It's actually hard to make any significant money doing that, but it's a good way to make some side/starting money if you enjoy doing it. I wouldn't try to mix food with anything else, health regulations are can be very complex.

I had the idea of making ceramic figures and then using them for a mold to make pewter figures. Like for role playing games. Make figures for AD&D, Battlemech, Traveller, Civil War, etc. I could also make chess sets and charge more for a complete set. Maybe sell them at a booth at a gaming convention?

Not a bad idea, but you really have to plan on making no money for a longer period of time. I've read books on opening your own buisness, and they say to plan on 2 years before making a profit.

Also, you need to plan on more then $24,000 if you want two employees. I would say that if you plan to pay them $6/hr then you should plan your expenses for having them at $9/hr. Remember you have to pay salary taxes on top of what you pay them.

If you really want to head that way, hit a book store and buy some books on opening a buisness. My personal recomendation would be to get your out of the house buisness going and see how much of client base you can build.

Ok I did not get to the part about finaces for the business and what to use to support employees. Right now we are getting into research and statistics. Which is why I said I wanted to wait until I graduate. :) This is a rough draft of a plan, not set in stone, it can be changed.

The idea was to start it out of my house and have others work out of their house and make the things we need. Then rent a table at a craft fair, flea market, or gaming convetion to sell them at. Maybe start up an E-Business web site to sell the stuff from. After making our goal of start-up money, we can open up a store.