Starting a(n) Handmade Pens Business Sellers Permit Wholesale ID Resale License

Handmade Pens

Crafts Handmade Pens

Handmade Pens: The Write Stuff

Handmade pens are not just about ink hitting paper—they’re about making a statement. With the global stationery market projected to hit over $128 billion by 2025, your sleek, custom pens could write your way into a very profitable business. Plus, let’s face it, who doesn’t love a pen that screams “luxury” and “craftsmanship” with every stroke? Starting costs for handmade pen businesses are surprisingly reasonable. Expect to spend around $500–$2,000 to get rolling, depending on the quality of materials and equipment. You'll likely need:

Pen kits (barrels, nibs, clips, etc.)
Woodworking or resin casting tools
Finishing supplies like sandpaper, polishes, or sealants
Packaging materials to give that premium unboxing feel

Oh, and don’t forget a solid dose of creativity—because that’s priceless.

LLC or S Corp: What’s the Right Fit for a Penpreneur?

If you’re serious about turning your hobby into a business, forming an LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a smart move. Why? It protects your personal assets from business liabilities. Say your pen malfunctions (unlikely, but hey, accidents happen), and someone decides to sue.

If you’re an LLC, only your business assets are on the line—not your car or that secret stash of fountain pens you’ve been collecting for years.

An S Corporation is another option, but it’s generally more useful when your business earns enough profit to benefit from tax savings.

For a small handmade pen business just starting out, an LLC is likely the simpler and more cost-effective choice.

Do You Need a Seller’s Permit?

Yes, if you plan to sell your pens (whether online, at craft fairs, or in stores), a seller’s permit is essential. This allows you to legally collect sales tax from your customers.

Without it, you might find yourself in a sticky situation with tax authorities. For example, if you sell a $50 pen, and the sales tax in your state is 8%, you’ll need to charge your customer $54 ($50 + $4 in tax).

The seller’s permit ensures you’re authorized to collect and remit that tax. It’s a straightforward but crucial step in running a legit business.

Registering Your Business Name

Got a killer name for your pen business? You’ll need to register it if you're using something other than your own full legal name (like "Artisan Inkworks" instead of "John Doe"). This ensures no one else in your state can operate under the same name and protects your brand identity.

What’s an EIN, and Do You Need One?

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is like a Social Security number for your business. It’s used to identify your business for tax purposes. You’ll need an EIN if you:

Plan to hire employees
Form an LLC or S Corp
Want to open a business bank account

Even if you’re a sole proprietor with no employees, getting an EIN is often a good idea. It keeps your personal and business finances separate, and let’s be real—keeping things organized makes tax season a lot less painful.

Special Permits or Licenses for Handmade Pens

Beyond a seller’s permit, you generally don’t need any industry-specific licenses to make and sell handmade pens. However, if you’re working with certain chemicals (like resin or finishes), local laws may require you to comply with safety or environmental standards.

To Sum It Up

To set up your handmade pen business, you’ll need:

An LLC to protect your assets
A seller’s permit to collect sales tax
Business name registration if you’re not using your personal name
An EIN to keep your business financials legit

Your handmade pen business is poised to stand out in a world that still values the power of the handwritten word.

Market Overview & Startup Requirements

The artisanal pen market has seen steady growth, with handcrafted writing instruments commanding premium prices between $50-$500+ per piece. The global luxury pen market size was valued at approximately $2.2 billion in 2023, with artisanal pens occupying a growing niche segment. Initial investment typically ranges from $3,000-$8,000,

covering:

Basic lathe setup: $1,500-$2,500

Quality pen kits (starter set of 50): $500

Premium wood/acrylic materials: $400

Tools and finishing supplies: $600

Photography setup for online sales: $200

Website and initial marketing: $300

Business Structure Considerations

An LLC structure often makes sense for artisanal penmakers, providing personal asset protection while maintaining operational flexibility. S-corps can offer tax advantages once your income reaches substantial levels, typically above $40,000 annually.

Essential Numbers and Registrations

EIN (Employer Identification Number): Your business's tax ID, necessary for banking, hiring, and tax filing

Business License: Required for operating legally

Seller's Permit: Needed for collecting and remitting sales tax

DBA (Doing Business As): If operating under a name different from your legal business name

Insurance Considerations

General Liability Insurance: Protects against customer injuries

Product Liability Insurance: Covers issues with sold pens

Business Property Insurance: Protects equipment and inventory

Record Keeping Requirements

Sales records and receipts

Expense documentation

Inventory tracking

Customer database

Tax documents

Who knew making fancy sticks that write could involve so much paperwork? But once you've got these foundations in place, you can focus on creating those beautiful writing instruments that make people say, "I can't believe I'm spending this much on a pen... but I must have it!"

Crafts

Q: online selling homemade products knickknacks nationwide on Etsy, Facebook, website, geek pages, etc?

To buy merchandise such as dollhouses and dollhouses accessories wholesale, you need a sales tax ID also called a seller's permit.

The requirement comes from TN state legislation taxation and finance statute that requires you to get a seller's permit.
The way that works is after you get the seller's permit, you use the resale certificate that comes with the permit to fax or email a signed copy to the wholesaler, and then you can buy wholesale because the wholesaler will not sell you merchandise without the resale certificate.

In fact, sometimes the wholesaler wants a copy of the original seller's permit certificate before selling you anything wholesale.

Also, you need the permit number so you can remit the sales tax you collect from your sales in TN and other U.S. states. You also need additional licenses to run your online business. So you need at least a DBA, LLC or corporation, the seller's permit for that and as a business, a business license and an EIN.

You need the DBA, LLC or corporation because you need to register the "Minirealities," fictitious business name. You can do that with a Doing Business As (DBA) filing, an LLC set up or a corporate formation.

If you hire people to help you, you need to open an employer withholding account and that requires a state employer ID as well as a federal tax ID to pay withholding taxes for your employees.

Q: I HAVE MY EIN WHICH IS 9 DIGITS, BUT DON'T HAVE MY SEIN I also have an LLC, but I have no idea what is a SEIN I repeat, I have an LLC, EIN, DBA, all I need is the seller's permit looks like it's working out with you or this is a person to machine conversation. A:Yes, you need the state employer ID and the seller's permit.

Q: do I need a permit to sell handmade crafts at a craft show?

Yes, the seller's permit.

I want to register my business - small custom crafts and flea market. Will sell at year-round flea market booth and online website.

Ok, to register it, you will need all licensing as with any business.

Do I have to be in a formal business in order to I am going to start selling items at a craft fair?

Yes, you can do formal licensing.

Handmade I live in South Carolina and I make handmade candles. I want to do a craft fair next month in GA. do I need any kind of license for this?

Yes, you need licensing such as a business license and a seller's permit.

I have my license for SC and I just want to do one or two craft fairs in GA.

Hello, I was looking into if I need a license to sell handmade handbags at a craft fair I'm trying to obtain a seller's permit for a craft fair I have/had a salon, so I have my sellers permit, is there anything else I need to sell at a craft fair.

I am a crafter and will be buying wholesale items and selling them online from home and in person I would like to sell them out of state and maybe open an Etsy account? Answer: As a crafter, you will need the seller's permit to sell online.

A: Yes, a sellers permit is required to buy your craft materials wholesale and sell them if you sell handmade crafts merchandise wholesale or retail. Users of a trade name will need a fictitious business name filing. For example, if you name your handmade craft business "TLM TRENDY CRAFTS," you will need to officially register that business name. If you don't file a DBA business name, you need to at least form an LLC or incorporate it in order to register your trade name.

Yes, you need to become a business to sell handmade crafts.
Thus, you first, select your business structure: Sole Proprietor, Partnership, LLC or Corporation.

Then, a sellers permit is required to buy your craft materials wholesale and sell retail if you sell handmade crafts merchandise wholesale or retail.
If you are an employer, i.e., if you hire anyone to help you with handmade craft making, you will need a federal employer number and a State Employer Number.
Users with a trade name will need a fictitious business name filing. For example, if you name your handmade craft business "Crafty but Arty," you will need to officially register that business name.

Finally, you have the option of incorporating or forming an LLC for your handmade craft business. We just bought a property that has an existing craft store, and we are interested in selling ice cream out of a stationary ice cream truck. We have filed a fictitious name and are an LLC. Let me start over..
I just entered the zip code and won't let me continue. I am starting a crafting business from my home in Kawabata County, Mississippi. What do I need? I want to sell my homemade crafts at telemarketers what do I need to do? I will manufacture craft items, sell different type candy,sell wood burning items, and more. Furthermore, I plan to visit and take part in Texas and surrounding states. If you want to see craft items like homemade tshirts & keychains in MS.

How to collect & pay sales tax? County tax too?

I make and sell dollhouses from my Etsy store from home online. I sell abroad and in all 50 states. Business License West point TN ?

Answer: You need a business license, but you also need a seller's permit because you are a manufacturer as well as a retailer of dollhouses. The State of Tennessee has a sales tax rate for crafts that is 7.000%. The Range of Local Rates FPR crafts is 1.5% – 2.75% in addition to the 7% rate of the state. According to TN Title XIV statute for sales tax, you will need a seller's permit AKA sales tax ID to sell merchandise for your Online Selling.

To buy merchandise such as dollhouses and dollhouses accessories wholesale, you need a sales tax I'd also called a seller's permit.
The requirement comes from TN state legislation taxation and finance statute that requires you to get a seller's permit.

The way that works is after you get the seller's permit, you use the resale certificate that comes with the permit to fax or email a signed copy to the wholesaler, and then you can buy wholesale because the wholesaler will not sell you merchandise without the resale certificate.

In fact, sometimes the wholesaler wants a copy of the original seller's permit certificate before selling you anything wholesale.

Also, you need the permit number so you can remit the sales tax you collect from your sales in TN and other U.S. states. You also need additional licenses to run your online business.

So you need at least a DBA, LLC or corporation, the seller's permit for that and as a business, a business license and an EIN.
You need the DBA, LLC or corporation because you need to register the "Minirealities," fictitious business name. You can do that with a Doing Business As (DBA) filing, an LLC set up or a corporate formation.

If you hire people to help you, you need to open an employer withholding account and that requires a state employer ID as well as a federal tax ID to pay withholding taxes for your employees.
I will be doing craft shows may craft fair locally occasionally.

I may try to sell stuff online as well but right now not very will often be doing craft shows and craft fairs locally occasionally. Likewise, I may try to sell stuff online as well but right now not very often.


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