Inventory, marketing - all these are important if you're really trying to make money. If you don't figure out how to do this, then you get weeded out. Sales can be unpredictable, she added. Both rainy and sweltering days may scare shoppers, but crafters still have to pay for space. If you absolutely have to know how much money you're going to make, this is not a good area for you.
Most crafters are loath to reveal how much they make.
Bettinger often meets artistic newcomers with no business experience who have turned to their spouse or adult children for help in handling the financial books. For years, while her children were young, she had no time for hobbies. But when they grew older, she began making candles. That's why some craftspeople turn to other ways to generate income. Bettinger and Floyd both teach classes at community centers.