Making a good income working at home has become the goal of many in the last few years. The Internet has opened the doors for thousands of home-based businesses. But what if you're not computer literate enough to handle an online business?

Telemarketing and other phone related businesses are another option. There is much opportunity in telemarketing, but as with any legitimate business, it has to be legal, going through all of the proper channels. Of course, you can work from your home for an established company, using your home phone.

Neither of these appealed to me when I was considering a home based business. Searching the Internet for home-based self-employment, I came across an article about making crafts, selling them online, craft shows and local flea markets and it peeked my interest.

But the article didn't say anything about how to get started, where to get your materials. I did a lot of foot-work and before long, I knew where every silk flower wholesale house was in my area and where to get the tools and extras I would need along with what I had to do to make it legal.

1. What kind of crafts are you going to make?
The Internet is full of craft ideas. There are also many craft magazines with several easy to make crafts. If you are creative, you can come up with your own creations. I saw an angel toilet paper holder in a craft magazine and just knew I could do it better.

Visiting the local thrift stores, I bought up all the Barbie-like dolls, broke off the legs, and glued silk flower pedals around the waist, placing it over a toilet paper roll and it became my biggest seller. I went on to gluing silk flower pedals to wine glasses, creating freestanding roses along with large table roses that opened.

2. Get a tax number:
Getting a tax number was a real concern for me because it represented having to do a lot of paperwork, keeping up with taxes, answering to the government every year. But I learned quickly that it's no big deal. It's just state tax and they give you a book of coupons. Every three months or so, you are required to report your sales for that period and send them the tax. It's not brain surgery.

Having a tax number, you can shop at any wholesale place, paying less than half the retail price for things you want to sell or items you need to make your crafts. Most of the silk flower wholesale houses sold the tools I needed right there like glue guns, glue, flower pots, etc., and all of the wholesale houses are listed in your local phone book.

3.Where to sell your crafts:
The best place to start is at a local flea market which should also be listed in your phone book. Other crafters are always attracted to your crafts and will tell you about places they have sold. They will also share their experiences and tell you about things they have made, giving you more ideas. From there, you can expand to craft shows and the Internet.

Making and selling crafts was fun and profitable for me. I enjoyed shopping for beautiful silk flowers, sitting at home, making my crafts, selling them at the flea market, taking pictures of them, posting them on the Internet. I made good money and a lot of friends

Learn more about this author, Pat Lunsford.
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