Small Business for Leatherworkers

Thinking Clearly About Selling, Sustainability, and Growth

At some point, many leatherworkers begin thinking about business. That might mean selling a few pieces on the side, improving consistency in an existing operation, or simply understanding how creative work fits into real world constraints.

This page is designed to offer a strategic overview of common business considerations for leatherworkers. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Instead, it highlights patterns, tradeoffs, and questions that leatherworkers often encounter when money, time, and expectations enter the picture.

Not every leatherworker wants the same outcome. Some want to remain craftspeople who make for the sake of the craft. Others are motivated by building a business and earning income. Many move between these positions over time. This page respects all of those paths.


Craft and Business Are Not the Same Thing

One of the most important distinctions for leatherworkers to make is between craft goals and business goals.

Craft focused makers often prioritize:

  • Skill development and mastery

  • Personal satisfaction and creative control

  • Making fewer pieces with more intention

Business focused makers often prioritize:

  • Consistency and repeatability

  • Time management and efficiency

  • Clear pricing and customer expectations

Neither approach is inherently better. Problems often arise when expectations are unclear or when business pressure is applied to craft goals without adjustment.

Understanding which role you are playing at a given time can reduce frustration and burnout.


Common Business Paths for Leatherworkers

There is no single correct way to sell leatherwork. Many leatherworkers combine or shift between paths as circumstances change.

Common paths include:

  • Custom commissions and one off work

  • Small batch production

  • Selling online through personal sites or marketplaces

  • In person sales at markets, shows, or retail locations

  • Teaching classes or workshops

  • Creating patterns, kits, or digital products

Each path involves different tradeoffs around time, predictability, and creative freedom. This page does not recommend one over another. It encourages awareness.


Selling Online and Selling in Person

Where you sell often shapes how your business feels.

Online focused businesses might emphasize:

  • Photography and presentation

  • Written communication

  • Fulfillment and shipping workflows

  • Managing customer expectations remotely

In person selling might emphasize:

  • Inventory planning

  • Visual display and presentation

  • Face to face communication

  • Immediate feedback and interaction

Many leatherworkers use both approaches at different stages. Neither is inherently easier. They simply require different kinds of energy.


Pricing, Value, and Boundaries

Pricing is often one of the most emotionally difficult areas for leatherworkers.

At a high level, pricing tends to reflect:

  • Time and materials

  • Skill and reliability

  • The value a customer perceives

Comparing prices without context can be misleading. Leatherworkers operating at different scales, with different goals, may arrive at very different prices for similar items. If you are unsure about pricing, try to err on the high side. It is much easier to lower a price or offer the customer a deal than to raise the price later.

Equally important are boundaries. Clear communication about timelines, revisions, and scope can help protect both the maker and the customer. Many issues attributed to pricing are actually issues of expectation.


Time, Workflow, and Sustainability

Business decisions are rarely just about money.

Leatherworkers often balance:

  • Other jobs or responsibilities

  • Physical limits and fatigue

  • Creative energy and motivation

Some makers embrace periods of intense production. Others prefer slower, steadier rhythms. Many shift between the two over time.

Sustainable businesses often evolve gradually. Small changes in workflow, product focus, or scheduling can have outsized impact on quality of life.


Teaching, Sharing, and Non Product Income

Not all leatherwork income comes from physical goods.

Some leatherworkers explore:

  • Teaching classes or workshops

  • Mentoring or assisting others

  • Selling patterns, kits, or educational content

These paths require different skills than production, but they can complement making rather than replace it. Teaching and sharing knowledge is also a way many leatherworkers contribute to the long term health of the craft.


Learning Resources for Leatherworking Businesses

Business knowledge is often learned informally, through experience and shared stories. The resources below can help provide perspective without prescribing a single path.

Educational and Industry Resources

  • Maker focused business articles and case studies

  • Craft business interviews and talks

  • Resources discussing pricing, workflow, and sustainability

Community and Peer Resources

  • Leatherworker communities discussing business realities

  • Maker groups sharing lessons learned

  • Podcasts focused on creative work and income

These resources are included for learning and reflection, not endorsement.


Explore Related Learning Paths

You may also find value in:

These pages explore skill development and business considerations as parallel paths rather than prerequisites.


Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be an advanced leatherworker to sell my work?
Not necessarily. Many leatherworkers begin selling simple, well made items while continuing to improve their skills.

Is it realistic to run a leather business part time?
Yes. Many leather businesses operate part time, especially in early stages or alongside other work.

Do I need to grow for my business to be successful?
Not always. For some leatherworkers, stability and sustainability are more important than expansion.


Disclosure

This page is intended to be a neutral educational resource. It does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice. Some product links on this site may point to items sold directly through our store. External links are included for educational value and are not endorsements.

In the future, some external links may include affiliate relationships. These relationships do not influence which resources are included or how they are described.