Sell handmade products as a side hustle with a batch of five

Make five pieces of one handmade product and try to sell them at a real price. With such a small run you discover how much time an order takes and whether people are willing to pay your asking price. You don’t need to build a large assortment or your own webshop for that.

Choose one product that you can repeat

For example, take a set of two hand-stamped bookmarks with a single fixed design. Record the dimensions, the paper and the packaging. Make five identical sets and use a timer to track how much time you spend cutting, stamping, checking and packing. Also note how much material you threw away because a print failed.

Photograph a finished set and give customers the dimensions, the contents and a delivery time you can meet. Choose one sales channel for your first test. This way you can easily track where orders come from and what questions buyers ask.

Put a price on your own hours

Assume you spend €16 on paper and ink and €4 on packaging. You make and pack the five sets in two hours and fifteen minutes. Photos, the ad and the administration take another forty-five minutes. With a self-chosen rate of €20 per hour you charge €60 for your time. The run then costs €80 including labor, or €16 per set if you sell all five.

In this calculation example you charge €22 per set and set aside €3 per sale for platform and payment fees. With five sales €15 remains above your planned labor fee. With three sales €57 is left after sales costs. After €20 on material and packaging you then have €37 for three hours of work, with two sets in stock. The amounts are hypothetical. Fill in your own channel costs and any VAT and include shipping costs if you cover them yourself.

Choose a sales channel that fits your product

A local makers market or your own sales page can be handy if you already reach people who want to see the product. Etsy is an option for original designs and handmade items. For items you make yourself, Etsy requires your own photos or videos of the finished product. Include listing fees, transaction fees and payment processing in your calculation. Etsy's creativity standards and Etsy's fee policy.

Are you considering selling the same standard set via bol? Check whether your item and retail packaging comply with the assortment policy and whether you can list the item with a valid product code. The listing must clearly show which version the buyer receives. Assortment policy of bol and rules for EAN/GTIN.

Decide after the first five sets

Agree in advance when you will evaluate the test, for example after three weeks. See how many people bought at your asking price, how much time you actually spent and what questions came back. If packing takes too long, try a different packaging for the next batch. With few sales you can first test your photos or your sales channel before ordering more material.

Does a fixed version fit within bol's assortment? Calculate the bol margin per set with the Zoloo Profit Calculator. Do you also want to test another side hustle? Compare the options in side hustle ideas.