Home Based

[JKnapitsch]

Hi all I'm new here and I was wondering if anyone started out home based and what some of the pro/cons to it. I'm considering starting framing part time on the side and expanding it to a full time business. I would like to try and keep it home based but I'm not sure if that is possible, any help would be appreciated.

Jake

[B. Newman]

Jake, some of us started homebased, and some of us still are. There are a lot of pros and cons to that, but (in my opinion) the most important thing is professionalism (and that includes pricing) in your work regardless of your location.

There has been a lot of animosity toward homebased framers in the past, but that attitude is slowly changing, due in no small part to forums like this one and the PPFA forum (called The Hitchhikers).

Do a search on "homebased" and you'll find a lot of info.

Betty Newman

[Jerry Ervin]

Welcome to the grumble Jake. There are a lot of us here that started that way. If you work it real hard, you will not be home based long. I started that way six years ago. Next month I will be opening my second retail store.

Never give up.

Jerry

[wally pasbrig]

Go for it! I am still doing it out of my home, along with a B & B. It's all part of a plan that allowed me to take early retirement from my 40 year career in broadcasting. Now I have the best of all worlds. If you want to take it full time in the future, it is a worthy goal to pursue. Stay in touch with the good people here on the Grumble and they will lead you to the land of "milk and money" - but perhaps more milk than money.

[Larry Peterson]

I am home-based but have both a virtual and physical presence. I started as home based for the specialty framing that I sell on line. I later added a framing booth at the Antique Mall where I also sell antiques.

When you are ready, you might want to consider that and see if any of your local Antique or Decorating shops might want to rent you space. You can get physical for a minimum rental outlay. I have an area of about 100 SqFt in my mall that costs me about $150/month. I also get the benifit of all the traffic that comes in to look at antiques. All my framing equipment is still at home. I'm starting to look towards renting a full retail location where I will also have all my equipment. It's one way you might start.

[The Frame Lady]

Jake,

Welcome to the Grumble, and welcome to framing. As you can tell, this is a pretty optimistic group, and we tend believe we can make whatever we desire happen thru some hard work and perseverance! :D

I took a backwords path and had store which I closed to work at home so I could do the Mom thing. I have been at home for about 12 years now and have no intention of going back to what I felt were the chains of retail. I am happy and successful and have what most of my friends consider the best of both worlds. I also know of another framer in the area who was extremely successful, but then moved to his house and is still reguarded with a great amount of respect from local framers.

Hopefully you can be all you want to be and find out what works for you. And, I agree with Betty that professionalism is a huge factor. No doubt a lack of professionalism and quality is why us home based framers have been viewed negatively in the past. I hope we are changing that as Betty also said.

I have found that a big "pro" is making my own hours (particularly before the kids are up and in my jammies ;) ) I have only myself to blame as well, for both good and bad experiences. I started taking my samples to clients houses or businesses, and while I still do that sometimes, the majority of my clients now come to my house which is now easier for me.

One of the biggest "cons" for me is the lack of examples to show clients. My livingroom is very full of different styles of framing for examples, and I have a book of samples of my own stuff as well as ideas I have cut out of the trade mags.(A very good source for info by the way). But I wish I had mor space for more variety.

Feel free to contact me if you want more info on how I have made this happen for myself!

Cheers,
LeeAnn

[Ron Eggers]

This is very interesting to me.

For most framers who are employees, the big dream is to own their own shop. But we have some (at least one that I know of) happy, well-adjusted framers who closed up their own shops and went to work for someone else. There are LOTS of days when that sounds pretty good to me.

I would venture to say that many, if not most, home-based framers hope to eventually open a store-front location. At least one Grumbler has gone the opposite route and I often think it would be nice to work at home.

I guess I'd be making a lot of house-calls, though. I wouldn't want customers coming to my home and, in my community, it would be a zoning violation.

[Bill Henry-]

Welcome!

The biggest "pro" would, IMHO, be the greatly reduced overhead. You would not, of course, have to pay rent, and would probably be able to get a tax break if you used a proportion of your house for a commercial enterprise.

The biggest "con", I think, would be the lack of exposure which a retail establishment in a strip mall might give you.

If you're just going to "test the waters", stay at home and see how it goes, then decide to move into it full time ... or not.

[Sharonx]

I tried working at home years ago. My husband was a rep on the road and I was framing to sell wholesale to gift shops. I guess I am not disciplined enough. I found that friends and family dropped in as they didn't think I worked. It was easy for me to get side tracked. Now I have a retail store and while I put in a lot of hours there, I wouldn't trade it for a home shop. I like the idea that when I am done for the day, I can turn out the lights, lock the doors and get away from it for a few hours. I still do my computer work at home in the evenings, but it is nice not to be in the shop 24/7.

[B. Newman]

Sharon's right. That's what alot of people don't realize. If you're running a business, as opposed to having a hobby, having your business at home means that you're never away from it. My business is located in a separate building about 20 yards from my house, but I'm always running out to the shop to do things.

Having employees has helped me to relinquish some of the time spent, especially this past month when my son was in the hospital. Sometimes I would come in and go to bed and not even go out to the shop when a car came in. Or I did not answer the business line (which also rings in the house).

But still, you're always "on". 5, 6, or 7:00 may come and go, and if the rest of the family is doing other things, I may keep right on working. There's no real "quitting time". And it's hard to separate the "business me" from the "home me". (Of course, my boys have never known anything different, so this is "normal" for them.)

There are advantages and there are disadvantages to everything we do. We just have to chose OUR OWN choices.

Betty

[Valerian]

I have to say I'm mighty encouraged by the positive reaction to this thread. Sometimes it's like the term "home-based" is a dirty word.

I am a former full-time framer who has spent most of her time running the custom services departments at two major suppliers (consecutively this adds up to about 11 years). However, I did not set out to be a framer; I was (and still am) an artist who needed to pay the rent, so I took a retail framing job. As it turned out, I loved the work, and turned to wholesale. But I've spent so much time working for other people that I've spent very little time on my own career - as an artist. I am in the midst of setting up my own home framing business because 1.) I love doing the work, 2.) I can frame my own work for exhibition, and 3.) I would *love* to have my own gallery someday, and offer conservation framing services.

But boy, try to find a supplier who will sell to me. That's a whole different story. Some will, but the minimum orders they require are rather steep. Sad thing is, I knew this was coming because the last supplier I worked for was dead-set against supplying home-based businesses. *sigh* I have never agreed with that policy (because ya gotta start your business somewhere, dont you?), and ethically it's been hard to deal with. Now I'm at the other end of the phone, getting turned away.

It's depressing.

[ahohen]

JKnapitsch: I have been in the framing business since 1982... a very successful business. I have NEVER advertised... never needed to. The old saying "word of mouth" has and is always working for me. In my opinion, the door to success is mainly based on your attitude with the public... believe me!! Some of he distributors, for example, i have stopped doing business with over the past 20+ years BECAUSE of their "attitude" problems. have either closed, sold out their business, or changed their attitude. I wish you good luck.

[sharonm]

Originally posted by Valerian:
However, I did not set out to be a framer; I was (and still am) an artist who needed to pay the rent, so I took a retail framing job. As it turned out, I loved the work... This is how I also got started in framing. I earned my BFA in photography, but in order to pay the bills and save money to move to NYC, I needed a good paying job. Now that I've spent 9 years framing, and 9 years not taking pictures, I want to run my own shop. It's just a matter of sitting down, getting a business plan together, and deciding on when and where to open.

[Sherry Lee]

Jake,
You are very smart to be forward thinking and ask such a question at this stage of your planning and on this wonderful forum.

I suggest, if you haven't, you pull out a big pad of paper and pencil, and do two things. One is a list of the pros and cons that you are reading in this thread. Add your own as you think things through (you know, that hour in bed as you try to fall asleep). The next is, make a list of what you are trying to achieve by owning your own business. In this list you would determine if a home business vs. store front would fill your needs.

When I thought this through five years ago my needs were to have flexible hours so that I could meet my aging parents needs, travel with my husband on interesting business trips, or work from 6am to 1am one day and be off the next. I didn't want employees. I wanted to be big, offer high quality and provide individual attention to each customer. I must add that I wanted (and still do) the challenge of operating a store front, but it wouldn't work with the above mentioned priorities.

We too rely on word-of-mouth advertising and it has worked very well for us.

Re: zoning. Some cities and home management boards vary on how strict they are. We examined it closely and was told that because home businesses are on such a steep rise, they could hardly close off home businesses. What ours closely monitors is a) they want minimal traffic flow and b) you pay your taxes! We also worked closely with our neighbors to assure them they'd never realize there was a home business here. Trust me, some neighbors have so many relatives/friends that their traffic pattern is much greater than ours.

If I can help you with any questions, feel free to email me privately. Enjoy your ride!

[Larry Peterson]

I was interested to re-read this thread when it came back to the top. When I wrote my first response last July I was part-home based and part retail. Since that time myself and a partner opened our own Antique/Framing/Vintage Lighting store where I do framing and now have my full framing shop in the store. Since that thread I have graduated from virtual/home-based shop/retail to virtual/retail. Go for it.

As to suppliers. Decor, M&M and UMS would sell to me when I was home based. Don Mar and LJ wouldn't; even when I was in an Antique Mall. Both Don Mar and LJ sell to me now with a store. When I was in the Antique Mall with my framing shop at home, LJ still considered me home-based. Now that both are in our new store, I'm OK to LJ.

[Valerian]

Originally posted by Sherry Lee:
my needs were to have flexible hours so that I could meet my aging parents needs, travel with my husband on interesting business trips, or work from 6am to 1am one day and be off the next. I didn't want employees. I wanted to be big, offer high quality and provide individual attention to each customer.My needs are similar, for the time being.

---------->BEGIN RANT
The other things is, having worked for 2 major suppliers, I've watched many good businesses fold because of stupidly high rents and waning clientele. Competition with the big boxes and slap-it-together-with-a-skinny-metal-frame-and-regular-glass shops is *awful* in Vancouver. My idea was to get some regular clientele (not unlike a hairstylist does) *then*, once I'm confident that I'll have some sort of interest, I will open a shop. I know, I am being very cautious. But with what I have seen around here, that's the smartest way to do it. Unfortunately, even if you have a cheap studio space (not a storefront) away from home you are still considered home-based; and in my province only 2 small distributors will reluctantly sell to you, if so. *grumble*
---------->END RANT

[ 04-22-2004, 06:18 PM: Message edited by: Valerian ]

[Amy McCray]

I've never understood why there is such a negative attitude toward home-based businesses. Many professions, such as insurance agents, interior designers, realtors, veterinarians, computer programmers, etc. have offices in their homes and they are not looked down upon. I don't get it.

I have seen enough shoddy work that was done in the so-called "legitimate" frame shops to know that a store front shop does not automatically equal better quality work or a "legitmate business". Working out of a home presents its own challenges, which also must be addressed.

Which brings me to my point. The ONLY things (IMHO) that should matter are the QUALITY of the work and Professionalism. Period. The building which houses the framer is totally irrevelant to what is practiced by the framer inside. Pricing should be appropriate for the industry - again, regardless of the building you are housed in.

I know many framers who have worked in shops. The shops did NOT send them to conferences for training, most didn't belong to PPFA, nor did they even subscribe to a single trade publication. The same can be said for many home-based framers.

I don't care what the building looks like where you do your business. If you don't care about the quality of what goes out the door, don't do your homework before you start, don't continuously stirve to improve your knowledge and skills, then you can work in a guilded mansion and it won't make you a good framer.

A big fat loan for a monthly lease payment, a ton of equipment and a semi load of supplies doesn't automatically make anyone a good framer or business person. It mostly makes them in a lot of debt.

Store front or home - give me a talented framer and business owner I can respect and leave the building out of the equation. One can easily find both excellence and mediocrity in either location.

You'll have to weigh which of the advantages are more important to you; flexibility vs. visibility being probably the two biggest factors. Then do what's right for you. You can always change your mind later. Nothing has to be in stone.

Remember, Variety is the spice of life.

Thanks to all those on this forum who treat Everyone with respect. It's what makes participating worthwhile. And thanks for allowing all to voice their opinion. I'm done now. Aren't you glad?!

Enjoy spring.

Amy McCray
Hickory Hollow Framery, Inc.

[Valerian]

Well said! Couldn't have done it better myself.

[CharlesL]

Our little business started out on a sun-porch that couldn't have been much more than 8X12', at the most.

We bought our work tables at an aucution, and stuck velcro to the walls to display our corner samples.

Janet got right much work, and, when she wasn't framing, she had time to cook for her son, Paul and me.

In June, 2000, she got an opportunity to move in with 2 artists over in town. She was on a sorta back street, at first, but now has moved to a prime Main Street location.

Ya gotta start somewhere, and the advantages of starting at home are tremendous!

Good Luck to you, and welcome to the Grumble!

[Hobbes03]

I agree with everything Valerian, amy, and Charles said. I started out and am still, three years later homebased. I conduct my business in the most professional manner that I know how. At first, I was afraid of being looked down upon, but not any longer. I HAVE seen other shops work come through my doors. Some of which I would not put my sticker on. As has been stated, it does not matter where you choose to run your business from, what matters is your committment to quality and professionalism, period. And as for pricing, I've had my share of walk-aways complaining that my prices were too high, and others tell me I'm right in line with other shops they've been to. I price my work as if I was in a store-front.

I consider myself lucky in that I have many suppliers that sell to me, with the exception of an obvious one, but that's ok. I have begun to search for a store-front location, not because I feel the need to validate my business, but simply because I am beginning to out-grow my current location.

-Mike.

[Jim Miller]

Originally posted by amy m:
I've never understood why there is such a negative attitude toward home-based businesses....I have seen enough shoddy work that was done in the so-called "legitimate" frame shops to know that a store front shop does not automatically equal better quality work or a "legitmate business"...The ONLY things (IMHO) that should matter are the QUALITY of the work and Professionalism. Period...Perception is the problem, in both customers and storefront competitors.

1. Potential customers look for outward signs of quality and professionalism; commitment to customer satisfaction and investment in the business. If those signs aren't immediately obvious, then the potential customer may jump to a conclusion that this isn't the best place to buy custom framing.

2. Some storefront framers, who have made the commitments and suffer the responsibilities you mentioned, resent having to compete with home-based framers. They believe home-based framers don't fully understand how business works, and charge less simply because they don't need the profit.

You're right, of course, that there are many home-based framing businesses professionally operated, and whose owners are just as committed a storefront owner might be. And there are storefront framers who do shoddy work and don't manage to operate profitably.

But there's a good reason for the perception that exists: It's true more often than it's false.

The reality doesn't make it fair to paint all home-based framers with the same brush, but not all things are fair. Quality and professionalism aren't all that matter. Right or wrong, negative perception is a disadvantage to be overcome by serious home-based framers.

Personally, I think we all have the right to operate our businesses any way we like. Home-based or storefront, we all have our hurdles to cross. Quality and professionalism are respectable traits, no matter where the shop is located.

[Bob Carter]

I think we tend to "dislike" competition in any form, as if the reason we aren't more successful is because of forces beyond our control. I think it's true with Home-based (or as I call them self-employeed framers)on one extreme to the Big Boxes (or as most call them "The Evil Empire").

We tend to see them as predators, and if they just weren't around, we would all be sipping Pina Coladas and driving Jaguars.

So, what do you do when you want to paint them as negatively as possible? You "stretch" the truth a little. Sure, some under-price the market big time (they even brag about it on the G on occassion) and some do less than quality work. But some don't and some do good work. (How many ex-BB framers go elsewhere and do good work?)

If everyone of these "competitors" went away tomorrow and you still didn't do any better work or design or service than the other guy down the street, you probably still would have to find someone to blame.

Yet, if you did do better than the guy down the street in design, service or quality, then, you probably wouldn't have to worry about it.

For what it's worth, we don't much worry about it.

For us, I would rather hope that someone like Jim Miller doesn't move into my neighborhood than another home based

[Pat Kotnour]

I have been in a home based business for 13 years and have always worked at it full time. My business has been very successful for one reason, I created my own nitch from the beginning and didn't try to compete with the big boxes or even the independent shops.

For the most part I do expensive and very high end. Lots of filets, fabric mats, fancy corners, high end glass,ect. Most people who are looking for a deal won't come to me because, even though I do advertise in the local papers, most of my business is word of mouth from satisfide customers who know they will have to spend money when they come through my door.

Over the years I have found that when times are tough the rich will still have money to spend and will keep spending it.

You will have a much harder time competing with the shops and big boxes then the other way around because you won't get any walk in business. I work on an appointment basis only. However, when dealing in high end you don't have to take as many pictures in to make ends meet either.

To be successful out of your home you will have to be better than all the others in your area. That means learning everything you need to know about picture framing before you start. There are some great educators who will help you so much if you will take the time to learn.

If you are going to buy your own get quality equipment right away. In the long run you will be glad you did.

When all is said and done there is nothing that will help you more than having artistic eye and natural talent for framing. Good luck.

[Pat Kotnour]

One thing I forgot to mention about home based business's.............you never get away from the job when you are home! It is always there, pulling at you to keep working. Everything else in the home takes a very distant second place, and the only way to get away from it is to leave.

[Marion P]

Welcome, im a rookie in this grumble and in the framing business, I too am working in my garage and I love it as I can also be a stay at home Mom, but now after 9 months I'm finding I need more room. If you do great work and show great customer service, your business will expand before your eyes.
I think its a great idea if y ou have the space to work from home and then let the growth of your business decide on the next step.
I was lucky enough to take a few framing classes here in Australia and in Las Vegas, and bought a few 2nd hand equipment and found a mentor in the framing game and learnt so much from him.
Working from home is a given, the only con is having people at your home, and not getting walk by customers, but then you can turn that into a positive and create a great atmosphere & word of mouth business by the great framing you are creating and fantastic service.

I do agree with P Kotnour, working at home, you can always hear the work calling you....... the truth is, I'd rather frame then do housework!