Make independent as an artist: there are these possibilities

At the beginning, her art was probably just a hobby . Sometimes it stays that way. However, many artists dream of the art professionally one day, maybe even full -time.

So at some point there is the time when you have to ask yourself whether you want to become self -employed as an artist and what options there are. An overview.

Life from art: is that realistic?

With creative professions you don't make any money. Many people are convinced of this and you will probably hear this saying again and again when you tell about your dream of living about art. But it is an error, because there are a number of creative professions that are in demand and well paid .

This applies not only in an employment relationship , but also to the self -employed in the respective industry. Then there are even greater chances of earning if they are successful. In theory, you can live from many different types of art: photography , painting , writing or fashion design are just a few of many examples.

In practice, however, it is important to master the challenges of independence and of course the quality of your artistic works must convince. Then the question can be answered with a "yes": it is realistic to live from art.

It is not immediately independent

As soon as you have gained a little experience, are satisfied with the quality of your art and trust, so that customers are convincing, the idea of ​​independence is worthwhile. This applies at the latest if you want to generate first income with art, because then you have to officially register and tax them.

So at the latest now there is no longer a way around the jump into self -employment. However, different models are suitable. You can found part-time or full-time. In some cases, you have the choice between a trade and freelance . In addition, there is the selection of different legal forms .

All models in turn bring tax and legal peculiarities. In order to make the right choice - at least for entry - you should therefore answer the following questions:

Would you like to found full-time or part-time ones?

Independence is a step that scares many people. Finally, there is no need for the safe income from an employee relationship and instead it is important to win your own customers and to take all business areas into their own hands. Especially if you have financial obligations such as open loans or the care of a family, you do not want to take such a risk.

Then it makes sense to start part -time. So you have a safe basic income from the permanent position and can also build up artistic independence. If one day this deploys a predictable and sufficient income, you can make a full -time independence from the part -time job.

The part -time independence as an artist brings with it many advantages, especially with finances and insurance companies. However, it means having to handle two jobs at the same time and not to be able to concentrate fully on her art.

It is therefore important the advantages and disadvantages against each other and to find the model that optimally fits your life situation and your personal needs.

Would you like to work alone or with business partners?

Another option to relieve yourself in time or financially is cooperation with a business partner. Although many artists found them alone and work as a sole trader, this is not a must. For example, you can rent a studio together with another photographer or take over the artistic work, while the business partner is responsible for organizational questions.

You can therefore freely design such a collaboration and thus find a model that suits you optimally. This also applies to the legal form, because other variants can be considered alone for a common foundation.

Would you like to register a business?

If you choose to found alone, the question arises in an artistic activity whether you need a business. Because most artists can also register as a freelancer. Free professions include, for example, painters, writers or musicians, but also many professions related to an art. These include dance teachers or interpreters and many more.

It is therefore worthwhile to have it checked in individual cases whether freelance is suitable . Because it has some advantages over the trade - however, you still have to register a business as soon as you offer products or services that do not fall into the freelance area. In the event of mixed forms, the commercial registration can therefore be the simpler variant from the outset.

Would you like to start as a small business owner?

At the beginning of independence, the income is often still manageable. Therefore, it can be worthwhile to start as a small business owner to reduce the tax effort. This means that you do not have to pay for commercial tax, do not show sales tax and do not make a balance sheet or inventory at the end of the year - depending on the legal form, these points are more or less relevant for you.

You can use this small business regulation as long as you have not achieved more than 50,000 euros in total in the previous calendar year and in the current calendar year. This regulation is therefore particularly worthwhile in the early days or with a part -time independence. Incidentally, it should not be confused with the small business.

Success factors for self -employed artists

In addition to these legal and tax questions, you naturally need more to be successful as an independent artist. It is best to go through all phases of start -ups , for example the creation of a business plan . This is not absolutely necessary for a successful foundation, but makes it easier for you and increases the chances of success.

In addition to the artistic and professional requirements, it is important for every form of independence. Because not everyone is suitable for the special features and challenges of independence. For example, it requires a certain willingness to take risks so that they do not suffer from the future worries every day. Further characteristics of an entrepreneurial personality are often described as follows:

• Emotional intelligence
• Extra version
• multitasking
• openness
• Organizational talent
• Self -discipline
• reliability
• VM

If you do not bring all of these characteristics or want to concentrate fully on your artistic work, there are two alternatives to the sole proprietorship: either you remain in a permanent position and foundation (if at all) or you are looking for at least one business partner - as mentioned in advance.

The attitude of employees can also be an option as soon as their independence is successful enough. So you no longer have to take on all tasks from accounting to marketing yourself. Nevertheless, you are and remain the most important figurehead for your company.

In contrast to the foundation in other industries, your economic success is directly linked to your artistic achievements and these cannot simply be delegated to other people.

Observe the special features of independent work as artists

You must therefore have the will and self -confidence in order to market yourself professionally in order to openly approach potential customers and make business contacts. This applies both to modern channels online and to classic, namely personal networks.

The business card, which she also visually represents , should always be at hand. Because they never know where and when such contacts arise. Being a self-employed artist is therefore in the truest sense of the word a "full-time job".

If you do not bring this willingness, the permanent position as an artist is often the better option.

If you have now opted for self-employment as an artist, be it full-time or part-time, you should be advised individually. In some artistic professions special features apply , for example in social security or rights to their works. So it may be that you have to register in the artist social fund or receive income from a recycling company.

The leap into independence therefore means a lot of bureaucracy at the beginning - but the effort is worthwhile to finally make your dream of living from art.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and managing director of Kunstplaza. Publicist, editor and passionate blogger in the field of art, design and creativity since 2011. Successful conclusion in web design as part of a university degree (2008). Further development of creativity techniques through courses in free drawing, expression painting and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market through many years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with actors/institutions from art and culture.

www.kunstplaza.de/