How to Start a Creative Business from your Passion

If you’re wondering how to start a creative business, the truth is: it doesn’t have to begin with a perfect plan or a big strategy. Often, it starts with something much simpler — following what you already love doing.

In this post, I’ll share a bit of my story: how my business began (without me even realising it), and some gentle steps you can take if you’re ready to start turning your creativity into something more.

How my creative business started (without a business plan)

When I first started sharing my work online, I had no idea it would grow into a business. Back in the early 2000s, I was blogging just for fun. I had a decent-sized audience and a unique voice, but no intention of turning it into income. It was something I did alongside university and part-time jobs — simply for the joy of it.

The thing I became known for was making tutorials on how to turn men’s shirts into skirts and dresses (this was before upcycling became trendy). One of those tutorials had thousands of views and shares. Looking back, I sometimes wish I’d realised the potential I was sitting on. I could have turned those instructions into an ebook — it would have been such a lovely opportunity. But at the time, I didn’t even know it was possible.

Discovering natural dyeing and changing direction

A few years later, I discovered natural dyeing and fell completely in love with it. Something clicked, and I knew this was what I wanted to focus on.

I started a new blog under my own name — Rebecca Desnos — and began dreaming of a handmade clothing line, all naturally dyed. But sewing was exhausting for me. Then I had babies, and time became even more precious. So I simplified things.

Instead of sewing garments, I stitched scarves by hand from bamboo satin (a vegan alternative to silk, although not the most sustainable choice). I also bought organic cotton totes and cushion covers. I dyed them and sold everything on Etsy. Orders came in — sometimes slowly, sometimes in flurries. Then custom requests started. I loved the creativity of it all, but the admin and messages took up so much energy.

From selling to teaching

Those early days taught me so much. As I began sharing my process on Instagram, the questions about natural dyeing came flooding in. The interaction was wonderful — but also quite overwhelming at times.

Then one day it hit me: what if I could share the knowledge behind what I was doing — not just the finished products?

That was the moment everything began to shift. I moved from simply making and selling, to teaching and creating resources. Looking back now, I can see how it all connects. Even those old shirt tutorials fit perfectly with the way I now teach. It’s all been part of the same thread.

Where I am now

Since then, my business has continued to grow in ways I never could have imagined. I’ve self-published several books, created video classes to teach natural dyeing, and built a beautiful, supportive community inside my membership — Natural Dye Club.

Over the years, I’ve slowly shaped a business that’s rooted in creativity, teaching, and connection. And it all began with simply sharing what I was making.

Five gentle steps to start a creative business

If you’re in the early stages of building something — making things, sharing your process, and wondering what’s possible — here are some simple steps that helped me in the beginning. They can be a gentle starting point for your own journey. This is how to start a creative business.

1. Start with what you already love making

You don’t need a brand-new idea or a perfect niche. Begin with what you’re naturally drawn to — the work you’d do even if no one were watching. Passion and curiosity will carry you much further than trying to force a “business idea.”

2. Share your process (not just the polished result)

When you show what’s happening behind the scenes — the messy middle, the experiments, the little things that inspire you — people feel more connected to your work. It’s often the quiet, everyday moments that draw people in and make them want to stay.

3. Notice the questions people ask you

Pay attention to the messages and comments you get. Those questions are clues. They’ll help you understand what people are curious about — and that might lead you to your first product, service, or course.

4. Let things grow naturally

You don’t have to plan everything upfront. Let your offerings — whether that’s a handmade item, a guide, or a digital class — grow from what you’re already doing. Follow the threads that feel most exciting. Test, adjust, and evolve.

5. Build in a way that fits your life

There’s no one-size-fits-all formula. If you’re balancing parenting or another job, it’s okay to go slowly. Consistency matters more than speed. Even a little progress each month adds up over time.

You’re already sitting on so much potential

Starting a creative business doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. It can begin with something small and meaningful, like sharing what you’re already making.

The path won’t always be linear, and it might shift along the way (mine certainly did), but every step teaches you something.

We live in an incredible time where you can build a business from your phone — in the quiet moments between everything else.

Your skills, your story, your way of seeing the world — that’s your foundation. You don’t need fancy tools or any money to get started. Just the courage to begin and see where it leads.

Free guide to help you begin

If you’d like a bit of guidance as you take your first steps, I’ve put together a free guide to help:

👉 Download The Creative Business Blueprint