WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO START

When you have enough watchers and people interested in your art.
When you have a closely-bounded community around your work/gallery


How many is enough I won't say, because it soly depends on the community around you and your work. Some artists can live on one patron, others need to live on millions of them.

If you need more exposure, do fanart. After all, people would type and search famous series, not your name. If they do type your name, you are famous.

If you don't want to do fanart, the other option is draw the cliche-category.
Pirates are selling, draw pirates.
Angels and demons always sell

You get my drift?


HOW TO START

1. Setting prices:
if you don't know how to set prices yet, there's a few things that can help you to determine what prices you need to go with:

-Evaluate the competition:
take a look at other artists who are doing commissions and their prices. While evaluating, be critical about your work in a skill-based manner, (forget self-esteem for a while when you want to do business.)

Is my drawing skill high enough?
Is my painting skill high enough?
What's my strength?
What's my weakness?
What can I offer that is my specialty that this other person doesn't offer?


-Hours and efford spent on your part:
how long do you need for each commission on the average, if you set the prices too low, you will discourage yourself from working, if you set it too high, you won't get customers.

I personally go by 10 dollars/hour estimation.



2. Keep things flowing

-Free trials:
Use free offers on commissions to friends or your close-nit watchers to get started. (use what you have)
Submit your commission pieces to DA for advertisement. Commission pieces title should include "Commission" to let your viewers know you do commissions. Include your commissioner's name on the describtion.

- Include an easy access to your commission related information.



KEY POINTS TO SET UP COMMISSION JOURNALS

1. Be clear, and make it easy to read

-Use spaces.... lots of spaces between words help for easy reading, the faster they can read your journal, the more business you may get.
If your journal is chaotic, you will get more notes of confused commissioners.

- use icons, graphic information to decorate your journal post


2. Keep a list
- Slots- the easiest way to let people know whether you are avaliable, and that you are active in business.
- Keep the contact information somewhere you can review easily.


PAYMENT AND RELATIONSHIP WITH CLIENTS

1. Deadlines or no deadlines: most people actually don't give you a deadline, (then don't ask for one...) but if there are those who do, keep a clear account for that. Set your priority on the commissions in reaction to the urgency of your commissioners.


2. When should the client pay:

Usually the artists in illustration industry can ask for an advance after doing some sketches. Then the rest should be paid off after the work is done.

I do 50/50 portion payment with my clients, 50% advance when I showed them the sketches, 50% final after I am done. But if trust is built between me and the client, often they just pay me in full after I have shown them the sketches.

3. Payment method:
Paypal, money order, check, if you have your own shop set up you can take credit card as well.
Just go to paypal.com to sign up, it's pretty easy.


CHOOSE YOUR JOBS

If you don't want to do the job since the begining of the request, you are better off not doing it.
(ex: If you hate hentai, don't take hentai work.)

-Choose the jobs that you feel is more suitable, competitable with your personality and quality. (unless you are super desparate.)
If you choose your jobs wisely to fit both your needs, and the clients' needs, you will get good work done, your client will be happy.

While choosing for yourself and your portfolio, you will also build a brand name with your commissions... that will create a steady flow of customers for you as well.