Invest Arts Entrepreneurs

Business Planning for Artist Entrepreneurs

Every entrepreneur, in any field, needs a business plan. While the idea of translating your artistic talent or creativity into a business document sounds like a daunting project, writing a business plan will:

1. Help you define your short-term and long-term goals as an artist-entrepreneur
2. Make it easier to identity regular steps to reach your business goals
3. Form a solid basis for any grant applications or press releases
4. Allow you to work through your financials, pricing strategy and cash flow (which will again help with any grant application budget proposals)

A business plan for a self-employed artist doesn’t have to be long or complicated.  Think of it as a plan of action – a self-written guide for making money from your art and creative talent. You can use the templates provided on the business planning section of the Enterprise Saint John site as a guide. Your plan should include the following basic elements:

1. Executive Summary: Short description of your work and a brief summary of your financial plan
2. Artist Statement: Information about yourself, your art, your background in the arts and your field, why your work is relevant and unique
3. Marketing Strategy: What makes you and your art different from others in the marketplace, who will buy your art, how will you promote yourself and your work, what is your sales strategy (online, galleries, fairs, etc.)
4. Financial Strategy: Project your sales and expenses, develop and cash-flow forecast
5. Appendices: Images, artist curriculum vitae, etc.