The feeling of making something with your own hands is such a great feeling, and the idea of selling something you've made yourself is such a satisfying and validating experience. Once you get really hooked on making pots, and you start improving your skills, it's not long before you have replaced most of your household ceramics with your work and filled your windowsills and mantlepieces with ornaments you've made.
You start to wonder if anyone else might also enjoy them, so you give a few away as gifts, and get great feedback. Its often at that point that you think 'could i sell these, and make a business out of it?'.
The short answer is yes, it's definitely possible to start selling your work if you are reasonably competent. But the longer, more helpful answer is: yes, if you go in with the right expectations and mindset.
This article is about what really happens when you turn pottery into a business. Not to put anyone off, but to replace myths with clarity, and anxiety with realism.
Understanding What Running a Pottery Business Really Involves
A pottery business is not just about making pots.
It includes planning, pricing, photographing, packing, posting, bookkeeping, replying to emails, fixing mistakes, remaking broken work, and thinking about cash flow more often than you expect. Many new potters are surprised by how much of their time is spent not at the wheel.
That does not mean it’s a bad choice. It just means it’s a business, not an extended hobby.
People who thrive long term tend to accept this early. They stop waiting for the perfect conditions and start building simple systems that support their making.
Hobby, Side Hustle, or Full-Time Business
One of the most important mindset shifts is understanding what stage you are actually in.
A hobby is making pots for enjoyment, gifts, or personal satisfaction, with no pressure to sell or earn.
A side hustle is selling work alongside another income. This is where many potters stay for years, and there is no failure in that. It allows experimentation without financial stress.
A full-time business is different. It requires consistency, forward planning, and income that at least covers costs. Very few potters move straight into this, and most who succeed build toward it slowly.
Problems often arise when expectations don’t match reality. Treating a hobby like it should pay full-time wages leads to frustration. Treating a business like a hobby leads to burnout.
Clarity here matters more than ambition.
Common Myths New Potters Run Into
There are a few ideas that regularly trip people up.
One is the belief that good work sells itself. It doesn’t. Plenty of excellent potters struggle because they ignore pricing, presentation, or communication.
Another is the idea that everyone else has it figured out. They don’t. Most potters learn as they go, make expensive mistakes, and quietly fix them.
There is also the myth that turning pottery into a business ruins the joy. In reality, the joy usually disappears when expectations are unrealistic, not when money changes hands.
Selling your work doesn’t make it less meaningful. It means someone values it enough to live with it.
Setting Realistic Goals for the First Year
The first year of a pottery business is often not profitable. That’s normal.
A realistic first year goal might be:
– Learning what actually sells
– Covering some material and firing costs
– Improving consistency
– Building confidence with pricing
– Developing a repeatable workflow
For many people, breaking even is a success. For some, making a few hundred or a few thousand pounds across the year is a solid start.
What matters is progress, not comparison.
Potters who last tend to play the long game.
The Emotional Side of Selling Handmade Work
Selling pottery is personal. Each piece represents time, attention, and care.
New sellers often worry about whether their work is good enough, whether prices are too high, or what happens if something breaks. These feelings are normal, and they don’t mean you’re doing it wrong.
Over time, most potters learn to separate the work from the worry. The work is made with care. The outcome is partly out of their control.
When someone buys a handmade pot, they’re not just buying an object. They’re choosing a connection. That’s worth remembering on the days self-doubt creeps in.
Finding a Sustainable Pace
Burnout is one of the biggest risks in small creative businesses.
It often comes from comparison, especially online. Looking at someone else’s studio, sales, or growth without seeing their overheads, stress, or lack of flexibility.
Growth is not always the goal. Stability can be just as valuable.
Many successful potters intentionally stay small. They limit product ranges, reuse systems that work, and allow slow seasons without panic. They understand that it’s possible to build something good without constantly expanding.
Rest is not a failure. It’s maintenance.
What a Healthy Mindset Looks Like Long Term
People who build sustainable pottery businesses tend to share a few traits.
They take the business side seriously, even if they don’t love it.
They accept that progress is uneven.
They focus on making their work better, not copying others.
They allow their style to emerge rather than forcing it.
They keep going, even when confidence dips.
Most importantly, they don’t expect pottery to solve everything in their life. It’s work. Meaningful work, but still work.
And that’s exactly why it can be so rewarding.
Starting a pottery business is not easy. But it is possible, at many different scales, and at many different stages of life.
With realistic expectations, patience, and a grounded mindset, it can become something steady, fulfilling, and entirely your own.
We wish you the best of luck with your pottery business. We encourage you to give it a go, not put too much pressure on yourself, and see what happens!
The Pottery People