The Calligraphy Biz Starter Guide Course
Everything you need to launch your profitable calligraphy side business, so you can:
- bring in extra income each month
- doing a craft you love, while
- becoming stronger & freer as a business owner... for life!
... from the Harvard lawyer turned million-dollar creative entrepreneur behind Crooked Calligraphy (that's me... Shinah 🙋🏻♀️)
Now tell me if this sounds familiar?👇
You've been dreaming of getting paid for your calligraphy...
Maybe you've:
- been practicing non-stop and you finally (kinda) feel ready to share
- made birthday cards for coworkers and people love them
- gotten your first sale (*cough-to-your-sister-cough*), and you want to build on that exciting momentum..
...mostly you want more creativity and freedom and money in your life, and you KNOW that a calligraphy side business could make that possible for you.
You LOVE the calligraphy, but oooomg... the business part feels SO. DAMN. INTIMIDATING.
- I mean, how do you even find customers when the thought of getting rejected makes your stomach hurt?🥴
- What even is the difference between business permits v. licenses and will the IRS come find you if you don't fill out the right forms??😨
- How the hell do you "niche down" when you have no idea what you wanna sell?? 😱
🤦🏻♀️ Oh lordy, I remember feeling this exact same way (and I was a goddamn corporate lawyer).
I had ZERO business background or training, and in five years, I built my company from $0 to almost $1 million in annual revenue.
👉 And you know how I did it? By learning to focus on the stuff that matters and stop overthinking all the rest.
So let's do this together!
Introducing
The Calligraphy Biz Starter Guide Course
A step-by-step guide to help you design and launch the creative business of your dreams. Including:
- choosing the right revenue streams that work for your unique personality & business goals
- networking & pitching yourself in a smart way to find clients without having to post on IG every day
- setting up your legal and financial systems so your business is protected and legit
- marketing yourself - including DIY branding, portfolio, pricing & strategic social media
...and the right mindset to stick with the ups and downs of business to reach your ultimate goals!
1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT REVENUE STREAM
Calligraphers do more than just weddings! I walk you through 9 categories of revenue streams, so you can choose the one that best fits: 1) Your personality, 2) Your biz goals, and 3) The clients you want to work with.
2. SET UP YOUR BUSINESS - LEGAL & FINANCES
I use my legal and biz background to explain how to set up your business finances & permits in the most efficient way. So you don't get in trouble with the biz police (👈 don't exist, but feels scary anyway)!
3. PRICE YOUR CALLIGRAPHY
Maximize profits with my concrete, numbers-based framework to price any calligraphy job. Including hourly-rate calculations, suggested pricing and invoicing tips so you actually get paid!
4. PORTFOLIO, BRANDING & WEBSITES
How to choose, create, and photograph client-attracting portfolio pieces. Plus, the simplest way to DIY a cohesive brand and the exact template for your starter website and first Etsy listing.
5. CONCRETE ACTIONS TO FIND CLIENTS
How to network in a non-sleazy way, connect with the right people, and pitch yourself strategically so you can take proactive action to find clients - instead of just posting on social and waiting for them to appear.
6. OVERCOMING FEAR & EMBRACING PROGRESS
By this training, you'll have all the KNOWLEDGE you need... but you know what really gets in the way. Don't let that sneaky critical voice stop you! Learn how to work WITH it instead, to grow your confidence.
Plus, tangible bonus resources to inspire ACTION:
The Ultimate Creative Business Starter CHECKLIST!
The 44-item detailed to-do list I wish I had when starting my business.
- Keeps you focused on the exact "to-do" items you need, so you don't waste your time.
- Guides you through a "beta launch" so you can start selling in DAYS (not months)
- Covers everything from legal permits to email and social-media marketing
Holiday Sales BOOTCAMP*
A 10-day step-by-step action guide to help you makes SALES this holiday season:
- How to choose and price an in-demand product that makes you profit
- How to talk about your product in a fun and compelling way, without "icky" sales tactics
- How to take photos, set deadlines, set-up payment... basically all the nitty gritty details you DON'T want to figure out all by yourself.
Grow your Business with Instagram TRAINING
Learn how to use Instagram in a strategic, focused way to support your business goals (instead of wasting your entire damn life there for 12 likes).
- How to optimize your bio and captions for SEO and discoverability
- How to increase the reach of your Reels and posts
- How to convert Instagram looky-loos into email subscribers who BUY
IG is the main platform I've been using for 8 years to generate multiple six figures in yearly revenue. Learn how I do it inside this valuable training.
Professional Calligraphers Facebook COMMUNITY
Over 3,000 of our calligraphy alumni, from seasoned hobbyists to full-time pros - who answer each other’s questions and cheer each other on!
- Occasional Live Q&As with me, focused on calligraphy business trends.
- Helpful resources shared inside, like Guideline Generators and Pricing Guides.
- 24/7 Access so you can ask questions about inks, writing on different surfaces, client management software, pricing and more!
Want to see what's possible?
Middle school teacher Jessica is getting $1000+ calligraphy jobs and feels new hope for her future
Embracing my love of calligraphy and starting a side business has helped me so much with my self-esteem. I feel more like my authentic self than I have in a long time.
I’m now weaning myself off my anxiety meds. Without your course, I would still be stuck in the same rut and not excited about my future.
- Jessica Young
🖥 Watch an inspiring interview with Jessica right here
What's our business philosophy?
- DOABLE: Business is NOT reserved for people with a degree or special "talent". It's a SKILL that can be learned by anyone willing to show up and put in the work.
- IMPERFECT: You don't need shiny branding or a 5-year business plan to go out there and just start selling! In fact, the quickest way to become better is to learn from messy first-hand experience.
- PERSONAL: You don't have to fit yourself into a mold to build a successful business! In fact, the more you bravely show up as yourself, the more customers will connect with you.
💪 In the end, it's not about the extra money you can make, it's about the person you BECOME to get there. Learning that you have control over your financial future is guaranteed to make you a more empowered, courageous, confident person.
OUR BUSINESS BOOTSTRAP SYSTEM:
ONE: Pick a Product and Practice Selling
Share a clear & specific product with your network, practice pricing & marketing, and start to build awareness & a customer base.
TWO: Get Minimum Systems in Place
The bare minimum business name, permits, financial tracking, and payment collection systems you need for now (don't waste time or money on anything more!)
THREE: Refine your Brand & Offerings
Add complementary products and services to create a more cohesive brand, reach out to potential connectors & customers, continue building awareness, and refine your pricing.
👉
Our bootstrap approach ensures that you focus on what's most important - how to make actual SALES.
Because, if we're being honest, agonizing over the right banner for your Etsy shop is EASIER than actually practicing the SKILL of putting yourself out there, marketing your products, and finding clients. So let's do it together!
You don't need to live in a city to build a business
With the help of our courses, Jana is building her business in rural Montana, and her fall classes are already booked out!
The Calligraphy Biz Starter Guide is SO HELPFUL. The knowledge and resources in there... you can't put a price tag on that. I've already made back my investment in just the past year that I finally decided to go for it and take my business seriously!
- Jana Ricci
🖥 Watch an inspiring interview with Jana right here
I cover everything so you don't have to figure it out on your own:
1) Choosing the Right Revenue Stream
Calligraphy Skills Only
- Event Paper Goods
- Signage
- Live Activations
- Custom Work
Calligraphy + Other Skills
- Digital Products
- Digital Design
- Paper Invites
- Manufactured Products
- Teaching
2) Setting Up Your Biz - Legal & Finances
Choosing the right Name
- Legal, flexibility & long-term considerations
Getting Legally Registered
- Sole Proprietor vs. LLC vs. S-Corps
- Taxes, permits & registrations
- Business Insurance
Managing Your Finances
- The bare minimum you need
- Recommended software
- Sales Tax
3) Pricing Your Calligraphy
Mindset & Pricing Foundations
- Your Spaghetti Number
- Hourly Rate Calculation
Suggested Pricing Chart
- Set-Up Rates, Minimum Investments, Rush Fees
- Discounts, Barter & Exposure
Invoicing & Contracts
- Minimum terms to include
- Recommended contract templates
- Best invoicing and payment software
4) Portfolio, Branding & Websites
What to Include
- The "Bakery Case" Method
- Shortcuts for creating your own pieces
"Brand Essentials" Exercise
- The "good enough" DIY logo process
- Simple but impactful color palettes
- Backgrounds and props for a cohesive presence
Starter Website & Etsy Listing
- Template + Demo of the exact content to include
- Tech & photography recommendations
5) Concrete Actions to Find Clients
Understanding the customer journey
- Where to find potential buyers
- Converting lookers into buyers
Networking in a non-icky way
- Finding community connectors
- Revenue-Generating Activities Worksheet
Pitching Yourself with Confidence
- Pitch template & examples
6) Mindset, Fear & Reaching Your Goals
Overcoming Perfectionism
- Re-thinking business "success" v. "failure"
Overcoming Fear of Rejection
- The 2% Rule
- Making friends with your fear
Concrete Tools to improve Confidence
- Tapping and other embodiment tools
- Visualization Exercises
Genell made over $1000 in sales in the first month of her calligraphy biz by following the exact steps in this course!
I sold over $1000 of calligraphy ornaments and it just blew my mind!
The investment in your calligraphy business course was absolutely worth it. It gave me the confidence to go out there and finally launch something.
— Genell Ford
FAQs
Does this information still apply if I'm outside of the U.S.?
Absolutely! 95% of what I teach in the Calligraphy Biz Starter Guide are generally-applicable business and marketing principles, such as how to speak to your ideal audience, choose the most effective products, set prices that lead to the most profits, take great photographs, etc.
In the "Making Your Biz Official" training, I do focus on my experience specifically in California, U.S.A. So, if you happen to be starting a business in California, you'll get more specific examples from my own business journey. But the overall principles and frameworks will still be very helpful in getting you legally set-up to do business in your own state or country.
Do I have to show up live to any of the trainings or is it all pre-recorded?
Everything is pre-recorded and available through an exclusive course website, so you can access it anytime, anywhere. You get access to all of the materials as soon as you enroll (even if you're on a payment plan), so you can dive in right away.
How long will I have access to the course?
Once you purchase, you get lifetime access to the course videos and worksheets. Which means, as long as the exclusive course portal is available, you can log in at any time. And if we ever choose to discontinue the course portal, we'll give students ample time to download all videos and worksheets so you have permanent access.
Is my purchase refundable?
Due to the digital nature of our products, we cannot offer refunds once the course materials have been accessed. I truly believe in the value of this course, but please keep the refund policy in mind before purchasing.
Business doesn't have to be a full-time hustle
Nicole brings in an extra $3-5K every year with a low-stress, seasonal calligraphy side business
I have two busy kids, and I teach at my local college. So I only work on my business a few months out of the year. This course helped me make my biz legitimate and actually put myself out there. My investment has already paid off 40x!
- Nicole Lindenstein
🙋🏻♀️Why should you listen to me anyway?
Because I've been exactly where you are right now.
I'm Shinah! I spent ten years in corporate law - which means I was a complete people-pleaser and rule-follower...
Back in 2015, I knew I wanted some kind of creative business, but I had NO IDEA how to start one.
I had ZERO business training and ZERO start-up money (in fact, I had over $100K in law school debt that I still had to pay off...)
So I bootstrapped my business - learning as much as I could from free resources & paid classes, talking to every businessperson I knew, spending hours learning DIY branding & photography & websites.
Within 5 years, I had made my first million dollars in annual revenue as a full-time calligrapher and calligraphy teacher.
Entrepreneurship has given me a gorgeous life. I've spent 6 years and hundreds of thousands of dollars building my knowledge & experience.
And I want to give you the shortcuts I wish I had.
Our students legit GUSH about this course:
I cannot express just how much this Course has helped me.
I am in the initial stages of starting my business and I am someone who doesn’t like BS. Shinah has an authentic honest approach where she goes through what worked and what didn’t work for her business in a vulnerable way which is easy to relate to and brave.
- Alison Devitt
I'm so glad I decided to invest with Shinah.
I would have waited months to launch my business. Now, I made my first two sales and have a solid plan for growth.
- Jessica Young
I already made back the investment.
I was nervous about investing the money in myself, BUT I'M SO GLAD THAT I DID.
Not only have I made back the money, I feel like I am much more prepared to take this business into the next part of my journey.
- Nicole L.
I would recommend it to anyone
who's thinking about pursuing a calligraphy business. I got all of the tools I needed to get started.
- Mara Buhrmeister
Y'all, it has everything you need.
[This course] shows you how to get registered, make it legal, even how to choose a name. I was even able to get an EIN and use it for my taxes this year. It's been so helpful and has eased my anxiety as far as everything that needs to get done, especially administrative stuff.
- Sher Pierre
I used to think the world of business wasn't open to me.
I binged the whole course in a day and took notes and it helped me to figure out what type of business I want to open as well as the next steps. And it was so encouraging... no one else in my family owns a business, so it used to feel so intimidating, but I'm finally doing it!
- Stacie Nomura
There is no better way to become a boss then by learning from THE BOSS herself!
This course helped me learn how to make the world of calligraphy business seem less like a fairy tale and more like a reality that is mine for the taking if I work for it. Thank you for everything you do Shinah!
- Rosa Veliky
Priceless.
I am not a business-savvy person AT ALL, but Shinah is so relatable and makes the dream of owning a creative business into a reality. She made this scary and daunting task into something achievable.The confidence and competence her guidance provides is priceless.
- Taylor Nicole
Vital practical help.
While [she] offers the practical help you would expect, such as pricing projects for clients, Shinah's invaluable mentorship on accountability and mindset was the gamechanger I didn't know I needed.
- Dani Brush
Helps overcome perfectionism.
The Biz course helped me get in the simplicity frame/state of mind. It helped me understand the first step is to JUST START! Even if I'm a super slow starter, I know now that I can just keep it simple..
- Carol Jaime Furaha
Lifetime Value = $6970
today's price
USD $697
Add a revenue stream to an existing business
Nikki now adds lucrative calligraphy jobs to her graphic design business
It was absolutely worth it... I didn't want to learn business piece-meal, like a YouTube tutorial here, a freebie there. I wanted structure and everything in one place. I just got my first calligraphy job and it pays VERY WELL, like I'm shocked.
- Nikki Davis
"But, Shinah, $697 is a lot of money."
Not when you see how much revenue you can make with a calligraphy business!👇
"I am only halfway through the Biz Starter Guide Course and I booked my first gig just by applying Shinah's advice! If you're on the fence, just do it! You will be SO glad you did!"
- Diana T.