rs.23,000.
2. Start a graphic design business
Graphic designers create logos, brochures, ads, and other marketing materials for companies and organizations. They also design websites and other digital content, including social media graphics.
Graphic designers may specialize in one type of design (such as print or web design), or they can be generalists who do everything from logo design to social media graphics.
Starting a graphic design business can be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do. It’s not easy, but if you’re passionate about design and want to make a living, starting your own graphic design business is a great way to go.
Consider a suitable pricing structure when starting a graphic design business. You may charge the customers per hour or fixed pricing based on the project’s nature.
How much you can make: $2,500 — $1,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 87 days (?)
Learn how two friends bootstrapped a SaaS business to $55k monthly recurring revenue (MRR) by creating a simple graphic design tool for non-designers and focusing on content marketing for customer acquisition.
3. Become a NFT artist
NFT art is a new way of categorizing digital artworks that enable designers to monetize their work. To become an NFT artist, begin creating art pieces and upload your digital art to blockchain on a platform like Binance NFT marketplace.
Selling NFT art can help you earn money easily. NFT artists sell physical art pieces like paintings, drawings, and photographs.
How much you can make: $12,500 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 19 days (?)
Chibi Dinos NFT, a play-to-earn NFT community co-founded by 25-year-old Sean Kelly, earned $2.4M in revenue during its initial sale, reinvesting 60% of its earnings into staffing and marketing while earning $2,005.0453th in secondary sales on OpenSea, thanks to tapping into Twitter users as part of its marketing strategy.
4. Start a woodworking business
While many see woodworking as a hobby to pass the time, it is a profitable blue-collar business with growth potential. If you are skilled, passionate, and looking for a blue-collar side hustle, consider starting a woodworking business.
Starting a woodworking business allows you to work from home. Besides, you can scale the business easily and enjoy unlimited earning potential. Some opportunities you can go for include building custom wood pieces, teaching others about woodworking, starting a woodworking blog, and flip furniture.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $1,600,000/month
How long does it take to build: 204 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Sasha Weekes, owner of Timber Grove Studios, turned her fine arts and cabinetmaking education into a successful home-based woodworking business that grew from a side project to netting 20-50% profits month-to-month and up to $10,000 in sales during peak periods through Etsy, with her company's growth continuing to increase through other social media outlets.
5. Become an artist
The artist is an individual who practices the skill, expression, and application of a craft; a person engaged in any art.
How much you can make: $876 — $160,000/month
Innerglow Art is a successful custom abstract painting business that incorporates scripture and personable connection with buyers to produce beautiful and unique artwork.
6. Start a temporary tatoos kiosk
Starting a tattoo business is not as difficult as you might think. If you have the talent, ability, and guts, you already have the most important qualities for starting your own tattoo company. Tattoo Artists in the US Market Size in 2022 is $1.4B.
The tattooing business is profitable and popular, and it is one of the most rewarding careers that you can have. However, starting a tattoo kiosk requires a lot of commitment and hard work.
Tattoo shops have strict standards for artists who work in shops, so to have an ideal career as an artist, you might have to go the freelance route. It can be a short-term or long-term career, so you must be prepared before taking on such a responsibility. It won't come with a million-dollar salary at first, but once you've developed a good reputation and have completed enough work, the money will start rolling in.
How much you can make: $1,000/month
Forgotten Mermaids creator Anslea shares how she started a passive income business while living out of a van, creating mermaid temporary tattoos and accessories, and has grown to average $1,000 per month in mostly passive income over the last six months.
7. Start an art business
Starting an art business can be a great idea if you have a passion for art.
You’ll be able to work on your schedule, set your prices, and do something you love—while supporting yourself or even making money!
There are so many different avenues available to you as an artist-entrepreneur right now—from selling your work online (on sites like Etsy), through galleries or museums, or even at craft fairs and flea markets.
How much you can make: $876 — $415,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Innerglow Art is a successful custom abstract painting business that incorporates scripture and personable connection with buyers to produce beautiful and unique artwork.
8. Start an art gallery
For artists, getting the attention of traditional brick & mortar stores is an enormous challenge with slim odds of success. Fortunately, online marketplaces make it possible for artists across the globe to sell their artwork internationally.
With art galleries contributing up to 45 billion dollars, they can be a great business opportunity. If you are interested in the art industry, you can start an online art gallery.
9. Start a digital art & design business
Digital art and design is often used to create visual content for websites, apps, and other digital platforms.
Digital art and design businesses can be either freelance or full-time.
They can work in-house for larger companies or as independent contractors for other businesses or individuals.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $30,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Imagined with AI generates unique, AI-generated portraits in various styles that has helped generate over 234,000 unique images to date, and is used by customers in over 25 countries.
10. Start an art lessons business
Are you a professional artist? Teaching arts and crafts online can be a small but profitable business venture.
You can target kids interested in becoming artists or talented teens who want to advance their artistic skills. To start an arts business, train yourself in arts and crafts and plan a curriculum suitable for your target audience.
Advertising your business will help you to reach a larger audience.
11. Start an artwork kiosk
Artwork kiosks sell traditional landscape paintings, abstract paintings, pop art, graffiti, nude paintings, etc. According to statistics, the global art market is snowballing. Homeowners and business owners are among the largest consumers of artwork.
Thus, starting an artwork kiosk can be profitable. Getting started is easy. Make sure you find an ideal location where you can display the artwork and catch the customer’s attention. To boost sales, ensure you have an active online presence and share the artwork in online galleries.
12. Start a makeup artistry kiosk
A makeup artistry kiosk offers general makeup services, including facial aesthetics, thorough makeup, and creating custom looks for their customers.
If you are a makeup artist, you start a makeup artistry kiosk and serve clients from the kiosk, their homes, or offices. Starting a makeup artistry kiosk is a low-cost business with a high potential to earn good profits.
To stand out as a professional makeup artist, keep up with the developments in the cosmetology industry, and focus on providing personalized customer service.
13. Become an art blogger
Are you passionate about artwork and would like to showcase your talent to the world? Maybe you are an artist and hoping to increase artwork sales.
How about starting an art blog?
An art blog invites prospective buyers into your world of artwork, where they can learn more about you and what you have been doing when it comes to artwork. Besides, if you are an art affectionate, an art blog is a great way to share your knowledge about artwork and offers a platform to highlight upcoming art events.
To start the art blog, choose a good hosting platform and a great theme to allow you to showcase the artwork and its descriptions.
How much you can make: $33,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $495 (?)
Learn how Jennifer Marx transformed her DIY crafting website from a side-hustle blog that earned $33/month to one that now earns more than six figures per month, using Pinterest, Facebook, and YouTube to get exposure for her business.
14. Start a mirror art production business
Mirror art involves assembling small mirror pieces of varying colors and shapes to resemble a picture, landscape, or abstract design. You can use laser engraving technology as a unique and innovative way of customizing mirrors without frosting or damaging the mirror glass.
15. Start an art brokerage business
An art brokerage business advises and assists art buyers in all aspects of selling and purchasing art objects. The art brokers negotiate prices and bids on their client’s behalf. Art brokers offer their services to art dealers, private collectors, gallery owners, individuals, or companies seeking to diversify their portfolios.
To start an art brokerage business, familiarize yourself with the art market, its dynamics, and regulations.
16. Start a tie dye artistry business
Are you interested in starting a low-barrier-to-entry artist business? Tie-dye is probably the most promising opportunity you can start from home. You can start dyeing clothes in the comfort of your home and sell them to passionate fashionists online or locally.
Starting a tie-dye business can be a rewarding opportunity if you have a keen interest in tie-dye and have a sense of business.
17. Start a jewelry making business
The global jewelry market size was valued at $278B in 2018 and is expected to reach $292B by 2025.
The industry comprises manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and jewelry designers. Unlike many other industries that have gone through leaps in technology, the jewelry industry has remained untouched for over 40 years.
If you know how to make jewelry, then this might be a great way to make some extra money.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $2,000,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 120 days (?)
A primary school teacher found his passion for jewelry-making, turning it into a successful business generating $2500-3000 per month through sales at the Creative Queenstown Arts and Crafts Market, online, and through stockists, with plans to expand and eventually make it his full-time profession.
18. Start a logo designing business
Creative logo design plays a critical role in getting brand recognition. Thus, startup owners ensure they have an outstanding logo that defines their professional assurance amongst customers. Do you have excellent art and design skills? Starting a logo design company can be a rewarding business idea. You can outsource a logo design service or do it yourself.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 5 hours/week
Meet Craig Barber, founder of Logobly, an impressive new logo maker for internet startups that allows for designing and downloading a logo in just 60 seconds, which has helped 100s of entrepreneurs brand their startups and side projects, does around $1,000 a month in sales, and is productized based on his expertise as a logo designer.
19. Start an art reselling business
One of the most direct ways to make money is by reselling artwork. You can resell art you originally bought from a gallery through another gallery where the artist is represented.
Ideally, artists retain copyright to their art pieces, so it is illegal to sell, publicize and publish a copy of artwork unless the artist has given prior permission. Therefore, you cannot resell their piece to a gallery they are not represented.
20. Start an online art prints business
The art print is a fast-growing segment. Although there is a lot of competition in the fine art marketplace, selling original art prints online can be profitable.
You do not have to rely on original artwork sales alone for financial stability in your artistic career. Selling copies and digital art from different artists is a simpler way of starting your online art print business.
How much you can make: $6,600 — $110,000/month
This Etsy seller increased sales from $10k to $80k in just one year by selling 4000 customized garments.
21. Start a headboard art business
Headboard art has become a popular trend today. Several specialty retail stores offer their customers headboards decorated with photographs and unique art pieces. The trend creates a terrific opportunity for artists to capitalize by starting headboards that feature original art.
The headboards can feature paintings or enlarged photographs adhered to the headboard.
22. Start a dropshipping artisan made accessories
The demand for crafted jewelry, handcrafted stoneware to lambskin pillows is at an all-time high. Consumers are looking for unique, expressive pieces that serve both aesthetics and function, to incorporate into their homes and offices.
Thus, if you love art or you understand where to source unique items, consider dropshipping artisan-made accessories.
Before starting a dropshipping business along this line, study consumer trends and preferences. Remember that the last decade brought a great and wide shift in the consumer mindset, and so they are concerned about sustainability and ethical consumption. Therefore, understanding these trends and preferences can help you serve them better.
How much you can make: $6,000 — $10,000/month
Temples and Markets founder Judith Treanor sources handmade, unique and sustainable artisan products from Southeast Asia for her online store, curating accessories, bags, jewelry and home decor to appeal to conscious consumers aged 30-55 who love to travel, with a 24% returning customer rate and an online conversion rate of .33%.
23. Start a framed silhouette art business
Silhouettes are a popular art form because it is accurate, inexpensive, and quick to make. You can make framed silhouette art using Glowforge technology. Talented paper artists who use paper to create framed silhouettes sell fast and earn a substantial amount from the business.
Thus, consider starting a framed silhouette business using glowforge technology if you are a creative artist.
24. Start a balloon artist business
A balloon artist creates balloon decorations for various types of parties and events. Also known as twisters, balloon artists can earn a decent hourly pay depending on the event type. Balloon art is a low-overhead business and offers a high-profit margin potential.
25. Start a painting business
If you are looking for a self-employment opportunity that gives you a chance to define your working schedule, consider starting a painting business. Painting is one of the low startup costs craft businesses with a high-profit margin. However, only some have the patience or the skill to do painting tasks.
To start a painting business, craft a business plan and register your business. Then, get insurance cover for your business and apply for licenses. Finally, get the right painting equipment and focus on marketing your business.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $105,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $4,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 74 days (?)
A home décor blogger turned her website into a $20,000/month business thanks to SEO, which drives 400k pageviews/month, as well as Pinterest, with over 300k pageviews/month, and through diversifying her income streams and traffic sources.
26. Become a face painter
Popular at children's parties, weddings, and even some corporate events, face painting is a great creative activity that sparks joy among people of all ages.
If you love making people happy and helping them celebrate different events in life, consider starting a face-painting business.
If you are planning to start a face painting business on a professional basis, it would be wise to take an introductory training course to learn the basics of face painting and the safety and health precautions involved in the business.
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
27. Become a painter
Becoming a painter is more than earning a living; it's about creating your own art and enjoying the freedom of working for yourself.
How much you can make: $1,000 — $160,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $200 (?)
How long does it take to build: 200 days (?)
Innerglow Art is a successful custom abstract painting business that incorporates scripture and personable connection with buyers to produce beautiful and unique artwork.
28. Start a Greeting Cards Business
People use greeting cards to mark births, deaths, graduations, anniversaries, and other parties or events.
If you love helping people celebrate special occasions, starting a greeting card business can be a great business opportunity.
When starting a greeting card business, choose a potential niche and write a business plan.
Then, find an ideal spot to sell the greeting cards.
For instance, you can offer greeting card design and posting services, so customers can choose the best designs and post greeting cards online.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $100,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 65 days (?)
Joker Greeting sells unique prank gifts, including a non-stop musical birthday card, an idea raised by the founders visiting their mom's house, having no website or marketing and yet raising $92,073 on Kickstarter in 30 days due to being picked up by media, enabling them to sell 15,000 units in the first year, owned SEO for their niche, selling almost 40,000 units in 2017 and expected to reach 50,000 to 60,000 in 2018 with a small team, using Shopify and various social media channels with lots of organic traffic.
29. Start an antique furniture refurbishing business
Antique furniture is a collectible interior furnishing that adds a timeless quality to a space. Antique furniture features attractive designs that looked good 50 or 100 years ago and remains attractive today.
30. Become an interior designer
Interior designing involves making indoor spaces safe, functional, and beautiful by determining space requirements and selecting essential & decorative items such as colors, lighting, and materials.
The global luxury interior design market is growing at a CAGR of 9.0%. The growth metrics show there is great potential for entrepreneurs targeting households.
If you are starting a luxury interior design business, focus on style and specialty. Add valuables with creative professions, such as interior design, so you stand out from the rest. Ensure you hire the right people and hone the brand identity.
How much you can make: $100,000 — $415,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 90 days (?)
Mother and daughter duo turn passion for antiques and design into a boutique design firm with over $1 million in annual revenue and hundreds of trophy projects, showcasing the importance of grit, determination, and passion in building a successful business.
31. Start a custom illustrating business
Many businesses use stock illustrations or images in their commercials. While stock illustrations provide a cheaper option, the visuals aren’t part of the product, so the brand message is diluted.
In a business world where more than 70% of social media and B2B marketers use visuals in their promotions, creating custom illustrations is highly on demand.
Ideally, custom illustration is an essential visual strategy helping businesses use clever, compelling visual content to effectively communicate with the target audience.
With major social media platforms dependent on visuals to create impressions, starting a custom illustrating business can be an opportunity to build a profitable business. Custom illustrations are a visual representation of any text and are considered art for beautifying elements.
To kickstart your custom illustration business, pursue a fine arts certification, where you will learn computer graphics, drawing, and painting skills. Then, identify your style, create a portfolio, then focus on building a client base.
32. Start a music school
If you have a passion for music and love teaching, starting an online music school can be a great way to kickstart your music tutoring business.
This not only helps you connect with local customers but also opens up opportunities to reach a global audience.
Moreover, starting an online music school gives you the freedom to work from anywhere and at your preferred time.
Whether you are brand new to teaching music online or you have been teaching online but are looking for some fresh inspiration, you can incorporate it into your online music school. examples include:
- Teaching church music online
- Teaching children’s choir
- Youth & adults’ choirs
- Teach live video sessions using online meeting platforms
- Choir, band & orchestra
How much you can make: $2,000 — $100,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $4,535 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
Former IT professional Meenakshi started Art Splash Academy of Fine Arts, offering Keyboard, Guitar, Violin, Rock & Pop vocals, Indian Music, Carnatic vocals, Bharatnatyam, Certified Jazz, Arts, Yoga, and Tabla courses for all ages with an investment of $9,000, and now manages it successfully with 80% of customers enrolling in online classes during COVID-19.
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
