If you’re like most makers I know, the last few months of the year can mean an increase in sales and a nice little cash cushion for your business. After all, the fourth quarter is when most retail based businesses traditionally turn a profit for the year. But how you spend this extra cash can [...]
I talk a lot about profit here on CMBA, and it’s because I think it’s a conversation we don’t have enough in the crafts community. But since I don’t want you to think I’m all Gordon Gekko, today I want to talk about another deeply held business belief of mine: That the pursuit of profit [...]
A few weeks ago, Tara and I recorded this little video. (And yes, we’re in a Panera. And yes, I make a lot of funny faces in the video.) We frequently talk business when we get together, and here we talk about building our own creative empires, how our businesses are perceived by those around [...]
Today I’m excited to share this guest post from Holly of Accounting Spot. Holly provides accounting and bookkeeping services for small and micro businesses, and she’s graciously agreed to share her tips for keeping track of profit in your business. Thanks Holly! Hello! I was so excited when Megan asked me to guest post here [...]
Thanks for joining me for Profit Week. It’s clear that this is a conversation the crafts community needs to have again and again as we embrace the idea that not only are we designers, makers, and artists, but we are business owners and entrepreneurs. And we want to make money! (And that’s ok.) So please, [...]
Seth Godin talked about it. (Someone must have told him it was Profit Week.) Meredith mentioned it in the comments yesterday. You hear people say it all the time: You gotta spend money to make money. And while this is true, it’s actually much more complicated than that. It’s not just about spending money. It’s [...]
Part of creating a culture of profit means letting go of some of the myths we’ve been carrying around about our businesses and when and how they should make money. Today I want to look at 5 profit theories I often hear, and why they aren’t (usually) true. Myth #1: You shouldn’t take any money [...]
For the record, I think there is nothing wrong with wanting to build a profitable business to create a comfortable living for yourself and your family. (Provided that you are doing this in an ethically and socially responsible manner.) But I also know that is is an area of thinking where many of us struggle. [...]
Since we’re talking about profit on CMBA this week, I want to make sure we’re all on the same page when it comes to understanding what profit actually is. First off, sales are not the same thing as profit. When you look at the amount of revenue your business has taken in, this is your [...]
A while back, I ran a survey for CMBA readers about which business topics they were most interested in learning about, and marketing was at the top. That’s not really surprising. It’s easy to view marketing as the magic bullet to running a successful business. But I don’t think lack of marketing prowess is what’s keeping most craft businesses [...]
Megan Auman is a designer, maker, educator, and entrepreneur who has built a multi-faceted business around her passion for great design and sustainable business. Her eponymous jewelry line is sold in stores across the US and online. In 2009, Megan founded Crafting an MBA to help designers and makers develop their business skills. In 2011, the site name was changed to Designing an MBA.
Learn more about Designing an MBA.
