Bookkeeping doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The 10-Minute Bookkeeper is a simple spreadsheet system designed for handmade business owners who want calm, clear, tax-ready numbers — without complicated software or hours of work.
Physical inventory is a must for handmade businesses — but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Learn how to count materials and finished goods with confidence.
This post was originally published on 1/5/2019 and has been updated to include clearer examples.
Handmade business owners often run into the same money mistakes — from underpricing to skipping bookkeeping to mixing up profit and pay. In this post, we’ll break down the top eight financial mistakes handmade sellers make and show you simple, stress-free ways to avoid them and build a more profitable creative business.
Overhead expenses are all those behind-the-scenes costs — rent, website hosting, shipping supplies, subscriptions, and more — that keep your handmade business alive… but often get ignored when you price your creations. This post shows you how to gather your expenses, calculate a realistic hourly or per-item overhead cost, and bake that number into your prices so you stop working for free.
Pricing your handmade items for profit and tracking the cost to make them doesn’t have to feel like a math-induced meltdown. In this post, I’m sharing the upgraded Handmade Product Pricing & COGS Calculator — a simple, maker-friendly tool that helps you track materials, remove the guesswork, and finally price your products with confidence. If you’ve ever juggled yarn scraps, sticky notes, and “I’ll figure it out later”… this instantly makes your life easier.
When was the last time you looked at your receipts and didn’t instantly want to pour another cup of coffee?
Here’s the truth — your handmade business doesn’t just have one big pile of expenses; it has five.
Still using that mythical “Materials x 3′ rule to price your handmade products? You’re not alone. Too many makers price their work based on what “feels right” or what someone else told them to charge. In this post, we’re setting the record straight — and figuring out what your fair hourly wage really is.
Bookkeeping isn’t just about math — it’s how handmade business owners understand if they’re really making money. It helps you handle taxes, see your true profit, and price your creations with confidence. Start small, stay consistent, and use bookkeeping to make smarter business decisions (without losing your creative spark).
