Two Painters In A Pod . com

Looking for the audio podcast?  Click on the link to the right called Podcast under Categories. That will take you to all our podcasts! Or… look for the link at the top called Podcast Archives, that will get you to all the podcasts as well.

I know your going to love this subject! NOT! 

Keeping records for your business is painful… I know, I have been doing it for years and isn't any easier today than it was 12 or 15 years ago.  But I have special tips and tricks that I use to make it less painful.

More information about that horrid subject below… but first, I have started a…. 

New website : Home Based Craft Business 

This site is for artists that have home based craft business and sell their products either online, in galleries or at shows… or a combination of all.   You can combine your knowledge of faux painting and mural painting into craft items to sell.  Get my drift? 

Now you can join the latest craft business club…   Pajama Crafters Club and you will receive a free report about the first stages of building a website.  This information would be good basic information for painting business owners as well. 

This site is already filling up with a ton of basic home based craft business information.  

Also… new audio show similar to www.twopaintersinapod.com will be posted at that website.  I hope to have the first show up in about a week.

I plan to do interviews at craft events and phone interviews as well… with beginning and successful crafty types that have "quit their day job" and work every day in their 'jammies.!  

We want to  discover what it takes to run your own home based craft business and what makes successful product design and production.

Also… how do they price their products, advertise, set up show or gallery showings.  Tips for running the business side of craftiness as well as the creative side and how the get the mix right.

It will be fun, entertaining and inspirational… so if you are the least bit interested in owning a craft business… mosey on over to: www.homebasedcraftbusiness.com 

 Our upcoming Breakation

If you listened in to last weeks show… you know we are planning a breakation. Going to the outlaws for several days… where it is much cooler than Southern Arizona.  I will be visiting an art show… so expect lot's of interviews with artistic creative types coming soon.

Carolina Custom Interiors - Coaching 

Back to the show:  Patricia Hansen is also taking a break from the show for a week.  I called her… and her schedule had been just horrendous for the last week. She hadn't done any website design homework yet…. so I gave her another week to accomplish the tasks outlined last week.  Let's just see what she comes up with. 

The bookkeeping and accounting side of a Painting Business 

I do all my own bookkeeping on QuickBooks Pro 2007 Small Business Financial Software It is easy to learn and you don't need to buy a different version every year. Accountants love it when you use this software. 

You can rip off a c.d. of your current bookkeeping and hand it over to your accountant. The accountant does all the rest.  Let them help you set up your bookkeeping system, fill out all tax records, file your taxes quarterly and at year end… they will pay for themselves in found deductions you didn't know you could take.

• Do you need to pay estimated taxes?

• Can you take your car expenses as a deduction?

• Can you take a portion of your home expenses and loan payments as a deduction?

• Do you need to pay sales tax?

• Can you have your spouse take a larger tax hit in their payroll checks and come out ahead?

• Do you need to take inventory?

• What is considered a supply, a tool or an office supply?

• Do you know how to take mileage expenses for your automobile?  How much of the oil change you just paid for is a business expense?

• Do you have a tax savings account? How much should you save? 

• Do you have an employee or do you use contract labor? Do you know the legal difference?

• How do you store your records and for how long?

• Do you shred you business information?

Listen up and listen in too keep yourself out of IRS hot water.

Hey… Let's go Paint!

Have a great week… Debra THAT Painter Lady 

Technorati Tags: bookkeeping, record keeping, decorative, painting, business, faux, craft, show, Debra Conrad, THAT Painter Lady

Looking for the audio podcast?  Click on the link to the right called Podcast under Categories. That will take you to all our podcasts!

What a call this was! Challenging would be an understatement.  Podcasting is an art as well as a technical challenge and this was one of those days. Dropped calls, static on the line and the host forgot to hit the record button for the last portion of the call.   

It is still a great call… 20 minutes packed with information that Patricia of Carolina Custom Interiors (910-364-4433) has learned about setting up a business in her area. Legal businesses are always best. If you are serious about starting a profitable business, why wouldn't you want to be above board in all areas of your business. Professionalism is key in running a profit generating business of any kind.

• Registering your business name - Certificate of Assumed Name
• Being able to advertise your name without fear of being sued.
• Zoning Laws -  Running a Home Office
• Insurance - What do you need?
• How to find insurance companies that have the insurance you need.
• Free information you can find.
• Liability insurance is so important and why. How much do you need?
• Do you need to be a contractor and/or bonded to be in the faux painting business?
• Use your Chamber of Commerce for business information
• Small Business Centers are available in your area
• Setting up a website
• Domain names - using GoDaddy.com
• Hosting Plans - size matters. 24/7 customer service.
• Hosting does not hide anything… open and available for you to manage your site.
• Using a .com name rather than .info or .tv etc.
• Fantastico - needed if you are going to use Wordpress - a content management system.
• Ability to have a photo or album gallery
• Using your logo.  Why is a logo important?
• Why you should not use blogger, wordpress or typepad free services
• Website designed with Dreamweaver software: www.fauxfinishhowto.com
• Search Engine Optimization - What is it? Why do you need it?
• Local Searches - How do people find your company locally?
• Small Business Plan - Not covered - talk next week
• Other business options while your waiting for income:
• Patricia sells Tupperware.

Using the coaching calls as advice for setting up your faux painting business.

Breakcation news. Find out what that is?

New Website revealed next week for home based craft business owners. 

Interview with Patricia Hansen of Carolina Custom Interiors...

 
New faux and mural painting business in North Carolina.

You can reach her at: 910-364-4433

She has innovative and artistic decorative painting ideas for homes and offices.

This interview with Patricia is about 30 minutes packed with ideas to help you get started in your own mural and decorative painting business.

Gift and Floral Shop in Fallon, Nevada. 

Faux Painting and Vines custom designed and painted by Patricia Hansen. 

Patricia has been painting for several years in Yuma, Arizona; Reno, Nevada, and now she works in the Dunn, North Carolina area. She does move often!

Patricia started her faux painting business by apprenticing with Debra Conrad, THAT Painter Lady, and then took the leap into self-employment.  The training she received was all on the work site and within her own home. Patricia has no artistic background whatsoever.

In the course of learning about decorative painting and stenciling, Patricia learned that she has a real knack for this type of art. Transforming her home by using those walls as her canvas, gave her the opportunity to showcase her talents. Then by photographing the finished results, she now had the start of a great portfolio.  

Her first professional client in Reno, came to her by chance. This is the way new businesses often get their starts. Patricia had invited a couple from church over for dinner, and the wife was enchanted with her painting ability. Listen in to the podcast to find out how Patricia got her first commission during this informal meeting.

As a new business owner, Patricia knows the value of networking. We review a few of her techniques that help her get known, and her foot in the door. You will be surprised at all the possibilities that are waiting for you, no matter what size town you live in.

 Faux Window with Stenciled Iron Work
  Patricia Hansen  Carolina Custom Interiors

 Patricia has a husband and five children to take care of, plus she is working part-time as a substitute teacher and she is the president of an womens church organization with over 200 members. She has a lot on her plate! In her spare time she is working overtime to get her new faux painting business off the ground.

Some of the ideas discussed in this interview are:

• Charging for consultation
• Portfolio
• Advertising
• Fliers
• Approaching designers, contractors and other business owners
• Networking
• Branching out in other decorating areas

This new entrepreneur shares some of her advertising tips. I think her ideas are practical and inventive.   And, they are also done on a budget which is always the best kind of advertising… if it isn't free, then cheap is almost as good.

Technorati Tags: Faux, Painting, business, owner, North Carolina, Two Painters In A Pod, Debra Conrad, Patricia Hansen