How to Start a Calligraphy Business
Have you been told you have amazing handwriting and you wonder what good could possibly come out of it? Well, there’s plenty, including money. With a little training- some of which are free- you could become a professional calligrapher in just a few months. Professional calligraphers earn more than $60,000 yearly on the average, and this article will show you stress-free ways to start your own calligraphy business.
Starting a small calligraphy company takes skill. Any skill can be learned, but it would be much easier for one to have some abilities that would set them up for success in such areas. Thus, anyone who excels in these departments, and more, would most likely succeed in this industry. As for calligraphy, there are certain attributes that will make life as a calligraphy business owner easier.
Artistry
Calligraphy is more than just writing, it is an art, and it takes a true artist to do it perfectly. An artist can easily make a plain text more colorful, bring abstract objects to life, and sprinkle some stardust on anything they lay their hands- or pens- on. Some calligraphers can easily make their works more appealing by adding appropriate drawings. For an artist, it would be easier to cope than the average person.
Someone who pays attention
Clients choose calligraphers over other conventional graphics designers for specific reasons. There are always instructions regarding what the client wants and at times, they give calligraphers samples of what they desire. Someone attentive will excel in this business because there will be little to no redo of completed projects.
How can a calligrapher make money?
People are well versed in the obvious means of earning a living in calligraphy. As a beginner in the calligraphy industry, you’ll be forgiven for thinking in the same direction and fearing that your sources of income are limited. Such a misconception is far from the truth as there are multiple ways you can make money as soon as you launch your new calligraphy firm.
Teach calligraphy
Calligraphy is one of the most craved creative skills around but there still aren’t enough teachers. Taking calligraphy classes is one of the best ways to make money and improve in what you do. The more you teach, the more understanding you get in the field. Nowadays, there’s no need to train people within the confines of a room; virtual classes are the better option. There are different platforms you can use to teach calligraphy and make money online. The simplest way is to use social media. Many people use their social network accounts, especially YouTube, to teach people different skills without paying extra. Make a dedicated channel that will cater to those interested in learning calligraphy and leave instructional videos for them. However, this method will not bring direct earnings since your trainees won’t be paying you personally. Another option is to use online teaching hosting services, like Udemy, to teach a variety of topics under calligraphy. The process is transparent and you will have one-on-one communication with your students.
Design your own calligraphy apps
If you’ve never thought of making your own calligraphy application- start now! Nowadays, many people have joined the digital marketing world and graphics design is one of the most trending jobs online. And since there are so many half-baked graphics designers, they tend to use applications for up to 90% of what they do. Some of these include calligraphy applications. Just imagine the hundreds of thousands of “professionals” who use calligraphy apps as for their businesses and you’ll see why you must make your own app. These people look for calligraphy apps, buy, and go their way, so you should add yours to the list. Apart from those who make money off calligraphy apps, some people use these apps for fun. Social media is now a place where people make sure they put quality content up, so calligraphy apps have become a favorite for customizing texts. By making your own calligraphy app, you will have no shortage of customers. Android app developers make an average of $97,600 yearly, while Apple OS app developers make just about a thousand dollars less in a year.
Make envelopes, letters, and design items
To the average person, if a calligrapher is not holding a pen, he or she is not making money- far from the truth. However, this common means of making ends meet are still some of the most consistent and reliable sources of income in this field. Designing envelopes and making cards are two very common tasks performed by calligraphers. As you start your calligraphy business, you want to exercise more control over your work and make more money directly from what you do. For this reason, you will do fewer jobs assigned by “middlemen”, who would take a huge chunk of the money, and instead, work directly for clients.
Make your own cards- greeting cards for holidays, Valentine’s Day cards, birthday cards, congratulatory or “get well soon” cards- and earn directly from the sale. Wedding invitations also require a deft touch that can be done by masters of the profession; do your best to make a masterpiece for your clients. In many cases, wedding invitation letters contracts are awarded indirectly through a wedding planner, but it would benefit you more if you can get in touch with the couple.
Calligraphers are also hired to help new and existing businesses with branding. The Coca Cola brand logo is one of the simplest but iconic designs the world has ever seen. It was done before the days of calligraphy apps which means that a professional calligrapher designed it. In fact, it was crafted by the bookkeeper to the carbonated drink maker, Frank M Robinson, and it is still in use to date. You can also make a living from designing company logos and customizing their products as well. These days, companies, especially those in retail, brand everything- plastic bags, and on rare occasions, shopping baskets are not left out- and a calligrapher can be hired for it.
Pros of starting a calligraphy business
In calligraphy, there are a number of factors that make it a good business to start. For anyone who is still pondering the plus side of going into calligraphy as a profession or a means of making ends meet, these few reasons will prove just how good a business idea it is.
Experienced calligraphers earn well
Have you stopped for a second to think about the Royal Weddings? The letters of invitation are usually printed by some of the best calligraphy companies in the land. Even though what the Royal Family pays these calligraphy experts is not often disclosed, you know they’ll be well paid for their expert services. Calligraphers make good money from doing beautiful jobs for clients and their wages increase with experience. Contrary to what some people may think, there is no industry standard for how much a calligrapher’s services cost. Calligraphers charge according to the magnitude of the task, their experience, the complexity, the quality of the job, among other things. However, most new calligraphers undercharge, and they would later come to realize it when they mingle with their peers in the industry. According to a survey, calligraphers make an average of $64,000. There are many calligraphy companies that are worth millions of dollars and professional calligraphers who earn six figures.
There is no shortage of clients
Calligraphers make beautiful works of art that are too good to ignore. Many calligraphers get hired by other professionals to put some finishing touches onto their works. In the calligraphy market, there is no want of customers. During festive seasons or celebrations, both businesses and individuals seek the services of professional calligraphers to help with some designs. Greeting cards and frames makers hire calligraphers to help add a touch of class to their products during festive seasons. Wedding planners and couples seek the services of calligraphers to help them design a host of materials for the wedding. The wedding invitation cards are the most notable materials they get called to work on. Sometimes, cake makers ask skilled calligraphers to help design cakes.
Challenges of starting a calligraphy business
Anyone who’s interested in commencing a calligraphy firm should be commended because it takes a lot to get a job done. Precious amounts of time get thrown into the art, as well as dedication, to make sure the finished work meets the customer’s demands. However, there are a few setbacks that can occur during the process which will be discussed further. These challenges are common in the calligraphy market and everyone, especially newbies in the industry, faces them from time to time.
The amount of re-dos
Calligraphers basically do what they love which is why they chose the path and doing what one is passionate about is like a dream come true. Then again, having to redo what one has done can be frustrating sometimes. Unfortunately, calligraphers get told to redo their work during the course of a contract. Sometimes, an unsatisfied customer might demand that complete changes were made to whatever had been done. Many experienced calligraphers recount how after doing a job for a client according to what was previously agreed upon, the client still asks for a redo. In cases where a lot of time, effort, and resources had gone into making probably your best material, yet a client asks for a do-over, it could be soul-crushing.
Too many calligraphy apps
Before you go blaming some innocent bunch of software developers, remember some calligraphers make apps too. The surge of mobile applications and software that perform a few calligraphy tasks is one of the biggest threats to calligraphers. These days, by just purchasing these apps (many are free) anyone can add extra color to their writing or designs. The equally disturbing aspect of this is to know that these applications can be shared from device to device. Ordinarily, people should go to professional calligraphers for their services but now, they do it themselves, albeit not as neatly as a professional calligrapher would. Having said this, the calligraphy applications are perhaps the biggest causes of reduced patronage from potential clients. Many small and medium scale business owners (especially in developing countries) now use these apps to design items for their businesses. People make tons of money for their businesses using calligraphy apps, money that should have gone directly to a host of calligraphers like you. And the emergence of these applications has brought about an increase in the number of fake calligraphers. Since most people don’t get to see calligraphers in action, they might not know they use applications. These incompetent or amateur so-called calligraphers make money offering calligraphy services and other graphic design services to people.
Starting a calligraphy business
The calligraphy market is one of the most straightforward to enter, but there are some steps to take to get your company running.
Learn Calligraphy
Calligraphy is a skill that can come naturally to a select few but even the few gifted ones still need to get more education in the field. In order to run a successful calligraphy business, you must deliver the best services to your clients, and having a profound knowledge of the vocation will ensure that. If you are naturally gifted with excellent calligraphy skills, you may not need to go for a full course in the subject, but you should at least aim to get more knowledge in the field. Attending a calligraphy school, taking a calligraphy course in college, or just signing in to an online calligraphy class will also help you develop as a teacher in case you need to teach others for extra cash. No matter how good you are, there are still a few lessons to learn in a calligraphy class.
Understand the ways of the industry
The more you get invested in your new calligraphy business is the more you must soak up every information you can. There are some principles you have to adhere to, most of them are unwritten, and failure to do this might land you in trouble. One of the most important things to respect is the copyright law. People violate copyright laws on a daily basis but for a business owner in this industry, it is unforgivable. Especially on social media, people post famous quotes and excerpts from a book to their accounts and don’t get punished. If you can’t make up your own inspirational quotes, ask for permission before using a famous quote. However, you can use quotes from excerpts that are over a hundred years old, so be sure before making references to some other person’s work.
As you begin to take steps to launch your small company, there is a need to plan for it. The first line of action is to document your ideas and plans for the business. Make a solid business plan and clearly state what your business will need to start and survive, what it would come up against, how you will counter the challenges, and what your overall expectations are concerning the business.
Your new company needs to be registered; even though it may seem unnecessary due to the nature of the business, it is. A small business today could soar high sooner than expected, and if that’s when one wishes to register it, the name might have been taken. Other information, including company logo, colors, and more, may need to be changed. The earlier you register your business, the better for your company.
Next, get the necessary resources you need for the business, especially calligraphy tools. Make up your mind on how you wish to source clients and how much you will demand your services. A price list is vital, but you must consider the nature of the project, time factor, and other details before fixing your price.
Set aside a workspace
The average calligrapher works remotely and most of them work from home. This setting has its benefits but if you don’t take control of the situation, you could easily become unprofessional. One of the challenges of working from home is that the people around you won’t take it seriously hence they might not give you the privacy you need. This reason is why you should create a space in the house that will serve as your office. The projects you have to execute and other work-related tasks will be done there. For those who have home offices, running this business will be easier than most.
Create a collection of your best projects
The best way to sell yourself in a way that would convince a potential client is by showing them what you’ve done. Showing a client what you have done will remove every ambiguity and misconception they might have concerning your skill. This way, they can have a clear picture of what you do and your previous work could inspire their next craving. In order to make this effective, keep records of your previous projects, especially the best ones, for reference purposes. Select the best ones and stack them like an album, make hardcopy and softcopy versions, and have them with you all the time. Keep them where you can easily reach them so that whenever a client requests to see one, you can easily mail it to them.
Create your online platforms
In today’s world, the average calligrapher work for people they’ve never seen or will never meet. Almost everything that’s pertaining to the calligraphy business is done digitally- it is how your company will be awarded contracts, and how you will get paid for your services. The need to create online platforms for your calligraphy business cannot be overemphasized. Open social media pages for your business so that you can connect with potential and existing clients. You could open a blog where you will be dishing out tips on how to excel in the calligraphy industry. Your blog or website will contain essential information regarding your business, as well as payment options for your services. Your online platforms will be a medium to sell your business, so put your best foot forward.
Always keep your client informed
Clients can be very specific about what they want you to do for them, and if communication is lost somewhere, you will suffer the most. The moment you start negotiating with a client, make sure you have all the details documented, and ask questions to be sure. Even after you must have gotten the contract and started working for the client, make sure you keep the client posted before you go further with the job. You risk redoing the project all over again if you go on until the end without showing them the work. To save yourself the stress and embarrassment of having to redo something you thought of as a work of art, always let your client in as the work progresses.
Sell your services
What good will it do to set up an amazing calligraphy company if you don’t let the world know about it? None! You must put your business out there for people to know what you can offer. The first and easiest way to go about this is to use your social media accounts to promote your business. If you have other online platforms like a website or blog, you can use it to draw people’s attention to your business. In an industry like this, it will be easier to get clients from other clients via referrals. Also, sell your expertise or products on platforms that help creative artists earn a living. Some of the top platforms where artists like calligraphers go to get more clients are Amazon Handmade, Shopify, and Etsy. With these platforms, you can find people who are ready to pay for your services. If you design objects for sale, you can also sell them there. Some of them have forums where you can ask questions and contribute in other ways to the growth of the community of calligraphers. Each platform has its distinctive attributes, but they are the best for selling your brand.
Conclusion
It takes more than talent to own a thriving calligraphy firm. Dedication and hard work must go into it. Education is equally crucial as there is still something out there to know about the trade. Make the best use of platforms like Etsy, and the likes, to sell your brand and increase your chances of earning more. As long as you pay attention to your clients, do a fantastic job for them, and promote your business, your small company will join the elite in no time.