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Woodturning (rec.crafts.woodturning) To discuss tools, techniques, styles, materials, shows and competitions, education and educational materials related to woodturning. All skill levels are welcome, from art turners to production turners, beginners to masters. |
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#1
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running a business as an artist
I'm a woodturner in Tucson, Arizona, who is just starting out with
creating my business, and I'm hoping some of you can offer some advice. I will be operating as a sole proprietorship, but I'm wondering if I should operate only under my own name or also under a registered business name ("doing business as"). Do vendors and banks and such attach more legitimacy to businesses with a registered business name? It seems to me that as an artist, I should be promoting my own name, but at the same time, I want to appear as professional as possible. This basic question is holding me up as far as applying for a tax license and also setting up a web site--again, do I use my own name or a business name or a more-generic identifier as a domain name? Also, how do you begin approaching galleries without an established track record? Should I have a complete portfolio, a bio, and such prepared before I make first contact? I have designed business cards and have created a rudimentary web site through my ISP. (http://home.comcast.net/~myturn for anyone who's interested. I plan to register a domain name and set up with another web host as soon as I finalize my choice of a domain name.) I've also designed a card to go with each vessel that identifies the wood the vessel is made of and also has a personal statement and contact info (basically an expanded business card). I've heard that some galleries prefer that customers get no contact info for artists, however, so that the gallery won't lose any sales. Should I remove such info from the card? Print two versions? Wait till I see what individual galleries prefer? What is the best way to approach galleries? Should I phone to make appointments to show my work, or should I go in person, with samples of my work, in case whoever makes such decisions is available on the spot? Should I write with photos or slides of my work? Any other thoughts on getting started? Thanks, you all. I welcome any suggestions. |
#2
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running a business as an artist
http://www.artisthelpnetwork.com
Lynne wrote in article . .. I'm a woodturner in Tucson, Arizona, who is just starting out with creating my business, and I'm hoping some of you can offer some advice. I will be operating as a sole proprietorship, but I'm wondering if I should operate only under my own name or also under a registered business name ("doing business as"). Do vendors and banks and such attach more legitimacy to businesses with a registered business name? It seems to me that as an artist, I should be promoting my own name, but at the same time, I want to appear as professional as possible. This basic question is holding me up as far as applying for a tax license and also setting up a web site--again, do I use my own name or a business name or a more-generic identifier as a domain name? Also, how do you begin approaching galleries without an established track record? Should I have a complete portfolio, a bio, and such prepared before I make first contact? I have designed business cards and have created a rudimentary web site through my ISP. (http://home.comcast.net/~myturn for anyone who's interested. I plan to register a domain name and set up with another web host as soon as I finalize my choice of a domain name.) I've also designed a card to go with each vessel that identifies the wood the vessel is made of and also has a personal statement and contact info (basically an expanded business card). I've heard that some galleries prefer that customers get no contact info for artists, however, so that the gallery won't lose any sales. Should I remove such info from the card? Print two versions? Wait till I see what individual galleries prefer? What is the best way to approach galleries? Should I phone to make appointments to show my work, or should I go in person, with samples of my work, in case whoever makes such decisions is available on the spot? Should I write with photos or slides of my work? Any other thoughts on getting started? Thanks, you all. I welcome any suggestions. |
#3
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running a business as an artist
Lynne wrote:
I'm a woodturner in Tucson, Arizona, who is just starting out with creating my business, and I'm hoping some of you can offer some advice. I will be operating as a sole proprietorship, but I'm wondering if I should operate only under my own name or also under a registered business name ("doing business as"). Do vendors and banks and such attach more legitimacy to businesses with a registered business name? snip I don't think the vendors or the banks really care. The IRS and the state tax department does care though. They want to see a clear distinction between business and personal funds. I suggest making an appointment with an accountant when you're ready to open your business. The suggestions my accountant made ended up saving me money, initially sent up my books and prevented a bunch of headaches. -- Jack Novak Buffalo, NY - USA |
#4
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running a business as an artist
Investigate an LLC (Limited Liability Company) or whatever Arizona
offers that is similar. It has many advantages. Consider a consult with SBA or SCORE before making a final decision on the business form. Jim Lynne wrote: I'm a woodturner in Tucson, Arizona, who is just starting out with creating my business, and I'm hoping some of you can offer some advice. I will be operating as a sole proprietorship, but I'm wondering if I should operate only under my own name or also under a registered business name ("doing business as"). Do vendors and banks and such attach more legitimacy to businesses with a registered business name? It seems to me that as an artist, I should be promoting my own name, but at the same time, I want to appear as professional as possible. This basic question is holding me up as far as applying for a tax license and also setting up a web site--again, do I use my own name or a business name or a more-generic identifier as a domain name? Also, how do you begin approaching galleries without an established track record? Should I have a complete portfolio, a bio, and such prepared before I make first contact? I have designed business cards and have created a rudimentary web site through my ISP. (http://home.comcast.net/~myturn for anyone who's interested. I plan to register a domain name and set up with another web host as soon as I finalize my choice of a domain name.) I've also designed a card to go with each vessel that identifies the wood the vessel is made of and also has a personal statement and contact info (basically an expanded business card). I've heard that some galleries prefer that customers get no contact info for artists, however, so that the gallery won't lose any sales. Should I remove such info from the card? Print two versions? Wait till I see what individual galleries prefer? What is the best way to approach galleries? Should I phone to make appointments to show my work, or should I go in person, with samples of my work, in case whoever makes such decisions is available on the spot? Should I write with photos or slides of my work? Any other thoughts on getting started? Thanks, you all. I welcome any suggestions. |
#5
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running a business as an artist
On Fri, 29 Aug 2003 20:42:23 -0500, jim swank wrote:
Investigate an LLC (Limited Liability Company) or whatever Arizona offers that is similar. It has many advantages. Consider a consult with SBA or SCORE before making a final decision on the business form. Jim Ditto! I started a software/web design business last year, and we went with LLC, taxed as S-Corp. It's a HUGE benefit to us taxwise. My biggest advice is, talk to an accountant. Lawyers are fine and dandy if you want to create a big business with bulletproof paperwork, but we bypassed the lawyer step altogether and registered the business ourself. We went to an accountant who gave us all the information on the benefits of different business setups. And, as the Secretary of State clerk commented, it's the accountant who will be handling your finances, not the lawyer, and he'll have a much better idea about it all. david -- It is of interest to note that while some dolphins are reported to have learned English -- up to 50 words used in correct context -- no human being has been reported to have learned dolphinese. -- Carl Sagan -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
#6
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running a business as an artist
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#7
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running a business as an artist
But, the banks do care!!
If a check is written to the business name, most banks will not accept it for deposit into a personal account. If the account is in the business name, then it will accept both because you will be the signature to that account. Whoever handles business accounts at the bank can give you a copy of the form to send to the Secretary of State, with a fee (usually $25 to $50), for application to register the business name. Besides being a legal requirement for doing business, it will protect you from the possibility of future conflicts that could occur if you were using the same name as another business in your state. Russ Fairfield Post Falls, Idaho http:/www.woodturnerruss.com/ |
#8
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running a business as an artist
Russ Fairfield wrote:
But, the banks do care!! If a check is written to the business name, most banks will not accept it for deposit into a personal account. If the account is in the business name, then it will accept both because you will be the signature to that account. snip If there were no business name there never would be a check written to a business name. -- Jack Novak Buffalo, NY - USA |
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