Craft & Trade startups

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Dropping our 'trade Smarta' and crafty startup knowledge to help you turn your passion into a successful business.

Everything you wanted to know about starting your own business, but were unsure who to ask...

It's all in one place: right here!


SEE BELOW FOR:

  • How to start a traditional trade or craft business

  • How to sell online

  • Keeping it legal - laws and licensing info

  • Specific guides on: setting up a café, starting a clothing brand and becoming a photographer

  • 5 things to know about setting up as a sole trader

  • 6 things to consider when choosing a supplier

  • How to get a good deal from suppliers

  • Moving into bricks and mortar

  • Success stories

How to start a traditional trade or craft business

For many, the COVID-19 pandemic caused us to reevaluate and examine our work-life balance among other things.

With more time to spend at home, people started taking up new hobbies, learning new skills, or picking up old ones. Some needed new ways to generate income, whilst some started side hustles to stay busy.

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How to sell online

Peff runs through the best places to sell online

Keeping it legal - Laws and Licensing info

Licensing and your business

IP and Copyright

Consumer Law

...And any other applicable laws

Specific guides on:

Setting up a café, starting a clothing brand and becoming a photographer

How to set up a café 

To start a successful café, you'll need suitable premises, friendly staff, and the ability to serve food that keeps customers coming back.

As well as dreaming about the delicious dishes you'll create, you will have to think about more mundane things too: like food hygiene, licensing, staff, suppliers and balancing the books.

If starting a café sounds like your slice of heaven, check out our guide for everything you need to know.

How to set up a café

How to start a clothing brand 

The fashion industry is worth a huge £43.2 billion annually in the UK alone and £411 billion in Europe.

It's no wonder that it is an attractive prospect for an entrepreneur looking to start up their own business, especially for those who are creatively minded and who have a passion for clothing.

How to start a clothing brand 

How to start a freelance photography business 

Becoming a freelance photographer is one of the most accessible routes to starting a business.

Anyone can try it. But, that means, there’ll be others offering a similar service nearby you. It’s time to work out what makes you a better option than any of them.

How to start a freelance photography business

Things to consider

Sole Traders, Suppliers and Bricks & Mortar

5 things to know about setting up as a sole trader

When you start your own business, you’ll need to decide which company format to register with HMRC.

The structure you register your company under will depend on how much legal and financial responsibility you want to take for the business. It will also affect how much tax and time you give HMRC each year!

The Low Down on Sole Trader status

6 things to consider when choosing a supplier

‘YOU CAN’T SELL SANDWICHES IF YOU’VE NOT GOT BREAD.’

Your business and reputation is only as good as the businesses that supply you. So how do you choose the right supplier for your small business and protect your business against risk? Here’s six things to consider.

6 things to consider when choosing a supplier

How to get a good deal from suppliers

Nobody does business in isolation, and if you are selling a product rather than a service then you will have to deal with a number of suppliers.

They may be the people you buy your ingredients from, or they could provide the tools that you work with. They might even be the place where you get your stationery from.

Whoever they are though, you are naturally going to want to get the best deal possible and work with people you can form a positive relationship with. Here are a few tips that can help put you on the front foot.

How to get a good deal from suppliers

Moving into bricks and mortar

Going from online to in person

Choosing business premises

From offices and high street shops, to manufacturing facilities and catering sites, many businesses require premises to operate from.

If you need a separate space for your startup, here are ten things to bear in mind.


10 things you need to know

Location, location, location: the importance of place

Place can mean lots of things in business. It can be the place that you work and deliver your service to customers, as well as where you manufacture physical products.

In strategy terms, place is one of the 4Ps of the marketing mix – elements that you can combine to create competitive advantage for your business. But what does it mean in practice?

Location, location, location

SHOWCASE OF SUCCESS

Every one of these stories began where you are now

Brett's brewing beer that's "rooted in the local landscape"
Jun 8th, 2023

Brett's brewing beer that's "rooted in the local landscape"

37-year-old Brett used a £10,000 Start Up Loan to pursue his passion for brewing beer using locally grown ingredients.

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Gemma's using her 'entrepreneurial side' is helping people with disabilities
May 17th, 2023

Gemma's using her 'entrepreneurial side' is helping people with disabilities

Alongside her part-time job, 28-year-old Gemma McAllister has researched, sourced and is now selling her own brand of adaptive clothing.

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Is International Women's Day "going backwards"?
Mar 29th, 2023

Is International Women's Day "going backwards"?

We've met female founders who’ve experienced gender inequality at work and on their entrepreneurship journey. But Sam has a different perspective.

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How Zibah created a business that lets her teach on her own terms
Mar 21st, 2023

How Zibah created a business that lets her teach on her own terms

Zibah is happiest at her potter's wheel and loves her new high street studio. But she's had to deal with business failure and the occasional bully to get there.

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The UX designer who built an app to help others in her industry thrive
Mar 13th, 2023

The UX designer who built an app to help others in her industry thrive

With a background User Experience, Cat's 'Dezignovate' platform lets designers learn and grow by exchanging ideas - all backgrounds and skill levels are welcome.

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Mentorship matters: Victoria wants more women to ask for help
Mar 6th, 2023

Mentorship matters: Victoria wants more women to ask for help

32-year-old Victoria Nicol hit the news when her translation agency expanded into the Middle East, just a few years after borrowing £10,000 through Transmit.

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Books and beats - meet the cool, calm and 'Collected' Emma
Feb 27th, 2023

Books and beats - meet the cool, calm and 'Collected' Emma

Books, coffee and wine from daybreak to sunset! A former museum curator founded an independent bookshop and cafe-bar, specialising in work by women.

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How Panther M*lk pounced on growth
Jan 31st, 2023

How Panther M*lk pounced on growth

After being made redundant during COVID, Paul's side hustle became his focus and he's not looked back.

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James is "normalising" plant-based cooking at Nooch
Jan 27th, 2023

James is "normalising" plant-based cooking at Nooch

James worked as a barista, a streetfood vendor and a chef. After 7 years thinking about running his own vegan eatery, a Start Up Loan helped make it happen.

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Why Lauren came back for seconds!
Jan 25th, 2023

Why Lauren came back for seconds!

Lauren’s Instagram-worthy yoga studio was an instant success when she opened it in 2021. Find out how Lauren's business grew after she topped up her loan in 2022.

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Aaron's business is fighting fit and ready to grow
Dec 19th, 2022

Aaron's business is fighting fit and ready to grow

The son of British boxing champion John Davison couldn't see himself working for someone else. He used a start up loan to begin building a legacy of his own.

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Are you sitting comfortably?  The dad building bike saddles for vegetarians!
Dec 5th, 2022

Are you sitting comfortably? The dad building bike saddles for vegetarians!

Frame Cycles is currently a side hustle for Evan. He describes the ride so far and how Transmit helped get the business rolling…

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