Make sure you have good quality marketing material. Don't scrimp on this area of your promotion. Presentation is the one of the keys togenerating money from your creative abilities. Striking images and good identifiable design is important for your business cards, postcards, stationary, invoices and website.

If you can afford to, join the Federation of Small Business (tel: 01253 336 000). It costs £100 for the first year and £70 thereafter. This organisation offers a range of complimentary services including 24 hour legal and tax advice, legal cover and good value deals on insurance.

Keep learning about business and entrepreneurship. Go to business conferences, attend seminars and courses onprofessional development and enterprise training that are featuredthrough the Artquest site, an the artists information company, Arts Council England, Crafts Council and Design Council. It is good practice to keep up to date with developments and meet with your contemporaries.

You may decide it is appropriate to build a website with pages showing images of your work and use it to develop interest in your creative practice and services. Make links to showcasing sites and invest time in promoting it.

Alison Branagan (© 2002)

You might want to read about different legal structures that can be appropriate for your business. Equally important is to create a marketing strategy for your business. Read a few tips on this post by Creative Boom.