5 Ways to Protect Your Handmade Craft Business

If you’ve got a talent for arts and crafts and would like to make money from it, starting a handmade business is a great idea. Selling your own products is incredibly rewarding. Your designs are unique and precious, however. It’s important to protect your handmade craft business from copyright infringement, theft, or fraud. Many people may be envious of your product ideas, so you need to ensure you take precautions. Registering your business and all your intellectual property is one solution. Here are five ways to protect your handmade craft business. 

Register your business

Even if your handmade business is small, you should still register your business as an official entity. This will protect you in the future. It’s easy to register online. Your business name, logo, and all branding need to be registered as well. Set up a website for your craft business and buy the domain name. You can then start to promote your unique brand and develop more of an online presence. 

Patent your designs

One of the important tips for creative entrepreneursis often to patent your designs. This way no one else can copy your ideas. If you’re selling a particularly unique piece of craft this is especially important. This will protect the appearance, physical shape, configuration, and decoration of the design. Depending on the state you can apply for a patent or simply register your designs online. Either way, you will be the only person with the legal rights to use them.

Protect your photos

Your photos, particularly those of products, also need protection. Otherwise, they could be stolen or misused. One way to do this is by adding your logo or signature. You could even use tools to add a watermark or copyright details to the metadata. If this sounds a little complicated to you, here is a complete guide to protecting your photos online.

Keep trade secrets

Any trade secrets relating to your business need to stay that way. Beware of who you disclose sensitive information to. If you have employees you can ask them to sign a non-disclosure agreement. This means your unique designs, materials, and methods won’t leave your workshop. Trade secrets are essentially a part of your intellectual property and should be actively protected. They usually relate to what gives your handmade business a competitive edge and may be valuable to your rivals. 

Test your ideas

When applying for a patent, for example, or registering your designs, you can test to see if they’re unique. You can also test your logo, branding, and slogan on various websites for originality. This is important, otherwise, you could be accused of infringement on copyright yourself. In this case, a criminal defense attorney will be able to help you. It’s advisable to speak to a lawyer for advice on protecting your business regardless. They will have plenty of experience in dealing with new companies and will help you safeguard all your assets. In a few quick steps, you can protect your handmade craft.