Hello M’dear,

Welcome to the Flourish & Thrive Academy’s Beginners Guide to Starting a Jewelry
Business.

Starting any business can be a daunting task, especially when you’ve never been through
the process before.

Plus, all this technical stuff like registering your business name or launching a website
can be especially hard for jewelry designers. We are natural-born creatives and often
want to skip all those boring, business-y activities.

However, the foundational aspects of starting a business are just as important as your
beautiful designs.

That’s why we’ve compiled the most important steps you’ll need to take to launch your
jewelry business the RIGHT way!

If you’d like to delve in further, check out our Laying the Foundation Program. It’s been
called an MBA for jewelry designers and makers who want to grow a profitable business.

Let’s get started!

xo, Tracy Matthews

Chief Visionary Officer of Flourish & Thrive Academy
Creator of Laying the Foundation

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 ESTABLISHING YOUR BUSINESS
Choose a Business Name
Before registering or trademarking, be sure you’re happy with your name. Re-branding
can be expensive so take some time to come up with something you LOVE.

For inspiration, consider buzzwords and adjectives that resonate with your DREAM
clients. What words or phrases describe your signature style?
Why are you starting your jewelry business? What’s your inspiration? Dig deep into
your history for the answer and your business name inspiration!
If another jewelry business has a similar name or already has a trademark for the
name you’re considering, move on to something else. Search the U.S. Trademark
database.
Use Namecheap.com or NameCheckr.com to check both domain name and social
media username availability across all platforms.

Register Your Business + Trademark

Once you’ve chosen a business name, make sure no one else has registered the same
name. In the U.S., use this website to find your Secretary of State office’s business
registration site.

Trademark your business name to protect it from being copied. See the Trademark
section of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the necessary paperwork.

Permits and Licenses

Every state/province, county, and city will have regulations regarding business license
permits and permits for home businesses. In some areas, you may not be required to
obtain a license. Your local County Clerk’s office can walk you through the process.

Taxes
The IRS requires you to register your business with your state’s Department of Revenue
Sales Tax Division. Visit your state’s Department of Revenue website for more
information.

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 Obtain a Resale Tax Number: Register with your Department of Revenue for a tax
exemption number. This also enables you to buy materials at wholesale cost with no
sales tax.
Pay Your Taxes: In the U.S., you’ll file quarterly state sales tax forms, even if you
didn’t make any sales. You’re legally required to pay the government the exact
amount of sales tax you collected on all sales. The shop or gallery is responsible for
collecting and reporting the sales tax on anything they sell for consignment or
wholesale.
Selling out-of-state or internationally: Follow the laws of each state where you do
business.
Selling online or direct-to-customers: Charge the proper sales tax for each state.
Selling in-person at a trade show or art fair: You may be required to obtain a
temporary permit. Search Google or call the state’s Department of Revenue to
understand permits and sales tax for the state where you’re doing business.
Report income tax: If you’re earning income from your business, you need to pay
federal, state, and possibly local income taxes.

We strongly recommend hiring a qualified accountant to navigate the tax laws

properly. You can also research the IRS Small Business / Self Employed Website and
Starting a Business guide.

Business Banking
Registering your business means you’re legally compliant but also protects you. In the
U.S., the IRS requires a defined separation of business and personal income and
expenses.

Open a business bank account: This will ensure all your business expenses and
income remain separate from your banking.
Maintain a bookkeeping system: Use Quickbooks, Xero or hire an accountant if it’s
within your budget. Crunching numbers and tracking cash flow are essential parts
of your business but not skills you need to master.

*Legal and Financial rules for starting a business differ from country to country. Be aware this
guide has U.S.-specific links and information. It would be impossible for us to cover every
country’s laws, so it’s your responsibility to understand the laws for your country.

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 YOUR BRAND ASSETS
Brand Name + Tagline
Once you’ve decided on your brand name, consider adding a tagline to make your
brand more memorable. Choose something that expresses your identity in just a few
words. A tagline is NOT necessary, but it can be a great addition to your brand name.

Branding
Colors: There are endless color combinations to choose from. Check out these helpful
resources:

The color psychology resource from Coschedule to understand the implications of

brand colors.
Colour Lovers site to easily mix and match colors to see what works well together.

Logo + Design Elements

Your logo will be used on your website, packaging, newsletters, marketing materials,
line sheets, and social media, so make it simple, versatile but still eye-catching.

If you aren’t a graphic designer, it’s worth hiring a professional to create a versatile,
resizable logo.
Graphic designers can also create on-brand design elements for ongoing use, such
as custom bullets, Canva templates, and reusable graphics.
Hiring a graphic designer doesn’t have to bust your budget. Try one of these
freelancer websites: Upwork.com, Behance.com, 99designs, Fiverr.

Packaging
Your packaging must make a stellar first impression! Create a magical, branded
unboxing experience for your DREAM clients while also protecting your jewelry.

High-Quality Photos
Professional, high-quality photography is necessary if you want to be taken seriously.
We recommend well-lit products with clean white or black backgrounds and no
distractions. Check out this photography resource: Jewelry Photography Tips for
Designers on a Budget

Website
If you’re setting up a website, we recommend Shopify because it’s a robust solution
that will grow as you do. Get a FREE Shopify Trial here.

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 HOW TO MAKE YOUR FIRST
(AND 50TH) SALE

Spread the word about your brand and start making sales. The fastest way to make
sales and build your audience as you’re starting is to leverage your friends and family
network. Ask for referrals and send our direct messages or emails to your network.

Get exposure by pitching jewelry magazines, local publications, and bloggers on stories
about your brand. Start a blog, build social media presence, wear your jewelry
everywhere and talk about your work!

Places to start selling your jewelry: Your website, local boutiques, social media
(Instagram and Facebook), trunk shows, arts or craft shows, house parties, Etsy, and
more.

Build your confidence when you’re just starting out! Daily affirmations, mindset work,
and practice will help you get over the fear of putting yourself out there.

MARKETING/SALES RESOURCES

Marketing is the gasoline that fuels the sales engine! Get comfortable with a regular
flow of marketing and watch the sales start rolling in. Here are a few resources to help
you get started and learn more about marketing and selling your designs.

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 START A JEWELRY BUSINESS CHECKLIST
BUSINESS ORGANIZATION SALES FOUNDATIONS

Decide on a Business Entity (DBA, LLC,S-Corp) Mindset

Get a Tax ID separate from your Social Meditate

Security Number Sales Affirmations
Apply for a Resale License or Certificate Sales Tactics
of Authority
Phone calls
Open a Separate (Business) Bank Account Text Messages
Messenger Messages
Email Marketing
Individual Emails
BRAND FOUNDATIONS In person meetings or live events

Daily Action Steps for RGAs

Know WHO you design for Time Block

Know WHAT you stand for Celebrate the YES’s

Know your WHY

Develop a Vision Statement MARKETING FOUNDATIONS

Develop a Mission Statement

Always be Marketing
Develop Core Values for your Brand
Create a Marketing Plan

Create a Marketing Calendar

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT &
BRANDING Batch Content
Set up Social Media Platforms
Develop a Cohesive Collection and Design
Point of View Schedule Your Social Media
Start Public Relations Outreach
Get Your Pricing Right and Price for Wholesale
before Marking to Retail Build Your Email List of Customers & Prospects
Email Your Customers and Prospects Regularly
Create Your Visual Branding
Batch Content for Social, Email and Blog
Logo
Colors and Fonts
Packaging
Business Cards
Postcards
Photography
Develop Your Own Branded Websit
Buy a domain
Set your site up on a robust platform
like Shopify to set up your site

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 NEXT STEPS
The biggest hurdle you’ll have to overcome making a living as a maker or artist is
overcoming mental hurdles and mindset. Being a business owner takes commitment
and dedication. It requires you to always be growing and tweaking your strategy.

That means owning your talent and building confidence! Have confidence in your
designs and trust your passion for jewelry. Stay motivated, and the rest will fall into
place.

If you’d like to delve deeper into a comprehensive training program to show you your
next steps in growing your business, check out our signature program, Laying the
Foundation. It’s designed to help you get consistent sales and build a timeless brand
that helps you stand out in a saturated market.

TAKE ME TO LAYING THE FOUNDATION

FREE MASTERCLASS:
SUBSCRIBE TO THRIVE BY HOW TO STAND
DESIGN OUT IN A SATURATED MARKET

Each week, I drop in-depth marketing
strategies, interviews with experts and
actionable insights straight to your earbuds.
Spend more time in your creative genius so
that you can grow your business quickly,
spend more time doing what you love and less
time doing busy work.
In this free live masterclass, I’ll be sharing the
many ways I glue-gunned myself into
“hobbyist-mode” for way too long, and how
you can avoid my failures (and replicate my
success in a fraction of the time). It doesn’t
matter if you’re a total newb or been a maker
in biz for years.

SUBSCRIBE CLAIM YOUR SPOT

Laying the Foundation (aka LTF) is our signature 12 Week virtual program for independent
jewelry designers and makers who desire to have a business that generates 5- or 6-figures
in revenue per year.

We’ll help you build desire and demand for your jewelry brand by attracting the right
exposure and clients. Plus, you’ll become part of an active, supportive, and tight-knit
community, with opportunities for individualized coaching from experts.

Take Me to Laying the Foundation

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