9 Common Business Mistakes Artists Make (And How to Avoid Them)
As someone who has a business that nurtures me creatively, stimulates my mind, AND pays me, I can confidently say that trying to build a successful business alongside a thriving art practice is challenging. But I'm also living proof that it's possible (and so are my clients!)
Reflecting on my own experiences as a business owner as well as the experiences of the artist business owners I work with, I found a lot of similarities come up. While every business owner has challenges, there are certainly some that are unique to artists. And a lot of artists end up making the same mistakes that hold their art and their business back from success (in whatever way they define it).
So I wanted to share some of the most common mistakes I see artists make in their business as well as some ways that you can avoid these mistakes or remedy them when they happen.
1. Not knowing your finances (or if you’re running a profitable business)
My business really hit a turning point when I started to take a look at and understand my business finances. Working with my bookkeeper (shout out to Gigi!) helped me get a better handle on what money was coming in and going out. For the first time in my business, I was able to know if my business was profitable and understand what changes I needed to make to increase that profit.
If you are at the point where you're ready to invest in an accountant, I highly recommend it! But if you're not there yet, there are still some simple ways you can keep an eye on your business finances:
Open a business bank account so that your business and personal finances are separated.
Get eyes on your bank account at least once a week, so that you can see how much money is coming in and how much is going out.
Keep a running list of your monthly and yearly expenses, and update it as you add or eliminate expenses.
2. Not paying yourself
This may sound counterintuitive, but if you aren't paying yourself regularly, then your business will most likely suffer. When you don't pay yourself, you're not taking care of the person that's essential to keeping your business running—you!
Paying yourself regularly is a form of business self-care. But it's also the best way to keep you motivated to do the business-y things you may often want to put on the back burner, like creating social media posts or reaching out to your email list.
Instead, make sure you have a process for paying yourself consistently. Whether that's transferring a couple of hundred dollars from your business to your personal checking every two weeks or paying yourself a percentage of your earnings at the end of each month, you've got to pay yourself. So go ahead and let your artwork nurture more than just your creative expression (your wallet).
3. Letting impostor syndrome paralyze you from taking action
No matter how put-together they may look on the outside, every artist experiences imposter syndrome, even (and especially) the most wildly successful. Not only are we contending with the starving artist narrative that says, "it's not real art if you want to make money from it," but we also have to battle that inner voice that tells us at every turn that we're just not cut out for this.
Letting that imposter syndrome paralyze you from taking any action at all is one of the major things that holds artists back from making a living with their art. While insecurities are not an easy thing to overcome, there are a few ways that you can address imposter syndrome when you feel it begin to creep up:
Try not to judge yourself. Take time to practice talking to yourself in a way that's kinder like you would a friend.
Be conscious of your content consumption. Often, imposter syndrome starts to sneak in when we start comparing ourselves to others. Consider unfollowing or disconnecting from anyone who makes you feel bad.
Join a community that "gets it." If you aren't already connected to an artist community, finding one can help validate your experiences, make you feel less alone, and support you.
4. Not hiring support when you need it (aka doing everything yourself)
What artist doesn't love a good DIY project? But re-finishing that antique coffee table isn't quite the same as doing #AllTheThings in your business.
When you're a small business owner, it's SO easy to get too into the weeds doing things that are outside your wheelhouse—like building and maintaining your website, writing your sales page, doing your own bookkeeping, you get where I'm going here.
Instead of buying all the courses and listening to all the podcasts to learn how to DIY the things that aren't in your zone of genius, why not hire a contractor? A contractor will be able to complete the tasks faster and better than you can, giving you more time and energy to do what truly lights you up!
Take some time to consider what your short- and long-term goals are. Then, think about how a contractor might help you achieve these goals by taking some of your tasks off the plate that have you dragging your feet.
5. Not setting achievable goals
Always the overachiever, I have set some pretty lofty goals in my business in the past. And while I think everyone should dream big when it comes to their art, business, and life, I also think that setting smaller achievable goals is an essential part of making those big dreams come true.
When setting goals for your business, try to strike a nice balance between challenging goals that you'll have to work hard to reach and achievable goals that aren't setting you up for certain failure. By setting these achievable yet challenging goals, you're pushing yourself but still allowing yourself to succeed.
6. Following every bit of business and marketing advice you hear
There is SO much business and marketing advice out there. Like SO much. I've spent thousands of dollars on online courses for artists and hours combing through a lot of business and marketing strategy advice that didn't even apply to me. Here's what I learned...
You've got to put everything you hear and learn through a filter. First, ask yourself, "Does this advice apply to artists?" Then, ask, "Does this work for ME?" You'll find that a lot of it does not. For instance, advice on selling consumer goods like candles and lotion doesn't always apply to selling original art. And one person's approach to building an art business may not work for you given the realities of your day-to-day life.
As entrepreneurs we’ve got a great shot at building a personalized business that supports our lifestyle. Let’s do just that!
7. Not defining what success means to you
It’s easy to say, “I’ll be a successful artist when I make six figures.” But I’m willing to bet there are many other ways that you would define success for yourself. (And they may not have to do with money at all!)
For example, one way I measure success is by being able to take 3 months off per year. Another success marker for me is being able to use a portion of my income to donate to causes I believe in.
Notice that neither of these things mentions how much money I'm making. Yes, taking 3 months off each year and being able to donate to causes I believe in do require me to make a certain amount of money. But it's not some random number I chose because everyone else uses that as a marker of success.
8. Not setting boundaries to protect the energy and time you need to create
If you're familiar with me at all, then you know I am all about business self-care. And a big part of business self-care is setting boundaries to protect your time and energy. If you're constantly feeling burnt out and stressed, then you won't be able to create your best work, which doesn't serve you, your potential customers, or your business.
But setting boundaries is only effective if you reinforce those boundaries. That means letting potential buyers know that you only answer emails on certain days (and then only answering emails on those days). Or telling your kids that 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. is "quiet time" when they cannot disturb you in your office unless it's an emergency.
9. Letting your art get boxed in by branding or social media
Often when artists find commercial success with a certain style of art, they feel pressured to continue to create that same style of art, regardless of where their creativity, curiosity, or passion takes them. Even though it may be hard to move away from what you know your target audience loves (and will pay for), it's important that you are not afraid to move through the natural cycles of your curiosity and art.
And if you’ve taken any business-related courses you might’ve been told to niche down.
Don't let the pressure to market a certain type of art box in your work. There are potential buyers out there for all versions of your artistic vision. Exploring these curiosities and inclinations is what fuels you creatively, and without that fuel, you'll be unable to create any kind of art in a way that feels good. Please check out the Branding Masterclass for Artists below to get a perspective on branding and marketing that liberates you and your work from niches and labels.
For most art business owners, the ultimate goal is to build a sustainable art business—one that not only pays the bills but is creatively fulfilling. By anticipating and addressing the challenges that are unique to artists, you can avoid these mistakes and save time and money while preventing a whole lot of heartbreak in the process.
And when you're finally ready to let go of that DIY mentality (hello mistake #4) and leave your website in the hands of a professional who "gets it," I'm here to take care of your branding, copywriting, and website design... in a week no less! Book your website in a week here.
