The Business side of Clowning / Twisting

[Fast Eddie]

I was wondering if we could discuss the business side of things such as tips on booking your services, insurance (providers) (types), software for tracking customers, events, training, inventory, expenses. and general tax issues (such as do you need a tax ID or use your social). and anything else you all can think of from a beginners needs, up to more detailed info for the professionals (Can always learn new stuff).

Fast Eddie

[Dale]

i have only been doing this a short time, but i have been using my soc when asked, and trying to let everything else slide if i can. the only thing i have been asked for my soc is a balloon sculpture for a hospital. other than that, i work under a local clown sometimes too. soon i will be working for a booking agent, and im sure they will require some dreaded "reporting"
gabby

[saphireSue]

the ministry part is set up as sponsored by our church, so we have a checking account which used the church tax id numbers. We're non profit, small time, I used excel on my computer and keep records of all items we buy, donation, training, expenses etc. so there won't be any question.

as far as being completely self employed done that before too, not as a clown though, used ss #. best to talk with your tax guy. When your self employeed you have to pay your taxes in quartley installments and you have to have 90% paid by Jan 31, or you pay a penatly. then you settle up in April just like every one else. If you've over paid you can apply that to the next installment, or file for a refund. Keep records of everything you use in business, mileage, training. custome, supplies etc. basically income and debts. Anything you use for business can be deducted like computer to keep records, 2nd phone line for business.

Jamz and Sparkles could prob. give you the best info here, as it is a full time business for them.

If some one prepares your taxes for you, go talk with them. the guy I use here has been great, sat down and helped us out with suggestion one year when I got behind on installments.

[PremierSparkles]

Originally Posted by saphireSue

as far as being completely self employed done that before too, not as a clown though, used ss #. best to talk with your tax guy. When your self employeed you have to pay your taxes in quartley installments and you have to have 90% paid by Jan 31, or you pay a penatly. then you settle up in April just like every one else. If you've over paid you can apply that to the next installment, or file for a refund. Keep records of everything you use in business, mileage, training. custome, supplies etc. basically income and debts. Anything you use for business can be deducted like computer to keep records, 2nd phone line for business.

Jamz and Sparkles could prob. give you the best info here, as it is a full time business for them.

If some one prepares your taxes for you, go talk with them. the guy I use here has been great, sat down and helped us out with suggestion one year when I got behind on installments.

Hello!

Sue is right on track with this. I will elaborate. I have been off for a while, this is a busy season for me. I have been clowning for almost 20 yrs. & I started my business in 1997. Is set it up then with a tax ID number because I had more than 1 employee and I was getting a business loan. Now that I am "self employed" I just use my social and still pay quartery taxes and deduct everything I can.

I advertise in the yellow pages, I can advise you further in this if you wish, and I do direct marketing to large business and libraries, and of course business cards. I also have keep the local party stores stocked with my flyers. They send me lots of business. Be carefull not to spend more money on advertising each month than you can potentially make. Keep your overhead low. The first couple years this may be impossible. Just be smart about it. I got myself into a world of debt early on by spending $5,000 a month and only bringing in maybe $1,000 a month. I had credit up to my ears in advertising dollars! I was 19 and dumb. I didn't know the basic fundamentals of no cash flow!

I track by asking people how they heard about us. You can by tracking programs when you get large enough. I have a toll free number that captures where people are calling from.

Get a business license! Get insurance! Go to your city departments and quite often you can find some classes in small business developement. I took some of those early on that taught me worlds of info. I have an extensive background in business management, advertising and marketing and sales as well as event planning. So, I have a bit of knowlege that carries over into running my clown business.

Pick up books on how to run a small business. I think I read "Small Business for Dumbies" a million years ago. I encourage you to read back through some of my posts. I have already discussed a number of these topics.

Join COAI or WCA and you can learn alot as well as have information on vendors for various items such as insurance.

I work as a booking agent and sub contract out a number of clowns, face painters and road managers. I take a percentage from every show I book them for. I send them a 1099 at the end of the year.

I have developed sheets I use to record each phone call message and inquiry and what I quoted them and what they wanted in brief. When they decide to book, I have a "booking sheet" one for B-day party & 1 for company or church. I give the clown I booked out a copy with out the price filled in. For corporate events I send a confimation sheet, without all my silly info that is for my eyes only! Then I have a standard "Thank you" I send out. I also send an evaluation form in a stamed self addresses envelope.

To make sure I am competetively priced I "shop" my competion regulary as a potential client.

With every call a couple simple "sales" tecniques I use are: 1. NEVER quote my price without really "building up" what my clown does at the party and why we are some of the best clowns in the area boasting about all our traing, how awesome we look and organizations we are members of. 2.Then I ask when the party is because I just don't know if I can "work the clown in" we are so busy, (even if you don't have any gigs from now until eternity!, I don't feel this is lying, because most likely you are busy in general with various activities, they don't have to know it isn't clowning.) You want to give them the impression you are good, therefore stay boooked. Then I hit them with the price and DON"T appologize for it! Say it with confidence and pride! You are worth every dime!

Hopefully this will get you started!

Good luck & God Bless!