So, what do you need to get set up your magic business? Remember, this is needed whether you are going full-time or part time:

• Register that you are earning self-employed income
• Produce numbered invoices
• Open a business bank account
• Have Public Liability Insurance
• Have a website with your own domain and email address

Not essential, but definitely needed for generating new and ongoing business:

• Your unique brand
• Marketing material and advertising
• Systems for running your business

The biggest mistake people make is skipping over the “boring” steps of creating a business first and jump to the more fun steps of designing logos and advertising. But how can you really promote a business without having a business in place to promote?!

Friends and family already know you, they aren’t worried about you having suitable insurance; or you not turning up on time (as you’ll likely already be a guest anyway) and chances are they don’t want an invoice or receipt as they are paying in cash on the night – if you’re getting paid at all. A booker organising a prestigious corporate event, or a bride organising her wedding reception needs more assurance when it comes to picking their entertainment.

We’ll review each of the items to set up your business here, then check out the pages on generating enquiries and bookings once you have the solid foundations of your business in place to build.

Register that you are earning self-employed income

Even if you are planning on remaining in full-time employment and only taking bookings in your spare time, you still need to register your intentions with the Inland Revenue (in the UK; the IRS in the USA, or equivalent in your country).

This will mean that you will need to complete a tax-return each year. This isn’t that hard to do online nowadays.

The down side is that the income you earn is liable to tax, on the up side it means that the costs incurred in running your magic business (including props, tricks, marketing, website design and fuel costs) can be off-set against the income you earn.

It’s even possible, especially in your first year when costs involved in setting up your magic business could be larger than the income you earn, that it may even off-set the tax you’ve already paid your job and you could get a tax rebate.

When talking tax I do recommend speaking to the Inland Revenue or an accountant for advice about your own situation. Tax rules vary in different countries, and rules, laws and limits change regularly.

Produce numbered invoices

Saying “I’ll be there at 8” may be fine for your friend when they ask you to do a few tricks at their party, but a corporate booker will require confirmation in writing, as will a bride booking a magician for her wedding in 18 months time; especially if they are paying a deposit up front.

I recommend using an invoice that incorporates the conditions of your contract. This can be printed or emailed to the client as a pdf document. The invoice should:

• Be on headed paper with your address and contact details,
• Have a different number on every one,
• Confirm the agreed fee and payment terms,
• How the client can pay,
• Date, time and location of the event,
• What service you are providing (and if necessary, what you aren’t),
• Any other terms and conditions.

A contract template is includes with the various How To Be A Professional Magician courses.

Open a business bank account

This isn’t a legal requirement (at least in the UK) to have a business bank account, but it really it is highly recommended and gives your prospective clients peace of mind that you are professional.

Having a separate account for business income and expenses also separates your business dealing from your personal transactions, making it a lot easier for you (or your accountant) to produce your annual accounts.

Business accounts often aren’t free, but most banks offer a free period (usually around a year), and when you do start having to pay it will likely be in the region of £5 to £10 per month for the average magician. Nowadays most transactions are made electronically so choose a tariff which benefits this.

Have Public Liability Insurance

Many UK venues insist that anyone working at events there must be covered by at least £2,000,000 Public Liability Insurance. I personally have £5,000,000 cover, though how I could possibly achieve that much damage doing card tricks is beyond me!

Have a website with your own domain and email address

From a booker’s point of view it shows that you are professional, and that you’ve invested into your business. The domain name should be unique and most likely your name. If your name is not available by itself try adding the word “magic” or “magician” to make it unique.

You can set up a free basic website and Facebook business page, but buying your own domain name is cheap (around £/$5-10 per year) and a basic hosting package isn’t much more.

It also means you have a personal email address email. Avoid “free” email addresses for business use, such as gmail, hotmail and yahoo accounts. These don’t look professional. If you want you can re-direct it to your hotmail or gmail account, and then use that email once contact has been made.

A good tip is to avoid such words as “info” and “admin” in the email address, as it is possible that your emails will be more likely to end up in your client’s spam folder as opposed to their inbox. Use your name instead.

Learning more

The How To Be A Professional Magician Courses cover everything you need to know to set up a business as a professional magician. The Full Course contains all the information (as well as 30 minute Skype consultation to help you get your business launched), and the abridged courses also cover business set-up.