Running a bookbinding business can be difficult from a financial perspective, especially in the beginning. The art of making books is expensive in both time and materials. Since most people see books as utilitarian items, they’re less likely to see your beautiful books as art and even less inclined to pay what they’re worth. Over time, all of this will change. Your materials inventory will build and your skills will improve, leading to less costly books and more opportunities for visibility. While this gives us something to look forward to, it doesn’t provide us the money we need right now to pay the bills. So, how do we survive to keep making books?
The answer is simple, but not easy: income streams.
In short, you’ll need to add some additional streams of income to your business. In this post, I’ll briefly explain what an income stream is and then give you 8 different ideas to add these streams of extra income to your bookbinding business.
What is an additional stream of income?
Let’s say you have a full time job making $4,500 gross per month. This is considered a single stream of income. One weekend, your home owner’s association president asks if you’d like to take care of the community’s park lawn maintenance every two weeks for $700 per month. When you accept, you’ve officially added a second stream of income to your finances. This idea works the same way for your business.
As a bookbinder, you have a single source of income when selling your books. Since this isn’t usually enough to pay the bills right away, it can help to add a few additional sources. Below are 8 ideas for some extra streams of income. Some or all of these might apply to you while others may not. Pick the ones that work best for you and don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. I’m sure there are plenty of other options out there.
Handmade companion items
“Companion” items are things you can make or source to compliment your handmade books or journals. Stuff like:
- bookmarks
- miniature books
- fountain pens
- stickers
- pins
- satchels
- magnetic page holders, etc.
Many companion items can be created from unused materials like book cloth, leather or speciality papers. If you love to draw, bead or embroider, consider adding some of these art forms to an item (like a book mark with beads). I know some book makers who turn miniature bindings into earrings or necklaces. It’s a fun way to use up materials while making something your audience is sure to love.
Other things like fountain pens, pins, magnetic page holders, etc. can be sourced and added to your store as an accessory someone could buy alongside your book. Do some research to see what’s out there and make sure it fits with your style and brand.
Commissions
This one might seem obvious, but not to everyone. When I first started making books, it never occurred to me to make anything other than what I thought was useful or beautiful. Over time, family members asked if I could create a book for them using a specific paper, pattern or idea. These requests turned into commissions that kept me challenged while improving my skills.
Adding a commission-based income stream to your business can be very rewarding. It can also be stressful, so I recommend giving it a try with two or three people at first. You may find that you enjoy the challenge of interpreting someone else’s design using your own style and skills, or you might realize this type of work is not for you. Ultimately, it’s up to you to find out.
If you’d like to check out a few commission-based book binders, be sure to visit McCall Bindery, Black Oak Bindery and By the Crow. Each of these book makers has their own style and system for accepting commission-based work. Some of them are even booked out a year in advance!
If you decide to start taking commissions, be sure to check out my post, 1 Thing You Should be Doing For Every Bookbinding Commission.
Classes (online, in-person)
Aristotle once said, “Those that know do, those that understand teach.”
When your skills in bookbinding improve, others will notice. Like me, you’ll probably be asked “How did you do that?” or “How do you decide what kind of book to make?” You may even be asked to teach a specific binding type or style. These are perfect opportunities to add additional income to your bookbinding business while keeping the art of book making alive and well.
Most book creators will start out giving tips or tricks and end up teaching a small class nearby. Over time, they might move their classes online via Zoom, Skype or other video conference service. I know several bookbinders who do both of these at the same time.
Giving a class locally is a great way to start and much easier than you might think. There are several places that could host your event and even help promote it. Think of businesses or communities such as:
- Michael’s
- Joann Fabrics
- Religious organizations
- Smaller, more specific craft stores (papercraft, needlework, quilting)
- Retirement communities
- Libraries
All of these locations will usually offer a free space to give the class or charge a flat fee (or one that is a percent of sign ups). You can make up the fee by charging attendees a reasonable cost for materials and time. You can also give the class in exchange for small donations (a “give what you can afford” type of request).
Once you’ve got some experience teaching in person, try moving your class online. There are lots of ways to do this, from Teachable to Skill Share. You can even give your own classes by hosting them virtually through a conference service like Zoom, Facebook or Instagram Live. Be sure to do your research beforehand to get a good idea of what to charge and how long the clas should be.
Write a book
If you’re a creative person or have a unique skill to share, you might consider writing a book. I have a book making friend who stitches crazy mathematical patterns on the spines of his books. These patterns are always beautiful and unique, but I have no idea how he comes up with them. People have asked him countless times to explain his process and how to do it, so he’s finally decided to write a book. You can bet I’ll be buying a copy when it’s released!
Another great example is Tricks of the Trade: Confessions of a Bookbinder, written by Jamie Kamph. Oak Knoll publishes and sells her book, which is full of great tips and tricks she has learned herself over time.
Other book ideas:
- unique box making
- historically accurate bindings
- specialty books with moveable parts
- slipcases & custom covers
If you have a unique skill or idea, you can definitely write a book about it!
Social media
If social media is your forte, there’s money to be made. Content creation fuels the Internet. Without it, we would have nothing to search, learn or be surprised by. That’s why social media companies like TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and even LinkedIn are so devoted to obtaining (and maintaining) a huge base of users.
The most followed and engaged social media channels make money through advertising. Companies know that your opinion matters to your followers, so they would love for you to discuss their products openly and honestly. They might send free items for you to review or pay you to talk about a specific product in one or more posts. You’ve probably read about this elsewhere, but some popular social media channels make tens of thousands of dollars per month in advertising revenue.
To encourage channels to keep making content beyond advertising (especially for those who are yet to be discovered by companies with large marketing budgets), some social media platforms will pay you for highly visible posts or videos. Platforms like YouTube and TikTok are known for this. The amount paid varies considerably, but it can be a nice extra revenue stream to add to your bookbinding business. This is especially true if you’re not looking to become an “influencer” but would still like to make a little cash on the side.
Crowdfunding platforms
The words “crowdfunding platform” are synonymous with sites like Kickstarter or Indiegogo, but there’s a whole different subset of this group that can help artists beyond a one-time funding opportunity.
As beneficial as social media is for artists, it can also limit your ability to reach the people who chose to follow you in the first place. Platforms like Instagram & Facebook force you to play a numbers game by showing your content to less than 1-2% of your followers. This forces you to continually increase your follower count because the more followers you have, the more potential visibility you’ll receive. It’s no surprise that artists and their fans have started to look for alternative ways to connect.
Crowdfunding platforms like Patreon give artists an opportunity to directly benefit from their work by enabling fans to support through subscriptions or donations. Patreon is the most most well-known, but others like Ko-fi and Buy Me a Coffee are just as good. Be sure to check out each platform to see what they offer, whether or not there are any fees and how best to use their service for your business.
Marketplaces
If you’re making handmade items, then you’ve probably been to a few craft fairs. These gatherings of the like-minded are awesome, but they’re not the only marketplace where you can sell your handmade books. I have an acquaintance to sells her handmade journals at PAX (Penny Arcade Expo), which is a celebration of pop culture and many other genres.
Be sure to consider places such as:
- Etsy Marketplace (and other online platforms)
- Conventions (they should compliment your style, but don’t let that stop you from trying)
- Expos
- State & local youth fairs
- Book resellers
- Flea markets
I’m sure there are many other places to consider, so be sure to ask your local chamber of commerce for ideas or suggestions. If you’re in a rural area like me, try the chamber of commerce in your next larger city or town for support. You can also ask through community building programs where you may be able to sell your books AND score a teaching gig.
Downloads (tutorials, patterns)
When I was around five years into book making, I stumbled upon a free Case Binding PDF tutorial while shopping online for cover paper. It was so good that I downloaded it immediately and shared it with my friends. To this day, I’m still impressed by how well the writer conveyed the case making process (which can be one of the hardest steps for newer binders). It got me thinking about how I could help others, too. That’s what inspired me to create my own set of free downloads for the community. I also make visual graphics for those (like me) who might need to see something to fully understand it.
While my starter content will always be free, I do plan to work on carefully detailed tutorials for intermediate to advanced bookbinding projects that can be downloaded for a small fee or donation. I haven’t quite decided, but I know it needs to be spectacular.
If you have creative ideas, patterns or unique books you’ve made, it might make sense to translate them into downloadable files that your audience can pay for. For most of us, paying for a download is no big deal. I personally appreciate the opportunity to give back to the artist who put their time, energy and creative talent into a file I can use to fuel my own experiences and creativity.
Some ideas of things you could create as downloads:
- tutorials or walk-thru’s
- patterns (spine, cover designs, etc.)
- tips and tricks
- smart fixes for common issues
These are just a few of many ideas, but hopefully it will get you started!
Adding an income stream to your bookbinding business doesn’t have to be complicated. I hope these ideas sparked your interest or inspired you in some way. Good luck!
More bookbinding goodness
✨ What tools do I need to get started bookbinding?
- Bookbinding Tools & Supplies Quick Start Guide – learn all about book making tools, which to buy first & where to go online
- Pick up my popular Complete Starter Bookbinding Tools Kit – all the bookbinding essentials in one spot
🌟 Looking for a simple way to start making books?
Try a Complete Book Materials Kit. Each one has everything you need (+ tutorials & videos) to make a beautiful book without all the fuss.
Thank you for taking me along on your book making journey!
Misty
