Necessity made me start my quilting business. When the State of California downsized, I lost my job. I wasn't thrilled with the job anyway, but it paid the bills. So, with my kids grown and in college, I decided to look at the setback as an opportunity. I knew I loved quilting, so I explored starting a quilting business.

That was in 2004. It's been a whirlwind of learning and success ever since! If you have been thinking of starting a quilting business but are afraid that today's economy will not support it, think again. Think about your own economy rather than the country's.

If you could stand to have some extra money, start a quilting business to earn some. Remember, even in bad economic times, there are people who are virtually unaffected by the times. And, depending on the quilting business you choose, the economy might help your business.

For example, if you are a quilter who ha s lots of remnants or fabrics you just haven't used, why not sell those to other quilters? If you offer them at a discounted price, you create a win-win situation. You make money from your quilting business, and quilters save money by buying from you.

Statistics show that even though quilters prefer buying supplies from retail stores and quilt shows, the number of quilters shopping for supplies and services online has grown. Back in 2003, only 17 percent of quilters bought more than half of their supplies online or by mail. Just three years later, that percentage had jumped to 20 percent.

The 2006 survey shows statistics for quilters who bought more than half their supplies online. That survey doesn't even explore how many quilters bought less than half their supplies via the world wide web. I'm sure that number is much larger!!

There are many ways you could choose to start a quilting business - thanks to high speed internet. High speed internet allows users to download files more quickly and safely than dial-up connections. This means that if your quilting business involves selling patterns, your customers could buy the pattern and download it right away. No shipping and handling charges (or extra work for you) since the pattern won't have to be sent by postal carrier!

More quilters surveyed reported having high speed internet access. In 2006, 73 percent of quilters surveyed had high speed internet access. In 2003, only 62 percent reported high speed access..

Another good thing about starting a quilting business online is that your business will be truly global. Quilting is not just an American hobby. Quilting supplies and services offered through online quilting businesses reach much farther than the United State's slumping economy. Don't let a nation's economic woes create a slump for you or your quilting business!

Internet businesses are great for a quilting business because the owner can dodge the expenses associated with renting or leasing store space, an added utility bill, etc. When you work from home, you are already paying those house expenses. Plus, you won't feel the pressure to "sink or swim" that a retail storefront carries with it!

If you do decide that an internet quilting business is the way to go, keep track of your home expenses. If you dedicate a certain area of your home to your quilting business, chances are that you can deduct some of those come tax time.