Home Business Ideas
Start a Greeting Card Writer Business
Everyone, at
some point or another, has
an occasion to buy greeting
cards, whether it's for a
birthday, anniversary,
graduation or any other
occasion. But have you ever
stopped to wonder where
those greeting cards come
from? Who writes the
beautiful verses inside of
them? Well the answer to
that question could be
"you." If you are a creative
person who likes to write,
you could start your own
business as a greeting card
writer. Here is what you
need to know to get started.
The Concept
Greeting card companies
buy the verses in their
cards from freelance
writers. They pay a set
amount either per line or
per verse. Once you sell
that verse to them, they
will own the copyrights to
it and they will have the
right to re-use it as much
as they'd like. This is
where it helps to do some
leg work to make sure that
you aren't getting taken
advantage of. If you think
you'd like to write greeting
cards, try doing an internet
search for popular greeting
card companies. Don't forget
about e-cards too, they can
be a great way to get
exposure for your cards. You
can begin working on your
cards while you do this
research, that way you don't
feel like you're not going
anywhere.
There are a number of
resources available at the
local library or book store
as well. They can not only
help you with creating
unique greeting cards
yourself, but there are also
books about running a
business, and that is really
what you are doing. The more
you arm yourself with
knowledge, the less mistakes
you are likely to make in
the future, and mistakes
almost always cost money.
Startup Costs
One of the advantages to
writing verses for greeting
cards is that it is not a
business that takes a huge
start up investment. You
really just need a computer
with a word processing
program, usually Microsoft
word, as this is the most
common format used. Most
people already have a home
computer with a word
processer so the cost is
minimal. Other fees may
include whatever reference
books you'd like to buy, a
phone line, internet
connection, printer and fax.
You don't even have to have
all of these things upfront,
you can wait until you sell
a card or two and buy them
then.
Keep in mind that what you
are doing is a business.
Check into what the
requirements are for income
taxes and the benefits of
working from home. You can
write off the use of your
home and items purchased for
your work on your taxes. An
accounted or tax
professional can help you
with this.
How to Market It
Once you have done all
the leg work that was
discussed above, and you
have some verses ready to
submit, you can start
contacting publishing
companies. Once you submit
your work to them, the only
thing you can do is wait.
That is the tough part for
most people. Success may not
come immediately in this
line of work, but if you are
persistent, and you are
always trying to improve
your work, it will. Just
remember to have patience
and keep trying.
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