You will need a dba if you eventually open a business bank acct.
Ditto, need tax ID (can also be useful for whole supply access or some stores will have discounts/no resale tax). BE SURE to keep tax man happy. Not hard, but take it seriously. File on time. Have certificate with you st shows (the comptrollers office has field agents that randomly check shows, they’ve started cracking down more last few years).
Recommend square for cc. Need the reader or combo of them that can take chipped and nonchip (yes still around) cards. BE AWARE the chip readers need charging. Easy to forget. Square can do offline transaction if no signal. I’m sure others can but I’m familiar with square.
Re finding local fairs
There’s groups on fb that vendors frequent to find fairs. Can also find feedback on fairs, learn what to look for. What to avoid. There’s also groups dedicated to setting tents/displays for good idea
The level and cost of craft show…there are several types/costs. Usually your expected display setup will have to be fancier for the bigger money ones. It’s crazy sometimes. And it takes awhile to see what type of setting your things sell best in.
My wire jewelry, I can’t give it away at a country craft show, but do well at artsy/edgier craft shows. Where I’ve done best for my stuff, I’m starting my 30th year with my shop at Scarborough in a few days. My stuff has evolved for that environment and I know my customers and tastes well. It works.
Best suggestion is to bootstrap up with smaller local shows and build/tweak setup, what sells well. Grow. Evolve.
A fb biz page is helpful. I don’t focus personally on selling off mine (although do occasionally) but more use as a mini blog. A peek behind the scenes. I like to follow other artists with silmilar type feeds.
The main value it has to me is a sounding board where I can stay in touch (and in mind) with customers, get feedback on new designs, announce the occasional special promotion, etc.
Another thing is timing. You likely have missed deadlines for most spring shows (April and May are best shows) BUT you should attend as many as you can for reconnaissance. Talk to vendors. And they WILL talk Pay attention to what sells where. Make notes. Get ideas on your setup.
Summer generally sucks for craft shows
But summer is when you need to be applying for fall stuff
Be sure to do reconnaissance at fall show too
@Cairenn_Day would be an awesome resource to pick her brain on local shows because her and Sue Rogers actively do many of them around here and she’d be a wealth of knowledge
I mainly just do the renfair these days. I used to do many more shows, galleries, and my folks did shows growing up, so I can speak to selling/logistics. But Cairenn and Sue are gonna be in the know in good local shows they do and how to find more