Getting Started
Your roadmap from idea to first sale
Figuring out what to sell
The best product to sell is usually something you already know how to make, enjoy making, and that people will pay for. Here are the most common categories:
Food
Baked goods, jams, sauces, prepared foods. The cottage food industry hit roughly $20 billion in 2019 and has grown substantially since. Texas alone saw 1,400+ new cottage food businesses in its first year after legalization. If you bake, can, or cook, there is a market for what you make.
Crafts and handmade goods
Jewelry, candles, soaps, pottery, woodworking, textiles. The US handicrafts market is valued at over $260 billion and growing 8-10% annually. Handmade items command premium prices because buyers value the story, the maker, and the uniqueness.
Resale and vintage
Thrift flipping, vintage finds, estate sale treasures. The US secondhand market grew 14% in 2024 and is projected to reach $74 billion by 2029. A record 58% of consumers purchased secondhand in 2024. If you have an eye for value, this is a legitimate business.
Services
Lawn care, cleaning, handyman work, pet sitting. The US home services market exceeds $840 billion. Census data shows 935,000+ janitorial sole proprietorships generating $20 billion in receipts. If you can reliably show up and do good work, you can build a client base.
Validating your idea before going all-in
Thirty-five percent of failed startups cite "no market need" as the primary reason for failure. Just because you love your product does not mean it will sell. Validate first.
Sell to friends and family (at full price)
Not for feedback on whether they like it. For honest feedback on whether they would pay what you are charging. Giving it away tells you nothing. Selling it at the price you plan to charge tells you everything.
Test at a single market or event
Booth fees at farmers markets typically run $25-100. That is a cheap education. Bring a small batch, see what moves, and pay attention to the questions people ask. Those questions will shape your product line.
Take pre-orders
Before making inventory, see if people will commit to buying. Post on social media, take deposits, and only produce what is already sold. Zero risk, maximum signal.
Setting up your business basics
You do not need to incorporate before your first sale. But you do need a few basics in place to track your money and stay legal.
Sole proprietorship vs LLC
A sole proprietorship is the default. The moment you sell something, you are a sole proprietor. No paperwork required. The downside is that your personal assets (car, home, savings) are not protected if something goes wrong.
An LLC (Limited Liability Company) separates your business assets from your personal assets. It costs $50-500 to set up depending on your state and takes a bit of paperwork. The SBA has a detailed comparison of business structures to help you decide.
Get an EIN (even if you do not need one yet)
An Employer Identification Number is like a Social Security number for your business. You will need one if you form an LLC or hire employees, but it is also useful for opening a business bank account and keeping your personal SSN off invoices. It is free and takes about five minutes to get from the IRS website. Never pay a third party for an EIN.
Open a separate bank account
This is non-negotiable. Mixing personal and business money makes it impossible to track profitability, creates headaches at tax time, and can pierce the liability protection of an LLC. Most banks offer free or low-cost business checking. Your EIN helps open one even as a sole proprietor.
Creating your first storefront
Most new sellers cobble together Instagram DMs, Google Forms, and Venmo. It works until it does not. Taking orders through DMs means no structured data, no payment integration, and hours spent on back-and-forth messaging.
A proper storefront, even a simple one, handles ordering, payment, and customer communication in one place. It makes you look professional (over 55% of consumers distrust businesses without websites) and saves hours every week.
Belmore Cove gives you a free storefront that handles all of this. Add your products, set your prices, share the link. Customers can browse, order, and pay without you answering DMs at midnight.
Your first sale checklist
Everything you need to do before you open for business:
Business setup
- Open a separate business bank account
- Get an EIN from the IRS (free, takes 5 minutes)
- Check if you need a business license (SBA permit guide)
- Set up expense tracking (spreadsheet, Wave Accounting, or QuickBooks Self-Employed)
Product prep
- Calculate your true costs (materials, labor, overhead)
- Set prices that give you 40-60% profit margins
- Take clear, well-lit photos of each product
- Write descriptions that tell buyers what they are getting
- Prepare packaging (it does not need to be fancy, but it should be consistent)
Legal basics (food sellers)
- Look up your state's cottage food laws at Forrager
- Get required permits or certifications
- Create compliant labels (ingredients, allergens, producer info)
Sales infrastructure
- Set up your storefront
- Enable payment processing (card reader if selling in person)
- Create a way to collect customer emails
- Decide how you will handle delivery or pickup
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do I need to start?
Do I need a business license to sell at a farmers market?
Should I start an LLC or stay a sole proprietorship?
How do I know if my product will actually sell?
What if I can only work on this part-time?
Ready to start selling?
Create your free storefront