I’m wanting to start putting out free patterns, but not sure exactly what goes into that, and potential fees, etc… can anyone tell me how this works? Sorry if this doesn’t make much sense… lol
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Making free patterns has no cost to you or anyone getting your patterns. They are free in every way!
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You also don’t need a business license lol (all you need is a Ribblr account and some patterns!)
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Um… making free patterns is free-also why would you need a business license on Ribblr, just your account
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I heard you needed a business license sooo idek
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Free patterns can come with a cost if you get them tech edited before releasing them. Although recommended for quality, its not a requirement! I can’t think of any other costs you would incur.
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If someone sells a make (of your pattern, free or paid) Ribblr will pay you a % so you have to set up Stripe. But there are no fees that I know of in having Stripe that I’ve encountered. Of course I don’t sell anything so a designer who does sell patterns here can address that part. Or search Ribblr’s help center. Definitely no business license requirement that I’ve come across.
Edited: the entity that would require a business to get a license to operate “might” be the city or town you live in. So you can ask them. If you are in an unincorporated area your county might require it.
My county doesn’t issue business licenses but my city does
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so even if i listed free patterns only, i would still need a stripe account? unless i said they couldnt sell makes?
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Not sure @Ribblr would best answering that, I’m not sure since I don’t design
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ive heard mixed answers from people saying you do need a business license, and you dont… so ive been confused. i know i just wanna get some of my patterns out there without having to deal with payments/fees. i just want to have free patterns out if that makes sense 
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I found part of the help center that shows how to limit sales of makes of your patterns. Not sure if it says you can ban them outright. You’d best message Ribblr about that
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you definitely don’t need a license for free patterns, and as far as I know not for pad patterns. in order to sell patterns, you should make a Stripe account. but i’ve only made free patterns for a while and I don’t have a stripe account. people usually don’t try to sell random patterns that they made, but if they do usually people don’t buy them in my opinion since most of the people in ribblr know how to crochet and can make the thing themselves. hope this helps!
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okay cool! thank you for the help! i really appreciate it 
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Your city would be the one that would require you to get a business license, not Ribblr. If you stick to just making free patterns, hopefully they wouldn’t require you to get one, but only they could tell you for sure because every city has different rules
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A business license is only for a business that is governed by a licensing board (hair salon/dentist office/real estate agency/ restaurant).
A business permit is a permit issued by your local municipality that allows you to do business in a physical location, usually to ensure your municipality raises funds and collect taxes and that you will not be breaking zoning laws.
Some municipalities require you to have a peddlers permit if you will be temporarily doing business (food truck/farmer’s market).
Selling patterns online would not qualify under any of those, but you will be responsible for taxes for any income you bring in.
Giving away exclusively free patterns is not a business, therefore you will not be held to any of the above categories. Unless you were handing them out on a street corner, and then you might be required to obtain a canvassing permit.
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Ahhh thank you!! This is super helpful.
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My city seems to be more strict than that, it states that any person or company that conducts business here requires one. That’s why the OP needs to ask her own town/city. I’m hoping that as long as she has no revenue they won’t require it but only they can answer that with certainty
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There are no fees for free patterns. You can read more about it here: Payments Policy | Ribblr.
When someone sells a make based on your pattern, you get 50¢ designer royalty even if your pattern is free. However, you would need to have a Stripe account connected to your shop in order to collect these royalties.
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do the payments and royalties stay somewhere in your ribblr account until you get a stripe account or do they just go away if you aren’t connected to stripe?
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You simply won’t be able to receive payments or make sales if you don’t have a Stripe account connected.
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