Basic pliers are $15 each. Professional-grade? $60–$100 each. And you need like five different pairs. One for bending, one for cutting, one for sighing dramatically when a jump ring flies into the abyss.
Then there’s the kiln. Oh, the kiln. If you’re doing enamel work or metal clay, that sucker costs $500–$2,000. Plus firing shelves. Plus a fire extinguisher. Your neighbors will think you’re a pyromaniac artist.
Costs to Start a Permanent Jewelry Business
The “But I Can Sell It Later” Myth
You’ll need packaging. Boxes, pouches, thank-you cards—$100–$300 to start. Plus shipping supplies. My first shipment involved a necklace wrapped in a sock because I was out of bubble wrap. The customer actually left a five-star review, so maybe socks are the secret.
Don’t forget a website or Etsy shop. Etsy charges $0.20 per listing and takes a 6.5% cut. A custom domain costs about $15 a year. But you’ll also need photos, which means either buying a lightbox ($60) or learning to balance your phone on a stack of books.
