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How To Start An Artist Management Company

Are You Sure You Want To Start An Artist Management Company?

Being an artist manager is arguably one of the most exciting careers someone can have. Every day is different, it’s challenging, it’s rewarding, you get to witness the creative process, you get to help make someone’s dreams come true (or die trying), you get to travel a lot, you get to spend your time in recording studios, performance venues, attend festivals, and heck you get to drink on the job.

But, it’s not all mashed potatoes and gravy all the time so before we get into HOW to start an artist management company, I’m here to give you a little more insight on some challenges to overcome BEFORE starting an artist management company as well.

Warning, reality check ahead.

4 things to come to terms with before starting an artist management company

1. you have to be patient.

Every person I know with a successful company didn’t just start it up with tons of clients making money right off the hop. Unlike other industries or types of businesses, with artist management you can’t just register a business name, get a website, and start advertising your services. You don’t have an artist management company without artists. Plus, it takes a LONG … time … to build.

Most artist managers keep their full or part-time jobs for a long time until their artist roster is making enough money that they can quit. Depending on your artists success, this could happen quickly, or it may never happen. It all depends on what’s going on with your artist and if they’re making enough money. As their manager this lies heavily on you. If you have or find the right connections, and if your artist is talented enough (along with many other factors), you could be a full time artist manager before you know it.

I know a guy who quit his full-time salaried day job to start an artist management company with a couple of indie bands. A year later, he made absolutely no money, and lost 50% of his artist roster. Another year after that, he lost 100% of his roster and left the industry. Which brings me to my next point….

2. Have a back-up basket and carton of eggs

Sure, put all your eggs in one basket. But what if that basket breaks? You best be makin’ sure you’ve got another basket of eggs waiting for you. Relationships break. Artist managers loose artists regularly. Managers quit. Artists fire their managers. If you’re only managing one artist, make sure you have other sources of income coming in. Or make sure you have an ironclad agreement in place that will ensure you still get paid even if the relationship breaks. If you’re quitting your day-job to manage 3 acts you just signed at once, make sure you know exactly how much money they make, how much money you’ll make, and exactly when they’re going to be paying you. Or, have a massive reserve of money waiting in case they don’t.

Otherwise, you ain’t eatin’ no eggs.

3. Finding clients (artists) is like finding a spouse

Being an artist manager is like being in a marriage. It’s one of the closest relationships you’ll have next to your family members, and because of that, these relationships also take a long time to build. Sure there are some cases where an artist signs with a manager when they barely know each other (I’ve done it!). And sure there are some cases where people get married after 3 months of knowing each other. The reality is, though, that it’s a relationship built on mutual understanding, trust and loyalty, and generally that takes some time to build. So be patient in this arena too.

4. A company runs on money

We work in an industry that prides itself on working for the love of it, and not for money; especially artists. But the reality is you don’t have a COMPANY without money. This is business. The artist is a business. If you’re looking to start your own business, it’s always recommended that you draft an artist management company business plan (which we give you for free when you subscribe to our newsletter ). If you’re not that well versed in the industry, it’s a good idea to at least TRY to work through a business plan so that you get a better idea of where your money is going to be coming from.

Starting Your Own Artist Management Company vs. Getting A Job At An Artist Management Company

When you start your own artist management company, you can choose which artists you work with (if they’re willing to work with you in the first place), and keep the full management commission. When you work under someone else’s management company, there are a few ways to go about it.

• You could be hired on as an associate manager (or day-to-day manager) to an existing company roster on a salary (or a commission if you’re lucky)
• Or, you could be asked to join the management team and bring on your own roster

In these two cases, your commission rate would be less than if you were the sole manager of an artist. However, if you’re working for a company, they likely already have a good track record and therefore the commission revenue could be higher. In all cases, it really depends on what works for you and what opportunities come to your door (or what you bang down doors for).

Questions to ask yourself:

• Would you rather have support from an existing company?
• Would you rather bust your butt starting from scratch?
• Would you rather be an entrepreneur?
• Do you have the business acumen and work ethic to be an entrepreneur?
• Would you rather choose the artists you work with?
• Do you have the credibility or ability to sign an artist yourself?
• Would you rather be in control?
• Would you rather share responsibilities with a partner?
• Should you try to work for another company to get experience first?

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, still want to learn how to start an artist management company?

Key Ingredients for Success in Starting Your Own Artist Management Company

1. people skills.

The music business is a relationship business. You have to have your head on your shoulders and be able to network, make friends, and business colleagues; it is absolutely critical to success. Furthermore, it is the maintaining of these relationships that counts. The music business is a very small world, and you don’t want to go around burning bridges. It WILL come back to bite you. This goes for artists and my business-minded people. It’s imperative to be an honest (sometimes brutally honest), yet trusted person. Understanding people (especially your artist!!) is absolutely key.

Susan de Cartier of Starfish Entertainment (Blue Rodeo) says,

This is a relationship business and networking, negotiating, etc. are critical to success.  Plus, it’s not just creating relationships, it is maintaining them.

2. Business and financial management skills

Running a management company is running a business, and an artist manager must understand that you need to have the same management skills that any other business owner has, which is heavily reliant on financial and operational know-how. A business isn’t a business without revenue, so as a manager it’s your job to get out there and bring in revenue for your artists, and in turn, yourself. Make sure they’re performing live, touring, selling records, try to get them radio airplay if their songs fit, try to get a publishing deal (for the songwriters), get their songs in TV and film, set up YouTube for ads, and do further research on various revenue streams. Our Artist Management Toolkit has resources on revenue streams.

With all that being said, I’m a true believer that most things in life can be learned . So if you’re feeling weak in the area of business and financial skills, get-to-learnin’!

3. Work ethic and drive

You must have a very strong work ethic and a high level of responsibility. You’re managing someone else’s entire career (your artists) and must take that responsibility seriously. This is a fun business but it is a business, so you need to have the utmost work ethic and drive to keep on going when times get tough.   

4. Dedication to your artists

Managers dedicate their lives to their artists. Yes, not just their careers, their lives. Your main reason for working with artists in the first place must be for the love of the artist and their artistry. You have to put your artists ahead of yourself. You have to put their needs ahead of your needs. You must understand that you are dealing with other people’s lives and other people’s money.

5. Creative problem solving and fast decision makin g

A manager should be able to calmly jump through hoops on a daily basis. There are going to be problems that arise every day. They could be good problems or bad problems, but you’re going to need to figure out how to solve them fast, without dwelling. The manager is the centre of the wheel, if you’re not solving problems fast, the wheel won’t roll forward.

6. Patience

I talk about being patient quite a bit on this blog, but I’ll say it over and over again. Be. Patient.

It takes years for artists to perfect their craft. And it’ll take years for you to perfect your business. You could be coming into your artist’s life at a time when their craft isn’t quite ready to become a business yet, or they may be in between album cycles and are creating right now. So you have to ask yourself if you’re ready to join them in the developing phase, or creation phase of their career. In both of these phases, you’ll be on the sidelines waiting with no income coming in unless they are constantly performing live. Or, let’s say you start managing them at a time where the artist is ready to release an album and you’re sure it’s a hit song or a few hit songs on it and that there’s no creative development needed. Even if that album or one of the singles does become a hit, you still won’t see any revenue for at least 10-12 months later because royalties take time to come in. If you don’t have a hit you might not see much revenue at all (from album sales). Again, this is a long-term business. Don’t expect to pop up overnight (both virally and financially).

7. Knowledge

It doesn’t have to be knowledge you’ve acquired from formal education such as college or university, but you need to educate yourself. This can be done through experience, from reading this website through and through, from attending conferences, from a mentor, from reading books, and many other ways. Artist Managers oversee all areas of the business so the sooner you get knowledgeable in those areas the sooner you can succeed. The Music Business For Artist Managers and Self-Managed Artists: All You Need To Know To Get Started, Get Noticed, and Get Signe d explains all the main types of people you’ll be working with as a manager, what they do, how to wear their hats until they are ready to work with you and your artist, how to contact them, how to get noticed by them, and how to get ‘signed’ by them.

“They” include over 30 music industry experts in the areas of:

• Tour Managers
• Talent Buyers
• Record Label A&R
• Radio Promoters
• Radio Station Programmers
• Music Supervisors

Steps To Starting An Artist Management Company

1. Build Your Artist Roster

Depending on where you’re at in your journey to starting your own artist management company, you may or may not have an artist roster (clients) yet. Just like any company, you don’t have an artist management company without any clients so if you don’t manage any artists yet get out there and start looking because it could take a while. You could see 100 bands and only fall in love with one of them, or you could go see a band tomorrow and fall in love with them. The important piece to note here is that you need to ‘love’ them, and they need to love and trust you to do business on their behalf. As mentioned above, you dedicate your life to this person/these people (aside from your family), and the best motivating factor for dedication is love. You need to love their music, their songs, their vibes, and them as individuals.

The good news is, there are PLENTY of ways to find talent to manage. The hard part is finding the one , or the next one . Read  12 Ways To Discover And Sign Artists To Management (True Stories)  to find out how some top managers discovered their artists. Some of which have been managing for 15-25 years.

2. Sign A Contract

Yes, a lot of business in the music industry is done over a handshake, but it’s just better to cover yourself by signing an agreement. You can make the agreement as simple and as easy as you’d like. Just get something, anything, in writing, that you’re earning a certain commission as so-and-so’s sole worldwide manager, and save it in a safe place. Here is an article explaining all the different line items that are included in a standard long-form artist management agreement .

3. Don’t Quit Your Day Job Just Yet

DO NOT quit your day job to become an independent manager…. yet. If you’re reading this article I’m assuming it’s because you’re independent. Keep your day-job, or contracts, or part-time job, or whatever else you’re doing to earn a living, until your artists are making enough money to replace it. Is your current roster, or prospective roster making any money yet?

Before you start managing someone you need to find out how much money they are making, so that you can decide if your 15-20% cut of that is worth it for you. If they aren’t earning enough money yet, then you need to be willing to dedicate time and energy as a longer term investment in order to gain profit later. Find ways to earn money for your artist, which will in turn earn money for you. The average person makes, what, $40,000 per year? If you want to quit your day job and earn that same amount, and you’re on a 20% commission rate, your artist needs to be making over $200,000 per year. Or, you manage 2 artists making $100,000 each, and so on. Still, let’s say you’re managing one artist, they make $400,000 in one year, and then they decide to go off the radar and not perform or release anything for another 2 years or more. This is where you need to have other sources of income. If it’s not a job, than it’s multiple artists that are earning well.

4. Draft an Artist Management Company Business Plan

5. make a name for yourself.

Literally and figuratively. Now that you have a roster and a plan, come up with an artist management company name and register it with the government. This should also allow you to open a bank account under your business name. It is important to keep business and personal separate. Different managers have distinctive artist management methods. Think about what you stand for as a manager. Don’t be afraid to be yourself, while you may also want to think of ways to brand yourself to stand out. If artists do it, why can’t you? Get business cards, a website, a new email, a Facebook page, Instagram account, Twitter account, and any other means to promote yourself as a professional manager, which is also another means to promote your artists. And, NETWORK. Get our there and meet people as much as you possibly can. Find out what they do and show an interest.

6. Get Organized

You have to be the one that’s the most organized since you’re the one “organizing” the artists career. Have all the right documentation and keep track of all your business functions appropriately.If you’re not the most organized person yourself, then hire an intern or a paid staff person who is strong on the organizational side as soon as possible.

We here at SBM we put together over 100 of the most important systems, plans, templates and guides you need to run the day-to-day operations of your management business .

7. Work With an Entertainment Accountant

Now that you have all the documents you need to be organized, you’ll want to discuss accounting procedures with your accountant so that you can organize your financial documents effectively. I also recommend finding an accountant that works specifically in the entertainment business, as there is a whole different set of tax write-offs available to you (depending on what country you’re in).

8. Hire an Entertainment Lawyer

You’ll want to find and hire an entertainment attorney to aid you with all contracts you will have to deal with when doing business on behalf of your artist, with record labels, booking agencies, publishers, etc. Entertainment law is extremely specialized, so be absolutely sure to hire an entertainment lawyer, not a lawyer from any other specialization.

To summarize, if you’re considering starting an artist management company, you’ll want to get the following items in place: artists to manage, a lawyer, an accountant, internal organization tools, a business plan, management contracts; while also ensuring that you’re patient, dedicated, brand yourself and be yourself, constantly develop your knowledge (business and music business) and network all the time while developing your people skills.

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Please send me your Artist Management business plan template.

Thank you and Merry Christmas

Hi Lincoln! Did you not receive it when you subscribed? Let me know if it still has yet to arrive in your inbox and I will email it to you. Jamie

Hello, i haven’t received my guide either

I am a student going to college for Music Management.. The firm I want to Intern with or perhaps be hired into asked me flat out. “What can you do for the company, and our clients.” And ever sense then I’ve been walking around lost in thought. What can I, an 18 year old music enthusiast, do for such a company? They also mentioned that certification to them was nothing.. They want skill. how do I answer that question. I’m stumped. I can plan things down to the smallest detail but that’s about it. I’m just a talentless individual I love with the industry..

Planning things down to the smallest detail, being in love with the industry, and being a music enthusiast is exactly what you can do for any company or any artist. Passion and attention to detail are HUGE assets to anyone. You can tell your next potential employer that you have the same vision/mission/passions as them and will organize anything they need organized without mistakes. All the best. Ps. Don’t ever call yourself ‘talentless’ again! Everyone is talented in some way. xo.

Wow! I love your charm and your kindness int his response! Everything about this site has been A1 so far! Amazing content from a seemingly amazing person!

I currently model and work an 8-5 job, but I’m starting to manage my brother’s music career! Any advice on managing family members/ maintaining both a business and personal relationship when the music industry could potentially strain our siblingship? Thank you!!

Thank you kindly Tayo! I would say the same thing for managing a brother as I would for managing anyone – it’s all about communication. Be very, VERY, open and honest while respecting the other person dreams/wishes/feelings. If there’s an issue, don’t let it brew. Get it out on the table as quickly as possible and talk about it calmly. Always seek to understand the other person before jumping to conclusions. Also, there will likely be no separating the personal and business relationship anymore. Firstly, because management is a 24/7 job and it’s difficuly to separate business/personal in this kind of relationship, and second, because he’s your brother. So you’ll need to get comfortable talking about business and music and plans 24/7! Hope this helps. I’d love to hear how you’re doing in a year from now! Cheers. Jamie

@Audrey if certification doesn’t mean anything to them then you need to pick a different company it would be a red flag to me if any company told me my hard work and degree didn’t mean anything to them you worked hard to get where your at never except anyone telling you that your certifications dont mean anything

i just want to learn how to manage artsts as im about to open a company to manage artists so i really need any help and piece of info i could get

Hi Phillip,

The best place to start is right here on our blog.

Make sure you download your free startup kit right here: smartbandmanagement.com/free.

And check out our brand new YouTube channel “Smartist University”: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOaVNsblh9L8QGE65xW8mOw?sub_confirmation=1

Cheers! Jamie

Please i need your Artist Management business plan Table, I want to also learn how to manage artist.

Hi Henry, The Business Plan is for free – all you have to do is subscribe! smartbandmanagement.com/subscribe. The Management Toolkit however is a paid product and that’s available at smartbandmanagement.com/toolkit. Cheers!

Jaime, thanks for the information you provided I’m trying to get myself into the music management business and I need to learn as much as I can so I can be successful. I’m also in school for web and graphic design. I want to craft my management company online and start off at working with University music groups and build my rosters and learn as I go. I’m now a subscriber An plan on keeping I touch with you to keep up with the latest update. Thank you..

Hi Randy! That sounds like a great idea! Best of luck and stay in touch.

Just want to say thank you for this wonderful information. It was truly helpful and I appreciate it very much.

Thank you Kai!

I need your Artist Management business plan Table, I want to learn how to manage artist as well.

In order to receive the free plan, visit this page and enter your email. It will be sent to you right away. https://smartistu.com/subscribe

Would you please send me your Artist Management business plan template?

Thank you Best Anne

Hi Jamie, ever since i bumped into this article, i have set my eyes without moving or being distracted. As i am writing, i am a dope music producer and i just got an artist to manage. I have never managed before, but i so beleive i can do it. So, Jamie Johnson Thank you so much for having that time to put a word in everybody’s comment . I hope to get you give me a close advice in this challenge being that i am from Nigeria, and the industry from there may vary from what we have here.

CHILLINGS @icebeatz_

Thank you Emana, happy to help! If you haven’t yet, we’ve got tons of extra free advice and free guides available for download over at smartbandmanagement.com/free. Check it out! Cheers.

Hello, Thank you for sharing. Please send me your Artist Management business plan template.

Best, Earl M. Bynum, Jr.

Hi, thanks for sharing, this article is the most comforting piece of information I have read in quite while thanking you all these details.

Thank you Marcian!

I enjoyed this very much and feel like you can be our mentor. You are bright and i loved how you explained everything on here. I also am starting up and I want to recruit those who have the real and excellent talent and show them off to the world. I am going to favorite this page just because it’s well explained and you put every thought into it.

Thank you Jose! All the best.

Lots of great info for me to really get going in the artist management space. I have two artist with real potential in the industry. If I keep preparing myself and put us in the right place to make sure we win, it’s not a matter of if but a matter of when. Thank you so much, I look forward to possibly working with you in the future.

Thanks David! Keep grinding!

hey!! you guys are amazing and i feel blessed to know about you, i subscribed but didnt receive the free kitbits yet, how do i go about it?

Hello Jefferson! Thank you for the kind words and for subscribing! Just a quick question to help us figure out why you haven’t received them – did you check your email for a confirmation email first? You must confirm your subscription first. Secondly, if you’re on gmail, did you check your promotions folder? Or junk? If you’ve done all of these things, please email [email protected] and we will get them over to you ASAP. Thank you!

Thanks for the wonderful piece. Please I did not receive the Artiste Management Business Plan though I have subscribed via my e-mail.

Do you minding sending it?

Hi, I am currently thinking of being an artist manager because,

1. In Myanmar, Artists handle most of the things by themselves and they end up getting into stuffs they don t know about. meaning that they JUST sign contracts,deals and stuffs without knowing the details.

2. I have good relations with artists from the industry. Personally and like you said, I do maintain them. they also sometimes come up to me for advice and other problems i can help with.

3. I have worked in an entertainment company before and knows how events, live shows, tours,and promotion shows work. even if not detailed i am familiar with the work.

4. I’m currently also working as a YouTube Channel Manager. and I have to deal mostly with copyright issues and promoting their videos or songs and also maintaining relationships.

I think i still have a lot to learn and i feel that I’m not ready yet I don’t really know. But I want to do it because I feel that they are in need of artist management. But the thing is, I don’t know where to start and like literately where to start.

Should I just contact one of the artist i personally know and then ask them if i can be their manager? and then start involving myself with their activities for a couple of days? get to know their flow and schedule then start adding things up for their improvement? I do know i need a contract for this and i don’t know where to get it? and because Im like a friend to the artist will it be good to sign a contract for it? Do I First start with smaller artist or should i just go directly for A list artist?

Please help me. 🙂

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How To Write a Winning Artist Management Business Plan + Template

Creating a business plan is essential for any business, but it can be especially helpful for artist management businesses that want to improve their strategy and/or raise funding.

A well-crafted business plan not only outlines the vision for your company, but also documents a step-by-step roadmap of how you are going to accomplish it. In order to create an effective record label business plan , you must first understand the components that are essential to its success.

This article provides an overview of the key elements that every artist management business owner should include in their business plan.

Download the Ultimate Business Plan Template

What is an Artist Management Business Plan?

An artist management business plan is a formal written document that describes your company’s business strategy and its feasibility. It documents the reasons you will be successful, your areas of competitive advantage, and it includes information about your team members. Your business plan is a key document that will convince investors and lenders (if needed) that you are positioned to become a successful venture.

Why Write an Artist Management Business Plan?

An artist management business plan is required for banks and investors. The document is a clear and concise guide of your business idea and the steps you will take to make it profitable.

Entrepreneurs can also use this as a roadmap when starting their new company or venture, especially if they are inexperienced in starting a business.

Writing an Effective Artist Management Business Plan

The following are the key components of a successful artist management business plan:

Executive Summary

The executive summary of an artist management business plan is a one to two page overview of your entire business plan. It should summarize the main points, which will be presented in full in the rest of your business plan.

• Start with a one-line description of your artist management company
• Provide a short summary of the key points in each section of your business plan, which includes information about your company’s management team, industry analysis, competitive analysis, and financial forecast among others.

Company Description

This section should include a brief history of your company. Include a short description of how your company started, and provide a timeline of milestones your company has achieved.

If you are just starting your artist management business, you may not have a long company history. Instead, you can include information about your professional experience in this industry and how and why you conceived your new venture. If you have worked for a similar company before or have been involved in an entrepreneurial venture before starting your artist management firm, mention this.

You will also include information about your chosen artist management business model and how, if applicable, it is different from other companies in your industry.

Industry Analysis

The industry or market analysis is an important component of an artist management business plan. Conduct thorough market research to determine industry trends and document the size of your market. 

Questions to answer include:

• What part of the artist management industry are you targeting?
• How big is the market?
• What trends are happening in the industry right now (and if applicable, how do these trends support the success of your company)?

You should also include sources for the information you provide, such as published research reports and expert opinions.

Customer Analysis

This section should include a list of your target audience(s) with demographic and psychographic profiles (e.g., age, gender, income level, profession, job titles, interests). You will need to provide a profile of each customer segment separately, including their needs and wants.

For example, the clients of an artist management business may include record labels, concert promoters, and other businesses in the music industry.

You can include information about how your customers make the decision to buy from you as well as what keeps them buying from you.

Develop a strategy for targeting those customers who are most likely to buy from you, as well as those that might be influenced to buy your products or artist management services with the right marketing.

Competitive Analysis

The competitive analysis helps you determine how your product or service will be different from competitors, and what your unique selling proposition (USP) might be that will set you apart in this industry.

For each competitor, list their strengths and weaknesses. Next, determine your areas of competitive differentiation and/or advantage; that is, in what ways are you different from and ideally better than your competitors.

Below are sample competitive advantages your artist management business may have:

• Comprehensive artist management services
• Proven track record of success
• Extensive industry experience
• Strong relationships with key industry players
• Innovative business model

Marketing Plan

This part of the business plan is where you determine and document your marketing plan. . Your plan should be clearly laid out, including the following 4 Ps.

• Product/Service : Detail your product/service offerings here. Document their features and benefits.
• Price : Document your pricing strategy here. In addition to stating the prices for your products/services, mention how your pricing compares to your competition.
• Place : Where will your customers find you? What channels of distribution (e.g., partnerships) will you use to reach them if applicable?
• Promotion : How will you reach your target customers? For example, you may use social media, write blog posts, create an email marketing campaign, use pay-per-click advertising, launch a direct mail campaign. Or, you may promote your artist management business via word-of-mouth or by exhibiting at trade shows.

Operations Plan

This part of your artist management business plan should include the following information:

• How will you deliver your product/service to customers? For example, will you do it in person or over the phone only?
• What infrastructure, equipment, and resources are needed to operate successfully? How can you meet those requirements within budget constraints?

The operations plan is where you also need to include your company’s business policies. You will want to establish policies related to everything from customer service to pricing, to the overall brand image you are trying to present.

Finally, and most importantly, in your Operations Plan, you will lay out the milestones your company hopes to achieve within the next five years. Create a chart that shows the key milestone(s) you hope to achieve each quarter for the next four quarters, and then each year for the following four years. Examples of milestones for an artist management business include reaching $X in sales. Other examples include signing on X number of clients, or booking Y number of shows.

Management Team

List your team members here including their names and titles, as well as their expertise and experience relevant to your specific artist management industry. Include brief biography sketches for each team member.

Particularly if you are seeking funding, the goal of this section is to convince investors and lenders that your team has the expertise and experience to execute on your plan. If you are missing key team members, document the roles and responsibilities you plan to hire for in the future.

Financial Plan

Here you will include a summary of your complete and detailed financial plan (your full financial projections go in the Appendix). 

This includes the following three financial statements:

Income Statement

Your income statement should include:

• Revenue : how much revenue you generate.
• Cost of Goods Sold : These are your direct costs associated with generating revenue. This includes labor costs, as well as the cost of any equipment and supplies used to deliver the product/service offering.
• Net Income (or loss) : Once expenses and revenue are totaled and deducted from each other, this is the net income or loss.

Sample Income Statement for a Startup Artist Management Firm

Balance Sheet

Include a balance sheet that shows your assets, liabilities, and equity. Your balance sheet should include:

• Assets : All of the things you own (including cash).
• Liabilities : This is what you owe against your company’s assets, such as accounts payable or loans.
• Equity : The worth of your business after all liabilities and assets are totaled and deducted from each other.

Sample Balance Sheet for a Startup Artist Management Firm

Cash Flow Statement

Include a cash flow statement showing how much cash comes in, how much cash goes out and a net cash flow for each year. The cash flow statement should include:

• Cash Flow From Operations
• Cash Flow From Investments
• Cash Flow From Financing

Below is a sample of a projected cash flow statement for a startup artist management business.

Sample Cash Flow Statement for a Startup Artist Management Firm

You will also want to include an appendix section which will include:

• Your complete financial projections
• A complete list of your company’s business policies and procedures related to the rest of the business plan (marketing, operations, etc.)
• Any other documentation which supports what you included in the body of your business plan.

Writing a good business plan gives you the advantage of being fully prepared to launch and/or grow your artist management company. It not only outlines your business vision but also provides a step-by-step process of how you are going to accomplish it.

Remember to keep your business plan updated as your company grows and changes. Review it at least once a year to make sure it is still relevant and accurate.  

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How to Wrtie an Artist business plan + Free Template

Are you an artist—oil painter, singer, makeup artist, or writer ready to turn your passion into a profitable business?

If yes, and about to start your own art business; wait a moment!

You will need to think about resources and funding for navigating the ins and outs of an artistic journey.

Also, you need to specify if there’s a significant market for your business to be successful, what potential customers expect from you, and who are your competitors.

However, having a solid business plan is an essential tool to answer all these questions, and this artist business plan will surely help you!

It will guide you through all the important aspects of an effective artist business plan. It not only fuels your creativity but also paves the way for a sustainable and prosperous artistic venture.

But before diving right into the plan; let’s find some interesting facts about the creative art industry.

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• Fill in the blanks – Outline
• Financial Tables

Creative Art Industry Outlook 2024

• The United States has been firmly holding its position as the leading global art market for the past few years, generating roughly 45% of the global sales value.
• The revenue of performing arts companies in the U.S. will amount to roughly $19,6 billion by 2024, while for independent artists, it will amount to approximately $23,1 billion .
• There are 71,828 people employed in the US musical groups and artists industry till 2023.
• The number of people increased 0.4% on average over the five years between 2018 and 2023.
• Zippia estimates that artists are 70% more likely to work at private companies as compared to public sectors.

Now, without further ado; let’s delve into the key components you need to include in your creative business plan.

Key Components of an Art Business Plan (w/ examples)

• Executive Summary
• Business Overview
• Market Analysis
• Product and Services
• Sales and Marketing Strategies
• Operations Plan
• Management Team
• Financial Plan

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the initial chapter intended to provide a quick overview of your entire artist business plan. It highlights the primary facts of your business, from art business ideas to financial projections.

Keep your summary concise and clear, use simple language, and avoid jargon as it quickly engages readers.

You can start by introducing the idea behind starting an art business and explaining what it does. For example, is it a startup, do you like to grow your business, or are you operating a chain of artist businesses?

Next, share a brief overview of how your art studio will be different from the rest. Provide a summary of each of the subsequent sections of your plan, such as:

• Describe the artist industry and the target market in brief.
• Represent the products or services you wish to offer.
• Give a snapshot of your marketing strategy.
• Name all the key members of your management team.
• Provide a summary of your financial projections.

After that, end your summary with a clear call to action, inviting potential investors or readers to the next meeting if they are curious about your business.

Generally, this section is written after the entire business plan is ready as you go through and draft all the important sections of your business plan.

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2. Business Overview

The business overview section provides detailed information about your art business, including ownership, legal structure, office location, business history, and other business-related facts.

Initially, you can draft all the foundational facts like:

• The name of your art business and the concept behind it, for example: do you need a makeup artist business plan, music artist business plan, or painter business plan, and what is the actual idea behind your artist business?
• The legal structure of your art business whether it is a S-Corp, LLC, sole proprietorship, or some other.
• Location of your art gallery and the reason why you selected that place.

After that, describe the owners of your business and mention their roles in running it. Emphasize the percentage of shares owned, and how each owner helps in the business. For example,

You can add a memorable, clear mission statement that sums up the objectives and core principles of your art studio. Also, include an outline of the business’s history and how it came to be in its current position.

If you want to, include some personality and interesting details, especially if you have any achievements or recognitions till now for your creative art.

Convey your aspirations and your clear vision. Highlight future business goals and if you have any plans of opening an art studio or hosting an art gallery opening.

3. Market Analysis

Next, dive into the art world as this chapter provides a clear understanding of the art industry, along with the target audience, competitors, and growth opportunities.

So, take some time to go further and identify your target market and define your ideal target customer. It will guide your artistic choices and marketing strategies.

Know more about your customers and which type of services they prefer: customized painting, greetings, invitation cards, poetries, songs, or anything else.

After that, give an overview of the art industry. It unveils necessary information about the market size and growth potential of the art market in which your business will run. :

Also, conduct detailed market research to identify direct and indirect competitors. Evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.

You can perform a SWOT analysis to find internal strengths & weaknesses of your artist business and external opportunities & threats in the market.

Based on that, outline unique selling points and competitive edge. Accentuate how your art is different from the rest of the arts, and explain how you can offer qualitative services.

Try to analyze emerging market trends in the industry, such as changes in customer preferences and explain how your art business will cope with all those trends.

You can describe any regulations or licensing requirements that affect your art business, such as safety codes, contracts, taxes, or something else.

Here is an example you can refer to draft regulations for your art business:

Operating within the art industry entails adhering to several regulations. 

These encompass [specific regulations, e.g., “safety codes for installation arts, contracts ensuring the rights and responsibilities of both artists and clients and taxation structures specific to art sales”]. 

Our studio is committed to upholding all necessary licenses and continuously stays updated on regulatory changes to ensure full compliance.

4. Product and Services

The product and services section of an art studio business plan should describe the specific services and products you will provide. It should be detailed, informative, and customer-focused.

Start this section by introducing the artist first, along with the art form they will be using, for example, paintings, sculpture, photography, sketches, customized services, greeting cards, or something else.

Describe the artist’s distinct aesthetic and style and explain how it distinguishes them from other professionals in the field.

You can also include the specific items the artist produces, such as their original works, sell paintings or their limited edition prints, or any pieces they have been commissioned to create.

Try to describe each product’s advantages and characteristics as well as how they appeal to the target market. Also, emphasize the importance of quality by including all the details about the raw material you will use.

Here, don’t forget to explain how your business will ensure that all services and products are delivered with the highest standards of efficacy.

5. Sales and Marketing Strategies

A successful sales and marketing plan involves a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your potential customers.

Here are some key elements to include while writing your sales & marketing strategy:

Unique selling proposition (USP)

Clearly state the artist’s unique selling point, which should cover their taste, aesthetic, and the advantages of their products and services. Something needs to be said in a way that appeals to your intended audience.

Pricing strategy

Develop a pricing strategy that is competitive and affordable, yet profitable. Consider offering promotions, discounts, or packages for your products & services to attract new customers.

Marketing strategy

Draw out a marketing plan that can spread the word about your work and put yourself out there. You can include a mix of online and offline marketing channels.

Consider social media platforms, email marketing, content marketing, brochures, print marketing, and events.

You can take reference from the below example written using Upmetrics AI Assistant :

Sales strategies

Mention your sales strategy as an approach to turn potential buyers into clients by providing limited edition prints, discounts, and referral scheme discounts.

Customer retention

Describe how your art business will retain customers and build loyalty, such as through loyalty programs, special events, or personalized service.

6. Operations Plan

Next, you can craft a behind-the-scenes look into your artistic process and procedures.

This operations plan section paints a vivid picture of your creative endeavors, from your art studio setup to the tools and techniques you utilize.

First, you can explain how you go about creating your art, what tools and materials you require, and how long it takes to finish each piece.

If you collaborate with assistants or any other professional artist, provide details about their tasks and operational processes.

You can also describe your inventory management strategy, including your shipping, tracking, and storage methods. Mention how you’ll maintain track of your artwork and ensure that it’s transported and stored correctly.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides a brief overview of the individuals responsible for driving the art business and highlights that your business has the most suitable team.

You can introduce your team members including the artist, the artist manager, the booking agent, the publicist, the accountant, and the lawyer.

Even if you’re an unaccompanied artist, showcase the key individuals who support your creative journey.

Try to provide a detailed description of the experience and qualifications of each manager, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

You can also represent the organizational structure of the management team, including reporting lines and how decisions will be made. Here is an illustration of an organization chart using Upmetrics:

If you have a board of advisors/mentors who have contributed to your business growth, mention them along with their roles and experience.

Don’t forget to explain your compensation plan for the leadership team and staff, including salaries, bonuses, and other benefits.

8. Financial Plan

A well-structured and in-depth financial forecast is the most important section for potential investors, as it offers a clear insight into any capital or investment requirements, startup costs, projected revenues, and profits.

So, develop a precise summary of your financial projections for the initial years of operation. Highlight all the crucial facts investors require for informed, strategic decision-making.

For a successful artist business plan, you should include the following financial statements:

• Sales forecast
• Expense budget
• Profit and loss statement
• Cash flow statement
• Projected balance sheet
• Break-even analysis
• Business ratios
• Exit strategy

From the above, you can estimate how much finances you will need to start and operate your art business. Consider funding resources including bank loans, SBA-guaranteed loans, angel investors, or personal savings.

Here’s an example of a projected balance sheet for the next 3-5 years using Upmetrics:

9. Appendix

When writing the appendix section, you should include any additional details that support the main content of your business plan.

This may include financial forecasts, market research data, legal documents, and other relevant information.

• Enclose a table of contents for the appendix section to make it easy for readers to find specific information.
• Add financial statements such as income statements, balance sheets , and cash flow statements. These should be up-to-date and show your financial projections for at least the first three years of your business.
• Provide market analysis reports, such as statistics on the size of the art industry, consumer demographics, and trends in the industry.
• Include any legal documents such as business licenses, permits, and contracts.
• Provide any additional documentation related to your business plans, such as marketing materials, product brochures, and operational procedures.
• Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily locate the information they need.

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If you’re not good enough with financial formulas, Upmetrics helps you calculate accurate money forecasts for 3 years or more.

Whether you’re a beginner or trying to expand an existing one, Upmetrics is all you need to make a successful pro-business plan that matches your business goals.

Download our artist business plan pdf now and start writing a comprehensive plan in no time!

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Frequently asked questions, how often should the business plan be reviewed and updated.

Review and update your artist business plan at least once a year or more often if there are significant changes in your business. It ensures your plan remains aligned with your artistic direction, market conditions, or goals.

What should be included in an Artist’s Business Plan?

A comprehensive artist business plan should include below key components:

• Sales and Marketing Plan

What kind of financial information does a business plan include?

In an artist’s business plan, the financial part includes startup costs,  income statement, cash flow statement, balance sheets, and break-even analysis. It offers a clear idea of your financial health, enabling investors to estimate the potential success of your artistic business.

Is it necessary to have business experience to create an artist business plan?

Business experience is beneficial but not mandatory to create an artist’s business plan. Many artists successfully draft business plans with a passion for their art and a willingness to learn.

Can the template help in planning for long-term career growth?

Yes, a well-written business plan template can undoubtedly help you in planning for long-term career growth. Include your artistic goals, market strategies, and financial predictions, as the template can be a strategic tool for envisioning and working towards sustained success throughout your journey.

About the Author

Vinay Kevadiya

Vinay Kevadiya is the founder and CEO of Upmetrics, the #1 business planning software. His ultimate goal with Upmetrics is to revolutionize how entrepreneurs create, manage, and execute their business plans. He enjoys sharing his insights on business planning and other relevant topics through his articles and blog posts. Read more

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Artist Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Artist Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their artist businesses. We have the experience, resources, and knowledge to help you create a great business plan.

In this article, you will learn some background information on why business planning is important. Then, you will learn how to write an artist business plan step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is an Artist Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your artist business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategies for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for an Art Business

If you’re looking to start an artist business or grow your existing artist company, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your artist business to improve your chances of success. Your artist business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Artist Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for an artist business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans, and angel investors. When it comes to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to ensure that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for artist companies.

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How to write a business plan for an artist business.

If you want to start an artist business or expand your current one, you need a business plan in the proper business plan format . The guide below details the necessary information for how to write each essential component of your artist business plan.

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your executive summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the kind of artist business you are running and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have an artist business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of artist businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan.

• Give a brief overview of the artist industry.
• Discuss the type of artist business you are operating.
• Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers.
• Provide a snapshot of your marketing strategy. Identify the key members of your team.
• Offer an overview of your financial plan.

Company Overview

In your company overview, you will detail the type of artist business you are operating.

For example, you might specialize in one of the following types of artist businesses:

• Antiques: This type of artist business may include the restoration, curation, and auction of antique furniture and other items.
• Art Consultant: This type of artist business involves helping clients find and select art pieces for their own collections.
• Tattoo Artist: Tattoos are a popular way for artists to earn money by tattooing permanent ink art onto their customers.
• Photography: Photographers may specialize in certain categories like wedding photography or nature photography.
• Graphic design: This type of business encompasses all kinds of design from creating logos and marketing materials for businesses to creating websites and designing products.
• Art teacher: This type of artist business involves art instruction and can include anything from teaching an elementary school art class to a recreational painting class, or an online art course.

In addition to explaining the type of artist business you will operate, the company overview needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to questions such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of clients served, the number of art pieces sold, reaching $X amount in revenue, etc.
• Your legal business Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry or market analysis, you need to provide an overview of the artist industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes. First, researching the artist industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating. Secondly, market research can improve your marketing strategy, particularly if your analysis identifies market trends. The third reason is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your artist business plan:

• How big is the artist industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential target market for your artist business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your artist business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: individuals, schools, families, and corporations.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of artist business you operate. Clearly, individuals would respond to different marketing promotions than corporations, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, including a discussion of the ages, genders, locations, and income levels of the potential customers you seek to serve.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can recognize and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

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Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other art businesses. Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t directly competing with your product or service. This may include other sources of art pieces, auctions, or resellers. You need to mention such competition as well.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their business and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What type of artist business are they?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you make it easier for your customers to engage with your product or service?
• Will you offer products or services that your competition doesn’t?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a artist business plan, your marketing strategy should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of artist company that you documented in your company overview. Then, detail the specific products or services you will be offering. For example, will you sell paintings or sculptures, consult on various art pieces, instruct a painting class, etc?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your plan, you are presenting the products and/or services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the site of your artist company. Document where your company is situated and mention how the site will impact your success. For example, is your artist business located in a busy retail district, a business district, a standalone office, or purely online? Discuss how your site might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your artist marketing plan is where you will document how you will drive potential customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertise in local papers, radio stations and/or magazines
• Reach out to websites
• Distribute flyers
• Engage in email marketing
• Advertise on social media platforms
• Improve the SEO (search engine optimization) on your website for targeted keywords

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your artist business, including answering calls, meeting with clients, billing and collecting payments, etc.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to book your Xth client, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your artist business to a new city.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your artist business’ potential to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally, you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing artist businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act as mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing an artist business or successfully running a small curation business.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statements.

Income Statement

An income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenue and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you meet with 5 clients per day, and will you charge by the hour for art consultation services? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets

Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your artist business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a lender writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement

Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and ensure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

When creating your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a artist business:

• Cost of equipment and office supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Other start-up expenses (if you’re a new business) like legal expenses, permits, computer software, and equipment

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your office location lease or a sample of your artist portfolio.  

Writing a business plan for your artist business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the sample template above, by the time you are done, you will have an expert artist business plan; download it to PDF to show banks and investors. You will understand the artist industry, your competition, and your customers. You will develop a marketing strategy and will understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful artist business.

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Artist business plan?

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Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to see how Growthink’s business planning advisors can create your business plan for you.

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Artist Management Business Plan Template

Explore Options to Get a Business Plan.

Are you interested in starting your own artist management Business?

Why write a business plan?

• Business Plans can help to articulate and flesh out the business’s goals and objectives. This can be beneficial not only for the business owner, but also for potential investors or partners
• Business Plans can serve as a roadmap for the business, helping to keep it on track and on target. This is especially important for businesses that are growing and evolving, as it can be easy to get sidetracked without a clear plan in place.
• Business plans can be a valuable tool for communicating the business’s vision to employees, customers, and other key stakeholders.
• Business plans are one of the most affordable and straightforward ways of ensuring your business is successful.
• Business plans allow you to understand your competition better to critically analyze your unique business proposition and differentiate yourself from the market.
• Business Plans allow you to better understand your customer. Conducting a customer analysis is essential to create better products and services and market more effectively.
• Business Plans allow you to determine the financial needs of the business leading to a better understanding of how much capital is needed to start the business and how much fundraising is needed.
• Business Plans allow you to put your business model in words and analyze it further to improve revenues or fill the holes in your strategy.
• Business plans allow you to attract investors and partners into the business as they can read an explanation about the business.
• Business plans allow you to position your brand by understanding your company’s role in the marketplace.
• Business Plans allow you to uncover new opportunities by undergoing the process of brainstorming while drafting your business plan which allows you to see your business in a new light. This allows you to come up with new ideas for products/services, business and marketing strategies.
• Business Plans allow you to access the growth and success of your business by comparing actual operational results versus the forecasts and assumptions in your business plan. This allows you to update your business plan to a business growth plan and ensure the long-term success and survival of your business.

Business Plan Content

• Executive Summary
• Company Overview
• Industry Analysis
• Consumer Analysis
• Competitor Analysis & Advantages
• Marketing Strategies & Plan
• Plan of Action
• Management Team

The financial forecast template is an extensive Microsoft Excel sheet with Sheets on Required Start-up Capital, Salary & Wage Plans, 5-year Income Statement, 5-year Cash-Flow Statement, 5-Year Balance Sheet, 5-Year Financial Highlights and other accounting statements that would cost in excess of £1000 if obtained by an accountant.

The financial forecast has been excluded from the business plan template. If you’d like to receive the financial forecast template for your start-up, please contact us at [email protected] . Our consultants will be happy to discuss your business plan and provide you with the financial forecast template to accompany your business plan.

Instructions for the Business Plan Template

To complete your perfect artist management business plan, fill out the form below and download our artist management business plan template. The template is a word document that can be edited to include information about your artist management business. The document contains instructions to complete the business plan and will go over all sections of the plan. Instructions are given in the document in red font and some tips are also included in blue font. The free template includes all sections excluding the financial forecast. If you need any additional help with drafting your business plan from our business plan template, please set up a complimentary 30-minute consultation with one of our consultants.

Ongoing Business Planning

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Website Design & Development for Artist Management Businesses

A Guide to Social Media for Artist Management Businesses

Artist Management Business Plan Template FAQs

What is a business plan for a/an artist management business, how to customize the business plan template for a artist management business, what financial information should be included in a artist management business plan, are there industry-specific considerations in the artist management business plan template, how to conduct market research for a artist management business plan, what are the common challenges when creating a business plan for a artist management business, how often should i update my artist management business plan, can i use the business plan template for seeking funding for a artist management business, what legal considerations are there in a artist management business plan.

Artist Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Artist Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Artist business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Artist businesses.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Artist business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Sean’s Scenic Creations is a startup artist company located in Baltimore, Maryland. The company is founded by Sean Hanford, who has experience in painting scenes throughout the globe. Now, with the expertise of knowledge and business acumen, Sean has determined he can confidently start and effectively grow a successful art studio company. Sean believes his experience of strategic growth, marketing skills, financial capabilities, and wide and deep knowledge of painting practices will provide everything needed for long-term growth and profitability.

Sean’s Scenic Creations will provide a select studio filled with scenic art for a wide variety of clients. Sean’s Scenic Creations will be the premier scenic artist studio, providing art works to each client while supporting the strategic goals of the company. Sean’s Scenic Creations will be the ultimate choice in scenic art for clients to ensure that every interest of the customer is fully and completely met.

Product Offering

The following are the products and services that Sean’s Scenic Creations will provide:

• Scenic oil paintings from global perspectives
• Scenic lithographs
• Custom reproductions of famous works
• Custom scenic oil paintings
• “Secrets of Creating Scenic Art,” small group painting classes
• Online sales and purchasing portal
• “Studio Wine & Cheese Night” for small audience settings

Customer Focus

Sean’s Scenic Creations will target former clients and patrons of the artist’s works. They will target first-time art buyers. They will target businesses seeking artwork for interior decor. They will target those individuals interested in learning how paintings are created. They will target those individuals who want to learn from the artist how to paint scenes.

Management Team

Sean’s Scenic Creations will be owned and operated by Sean Hanford. He recruited his former associate in art school, Jan Myers, to be his Studio Manager, to assist in teaching and demonstrating art and scenic art painting methods.

Sean Hanford is a graduate of the School of Visual Design in New York, where he studied multiple forms of art and artistic expression. Sean chose to devote the majority of his works in the area of oil paintings of iconic scenes and those environments that captured his interest. For the past ten years, Sean has worked as an associate in the Rockdale Art Studio, where he was well-known for his attentive interest in clients and his beautifully-created art.

Jan Myers has been an associate of Sean Hanford for almost eight years, working as the studio assistant in the art gallery. She is known for her dedication to customer care and service. She will become the Studio Manager, overseeing all customer interactions alongside Sean Hanford.

Success Factors

Sean’s Scenic Creations will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly-qualified team of Sean’s Scenic Creations
• Comprehensive selection of art and art-related classes
• Customized scenic paintings and paintings based on photography
• Corporate interior artwork
• Large scale art installations
• Sean’s Scenic Creations offers the best pricing in town. Their pricing structure is the most cost effective compared to the competition.

Financial Highlights

Sean’s Scenic Creations is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch Sean’s Scenic Creations. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the studio space and purchasing office equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the print ads and marketing costs. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Studio space build-out: $20,000
• Office equipment, supplies, and materials: $10,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, rent, utilities): $150,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph outlines the financial projections for Sean’s Scenic Creations.

Company Overview

Who is sean’s scenic creations.

Sean’s Scenic Creations is a newly established, full-service artist studio company in Baltimore, Maryland. Sean’s Scenic Creations will be the premier artist studio for collectors and aficionados to find scenic oil paintings from around the world. Sean’s Scenic Creations will be the primary choice for individuals who want to learn how to create scenic paintings in Baltimore and the surrounding communities. Sean’s Scenic Creations will provide a comprehensive menu of artwork, art classes and community gatherings for any customer to utilize. Their full-service approach includes an online option for customers to view and buy oil paintings.

  Sean’s Scenic Creations will be able to offer a wide array of oil paintings and painting classes to interested individuals. The team of professionals are highly qualified and experienced in oil painting and artwork sales. Sean’s Scenic Creations will remove the headaches and issues of the art collector and art student who continually search for thoughtful assistance, and Sean Hanford and Jan Myers will ensure all clients are taken care of expeditiously while delivering the best customer service.

Sean’s Scenic Creations History

Sean’s Scenic Creations is owned and operated by Sean Hanford, a former graduate of the School of Visual Design in New York He has been in the retail art sales business sector for ten years and has amassed a significant amount of industry information and business acumen. His clients consider him to be their favorite artist and have already announced they will follow him when he opens his own studio in Baltimore.

Since incorporation, Sean’s Scenic Creations has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Sean’s Scenic Creations, LLC to transact business in the state of Maryland.
• Has a contract in place for a 10,000 square foot studio at one of the midtown buildings
• Reached out to numerous contacts to include Sean’s Scenic Creations in their portfolios.
• Began recruiting a staff of one and two studio personnel to work at Sean’s Scenic Creations

Sean’s Scenic Creations Products & Services

The following will be the products and services Sean’s Scenic Creations will provide:

Industry Analysis

The artist studio industry is expected to grow over the next five years to over $15 billion. The growth will be driven by the increasing interest by consumers in the art world and in the creation of one’s own artwork. The growth will also be driven by consumer travels globally that will increase the interest in recreating those iconic scenes via their own or an artist’s recreation in a large format oil painting. The growth will increase by individuals who work remotely and have access to their studios during short breaks from their profession, as well as those who have continual access to dedicated rooms in their own residences set aside for art studios.

Costs will likely be reduced as the increase in consumers drives retail prices down. For example, art supplies such as canvases and canvas-stretching services will probably be driven down due to an influx of new requests for services and products by the consumers. New technology in the art world will also allow the more mundane day-to-day operations of an artist studio or gallery more easily done by software designed specifically for the sector.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Sean’s Scenic Creations will target those individuals of all ages interested in scenic art in Baltimore, Maryland. Sean’s Scenic Creations will target former clients and patrons of the artist’s works. They will target first-time art buyers. They will target businesses seeking artwork for interior decor. They will target those individuals interested in learning how paintings are created. They will target those individuals who want to learn from the artist how to paint scenes.

Customer Segmentation

Sean’s Scenic Creations will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Individuals interested in purchasing scenic oil paintings
• Individuals interested in learning to paint or learning how paintings are created
• First-time art buyers
• Businesses seeking interior artwork for decor
• Former clients and patrons

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Sean’s Scenic Creations will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Gallery Serenity

Gallery Serenity is a contemporary art gallery featuring the artworks of five artists within the Baltimore region. The art is composed of oils, watercolor, mixed media and ceramic pieces, all held within a minimalist gallery. The gallery is broken into five distinctive areas, with one small studio tucked into the gallery that represents each artist. The sleek interior matches the contemporary feel of the artwork throughout. Tara Simmons, a long-time art patron of New York City, opened the gallery to encourage patrons of her five favorite artists to purchase their own works of art from the artists. Regular “Shop Talk” sessions are offered, featuring one of the five artists on a weekly basis. The contemporary art is often moved on loan to enhance a corporate venue or exhibition that needs an artistic touch to the environment.

Esther Savage Art Gallery

The Esther Savage Art Gallery is home to the art works associated with the early colonial settlers in the Baltimore area. Works are in black pencil or oil, with rudimentary line drawings included in the gallery offerings. Esther Savage has been a dedicated collector of early colonial artwork and decided to open the art gallery to both showcase and sometimes sell her extensive collection of colonial artwork. Most of the art collection is for sale; other, more valuable works, are not. The early art of the colonies mimics the European styles of the decades, with oils playing a large part in portrait works, along with a colonial view of still life art and the occasional landscape of the Hudson River Valley and other iconic areas.

Jameson ClayCraft Salon

The Jameson ClayCraft Salon is a small salon housed in a brick-lined building located in mid-city Baltimore. Thomas Jameson has owned and operated the salon for over fifteen years, where clay art creations are both created and sold on site. Customers enjoy the intimate environment, along with the expertise of Thomas and his staff of three associates, who assist in both the slab and wheel ceramic forms and encourage loyal customers with their compliments. The Jameson ClayCraft Salon has been the hub of classes, wine and appetizer evenings for patrons, city art talks and other intimate gatherings that offer community to all who join in. Thomas Jameson is currently in the process of selling the Jameson ClayCraft Salon to a national retail chain of consumer “make-it-yourself” studios.

Competitive Advantage

Sean’s Scenic Creations will be able to offer the following advantages over their competition:

• Friendly, knowledgeable, and highly-qualified team at Sean’s Scenic Creations
• Sean’s Scenic Creations offers the best pricing in town. Their pricing structure is the most cost effective compared to the competition

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Sean’s Scenic Creations will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Highly-qualified and skilled employees who offer a comprehensive selection of art and art-related classes
• Customer appreciation evenings

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Sean’s Scenic Creations is as follows:

Word of Mouth/Referrals

Sean’s Scenic Creations has built up an extensive list of contacts over the years by providing exceptional service and art expertise to Sean’s clients. The contacts and clients will follow Sean to his new company and help spread the word of Sean’s Scenic Creations.

Professional Associations and Networking

Sean’s Scenic Creations will take an active role in regional and community art-related associations and non-profit groups with the goal of increasing the number of youth who learn to paint and exhibit artworks. They will also network at national trade shows to garner on-trend styles and types of artwork that may be as yet unknown to the staff.

Print Advertising

Before launch, direct mail invitations will be sent to every former client and contact of Sean Hanford and his associate, Jan Tyler, inviting them to the launch of Sean’s Scenic Creations. They will receive “preferred client” pricing within the first 60 days of business.

Website/SEO Marketing

Sean’s Scenic Creations will fully utilize their website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that Sean’s Scenic Creations provides. The website will also list their contact information and contain an online gallery of available artwork for sale. An online payment portal will allow customers to view and buy pieces from the convenience of their own home, if desired. The website will engage in SEO marketing tactics so that anytime someone types in the Google or Bing search engine “art studio” or “oil painting class near me,” Sean’s Scenic Creations will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of Sean’s Scenic Creations will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive excellent value when purchasing their services.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Sean’s Scenic Creations. Operation Functions:

• Sean Hanford will be the owner and President of the company. He will oversee all staff and manage client relations. Sean has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Kerrie Thomas will manage the office administration, client files, and accounts payable.

Milestones:

Sean’s Scenic Creations will have the following milestones completed in the next six months.

• 5/1/202X – Finalize contract to lease studio space
• 5/15/202X – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for the Sean’s Scenic Creations
• 6/1/202X – Finalize contracts for Sean’s Scenic Creations vendors
• 6/15/202X – Begin networking at industry events
• 6/22/202X – Begin moving into Sean’s Scenic Creations studio
• 7/1/202X – Sean’s Scenic Creations opens its doors for business

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Sean’s Scenic Creations are the fees they will charge to customers for their artwork and services..

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff Sean’s Scenic Creations. The expenses will be the payroll cost, rent, utilities, office supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Sean’s Scenic Creations is seeking $200,000 in debt financing to launch its art studio. The funding will be dedicated toward securing the studio space and purchasing office equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated toward three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff, rent, and marketing costs for the print ads and association memberships. The breakout of the funding is below:

Key Assumptions

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Number of Artworks and Classes Sold Per Month: 290
• Average Revenue per Month: $48,000
• Office Lease per Year: $100,000

Financial Projections

Income statement.

Balance Sheet

Cash Flow Statement

Artist Business Plan FAQs

What is an artist business plan.

An artist business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your artist business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections. You can easily complete your Artist business plan using our Artist Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Artist Businesses?

There are a number of different kinds of artist businesses, some examples include: Antiques, Art Consultant, Tattoo Artist, Photography, Graphic design, and Art teacher.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Artist Business Plan?

Artist businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start an Artist Business?

Starting an artist business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster. 1. Develop An Artist Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed artist business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast. 2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your artist business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your artist business is in compliance with local laws. 3. Register Your Artist Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your artist business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws. 4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your artist business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms. 5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations. 6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events. 7. Acquire Necessary Artist Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your artist business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation. 8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your artist business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising.

How to Write a Business Plan for an Artist’s Business

7 min. read

Updated January 24, 2024

Free Download:  Sample Arts and Crafts Business Plan Templates

“But how can I write a business plan? I’m an artist.”

He was one of my favorite students in the class I used to teach on starting a business. He had a delightful way of challenging assumptions, occasionally on the basis that art, by its very nature, was above—or perhaps immune—to cash flow. As a student, he was engaged, intelligent, and eager to learn; so yes, he was one of my favorites.

“What, you aren’t going to sell paintings?” I responded. “You don’t plan to pay your rent and other expenses? You don’t care if checks bounce?”

How you make money is at the heart of an artist’s business plan

He agreed, somewhat begrudgingly, that maybe an artist wanted to survive in the world like anybody else.

On reflection, he decided that he liked the idea of making a living without abandoning his art. In the end, he saw himself in a condition similar to the professional, like a bookkeeper or consultant, faced with the idea of doing what he loved, in conjunction with a plan.

In this case, being an artist meant creating paintings to be hung on walls. But “artist” can mean a broad range of related things, from fine art and (ugh, so crass) commercial art, to design, writing, acting, stand-up comedy, and even live art. I’m in favor of whatever works for you and in awe of people who actually manage to combine talent, passion, and hard word to make that work for them as a way of life. Hats off.

So how do you make a business plan and use it to optimize the business side of your art? Here are some suggestions.

The big idea—making money

The first big hurdle for the artist business plan is what they call the business model, or, if you don’t like the trendy buzzword, how you make money.

If you’re a performer, I assume it’s about gigs, managers, and that stuff. Or, it’s about selling your paintings, sculptures, or photographs. Maybe you’re okay with being the starving artist, but if not, it’s “show me the money.” Don’t discount the obvious—take a look at the results of a quick web search, in the illustration here, for  “where to sell my paintings.”

Don’t completely discount the related businesses. Writers teach literature, painters teach fine arts. There are galleries. There are websites buying, selling, and collecting art. You can be as creative with the business model as you are with your art. Stand-up comedy is a tough career, I hear, but there are people getting around the gatekeepers using YouTube and downloads.

One of my personal favorite artist-with-a-plan stories is the story of  Paul Anthony and Rumblefish.  He was a talented musician—a drummer who built a business around selling music rights for films and ads. He started from his dorm room at the University of Oregon in 1996; he sold his company, Rumblefish.com, for $27 million in 2015.

Eventually, you settle in on how you hope to make money. Talk to people about it, search the web, sample websites, ads, displays, prices—get as much how-to information as you can and settle in on what you’re going to try.

That is the heart of your artist business plan: how you make money.

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• Strategy and tactics

Strategy is focus. It’s as much about what you don’t do as what you do. Figure out where you are going to concentrate your business efforts. It could be as simple as what kind of work you sell, to whom, through what channels. Or it might be what kind of performance, and how you reach the gatekeepers. Think about what makes you different, who will buy from you, and what you sell to them.

With strategy set, you need tactics to execute. Tactics are decisions you make about pricing, channels, websites, social media, managers, agents, stores, overhead, allies, and so forth. Make sure your tactics match your strategy.

For more on strategy and tactics, check out  Strategy Is Useless without Execution  and  Strategic Plan for Your Business,  also here on Bplans. If you’re a  LivePlan  user, determining your strategy and tactics can be as simple and direct as filling out the pitch page in LivePlan, which defines market, strategy, tactics, and so forth. If not, strategy and tactics can be as easy as a few bullet points you set down and keep track of. You don’t have to include long eloquent texts to make a business plan for yourself. Just include what you need, and will use.

• Milestones and metrics

Think through some manageable and measurable milestones—goals—you’re going to meet along the way. It might be your first gig; your first painting sold; your first painting available through some website; your first YouTube video posted, or the 100th; or maybe reaching 500 likes or 1,000 followers; or getting on the Jimmy Fallon show. Try to spell it out, though, so you can aim for it and work toward it.

The metrics help you track progress. Units sold, gigs, unique visitors, conversion rates, viewers, likes, follows—avoid having a plan full of generalities only. Keep it concrete and specific so you can use it to guide yourself and optimize your business.

For more on that, read  Milestones Make Your Business Plan a Real Plan.  For a personal view of metrics, with some suggestions, read my post on my blog here at Bplans:  Magic of Metrics, Tyranny of Metrics.

• Essential business numbers

Although a lot of people fear forecasts, don’t. It’s easier to do essential forecasts than to run a business without them. A simple sales forecast can be extremely helpful for your business later, as you track actual results, compare them to the forecast, and analyze the difference. What went right? What went wrong? Where were you off? If you don’t lay out a  forecast  first, you lose the opportunity to follow up with the management of it.

And yes, I know, you’re an artist, that’s not what you do. It’s hard on the self-image, but it’s good for the bank balance. You can do it, and it will help you succeed. Consider this previous post:

Do a spending budget linked to the sales forecast. A lot of your spending—marketing activities, for example—ought to have a direct connection with the projected sales that will result. For more on that, try my recent post on my blog here at Bplans:  How to Do a Spending Budget.  That’s part of a whole series I finished recently, on  standard business plan financials.

And, most important, plan your cash flow. Make sure you have enough cash in the bank to pay your rent and other bills. Having enough sales is a critical first step, managing spending is next, and then make sure you have the full cash flow including things like loan repayment, buying inventory, and supplies. For more on cash flow, try this post:  How to Forecast Cash Flow.

Remember: It’s planning that matters, not just the plan

The point of the business plan for most artists isn’t just having the plan; it’s using it to optimize your business. Expect your plan to change often. It’s a cycle that starts with the first plan and continues from then on, as long as you are in business. I call it P-R-R-R, as in the illustration here on the right.

Use it like a dashboard, a tool for checking your progress against goals, for tracking results, and doing regular course corrections. Think of it as a business navigation system, which includes destination, route, and—with regular review and revisions—real-time information to adjust the route as you go.

Tim Berry is the founder and chairman of Palo Alto Software , a co-founder of Borland International, and a recognized expert in business planning. He has an MBA from Stanford and degrees with honors from the University of Oregon and the University of Notre Dame. Today, Tim dedicates most of his time to blogging, teaching and evangelizing for business planning.

Table of Contents

• The big idea—making money
• Remember: It’s planning that matters, not just the plan

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How to Write Artist Business Plan? Guide & Template

In the dynamic and ever-evolving world of artistry, talent alone is often not enough to thrive. Whether you’re a painter, musician, or any other type of artist, having a solid business plan can be the key to turning your passion into a sustainable career. In this guide, we’ll delve into the importance of an artist business plan, how to create one, and the advantages it can bring to your artistic journey.

Download Now => Artist Business Plan Template

What is an Artist Business Plan?

An artist business plan is a strategic document that outlines your goals, target audience, marketing strategies, financial projections, and other crucial aspects of your artistic venture. It serves as a roadmap to guide your decisions and actions, helping you navigate the complexities of the creative industry with clarity and purpose.

Why Do You Need a Business Plan for an Artist?

Clarity of Vision: A business plan forces you to define your artistic vision, mission, and objectives clearly. It helps you articulate what you want to achieve and how you plan to get there.

Professionalism: Having a well-thought-out business plan demonstrates professionalism to potential collaborators, investors, and stakeholders. It shows that you take your art seriously and have a strategic approach to your career.

Financial Planning: A business plan helps you manage your finances more effectively by forecasting income, expenses, and potential revenue streams. It enables you to make informed decisions about budgeting, pricing, and investment.

Strategic Growth: With a business plan, you can identify opportunities for growth and expansion in your artistic career. Whether it’s exploring new markets, collaborating with other artists, or diversifying your revenue streams, a strategic plan can help you seize opportunities and mitigate risks.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Recording Artist Business?

Securing funding for your recording artist business plan can be challenging but not impossible. Here are some avenues to explore:

Grants and Scholarships: Many organizations offer grants and scholarships specifically for artists. Research and apply for funding opportunities that align with your artistic goals and niche.

Crowdfunding: Platforms like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and Patreon allow artists to raise funds directly from their fans and supporters. Create compelling campaigns that resonate with your audience and offer unique rewards in exchange for their contributions.

Investors and Sponsorships: Pitch your business plan to potential investors, sponsors, or brand partners who may be interested in supporting your artistic endeavors in exchange for exposure or a share of revenue.

Government Programs: Some governments provide funding, loans, or tax incentives for artists and creative businesses. Check if there are any programs available in your region that you can leverage.

How to Write an Artist Business Plan?

Creating a comprehensive artist business plan involves several key steps:

Define Your Objectives: Clearly articulate your artistic vision, mission, and goals. What do you want to achieve with your art, and how do you plan to measure success?

Know Your Audience: Identify your target audience and understand their preferences, demographics, and buying behavior. Tailor your marketing strategies and artistic content to resonate with your audience.

Market Analysis: Conduct thorough research on the competitive landscape and market trends in your artistic niche. Identify your competitors, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and determine how you can differentiate yourself.

Marketing and Promotion: Outline your marketing strategies, including branding, advertising, social media, and PR activities. Develop a promotional plan to increase visibility, attract followers, and build a loyal fan base.

Financial Projections: Create realistic financial forecasts, including revenue projections, expenses, and cash flow analysis. Consider factors such as production costs, distribution channels, pricing strategy, and potential revenue streams.

Operational Plan: Define the day-to-day operations of your artistic venture, including production processes, distribution channels, inventory management, and staffing requirements.

Risk Management: Identify potential risks and challenges that may impact your artistic business, such as changing market trends, legal issues, or financial constraints. Develop strategies to mitigate these risks and ensure business continuity.

Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track the progress of your artistic business over time. Regularly review and adjust your business plan based on feedback, market dynamics, and evolving goals.

Advantages of Starting an Artist Business

Creative Freedom: Running your own artistic business gives you the freedom to express yourself authentically without compromising your artistic vision for commercial gain.

Flexibility: As an artist entrepreneur, you have the flexibility to set your own schedule, work on projects that inspire you, and explore creative opportunities on your own terms.

Financial Independence: By monetizing your artistic talent, you can generate income doing what you love and build a sustainable career without relying solely on traditional employment or commissions.

Community Building: Building an artistic business allows you to connect with like-minded individuals, collaborators, and supporters who share your passion for creativity and innovation.

In conclusion, an artist business plan is an essential tool for turning your artistic dreams into reality. By defining your objectives, understanding your audience, and outlining your strategies, you can navigate the competitive landscape of the creative industry with confidence and purpose. With careful planning, determination, and creativity, you can build a successful and fulfilling career as an artist entrepreneur.

Artist Business Plan FAQs

How do I make a business plan for an artist?

An artist business plan should detail your art style, marketing plan, revenue streams, competitive landscape, goals, startup and operating costs, and milestones for the first 1–3 years.

How do I start an artist business?

To start an art business, create a brand identity, set up a legal structure like an LLC, establish digital storefronts, develop marketing assets, build connections, and formalize your business plan.

Do I need an LLC as an artist?

Forming an LLC can help independent artists legally separate their personal and professional assets and taxes. An LLC brings liability protections lacking with sole proprietorship.

How do you write an independent artist business plan?

An independent artist business plan outlines their unique style, target buyer personas and segments, creative vision, marketing channels, exhibition/sales plans, goals, projected costs, and key milestones for gaining collector interest.

Should an independent artist form an LLC?

Yes, an LLC helps independent artists limit personal liability, formally structure their business, retain private ownership over work, legally separate personal and professional finances, and appear credible to partners.

What business to start as an artist?

Common art business ideas include selling paintings, prints or photos online, offering custom commissions, holding private or gallery exhibitions, licensing work for products, teaching workshops or classes.

Written by Ivan Smith

Hello, I'm Ivan Smith, a graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. Currently, I'm actively engaged in practicing business plan writing.

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How to Develop an Effective Artist Management Strategy

Introduction.

Artist Management Strategy is a comprehensive approach to managing the career of an artist. It involves developing a plan to maximize the artist’s potential, setting goals, and creating a strategy to reach those goals. It also involves managing the artist’s finances, marketing, and public relations. Artist Management Strategy is an important part of any successful artist’s career and can help them reach their full potential.

Developing an effective artist management strategy is essential for any artist looking to maximize their success. A well-crafted strategy can help an artist reach their goals, increase their visibility, and build a strong fan base. Here are some tips for creating an effective artist management strategy.

1. Set Clear Goals : Before you can create an effective artist management strategy, you need to have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve. Take some time to think about your goals and objectives, and make sure they are realistic and achievable.

2. Identify Your Target Audience : Knowing who your target audience is will help you create a strategy that is tailored to their needs. Consider the age, gender, and interests of your target audience, and use this information to create content and marketing strategies that will appeal to them.

3. Develop a Brand Identity : Creating a strong brand identity is essential for any artist. Take some time to think about what makes you unique, and use this to create a logo, website, and other materials that will help you stand out from the crowd.

4. Utilize Social Media : Social media is a powerful tool for any artist. Use it to promote your music, engage with fans, and build relationships with other industry professionals.

5. Network : Networking is an important part of any artist’s career. Attend industry events, join online communities, and reach out to other artists and industry professionals.

6. Monitor Your Progress : Regularly monitor your progress to ensure that your strategy is working. Track your metrics, analyze your data, and make adjustments as needed.

By following these tips, you can create an effective artist management strategy that will help you reach your goals and maximize your success.

The Benefits of Outsourcing Artist Management Services

Outsourcing artist management services can be a great way to maximize the potential of an artist’s career. By leveraging the expertise of a professional artist management team, artists can benefit from a wide range of services that can help them reach their goals. Here are some of the key benefits of outsourcing artist management services:

1. Professional Representation : A professional artist management team can provide the artist with the representation they need to succeed in the music industry. They can help the artist secure bookings, negotiate contracts, and manage their public image.

2. Access to Resources : Outsourcing artist management services can provide the artist with access to resources that they may not have access to on their own. This includes access to industry contacts, marketing materials, and other resources that can help the artist reach their goals.

3. Increased Visibility : A professional artist management team can help the artist increase their visibility in the music industry. They can help the artist get their music heard by the right people and increase their chances of success.

4. Financial Management : A professional artist management team can help the artist manage their finances. They can help the artist budget their money, manage their taxes, and ensure that they are getting the most out of their income.

5. Time Management : Outsourcing artist management services can help the artist manage their time more effectively. A professional team can help the artist prioritize their tasks and ensure that they are focusing on the most important aspects of their career.

Outsourcing artist management services can be a great way to maximize the potential of an artist’s career. By leveraging the expertise of a professional artist management team, artists can benefit from a wide range of services that can help them reach their goals.

The Role of Social Media in Artist Management

The role of social media in artist management is becoming increasingly important in the modern music industry. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, artists and their managers must stay ahead of the curve in order to remain competitive. Social media provides a powerful platform for artists to reach their fans, build their brand, and promote their music.

Social media can be used to create a direct connection between artists and their fans. Through platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, artists can share updates, photos, and videos with their followers. This allows them to build relationships with their fans and create a sense of community. Additionally, social media can be used to promote upcoming shows, releases, and other events.

Social media can also be used to build an artist’s brand. By creating a consistent aesthetic and message across all platforms, artists can create a recognizable identity that will help them stand out from the competition. Additionally, social media can be used to showcase an artist’s work and highlight their accomplishments.

Finally, social media can be used to promote an artist’s music. Platforms such as YouTube, SoundCloud, and Spotify provide a great way for artists to reach new audiences and increase their visibility. Additionally, social media can be used to drive traffic to streaming services and other online stores where fans can purchase music.

In conclusion, social media is an essential tool for artist management in the modern music industry. By leveraging the power of social media, artists and their managers can create a direct connection with their fans, build their brand, and promote their music.

How to Create a Comprehensive Artist Management Plan

Creating a comprehensive artist management plan is essential for any artist looking to maximize their success. A well-crafted plan will provide a roadmap for the artist to follow, helping them to stay organized and focused on their goals. Here are some tips for creating a comprehensive artist management plan:

1. Set Goals : The first step in creating a comprehensive artist management plan is to set clear and achievable goals. Consider both short-term and long-term goals, such as increasing your fan base, booking more shows, or releasing a new album.

2. Develop a Strategy : Once you have identified your goals, it is important to develop a strategy for achieving them. Consider the resources you have available, such as a budget, staff, and equipment, and create a plan for how you will use them to reach your goals.

3. Create a Timeline : A timeline is an essential part of any artist management plan. It should include deadlines for each step of the process, such as when you will release a new album or book a show.

4. Monitor Progress : Once you have created a timeline, it is important to monitor your progress and adjust your plan as needed. This will help ensure that you stay on track and reach your goals in a timely manner.

5. Evaluate Results : Finally, it is important to evaluate the results of your plan. This will help you identify areas of success and areas that need improvement.

By following these steps, you can create a comprehensive artist management plan that will help you reach your goals and maximize your success.

The Pros and Cons of DIY Artist Management

DIY artist management is a popular option for independent musicians who are looking to take control of their career and manage their own music. While this approach can be beneficial in some ways, it also has its drawbacks. Here are some of the pros and cons of DIY artist management.

• Cost-Effective: DIY artist management is a cost-effective way to manage your career. You don’t have to pay for a manager or other professionals, so you can save money and invest it in other areas of your career.

• Flexibility: DIY artist management gives you the flexibility to make decisions on your own terms. You can make changes to your career plan quickly and easily without having to consult with a manager or other professionals.

• Control: DIY artist management gives you complete control over your career. You can make decisions about your music, your image, and your career path without having to consult with anyone else.

• Time-Consuming: DIY artist management can be time-consuming. You have to take care of all the details of your career, from booking shows to promoting your music, and this can take up a lot of your time.

• Limited Resources : DIY artist management can be difficult if you don’t have access to the resources you need. You may not have the contacts or the knowledge to get the best deals or the most exposure for your music.

• Stressful: DIY artist management can be stressful. You have to take care of all the details of your career, and this can be overwhelming.

Overall, DIY artist management can be a great way to take control of your career and manage your own music. However, it is important to consider the pros and cons before making a decision.

Strategies for Maximizing Artist Revenue Streams

1. Diversify Your Revenue Streams : Explore different ways to monetize your art, such as selling merchandise, offering online classes, or creating a subscription service.

2. Leverage Social Media : Use social media to promote your art and engage with potential customers.

3. Develop a Loyal Fanbase : Focus on building a loyal fanbase that will support your art and purchase your products.

4. Utilize Streaming Platforms : Take advantage of streaming platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music to reach a wider audience and generate revenue.

5. Create a Website : Develop a website to showcase your art and provide an easy way for customers to purchase your products.

6. Participate in Art Fairs : Attend art fairs and other events to showcase your work and meet potential customers.

7. Collaborate with Other Artists : Collaborate with other artists to create unique products and reach a larger audience.

8. Offer Customized Artwork : Offer customized artwork to customers to increase your revenue.

9. Utilize Online Marketplaces : Utilize online marketplaces such as Etsy and eBay to reach a wider audience and increase your sales.

10. Invest in Advertising : Invest in advertising to reach a larger audience and increase your sales.

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ARTIST BUSINESS PLAN: Template & Simple Steps to Write One

• by Kenechukwu Muoghalu
• August 12, 2023

Table of Contents Hide

What is an artist business plan, why do you need a business plan, #1. executive summary, #2. company overview, #3. industry analysis, #4. customer analysis, #5. competitive analysis, #6. marketing plan, #7. operation plan, #8. management team, #9. financial plan, #10. appendix, artist business plan template, not ready to write a business plan yourself, conclusion , how do i write a business plan for an artist, is being an artist a business, how much can an art business make.

It is heart-throbbing to know that you have finally decided to leap without much consideration into starting an artist business. Figuring out what to do next should be the next milestone to cross. Well, as an artist, you need to have a business plan before you get to experience any development in your new business. As a starter, you will be faced with multiple new experiences that might seem tough to handle, which is understandable because you are in a new field. So, to make your artist business journey easier, a development plan is needed. To avoid stressing this further, this article will provide a template that can help you write an artist business plan. As a bonus, this template can also be used when writing a music, graphic, or makeup artist business plan. 

If you want an easy way out of this, you can opt-in for our pre-made artist business plan instead of writing one for yourself. 

A business plan or development plan simply lays out the who, what, when, where, why, and how an artist operates their business. Why won’t you run a smooth business when you have a clear description of these questions? Business plans are about setting goals, taking actionable steps to meet business objectives, and creating milestones to measure success along the way. When you want to create your artist business development plan, you should be clear about what you want and commit to going after it. 

Although the curriculum of your art school doesn’t include learning how to write a business plan, a business plan is what makes your business creative. An artist’s business plan makes it possible for you to build a profitable career. Have you thought about selling your work at art fairs? With a business plan, you won’t be seen thriving hard to pull it through. Instead, you will spend time preparing your artwork and striking deals with potential customers. Without laying more emphasis on this, let’s get down to writing an artist business plan for yourself. 

How to Write an Artist Business Plan

To compose a successful artist business plan, you need to remember that it’s the planning that matters and not just the plan. This will allow you to devote more time to making your plan professional and presentable. To write a business plan, there are some outlines that you will need to follow to better understand your art business and develop a step-by-step strategy for success. 

Your executive summary should be an introduction to the business. It is more like a summary of the general section of a business plan. It is the first to appear and the last to be written down because you will need information from other sections. While writing this section of your business plan, you should keep your language clear to attract and engage your readers. In summary, you will need to give a brief overview of the artist industry. You can also mention your competitors and provide a marketing plan as well as your financial plan. 

This section is mainly about your business venture. You will get to give some basic knowledge of your business. While writing this section of your business plan using this template, you will need to specify the type of art business you will specialize in, which can either be a makeup, graphic, or music artist.

An artist can be a broad range of related things, from fine art and commercial art, to design, writing, acting, or even live art. Specifying your art genre will help you narrow down your niche and focus on your target audience and their needs. In addition to this, you will also explain when and why you started the business and the business goals you tend to achieve.

Still in the industry, but this time we are going deep into it. To efficiently write this section, you will need to have thorough research on the music industry. The essence of this is to convince your reader that you have all the necessary knowledge about your new industry and that you also know what it takes to scale through. To complete this section, you will also need to talk about the market, who your competitors are, your market trends, the market size, and your potential customers. 

What type of customer do you render your services to? Are they private individuals, schools, families, or corporations? This customer will also depend on the type of art services you offer. If you have a target market, you should also run a basic check on them to understand who they are and what their needs are. 

This section should be about your competitors , which can be either direct or indirect competitors. The direct ones are your fellow artists and the indirect ones are other options your customers can look up to. Mention all competitors you have and state their strengths and weaknesses. You can also include the type of customers they serve and the prices they sell their art products. To round off this section, you will need to mention your areas of advantage. You can state how your products are more unique and better than that of your competitors. Will you provide better customer service? Also, state if your prices will attract more customers to you. 

Read Also: Makeup Artist Insurance: Liability Insurance And Coverage For Makeup Artist

What will be your marketing and sales strategy ? How do you intend on attracting customers and making sales? These are the basic questions that you will need to be explaining in this section. You will also need to talk about your marketing and promotion strategy. Will you advertise in local papers, make flyers, use social media platforms, create websites or engage in email marketing? These are information that your readers will need to know about your marketing plans because, without constant sales, a business can’t grow. 

Just like the name implies, you will have to explain how your business goals will be carried out. You will also need to clearly define how you will carry out basic operations in your artist business. Your operation plan should cover how you will manage your everyday tasks, which involve answering calls, meeting with clients, billing, and collecting payments. You should also include how you will meet your long-term goals. Indicate the milestones you need to achieve, what it will take you to achieve them and when you plan on achieving them. 

The management team section should entail your workforce. You can also explain how your team is liable to grow the business. You can mention their skills and responsibilities in the company. 

A proper financial statement should include your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. Your income statement consists of your profit and loss information. A balance sheet is what shows your assets and liabilities, while a cash flow statement will determine how much money you need to start or grow your business. 

Finally, this section should have your full financial projections and any supporting documents that can make your plan more presentable. It can be in the form of a license or a sample of your artist portfolio. 

Before starting up an artist business, either as a makeup, graphic, or music artist, you will need a template to kick off that plan. The essence of a template is to ensure that you start on the right foot while planning on how to set up your business. This template checklist will serve as a guide to clarify all necessary steps to take before kicking off that idea of yours. Also remember that this artist business plan template can accommodate other art genres like music, graphic, and makeup artists. 

• Choose a business name
• Create a professional business plan
• Secure start-up fund
• Get a location for your business
• Get required permits and licenses
• Get the legal documents you need
• Have an insurance 
• Buy artist equipment
• Develop a marketing plan
• Open for business 

Creating a business plan can be overwhelming to compose, especially when it’s your first time creating one. If you want to escape the stress of figuring out what each section should entail, then it’s best to seek professional help. 

Wouldn’t you wish to get your hands on a professional artist’s business plan in seconds? Then try this winning pre-made artist business plan . 

At BusinessYield Consult, we help entrepreneurs like you create a business plan that can improve the success of any business. To achieve your art biz goals, get this plan now .

As an artist, it is natural to be exposed to numerous responsibilities. That means inventory details, showing or selling your work, exhibition dates, invoices, call-for-entry application deadlines, sales records, and a host of other schedules that need to be handled. A good business plan is all you need to escape being disorganized. By getting a plan and keeping track of your activities, you can curb those excesses. When it seems so overwhelming to create one, you can go for a pre-made 

To write a business plan, you can make use of the template in this article to compose your artist’s business plan.

As an artist, you can choose to turn your talent into a business and make it profitable. Indeed, all entrepreneurs are not artists but all artists are entrepreneurs. What matters is how well you polish your skills and make a living out of them. 

Artists do not have a specific amount of money they make. Most times it depends on the type of art services you render to clients. For example, if you are a graphic artist you can make more money compared to an artist who is just a painter. 

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Kenechukwu Muoghalu

Kenny, an accomplished business writer with a decade of experience, excels in translating intricate industry insights into engaging articles. Her passion revolves around distilling the latest trends, offering actionable advice, and nurturing a comprehensive understanding of the business landscape. With a proven track record of delivering insightful content, Kenny is dedicated to empowering her readers with the knowledge needed to thrive in the dynamic and ever-evolving world of business.

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Last Updated on August 15, 2023 by Kenechukwu Muoghalu

An Artist’s Guide to Making a Business Plan (In Just 6 Steps)

Artwork Archive | October 25, 2016 (Updated September 20, 2022)

Being a professional artist involves more than being skilled with paints or clay—you actually become a small business owner!

So, where do you begin? By creating a business plan, of course! That’s why we’ve come up with an outline for artists to follow, so you can better understand your art business and develop a step-by-step strategy for success.

So when you are ready to carve out a half hour or so, follow along this guide (or bookmark it for when you are ready) and start writing down a plan to take your art career to the next level:

1. YOUR BUSINESS

A. Mission Statement

Figure out what your mission is by asking yourself the question, “why do you want to be a professional artist?” We doubt that it’s all about the money, but be honest with yourself about what it is about. Let this answer, and the passion you feel when you write it down, drive every other aspect of developing your art business.

B. Vision Statement

Your vision statement should describe where you want to take your art business in the future. But, success means something different to each and every artist. Do you want to be famous? Leave a legacy? Change the way people interact with art? Get rich? Do you want gallery representation? The answer is up to you.

Now, depending on your definition of success, develop short-term and long-term goals that will keep you on track. Try to set goals for each of the following: the next three months, six months, one year, three years, and five years. (Visualizing your art career like this will help you see the natural progression of steps to take, erasing the pressure to become an overnight success!)

Take this goal-setting advice from Catherine Orer , business and PR strategist for artists: “‘Quitting my day job to do art full time’ or ‘sell my art’ are not clear career goals.”  Instead, Catherine asks you to dig deeper: “What type of career do you want? How much do you want to earn?” Spelling out exactly what you want to do will help you take the actual steps.

2. YOUR CUSTOMER

The next step is to identify who your ideal client is so you can market your artwork in the most effective way possible. Start by answering these questions:

What age group or income level can afford your pieces?

What are your client’s goals and how does your art help the client achieve them?

Where do your customers buy art?

Where do these buyers live, travel, or hang out?

What are their hobbies? Attitudes? Style? Interests?

What type of buyers understand your work?

Why do your clients buy art?

What connection can you find between you, your art, and your buyers?

What kind of marketing would reach them best (word of mouth, email, social media)?

With these answers, you can set up a well thought out plan of attack for your art marketing strategy. You can go where your buyers go, form important relationships , and know exactly how to talk with them confidently about buying your artwork.

3. YOUR COMPETITORS

Much like understanding your target customer, you can’t dive into the art business world without understanding the rest of the art market—and that means who you are competing with.

Take the time to research other artists that are similar to you. Do they have great connections in the art world? Do they need better photos of their artwork? What are their prices like? Figuring out both their strengths and weaknesses can help you develop a plan for your own art business and gain a competitive advantage.

4. YOUR FINANCES

A. Expenses

Like any business, you are going to have expenses. But, they don’t have to eat up your hard earned profits if you plan for them ahead of time! In this section of the art business plan, write down the costs of everything you can think of, from supplies to renting studio space.

Once you’ve created your itemized list, you will need to formulate a plan on how you are going to pay for everything at the start of your art business. Do you have savings built up? Do you need to apply for an artist grant ? How many pieces do you need to sell to cover all of your costs? Is crowdfunding a good option for you ?

The answers to those previous questions about funding will get you thinking about how much you need to charge for each piece to actually make a living as an artist. Check out “ How to Price Consistently for Art Sales Success ” to learn more about different pricing methods.

5. YOUR MARKETING

Based on the profile of your ideal buyer, settle on the exact marketing strategy that complements your art business. Think about which of these art marketing outlets you should use: social media, email newsletters, art fairs, galleries, blogging, etc.

B. Where to Sell

Whether you target physical galleries, sell online, network within artist associations, or rely on a mixture of opportunities, determine where your potential customers will have the most eyes on your art.

C. Your Story

The next step is to write down your story as an artist. This is one of the most important steps because it’s how you can form a worthwhile connection with your possible collectors. Write your artist statement by answering these 5 questions art buyers have about you .

6. YOUR PROCESS

List out every single step of your art business workflow , from creation to sale. This will help you truly understand how long the process takes and how you should plan your schedule.

Plus, it’s a handy document to refer back to it in case you get stuck on what to do next! Here’s an example of what your process could look like:

Buy supplies

Begin piece

Share work-in-progress pictures on social

Finish piece

Take photos of finished artwork

List piece and details on Artwork Archive

Put piece up on personal website

Share on social media

Email collectors

Submit artwork to upcoming show

Generate invoice

Record sale in Artwork Archive

Get your art business up and running! Use this business plan outline and sign up for your 14-day free trial of Artwork Archive here .

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How to start an artist management company?

An artist management company is a business that represents artists and helps them navigate the music industry. There are many different ways to start an artist management company, but there are a few key things that you will need to do in order to be successful. First, you will need to find artists that you believe in and want to help further their careers. Next, you will need to build relationships with industry professionals such as record labels, booking agents, and promoters. Finally, you will need to create a business plan and structure for your company.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to start an artist management company depends on the specific goals and preferences of the company’s founder. However, there are a few key steps that are essential for starting any successful business, and these steps can be adapted to fit the needs of an artist management company.

The first step is to develop a business plan. This document will outline the company’s goals, strategies, and financial projections. Without a clear plan, it will be difficult to make the company successful.

Next, it is important to find the right location for the business. The location should be convenient for both the company’s employees and the artists they represent. It is also important to consider the cost of rent and other overhead expenses when choosing a location.

Once a location has been secured, the next step is to hire employees. It is important to find employees who are passionate about the music industry and who have the skill set necessary to be successful in the role.

The final step is to start marketing the company to potential clients. This can be done through online marketing campaigns, personal networking, or by exhibiting at music industry events.

How much does it cost to start an artist management company?

Start-up costs for a musician can vary widely, but typically fall somewhere in the range of $2,000 to $10,000. These funds will be primarily invested in travel, networking, and marketing expenses. It is not uncommon for it to take six to twelve months to see any return on this investment, so in the beginning it may be wise to continue working a day job while pursuing musical endeavors.

There are a few things to keep in mind if you’re looking to build your artist roster and grow your YouTube channel. First, sign a contract with your artists to protect yourself legally. Second, don’t quit your day job just yet – you’ll need to generate some income to support your new business venture. Third, get organized and draft a business plan for your artist management company. Fourth, make a name for yourself in the industry by networking and getting involved with music conferences and events. Fifth, work with an entertainment accountant to keep your finances in order. And finally, hire an entertainment lawyer to protect your interests. By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to success in the music industry.

What does an artist management company do

An artist manager is someone who helps shape their clients’ careers, both in the short and long term. They often help clients book gigs, plan album projects, release records and tours, create marketing and merchandising strategies, get paid for their work, and establish and pursue long-term career goals.

A standard management fee is usually around 15% – 20% of your earnings. Your manager takes a cut of proceeds from album sales, any label advance, and from the earnings from deals they have negotiated.

Is there a high demand for artist managers?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the demand for artist managers will grow by about 5% in the United States between 2019 and 2029. This growth is about average when compared to the rest of the economy.

There are a number of factors that contribute to this projected demand. First, the music industry is increasingly globalized, which has created new opportunities for artist managers to help their clients break into new markets.

Second, the popularity of live music has been on the rise in recent years, which has led to an increased demand for artist managers who can help their clients secure bookings and plan tours.

Finally, the growth of social media has created new opportunities for artist managers to promote their clients’ careers and connect with fans.

Overall, the demand for artist managers is expected to grow at a steady pace in the coming years.

Managers typically receive a percentage of an artist’s earnings, although assistant managers at management companies may be paid a salary. This arrangement allows managers to share in the artist’s success while still being compensated for their time and expertise.

Is LLC good for an artist?

An LLC is a popular business entity for artists that provides enhanced liability protection for the owner as well as the tax benefits of a partnership.

LLCs offer several advantages for artists, including the following:

1. Limited liability: LLCs provide limited liability protection for their owners, meaning that the owners are not personally liable for the debts and liabilities of the LLC. This is a major advantage over partnerships, which do not offer limited liability protection for their owners.

2. Flexible management structure: LLCs can be managed in a variety of ways, including by the owners themselves, by a board of directors, or by professional managers. This flexibility is a major advantage over corporations, which must be managed by a board of directors.

3. Less formalities: LLCs have less formalities than corporations, meaning that they are less time-consuming and expensive to maintain. This is a major advantage over corporations, which have numerous formalities that must be followed.

What is a fair percentage for artist manager

Most managers earn a commission of 15-20% of the artist’s total income. This commission is typically taken from the artist’s performance fees, merchandise sales, and other income sources. The manager’s role is to help the artist secure bookings and negotiate contracts. The manager may also be responsible for handling other business affairs, such as publicity and marketing.

What qualifications do you need to be an artist manager?

The main qualification for a successful music industry professional is a sound knowledge of the music business and current trends. The ability to develop and maintain a range of industry contacts is also important, as is good judgement, which is acquired through experience of working in the role.

Artist manager contracts typically last for three years, although they can vary from two to five years on a case-by-case basis. Most contracts also include a “sunset” clause, which stipulates that the contract will be automatically renewed for an additional period of time unless either party gives notice of their intention to terminate the agreement.

Who pays an artist manager

The commission rate for managers is usually 20% of the gross income, net of some expenses. This can vary slightly from manager to manager, but is typically the standard rate. This means that managers are paid a percentage of what their artists earn.

A music manager typically receives 10-20% of an artist’s total income. This includes all income from royalties, performance fees, merchandise sales, and more. Taxes and other expenses, such as marketing, music production, and mixing engineering, are typically deducted from the artist’s total income before the manager receives their percentage.

What is a reasonable management fee?

The management fee charged by an investment firm varies depending on several factors, including the firm’s investment style and the size of the investment. Generally, firms that manage their investments more passively charge lower fees than those that are more active.

While most independent artists do not consider a manager to be important, it’s a vital part of your development. An effective manager essentially allows you to concentrate on creating quality music while they deal with the rest of the process. This includes booking shows, handling finances, and promoting your music. Having a good manager can make all the difference in your career.

What makes a successful artist manager

Being a good artist manager requires a lot of work and determination. You are essentially responsible for another person’s career, and must make sure that everything runs smoothly. This can be a lot of pressure, but it is important to remember that you are in control and can make things happen. If you have a strong work ethic and are determined to succeed, you will be a great asset to your artists.

Artist management in the music industry is an incredibly hard and fast paced job that is perfect for someone that loves music and wants to play a significant role in shaping an artist’s career. There are a lot of moving parts to managing an artist, from booking gigs and managing their schedule to handling press and promoting their music. It’s a demanding job that requires a lot of dedication and hard work, but it can be extremely rewarding to see an artist you believe in succeed. If you’re thinking about pursuing a career in artist management, be prepared to work long hours and make a lot of sacrifices, but know that it will all be worth it in the end.

Final Words

Before starting an artist management company, there are a few things you must do in order to be successful. First, you must have a deep understanding of the music business and the music industry. Secondly, you must have a strong network of contacts within the music industry. Lastly, you must be very organized and have a strong marketing and business plan.

You can start an artist management company by following a few simple steps. First, you will need to choose the type of company you would like to create. There are many different types of management companies, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Once you have chosen the type of company you would like to create, you will need to obtain the necessary licenses and permits from your local government. After you have obtained all of the necessary licenses and permits, you will need to find a location for your company. Once you have found a location, you will need to hire staff and promote your company.

Wallace Jacobs

Wallace Jacobs is an experienced leader in marketing and management. He has worked in the corporate sector for over twenty years and is a driving force behind many successful companies. Wallace is committed to helping companies grow and reach their goals, leveraging his experience in leading teams and developing business strategies.

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Artiste Management Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business Plans » Entertainment Sector » Music Sector

Are you about starting an artiste management business? If YES, here is a complete sample artiste management business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting an artiste management business. We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample artiste management business marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for artiste management businesses. So let’s proceed to the business planning section .

Do you know that with your good music and perhaps talent hunt skills, you can make millions from the entertainment industry without being an artiste? Without a doubt, you can make mega bucks from the entertainment industry by managing artistes or running an artiste management business.

As an artiste manager, you are expected to work on behalf of groups or artistes to promote their careers and run their business affairs. Basically, your job is to secure the best work for your clients, for the best fee. The truth is that an artiste management company can be started in any country of the world as long as you have access to a pool of talented artistes.

If you have made up your mind to start an artiste management company, you are expected to sit down and map out strategies on how to a raise startup capital, how to run the business, as well as how to make profits. That is basically what your business plan document should contain.

It might take you a month or so to come up with a workable business plan, however, you just have to do it. The truth is that your business plan is the blueprint with which you can successfully run your business and you are not expected to handle it with levity. It is always advisable to contract the writing of your business plan to professionals if you know that you can’t possibly do it yourself.

Here is a sample artiste management business plan template that can give you the needed direction to successfully write your your own.

A Sample Artiste Management Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

Artiste management business is under the musical groups and artistes industry and this industry is composed of musicians, recording artistes and songwriters that produce music professionally, either in front of a live audience, in a recording studio or both.

Musicians in this industry may earn revenue from songwriting, producing or recording, but they primarily operate as performers. Please note that this industry excludes musical theater, opera and other professions involved in the creation of records, such as engineers.

If you take a closer look at the musical groups and artistes industry, you will realize that over the past decade, the industry has been subjected to a series of massive shakeups due to the popularity of mp3 players, music piracy, internet radio and online streaming.

The steady replacement of physical albums with digital songs has slashed revenue from recordings over the current five-year period, largely due to digital music selling at a lower price point. The transition to digital and a large drop in federal funding for the creative arts have caused industry revenue to grow minimally over the five years to 2017.

The Musical Groups and Artistes industry is indeed a thriving and viable business in most countries of the world. Statistics have it that in the united states of America alone, the industry generates over $6 billion annually from more than 54,723 registered and licensed big artiste management companies scattered all around the United States of America.

The industry is responsible for the employment of over 88,626 people. Experts project the music groups and artiste industry to grow at a 1.1 percent annual rate. No single establishment can boast of having a lion share of the available market in this industry.

A recent report published by IBISWorld shows that the Musical Groups and Artistes industry is in the mature phase of its life cycle. The industry experiences complete market acceptance, which is a key indicator of maturity, since music is a popular form of entertainment for most Americans.

The report indicated that over the 10 years to 2022, industry value added (IVA), a measure of the industry’s contribution to the overall economy, is expected to grow at an annualized rate of 1.9 percent. US GDP is forecast to grow at an annualized rate of 2.0 percent during the same time.

The industry’s relatively stable value added is further evidence that despite the changing nature of the industry, it remains a mature and stable segment of the economy

One good thing about starting an artiste management company business is that even if you decided to start it in the United States of America, your market will not be restricted to artistes in the U.S.; the world will be your target market, many thanks to the internet that has made the world a global village.

All you need to do is to strategically position your artiste management brand on the internet and you will be amazed at the rate people interested in signing under your management will be calling you from all parts of the world.

2. Executive Summary

Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company is a registered artiste management business that intends having a footprint in the music group and artiste management industry. We have been able to secure a well – positioned office facility in Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena – California.

Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company is going to engage in the management of various artistes. Part of our plans is to work towards becoming one of the leading artiste management companies in the whole of Pasadena – California and in the nearest future compete with the leaders in the artiste management line of business not only in the United States but also in the global stage.

We are quite aware that starting a standard artiste management business from the scratch requires reasonable capital base especially for the purchase of world – class studio equipment and promoting artistes under your management, which is why we have perfected plans for steady flow of cash from private investors who are interested in working with us.

We can confidently say that we have a robust financial standing and we are ready to take on any challenge that we encounter in the industry. Our workers are going to be selected from a pool of talented and highly creative people with eyes for spotting raw talents.

We will make sure that we take all the members of our workforce through the required trainings that will position them to meet the expectation of the company and to compete with other players in the artiste management line of business in the United States and throughout the globe.

At Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company our client’s best interest comes first, and everything we do will be guided by our values and professional ethics. We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client’s needs precisely and completely.

Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company will be owned majorly by Halley Bent and his immediate family members. Halley Bent has a Degree: B.S. in Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois. Halley a native Californian who originally attended college to become a video game developer.

He later became senior manager at PayPal before launching Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company. Halley Bent is known for his management style: instead of an office, he sits at a desk among his employees.

3. Our Products and Services

Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company is going to offer varieties of services within the scope of the artiste industry in the United States of America. Our intention of starting our artiste management company is to make profits from the music industry and we will do all that is permitted by the law in the US to achieve our aim and ambition.

Our business offerings are listed below;

• Rock, dance, country and pop bands writing, recording or performing
• Independent musicians or vocalists writing, recording or performing
• Jazz artistes and groups writing, recording or performing
• Choir recording or performing
• Musical groups (except theatrical musical groups) writing, recording or performing
• Chamber musical groups and orchestras writing, recording or performing
• Symphony orchestras writing, recording or performing
• Classical musical groups writing, recording or performing

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision is to become one of the top 10 artiste management companies in the United States of America.
• Our mission is to build an artiste management company that will become the number one choice for music artistes when it comes to choosing an artiste management company.

Our Business Structure

The fact that we are set to compete with other leading artiste management companies in the United States of America means that we must build a business structure that can support our business goal. We will ensure that we will hire people that are qualified, hardworking, creative, customer centric and are ready to work to help us build a prosperous business that will benefit all the stakeholders.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our senior management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more as agreed by the board of trustees of the company. Below is the business structure that we will build Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company;

• Chief Executive Officer

Entertainment Lawyer/Legal Secretary

Artiste Manager

Sound/Recording Engineer

Admin and HR Manager

Marketing and Sales Executive

• Customer Service Executive/Front Desk Officer

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Office:

• ensures management’s effectiveness by employing, choosing, orientating, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities.
• Accountable for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Answerable to providing direction for the business
• Fashions, interconnects, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and verall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization
• Responsible for drawing up contracts and other legal documents for the company.
• Advises artistes and the organization accordingly before producing their music album or singles.
• Produces information by transcribing, formatting, inputting, editing, retrieving, copying, and transmitting text, data, and graphics; coordinating case preparation.
• Provides historical reference by developing and utilizing filing and retrieval systems; recording meeting discussions; maintaining transcripts; documenting and maintaining evidence.
• Accountable for negotiating contracts and fees, finding and booking events and venues that match the artiste’s career strategy, advising on career decisions, publicity and promotion, helping them on career decisions such as which record producer to work with, or which songs to perform, and managing media relations on their behalf
• Accountable for building a strong reputation for good client services, and attracting more top performers onto their books.
• Represents a roster of artistes, and cultivate relationships with music industry decision makers on their behalf. They will negotiate deals, and support and guide their clients’ careers.
• Keeps up to date with what’s happening in the industry, and spend a lot of time establishing and maintaining relationships, using contacts to source work for her clients.
• Promotes clients’ work, and will often be involved in liaison during the music recording process. May also organize and negotiate contracts for release and publishing, and communicate with the press.
• Handles any other responsibility as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer
• In charge of handle any sound related job for the company; helps achieve certain specific sounds or feelings that match with the lyrics.
• Responsible for mixing and producing beats and sounds for our clients; mix the songs into the final version for the music album.
• Part of the team responsible for selecting the songs that will be promoted and the songs that will be sold as singles.
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Maintains office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating new products.
• Defined job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carrirs out induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Responsible for arranging travel, meetings and appointments
• Designs job descriptions with KPI to drive performance management for clients
• Regularly hold meetings with key stakeholders to review the effectiveness of HR Policies, Procedures and Processes
• Facilitates and coordinate strategic sessions
• Works directly with clients in a non-advising capacity, such as answering questions, scheduling appointments and making sure all training concerns are properly taken care off
• Oversees the smooth running of the daily office activities
• Once the album is ready, then the marketing team will go out to market and promote the album
• Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new partners, and business opportunities et al
• Identifies business opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of projects; assures the completion of music projects.
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients and music artistes
• Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding sales
• Documents all customer contact and information
• Represents the company in strategic meetings
• Helps to increase sales and growth for the company
• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
• Accountable for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the company
• Serves as internal auditor for the company

Client Service Executive

• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In centre, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the manager in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the company’s products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients when they make enquiries

6. SWOT Analysis

Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company engaged the services of a core professional in the area of consulting and business structuring to assist the organization in building a standard artiste management company that can favorably compete with other leading music production companies in the United States of America.

Part of what the business consultant did was to work with the management of the company in conducting a SWOT analysis for Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company. Here is a summary from the result of the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company;

Our core strength lies in the power of our team and the location of our business. We have a team that can go all the way to give our clients value for their money; a team that can effectively manage artistes to become celebrities. We are well positioned and we know we will attract loads of clients from the first day we open our company for business.

As a new artiste management company, it might take some time for our organization to break into the market and attract some well – established music artistes to sign under our label; that is perhaps our major weakness. Another weakness is that we may not have the required cash to promote our business the way we would want to.

• Opportunities:

The opportunities in the artiste industry are massive and we are ready to take advantage of any opportunity that comes our way.

Technology and the internet which of course is a major tool for the advancement and gains achieved in the music group and artiste industry can also pose a threat to the industry. The truth is that with the advancement of technology, it is now easier for artistes to promote their works especially via social media platforms.

So also, just like any other business, one of the major threats that we are likely going to face is economic downturn. Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of a new music production company in same location where our target market exists and who may want to adopt same Business model like us.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

Entrepreneurs that are venturing into the artiste management industry are coming in with creativity and good business skills. The fact that revenue is nose – diving in the industry does not in a way stop some artiste management companies from declaring profits year in year out.

The trend in the industry is that most music production companies are trying as much as possible to recreate themselves on a regular basis and also to be on top of their game.

8. Our Target Market

When it comes to artiste management business, there are no exemptions to who you can market your services to. There are loads of people (music artiste and other performing artiste) out there who are interested in working under a well – structured artiste management company.

Over and above, our target market as an artiste management company cuts across music artistes and other performing artistes of different class and from all walks of life.

In view of that, we have created strategies that will enable us reach out to various clients within our target market. We have conducted our market research and survey and we will ensure that our artiste management company is well accepted in the marketplace.

Our Competitive Advantage

We are mindful of the fact that there are stiffer competitions in the industry in the United States of America, hence we have been able to hire some of the best business developers to handle our sales and marketing.

Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company is launching a standard artiste management company that will indeed become the preferred choice for music artistes and other performing artistes in and around Pasadena – California and other cities all across the world.

Another competitive advantage for Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company is the quality and robust wealth of experience of its management team. The management team comprises of professionals who have worked with some of the leading international brand in the music groups and artiste management industry.

Our unique style of attracting gifted artistes also counts towards our advantage especially when it comes to competing with other artiste management companies within the same category that we operate.

Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category in the industry, meaning that they will be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our aims and objectives.

We will also give good working conditions and commissions to freelance sales agents that we will recruit from time to time.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the music groups and artiste industry and we are going to go all the way to ensure that we do all it takes to attract music artistes and other performing artiste that will sign under our brand.

Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company will generate income by offering the following services;

• Choirs recording or performing

10. Sales Forecast

One thing is certain when it comes to music; music never dies and the demand for good music will continue to grow. This goes to show that any artiste management company that is known to always produce good music will continue to attract talented music artistes and that will sure translate to increase in revenue generation for the business.

We are well positioned to take on the available market in the U.S. and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income / profits from the first six months of operation and grow the business and our clientele base beyond Pasadena – California to other cities in the U.S. and even the global market.

We have been able to critically examine the artiste management market and we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. The sales projection is based on information gathered on the field and some assumptions that are peculiar to startups in Pasadena – California.

• First Year: $120,000
• Second Year: $350,000
• Third Year: $750,000

N.B : This projection was done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and there won’t be any major competitor offering same services as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Artiste management business is not a business that you have to retail products which is why we must do all we can to maximize any opportunity that comes our way.

Our sales and marketing team will be recruited base on their vast experience in the music industry and they will be trained on a regular basis so as to be well equipped to meet their targets and the overall goal of the organization. We will also ensure that our excellent artiste and management style speaks for us in the market place; we want to build a standard artiste management company that will leverage on word of mouth advertisement from satisfied clients/artistes.

Our business goal is to grow our artiste management company to become one of the top 10 artiste management companies in the United States of America which is why we have mapped out strategies that will help us take advantage of the available market and grow to become a major force to reckon with not only in the U.S but in the world stage as well.

Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company is set to make use of the following marketing and sales strategies to attract clients;

• Introduce our business by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to music artistes, performing artistes and key stake holders in the music industry in Pasadena -California and other parts of the U.S.
• Advertise our business in relevant entertainment magazines, newspapers, TV and radio stations.
• List our business on yellow pages ads (local directories)
• Attend relevant international and local talent hunts, music expos, seminars, and concerts et al
• Leverage on the internet to promote our business
• Engage in direct marketing approach
• Encourage word of mouth marketing from our loyal and satisfied clients

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We have been able to work with a brand and publicity specialist to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the heart of our target market. We are set to take the music groups and artiste management industry by storm which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our artiste management company.

Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise our artiste management company;

• Place adverts on both print and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant TV shows and radio programs
• Maximize our official website to promote our business
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, 4Share, Google+ and other platforms (music online forums) to promote our business.
• Offer Pro Bono services as part of our community social responsibility
• Ensure that our we position our banners and billboards in strategic positions all around Pasadena – CA
• Brand all our official cars / buses and ensure that our trademark label is boldly printed in all our music album covers and CDs et al.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

When it comes to the artiste management line of business, you may not automatically start making money, as a matter of fact, you will be expected to invest your money on an artiste, you are expected to groom the artiste until he or she becomes popular and well – sought out for. After that, you will be able to agree on percentage of the fee paid to the artiste to perform.

At Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company we will keep our fees below the average market rate for all of our clients by keeping our overhead low and by collecting payment in advance. In addition, we will also offer special discounted rates to upcoming artistes who engage our services.

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options that Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company will make available to her clients;

• Payment via bank transfer
• Payment with cash
• Payment via credit cards/Point of Sale Machines (POS Machines)
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via mobile money transfer
• Payment via bank draft

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our clients make payment for our services without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials to clients who may want to pay for our services.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

From our market survey and feasibility studies, we have been able to come up with a detailed budget for achieving our aim of establishing a standard and world class company. Essentially, these are the areas we are looking towards spending our startup capital on;

• The total fee for registering the business in the United States of America – $750.
• Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services (software, P.O.S machines and other software) – $3,300.
• Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of $3,580 .
• The total cost for hiring business consultant – $2,500.
• The total cost for the purchase of insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $2,400.
• The cost for payment of lease for a small but standard office facility for 24 months – $150,000
• Cost for remodeling the office – $20,000
• The amount required for the purchase of musical related equipment- $40,000
• Other start-up expenses including stationery ( $500 ) and phone and utility deposits ( $2,500 ).
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $250,000
• The cost for start-up inventory – $10,000
• The cost for store equipment (cash register, security, ventilation, signage) – $13,750
• The cost of purchase and installation of CCTVs – $5,000
• The cost for the purchase of furniture and gadgets (Computers, Printers, Telephone, TVs, Sound System, tables and chairs et al) – $4,000.
• The cost of launching a website – $600
• The cost of our opening party – $5,000
• Miscellaneous – $5,000

We would need an estimate of $300,000 to successfully set up our artiste management company in Pasadena – California.

Generating Startup Capital for Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company

Halley Bent® Artiste Management Company is a family business that is solely owned and financed by Halley Bent and his immediate family members. They do not intend to welcome any external business partner which is why he has decided to restrict the sourcing of the startup capital to 3 major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our startup capital;

• Generate part of the startup capital from personal savings
• Source for soft loans from family members and friends
• Apply for loan from the Bank

N.B: We have been able to generate about $100,000 (Personal savings $60,000 and soft loan from family members $40,000 ) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $200,000 from our bank. All the papers and documents have been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

It is easier for businesses to survive when they have steady flow of business deals/customers patronizing their products and services. We are aware of this which is why we have decided to offer a wide range of artiste management services and other related services and also to work with both music artistes, and other performing artistes.

We know that if we continue to manage artiste who are great performers or who are known to release hit songs back to back, then there will be steady flow of income for the organization.

Our key sustainability and expansion strategy is to ensure that we only hire competent employees, create a conducive working environment and employee benefits for our staff members. We know that if we implement our business strategies, we will grow our artiste management business beyond Pasadena – California to other states in the United States of America in record time.

Check List/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Incorporation: Completed
• Renting of Office Facility: Completed
• Building of Music Studio: In Progress
• Intellectual Property Protection and Trademark: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts various banks in the United States: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating part of the startup capital from the founder: Completed
• Applications for Loan from our Bankers: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Promotional Materials: Completed
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the Needed studio / musical gadgets, furniture, office equipment, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business (Business PR): In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress

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How to Sell Art Online | Online Marketing for Artists

Helping artists sell their art online since 2009. Blog, guides, courses, and coaching for artists.

Business Plans for Artists: Here, I Did It for You!

Also, check out Jennifer’s book!

You’ll want to see her Right Brain Business Plan home study course .*

Not Ready for A Full Right Brain Business Plan?

Here’s a simple 4 page example plan that will help you get started.

Example Business Plan for Artists (pdf)

Example Business Plan for Artists (Word doc)

The first thing I ask every artist when we start working together is if they have a business plan. Most of the time the answer is no. Why do you need a business plan, you ask? Great question.

You will become focused. As you start planning, that shotgun approach to marketing that most artists take will start to thin itself out and you will learn how to put a system in place. Also, establishing your unique selling proposition is really important. Sure, you’re a painter, but what makes you stand out from all of those other painters out there? There’s a lot more to being an independent artist than just creating your art.

You’ll know where you stand. Your strengths and weaknesses will become apparent to you as you start to create a business plan. What aspects of your art do you excel at? What do you tend to put off because you don’t know how to finish ? Once you know where you stand, you’ll know what your weaknesses are, and this is really important. Most artists have no idea that they’re not good at accounting, or they don’t want to admit it so they run around in circles. A business plan will help you eliminate this.

You’ll know how to get where you want to be. Once you write down a business plan, it’s easy to refer back to it often to get re-focused on your goals. Carefully analyzing what you really want out of your art business is a good way to stop doing what is getting in your way.

You’ll know what other artists are doing. Do you want a competitive advantage? Are you afraid of really pushing your business because you don’t know what will make you different and make people want to purchase your art?

Does 4 pages feel like too much?

Get started with our beginner’s one-page business plan and work your way up.

This post has been updated since its 2009 original publish date.

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November 20, 2009 at 11:46 AM

This is fantastic! Many thanks!

November 21, 2009 at 9:45 AM

You’re welcome!

November 22, 2009 at 5:32 AM

This is a really great resource that I’ll have to share with my readers. It’s always wonderful to find other people putting in the hard work and dedication that goes into doing what you do. .-= Damien Franco´s last blog ..Photographer’s Intro to Twitter =-.

May 19, 2010 at 3:26 PM

This is great. Thank you for doing this. It’s really something I’ve always known I needed to do. I will definitely do it now.

April 27, 2011 at 8:21 AM

Do you have a business plan for dummies and beginners? This is kind of advanced. I have nothing but 5 good paintings right now.

This is my first time coming to this website. I was very confused by the business plan. Who is “I”? As in, “I help artists dispel the starving artist myth”? It took me 15 mins to finally understand who “I” is, and who Cory and John Smith is.

January 7, 2016 at 12:24 PM

I agree, this business plan is completely confusing and way too advanced and overwhelming. I really want to like it, but after reading it a few times, I’m still lost.

October 27, 2011 at 11:10 PM

Creating a business plan was one of the smartest things I ever did. I wrote down all the ideas that had been spinning around in my head but had never been inserted into my business as a whole. Just the process of writing everything down becomes a way to clear your head and see the way forward. It’s great to see an honest, physical example of a business plan – thanks Cory!

March 11, 2012 at 4:25 PM

Wow!  I’m so glad I stumbled onto this!  Just what I needed!

June 4, 2012 at 6:16 AM

Thanks for posting the examples.  I didn’t realize that I already had lists covering most of the sections.  This really helped me put everything together in one place.  Now as I get new ideas, I have one document that I can go to.  I can quickly jot it down and properly categorize the idea right away knowing that I will have it on hand for when I have time to review the bigger picture over time.  Thanks again!

June 4, 2012 at 8:01 AM

 @figmentations Glad it helped!

January 13, 2013 at 2:57 PM

Thanks Cory. A Breath of Fresh Air!!! For the first time at last…with drudgery behind me, I can now pursue my business plan in JOY!!! In full celebration of all right brainers…here’s to your unlimited success:-)

February 23, 2013 at 11:43 AM

Hi Cory & Jennifer, I totally agree with having a business plan, writing down all the ideas & growth you have in mind for your business.

July 1, 2013 at 5:20 AM

thanks for everything. i like this site so much…

August 19, 2013 at 7:55 AM

Thank you this was very helpful 🙂

December 17, 2013 at 8:32 PM

Thank you for sharing this information, it can be difficult finding business resources for the artist/entrepreneur.

December 20, 2013 at 12:43 PM

Just need help starting a creative business. CB

September 25, 2015 at 3:07 PM

hello jennifar, i a cross this because am a starting artist. gama arts in Rwanda but i realy want a bussiness plan because i know success business needs a plan. thank you.

February 26, 2016 at 4:12 PM

I’m looking forward to doing the seminar on how to sell your artwork online. I am not computer literate, so this is going to require some intensive learning on my part. I am retired and can finally dedicate my time to doing the thing that I love the most, painting watercolor illustrations. I know nothing about blogging, or setting up my own web site. I hope this is the kind of information I can access from your seminar.

Thank you for showing me my first step toward creating a business out of my artwork…

May 16, 2016 at 4:35 PM

Thanks Cory and Jennifer, for sharing this information, it’s always good to know more about how I can do more on my art business.

November 25, 2017 at 3:06 PM

It helps me a lot to have specific, measurable goals. I’m just starting to turn art into a business for myself, so I’m trying out a few different things to see what works for me, but concrete numbers and plans and dates really help.

I’ve put together a list of business books for artists: http://jacquelineboss.com/2017/11/25/10-art-business-books-learn-how-to-sell-your-art/

January 22, 2018 at 12:01 PM

I had no idea how to get this started. This is super super helpful! Thank you!

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Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

Tours, Attractions and Things To Do in Nizhny Novgorod

Nizhny Novgorod is the fifth largest city in Russia with a population exceeding 1.2 million. The city is located at the confluence of two rivers - the Volga and Oka. It is the center of Nizhny Novgorod region and Volga Federal District, as well as one of the country’s major administrative, economic and cultural centers.

Furthermore, Nizhny Novgorod is the Russia’s largest industrial center with the enterprises of mechanical engineering, metalworking information technology playing a leading role.

Nizhny Novgorod was founded in 1221 by Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich to protect Russian borders. Under Ivan III, Nizhny Novgorod was a sentry city. It had a regular army. This was the place for Moscow to march against Kazan.

Nizhny Novgorod made a great contribution to the construction of the Russian state. In 1612, Kuz’ma Minin and Prince Dmistry Pozharsky’s militia from Nizhny Novgorod played a decisive role in the liberation of Moscow from Polish intervention.

During the Soviet period from 1932 to 1990, the city was named after Maxim Gorky, the Great Russian writer who was born there. From 1959 to 1991 it was a “forbidden” city for foreigners because of defense plants, located there. On October 22, 1990 the city got its former name, and about at the same time, it began developping tourist business.

Today, the city, once playing such a significant role in the history of Russia, is developed into a modern metropolis. So, the urban development plan intends to build a metro bridge, cableway, funicular, and a new branched transport infrastructure there. Furthermore, Nizhny Novgorod is the Russia’s largest center of river cruise tourism and venue of Nizhny Novgorod fair-based major international exhibitions.

Nizhny Novgorod is one of the richest cultural centers of Russia. The most prominent artists have received education in the local theater and art schools. The city has opened a large number of theaters, museums and cinemas.

This city can surprise any traveler by an entwinement of modern and ancient buildings, each time rising before your eyes in a completely unexpected appearance.

Attractions

Miscellaneous.

The Fair of Nijni-Novgorod

Edna dean proctor.

  Was ever such a crowd?

Here Turks and Jews and Gypsies,

  There Persians haughty-browed;

With silken-robed Celestials,

  And Frenchmen from the Seine,

And Khivans and Bokhariotes,—

  Heirs of the Oxus plain.

Here stalk Siberian hunters;

  There tents a Kirghiz clan

By mournful-eyed Armenians

  From wave-girt Astrakhan;

And Russ and Pole and Tartar,

  And mounted Cossack proud,—

Now, by the Tower of Babel,

Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Russia