How to Start a Leather Business

A leather business supplies leather goods and services to customers. Everything from high quality purses and handbags to leather repair may be available through a leather business.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a leather business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Leather Business
  2. Form your Leather Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Leather Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Leather Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Leather Business
  7. Get Leather Business Insurance
  8. Define your Leather Business Brand
  9. Create your Leather Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your leather business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Leather Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a leather business?

It is possible to get started in a leather business for a relatively low overhead, depending on your focus. If you are selling some pre-crafted items online from your home, you will need to spend most of your money on building up your stock. Handbags, purses, gloves, and smaller leather items can be purchased wholesale and stored in your house or other storage options until being shipped to customers, as the orders are received. You will need some sort of forum for reaching customers, such as a website or access to online retail options, such as eBay or Poshmark, for example.

If you choose to operate out of a storefront, you will need to factor in the costs for rent, utilities, and business insurance. Although this will raise your overhead costs, you may reach more customers, depending on the location of the store.

If you are creating your own leather products or offering service and repairs for leather goods, you will need to add the costs for materials and equipment, such as an industrial sewing machine, leather needles, cutting tools, and patterns.

What are the ongoing expenses for a leather business?

Most ongoing expenses will pertain to materials and finished resale products, especially if you operate online. A store location will add rent, utilities, internet and phone and some advertising.

Who is the target market?

Your target market will more than likely consist of customers who have purchased a leather items before. Although leather is popular, many consumers will shy away from animal products. Therefore, its critical to attract customers who appreciate durability, rugged, yet refined quality, and the look and feel of leather products. Some items can be reasonably priced, but most of your goods and services will tend to be priced below luxury, yet above department store numbers.

How does a leather business make money?

A leather business makes its money from the sale of leather and leather products as well as the repairing of leather goods, such as shoes and apparel, such as purses, suitcases, or briefcases.

How much can you charge customers?

Client pricing will depend greatly on what you’re selling and offering. Research competition thoroughly to see where your price points will fall. Some high end leather bags will range upwards of five figures, whereas leather glove repairs may only fetch $10-20. Understand what you’re offering and charge accordingly.

How much profit can a leather business make?

Depending on what you sell and what services you offer, you can see earnings in the $30,000-40,000 range, especially if you are able to keep your overhead costs low.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Offer related products, such as leather cleaning and care oils and solutions. Sell these items in conjunction with your orders and many customers will continue to purchase the products, even without buying more leather goods. If you are an accomplished leather worker, offer specialty designs and custom builds. You can charge a premium price for your services, as it will be an additional source of revenue, and not the primary moneymaker.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your leather business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your leather business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a leather business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Certificate of Occupancy

A leather business is generally run out of a storefront. Businesses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).  A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

  • If you plan to lease a location:
    • It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
    • Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a leather business.
    • After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening, it is recommended to include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.
  • If you plan to purchase or build a location:
    • You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
    • Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your leather business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Leather Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Leather Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a leather business

As mentioned above, create an online presence through social media and a website. This allows you to garner customers from all over the world, which will help your name and reputation exponentially grow. You might also want to gain membership to leather guilds and organizations. The connections created should be beneficial to both parties. Also, visit crafting conventions and trade shows help show off your wares and abilities.

How to keep customers coming back

Reputation is so important. Make sure you’re prompt with your work or shipments and always maintain a professional and courteous attitude with customers and vendors. You should also strive to offer your customers the best designs and products. Avoid becoming complacent with your work, as customers will flee from stagnation.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

A leather business, much like other specialty businesses, looks to offer customers leather products and services. Therefore, knowledge of leather products, leather crafting, sewing, and repairs is recommended, if not necessary. Talking to customers and communicating online are also critical skills for building this type of business. Finally, experience in retail sales or retail marketing and promoting, preferably leather related, are also great bonus tools to possess in your skill arsenal.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a leather business?

Whether you operate in a brick and mortar storefront or are making and shipping orders from home or a workshop, the majority of your day to day will consist of taking and processing customer orders and creating leather products for said customers. You will also spend some of your time interacting with your leather and leather product distributors and wholesalers. Last, but not least, your marketing and advertising efforts will have to constantly be updated and pushed to a larger audience. As a niche operation, it is critical that you keep current customers coming back as well as attracting new customers.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful leather business?

A profitable leather business must understand its customer base and their needs and should strive to stay aware of the changing fashion styles and adapt accordingly. You will need to be a student of the fashion niche you inhabit. If purses and handbags are your specialty, or your focus is shoes, gloves, and jackets, stay knowledgeable of the industry around you. Make your business your business.

You will also find that communication is key to building and expanding your customer base, as well as developing relationships with your leather wholesalers and distributors. Communication will also help you in the marketing and promoting of your business. Equally, you will need to stay aware of sewing and crafting techniques and equipment and continue to add to your repertoire to develop fresh ideas and designs.

What is the growth potential for a leather business?

Leather seems to retain its popularity, both as a stylish material and as a durable product, capable of remaining functional and posh for many years. Accordingly, a good quality leather business will find and retain loyal customers for many years. Sometimes, successful leather businesses can foster multi-generational ownership and profitability.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a leather business?

Marketing and advertising to create a name for yourself might be one of your biggest initial hurdles. Even if you are an amazing leather artist, if nobody is aware of you, your efforts will be for not. Design and build a website with the help of a trusted web page designer. Create a social media presence through Facebook, Instagram or other relatable sites and be vigilant about showing your work. There are lots of outlets for leather products, so you have to make sure yours stands out and is memorable, as well as accessible.

It is also advisable to do research into the viability of such a business. Research your competition, both regionally and style-wise. You don’t want to oversaturate a niche market. And, if there is some competition, find out what they don’t offer and focus on those areas. Once you’ve made your name, you can expand to more areas you may have originally considered, when you were starting out.

Finally, find a way to be competitive in your pricing without being too cheap or too overpriced. The right wholesale distributor connection may be the make or break point for your business.

How and when to build a team

Fortunately, a business such as this one can successfully be operated by a single person. Especially if you sell and operate online, without a storefront, you will be able to handle the billing and shipping, for the most part. Adding team members usually occurs as the business continues to grow past the two to three year mark. When you are financially stable and still expanding, bring on another person to help with logistics. This will free you up to focus more on the creating and acquisition of product.

If you do open up a brick and mortar location, you, plus a couple employees to start, should suffice. Again, as your business grows, so will your staff.

Useful Links

Real World Examples