"Have you considered your hobby as a business?" Topic

We're all looking for ways to make extra money these days. How many of you either are or have considered turning some aspect of the wargaming hobby into a business?

1. Never thought about it.
2. Considered it, but nah…
3. I may pursue it in the future.
4. I'm actively working on it now.
5. I already operate a hobby related business or service.

2. Best way to make a small fortune in the gaming industry is to start with a big one.

Had a couple of computer games published 30 years ago. Too much work, too many tax loopholes closed since then. I can't see the after-tax dollars being worth the incremental effort.

Been there. Seen too many people lose their shirts.

5. And loving it! But don't quit your day job.

Steve
Age of Glory

5 Too stubborn/stupid to quit.

6. Never in a million years

7. Never in a Billion years…

3.

I've thought about casting up some of my terrain bits and selling on ebay regularly. Haven't actually gotten there though. More of an extension of the hobby/provide a little cash for buying little metal dudes, than anything…

Damon.

2 – can make much more doing freelance programming though.

8. Considered it, tried it, don't do it anymore.
9. Dumb enough to have done it twice. :)

2.

5. And loving it and I did quit my day job.
after 9 years I got another one though. Just for a little while.

5 and sometimes i wonder how much extra it has cost me. Full time effort did not work in the 1980s and late 1990s so I had to go the part-time route and by pass many opportunities to expand my operations due to low funds.

Time Portal Hobbies
In business since 1983!

Worked for me! ;-)

I occasionally paint for money or trade, but no, I don't think of it as a business. Could never live on it!

5 sort of. I have a full time job to live.

10 Tried it and failed miserably.

My hobby is my relaxation If I had to do it for money it would no longer be fun and relaxing. That and I never paint the same thing twice .

4, but in a very limited way. Trying to sell a few bits at a con at the end of the month.

Phil

2, and I did get it off the ground.
For a while.
Then I realized it was not worth it.

5 – but only because no one made the figures i needed…

5,selling minis,making minis and illustrating war

5, but it wouldn't support me without other income and is it my hobby anymore?

"My hobby is my relaxation If I had to do it for money it would no longer be fun and relaxing. That and I never paint the same thing twice ."

I worried this would be true for me. It wasn't. I actually enjoyed it more when I was doing it for money. I certainly enjoyed the painting more when I was doing only it and doing it for money. Now it is less of a draw for me I find.

11. I'd be too damned good at it, it wouldn't be fair to the small fry like GW and Foundry…

12. I work for the Government and why would I want to stop drinking the Kool-Aid.

Seriously, I swear it's one reason my friend died of a massive heart attack back in '02. Balancing hobby store with miniature line. No way. I'd rather be a minion of someone else.

Eric

Yes, but it was a dilettante, side-job, payed-for-the-trip kind of business. Certainly nothing like a real full-time job.

And it wasn't THIS hobby.

5, obviously.

It doesn't pay all the bills, but between us, my Olga and I have missed no meals, pay all bills (eventually!), constantly invest in our home (her retirement), and I can't stop, even if I wanted to.

Not just as a financial fact of the time, but THIS is what I've always wanted to, and will do so until they finally gurney my bones out of here.

I get to make what I like for sale, work with wonderful folks who can make the things I can't, which help pays for their "hobby habits" as well as my own, and have something to do every day.

It's a kind of heaven--if not haven--for an Old Man who got too liberal an education to be worth a damn on salary.

TVAG

I had intended to set up as a painting service to top up my pension, however work as an Imagery Analyst/Interpreter Consultant is taking off and far more lucrative. Mind you a month in a 5* hotel with my deployable painting kit could see a couple of 15mm TYW armies churned out to sell on my return!

Tally Ho!

5. And it doesn't even feed the rodents that look for the scraps……:)

5 – its been very good to me over the years.- I will do it until I can't.

Definitely 2.

4. Taking care of personal finances first so I don't have to worry if it tanks

3. I'd love to, but I burn through too much money with three kids and my day job pays well. Maybe, I'll give it a shot once the kids become independent. May hat is off to those with the balls to take the risk.

pjm

I have woven in and out of the "biz" for the past 20 or so years in different capacities. It has helped as supplimental income.

6.I thought about opening my own shop, so I worked for GW for 4 months as an assistant manager to see what it was like. I liked the guys in the shop and the customers, but the higher ups seemed like ers (and one over-boss was a complete hole). I quit and never opened my own.

I meant they were s, and one was a complete .

5

yes and doing very well at it

I would rather have cancer…

I am sure those with cancer would rather have a hobby business.

Nope – not for me

I am sure those with cancer would rather have a hobby business.

Indeed. Having not long been told one of our good friends has it and it's down in the lymph nodes so she needs chemo and a mastectomy, with no surety of either working and 2 kids of 15 and 11 plus a husband.

I know which I'd rather have.

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