Creative Home-basedWeekends okSide hustle

How to start a handmade crafts business in Carlow

Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what Carlow asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In euros 12-minute read

The prices and costs in this guide are estimates for Ireland: researched US figures converted to euros by price levels. Registration fees and taxes are Ireland's own.

To start€428–1.7kLean to full setup

Per month€1.7k–6.9kOnce established

Profit margin40–60%After materials, packaging and fees

First customer1–8 weeksFrom today

DifficultyYour craft, plus pricing and selling

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

A good fit if you love making things and meeting the people who buy them

Candles, jewelry, pottery, knits, prints or woodwork: if you make things people love, you can sell them online and face to face at markets. Most makers start on weekends and grow as they learn what sells and how to price it.

You'll like it if

You already make things people ask to buy
You enjoy chatting with customers at markets
You can make the same item well many times
You like photographing and sharing your work

Think twice if

You only want to make one-of-a-kind pieces now and then
You'd rather not spend weekends at events
You don't want to pack and ship orders
You need a full-time income quickly

02What it costs

From €428 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Total to start€428

What	Cost
Materials for your first batchEnough for about 25 to 50 pieces	€170
Market setupFolding table, plus a canopy for outdoor markets	€95
Card readerTake cards and phone payments at markets	€50
Registering your businessFree as a sole trader; more to form a company	€0
Booth fees for your first two fairsOpen fairs cost less; juried fairs cost more	€85
Online shop setupYour first listings on a marketplace, or three months of your own store	€3
Photos and packagingA light box for product photos and shipping mailers	€25
Insurance, first three monthsGeneral liability with product cover; some fairs ask for it	€0
Total	€428

Once you're running: about €170 a month, plus about 35% of what you earn. Booth fees, insurance and your website each month, plus materials, packaging and marketplace or card fees on every sale.

03What you can make

Work out your own numbers

Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.

Average price per order €35 €9€140

Orders a week 10 1100

Monthly costs €170 €0€680

Typical in Carlow: €17–€70 per order, 3–25 orders a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustle€170–860

Evenings, weekends and a fair a month

Full-time, on your own€1.7k–3.5k

Online shop plus regular markets

Growing€3.5k–6.9k

Shops stock your work; a helper packs orders

04Step by step

12 steps to your first customers

Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.

1
Choose what you'll sell
1 week Free

Pick a small range you can make well and repeat. Look at what similar makers sell and what buyers say they love.
- 3–5 products to start
- What makes yours different
- Check other makers' prices
2
Price for profit
1–2 days Free

Add up materials, packaging, your time at a fair hourly rate and selling fees. Price so every sale pays you for your time.
- Time how long each piece takes
- Include fees and packaging
- Leave room for wholesale
3
Choose your name
1 day Free

Pick a name that fits your style and is easy to find. Make sure no one in Carlow has it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas for your businessFind a name
4
Register your business in Carlow
1 day to 2 weeks €0–€50

Most owners start as a sole trader with Revenue, and register a business name if they trade under another name; a company with the CRO keeps business debts separate.
- Register as a sole trader: free
- Register your business name: €20
- Form a company: €50
5
Get your Tax Reference Number (TRN)
1–5 days Free

Your business's tax number from Revenue, for taxes and banking.
- Register with Revenue
- Open a business bank account
6
Sort out VAT
1–3 days Free

You must register for VAT once your sales pass €42,500 a year. The rate is 23%.
- Know when to register for VAT
- Keep records of income and costs
- Set money aside for income tax
7
Get insured
1–2 days Quotes are free

Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.
- General liability, including product liability
- Business owner's policy, if you keep stock at home
8
Make your first batch
2–4 weeks €170–520

Make enough to fill a table and stock your first listings, and keep notes on cost and time per piece.
- 25–50 pieces
- Labels with your name
- Care instructions
9
Open your online shop
2–3 days €30–190

Good photos and clear descriptions sell handmade work. Start on a marketplace where buyers already search.
- Bright, simple photos
- Clear titles and sizes
- Shipping and returns policy
10
Book your first markets
1–4 weeks €230–800

Start with smaller local fairs, then apply to juried shows once you know what sells.
- Table, display and canopy
- Card reader
- Signs with prices
11
Put your business online
1 day Included

Your own site lets market shoppers find you again and order between events.
- Website with your products
- Your market dates
- Email sign-up
Describe your business and PressUp builds your websiteBuild your website
12
Grow your regulars
Ongoing Free

Collect emails at every market, ask buyers for reviews and offer custom orders.
- Email list sign-up at your table
- Ask for reviews
- Custom and gift orders
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how

05Licenses in CW

What Carlow asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

Register as a sole trader

You register for Income Tax through myAccount or ROS.

RevenueFree

Register your business name

Filing online on CORE. Paper filing costs more. Register within one month of starting to use the name.

Companies Registration Office€20once

Form a company

Form A1, filed online on CORE. Reserving the name first is optional and costs extra.

Companies Registration Office€50once

Tax Reference Number (TRN)

Your business's tax number, for banking and taxes.

RevenueFree

06Equipment

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

Folding table6 feet (1.8 meters) is standard

€35–€100Must have

Canopy tent10 by 10 feet (3 by 3 meters), for outdoor markets

€50–€130Later

Card readerTap, chip and phone payments

€50Must have

Photo light boxClean, bright product photos

€20–€75Later

Shipping mailersA pack of 100

€6–€12Must have

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

Small gift

€17 per item · Ready to buy

Your most popular small piece
Easy impulse buy at markets
Gift-ready packaging

Signature piece

€35 per item · Ready to buy

Your best seller
Made in small batches
Ships within a few days

Custom or statement piece

€170 per item · 1–3 weeks to make

Made to order
Personal details or sizes
A deposit up front

Typical handmade order in CarlowTypical: €17–€70

Average €35

€0€25€50€70€95

08First customers

How to get your first customers

You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.

Craft fairs and markets

Meeting buyers face to face sells handmade work and builds regulars.

Low cost

Good photos

Bright, simple photos help your listings stand out and show buyers exactly what they get.

Free

Local shops

Gift shops and boutiques may stock your work or sell it on consignment.

Partnership

Email list

Collect emails at your table and tell buyers about new pieces and your next market.

Repeat income

Reviews

Ask every online buyer for a review and a photo of the piece at home.

With PressUp Reviews

09Your first 30 days

A month from now, you could be open

Week 1

Set up

Choose your products
Choose your name
Register your business

Week 2

Make

Make your first batch
Work out your prices
Take product photos

Week 3

Go live

Open your online shop
Launch your website
Apply to 2 local fairs

Week 4

First sales

Sell at your first market
Collect emails
Ask for reviews

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to sell crafts in Carlow?

Usually not a special one. You'll register your business and handle sales tax where it applies. Some places need a permit to sell at events, and items for children have safety rules: see above.

How do I price handmade items?

Add materials, packaging, your time at a fair hourly rate and a share of costs like booth fees, then add selling fees. Many makers price so they could also sell wholesale to shops.

Online or markets first?

Many makers do both. Markets give quick feedback and cash sales; online shops sell while you make. Start with whichever fits your product and time.

Can I sell food, candles or cosmetics?

Yes, but some of these have extra rules, such as labeling, ingredients or home kitchen laws. Check with your state before you sell them.

Can I start part-time?

Yes. Most makers start with evenings and weekend markets, then grow as they learn what sells.

Costs and earnings are estimates from the sources below, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the authorities named in this guide. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Sources