Share
If you have ever said, “I need to take my art seriously this year,” but you are still relying on random sales, occasional commissions, or bursts of motivation, then what you need is not more inspiration. You need an art business plan you can actually follow. Click on the video below to see how you can begin/build/improve your art business to sell more art.
An Art Business Plan is not a 40-page document you write once and ignore. A useful Art Business Plan is a simple set of decisions that helps you answer these questions every week:
1. What is my purpose and where am I going with my art business?
2. Who do I create for and why?
3. What do I create and how do I earn?
4. How will I be seen and heard?
5. How can I stay organised?
6. Who are my cheerleaders?
7. How do I set up my business?
That is what this 2026 approach is designed to do: reduce guesswork and give your effort a clear direction.
In 2026, “posting more” is not a strategy. Most artists are already working hard. The problem is that the work is scattered. You might be making lots of pieces, but not finishing or presenting them consistently. You might be sharing online, but not offering anything clearly. You might be pricing, then panicking, then changing your mind. You might feel unsupported and at a loss when it comes to legal and financial aspects of your business.
A good Art Business Plan solves that by creating alignment.
If you are midlife or older, this matters even more. Your time is valuable, your responsibilities are real, and your energy can fluctuate. You need a plan that supports you, not one that demands hustle.
Most artists skip straight to selling. They jump into Instagram, websites and prices, then wonder why nothing sticks. The first part of this 30-day Art Business Plan is about clarity, because without it everything else becomes guesswork.
Days 1 to 10: clarity first
Step 1: My purpose and where I’m going (Days 1 to 3)
Ask:
1. Why does my art exist in the world?
2. What do I want it to do for me, and for the people who collect it?
You do not need a perfect mission statement. A paragraph in your journal is enough. Example:
“I make calm, abstract work that helps busy women feel grounded in their own homes. I want my art business to contribute £1,000 a month and fit around my health and family.”
Why Step 1 matters: purpose is what helps you keep going when sales are slow or life is hard. It also helps you say no to distractions that do not fit.
Step 2: Who I create for and why (Days 4 to 6)
Choose your main people. Not everyone. One or two groups.
Ask:
1. Who lights up when they see my work?
2. Who do I enjoy talking to?
3. Whose life does my art quietly improve?
Write it down. Give them a nickname if it helps.
Why Step 2 matters: when you know who you are talking to, your marketing stops being foggy. Your posts, emails and offers become clearer, and the right people recognise themselves in your work.
Step 3: What I offer and how I earn (Days 7 to 10)
This is where you stop saying “I’ll sell art somehow” and choose a few income paths.
For this Art Business Plan, decide:
– Your primary income lane, for example originals and prints, teaching, or commissions
– One supporting lane, if it feels right
Then sketch it in one sentence:
“Most of my income will come from selling original paintings and a small run of prints. Second, I’ll teach a monthly beginners’ workshop.”
Why Step 3 matters: your art business cannot pay you if you do not decide what you are selling. Choosing your lanes reduces overwhelm and focuses your time.
Step 4: How I will be seen and heard (Days 11 to 15)
This is where many artists freeze. You have clarity and offers, and now your work has to be seen. The brain says, “I’m too old for this,” or “I don’t want to perform online,” or “I’ll wait until I feel more ready.”
If you let that voice win, your plan stays in your notebook. Visibility is the bridge between your studio and someone’s wall.
For this step, keep it simple:
1. One main place online where your work can live
2. One offline route where people can encounter it
3. One clear call to action that matches your income lane
Why Step 4 matters: it stops random posting and hoping for the best. Every time you share, you know where you are pointing people and what you want them to do next.
Step 5: Staying organised and sustainable (Days 16 to 20)
Step 5 is where you build your Studio Nerve Centre and a gentle Weekly Rhythm so you stop losing track of what you have made, what is available, who has asked about it, and where your money is going.
Keep it light:
– One physical home for key papers
– One digital home for 2026 files
A simple artwork list and a simple money list
Why Step 5 matters: chaos leaks income. When you cannot find prices, client details or receipts, you miss opportunities, undercharge and overspend. A small system protects your time, energy and cash.
Step 6: Building confidence and community (Days 21 to 25)
Step 6 is where you stop trying to do all of this alone.
Look at:
1. Your inner script, how you speak to yourself about age, skill and money
2. Your support circle, one peer, one guide, and a few cheerleaders or buyers
3. Your boundaries, what is sustainable for you and what triggers comparison
Why Step 6 matters: mindset and people are the shock absorbers of your art business. When things wobble, support is what stops you quitting right before momentum arrives.
Step 7: Setting up properly, legal and financial basics (Days 26 to 30)
This step comes last on purpose. Many artists obsess over tax and registration too early, or avoid it entirely. In this Art Business Plan, you take gentle, practical steps that make you safer.
For example:
– Choose the income stage you are in, starting out, trading but patchy, or professionalising
Create a separate “money home” for art income and expenses
– Start a simple income and expense tracker
– Draft a basic agreement email for commissions or workshops
– Schedule a monthly Money Power Hour to review your numbers
Why Step 7 matters: it is where you stop treating your art like a hobby that might pay and start giving it the protection of a real business. When you feel financially and legally safer, it becomes easier to charge properly and say yes to bigger opportunities.
So, in summary:
Days 1 to 10: purpose, people, income paths
Days 11 to 25: visibility, systems, confidence, community
Days 26 to 30: practical setup that keeps you safe
If you want an Art Business Plan for 2026 that you can actually stick to, choose one step to focus on for the next 7 days.
The downloadable guide and template goes into much more detail for each of the steps, they are available here.
There is also an in depth video for each step available on my YouTube Channel here:
See my other videos in the series here: Link to Full Playlist
Download Your Free Art Planning Guide: https://tinyurl.com/j684sr2z
Work With Simone 1-to-1 Coaching: https://tinyurl.com/yupw3vb5
Join My Newsletter Call: https://simonewoods.com/newsletter-sign-up/
About Simone
Experience the magic of colour and nature with my stunning abstract art. Every piece is crafted to bring you joy and elevate your space, making it a focal point that sparks admiration and conversation. Let your home reflect your love for art and beauty."
Other Posts
