101 Guide on How to Start a Crochet Business: By Zain's Story

Starting a small business isn’t a cakewalk; it requires a deep understanding of how to run a business and sharp business acumen. Most buyers prefer buying from small businesses that use raw materials that are sourced locally and are handmade. A similar small business, walking on the same lines, is Zain's Story, founded by Zainab Mukhtyar. Crochet has been in trend for the longest time and all the right reasons. If you, too, dream of starting a small crochet business from scratch, then this guide will help you make your dream a reality! Read this detailed guide to know the secret sauce for running a successful crochet business!

Brush up Your Basics

Everyone has to start somewhere, and if you, too, are confused, these steps will help you understand where to begin:

• Get some understanding from someone who also crochets
• Learn the basics from free platforms like YouTube channels and videos
• Experiment with a couple of designs

And lastly, what matters the most is practice. Practice does make man perfect, and even better if paired up with consistency. Additionally, it is essential to understand the tools and resources to understand the art of crocheting.

These are a few tips that will aid your business planning:

• Choose an easy-to-manage yarn. Zainab recommends starting with a 4mm hook and a medium-weight 8 ply yarn.
• Start with a light-coloured yarn, as it is easy to recognise the stitches and correct your mistakes. 

When we asked Zainab, the founder of Zain’s Story,  how long it took before you felt confident in your skills, she said, “The idea of crochet was on my mind a year before I started crocheting, initially I took help from a family friend who is also a crochet expert, and once I learned all the basics of crocheting, YouTube videos helped me with innovative designs and variations in my products, it took me 1-2 weeks with a lot of practice and patience to master my skills and finally put it out there on social media.”

If you wish to purchase these crochet creations, then check out Zain's Story on Instagram.

Build a Brand Identity

Building a brand identity is the most crucial part of setting up any business. It helps the customers understand the brand’s ethos, stand out from their rivals and also establishes a relationship with the customers. It fosters a sense of trust amongst the customers.

These key factors will help you build your brand identity:

• Find your niche and specialise in a specific category, e.g. home decor, accessories, bag charms, bookmarks or try something innovative.
• Establish a brand logo
• A presence on social media makes your business more accountable and is easy for customers to track it down
• Consistently posting your creations on social media will help customers have a broader understanding of your merchandise
• Brownie points if you include your logo in your packaging and product deliveries. 

Today, many small businesses do not have a website, however, having one will make your business and brand more recognisable. “One does not have to be an expert to start a crochet business. I honestly believe that what matters more is the love for the craft and the willingness to learn as you go. Skills grow with time, but what connects with people is your story, your effort, and the tiny imperfections that make handmade pieces special”, says Zainab. 

Budget and Registration

Running a business overall requires a lot of effort. However, one can rightfully say that the capital is what determines success after all. These pointers will help you gauge the rough amount of capital one can need to start a crochet business and the registration for the same.

Check out these key points: 

• According to Zainab, one must not rush to register their small business. Take it one step at a time. 
• The ideal time to register a business is when the sales pick up and are in a steady flow.
• However, eventually every brand should register its business as it adds value, builds trust and makes the brand credible.
• It is necessary to understand what works for the brand, which product is most profitable, and which ones aren’t. Refine and calculate.

When it came to analysing the right budget and capital needed to invest in a novel crochet business, Zainab claims, “For someone starting, Rs. 5,000 should be good, which would include the cost of yarn. When it comes to prioritising, it’s good to prioritise one type of product and see how well it performs and then experiment with new products.”

How to Attract Customers

For any small business to flourish, it’s essential to have a loyal customer base. But, how can one attract customers to a brand-new and rather small business?

These key pointers will guide you:

• Establish a strong brand identity
• A social media and website presence makes all the difference
• Be consistent with your brand and posting on social media
• Start small, but eventually, as the business grows, the product range needs to be diversified
• Customers are the best critics. Feedback from customers can help one understand how to build the product range. 

Zainab shares, “When I launched Zain’s Story in January 2024, I was very lucky with Valentine’s Day just around the corner. Many customers were fascinated with the concept of forever flowers and wanted to give them to their loved ones. We extensively focused on the concept of ‘forever flowers for your forever one’ through stories, reels and posts before Valentine’s Day, which helped us garner good sales. At the end, picking the trend and the occasion at the right time was a game-changer.”

Anyone who starts a novel business it is necessary to take the setbacks in the right spirit and grow. It is natural to make mistakes, but if you want a heads up on how to tackle these.

These pointers will help you out:

• Proper packaging
• Understanding of delivering and courier logistics 
• Research thoroughly on various delivery platforms
• Put a clear indication of delivery charges on every product

“Mistakes are natural when you're building something from scratch, but every slip-up comes with a lesson. The key is to keep learning and adjusting as you go”, says Zainab.

The amount of sweat and effort that goes into running a business is truly commendable. It definitely isn’t a menial task to overlook a business. It requires a sharp business acumen, a deep understanding of the market and analysing what customers prefer.

As we conclude, Local Samosa asked Zainab, ‘What is the most rewarding part of running your own crochet business — Zain’s Story?', she replied, “To be honest, the most rewarding part is being able to call myself a small business owner. There’s a special kind of pride in building something from scratch. Every time someone places an order, appreciates my work, or tells me how much they loved their bouquet, it feels incredibly fulfilling.

She continues to add, ‘It’s not just about selling a product—it’s about creating something meaningful with your own hands, and seeing it become part of someone’s special moment. That feeling is unmatched.
And on the tough days, just knowing that I built this space—my own little world of yarn and flowers—keeps me going.”