Making a Living with Woodworking – Business Ideas

Woodworking has been practiced for thousands of years and remains a favorite pastime for many people. 

But for some, it’s more than simply a pastime; it’s a means of living. 

With the development of the do-it-yourself and home improvement cultures, the desire for one-of-a-kind, handcrafted wooden products has never been greater. 

This article will explain how to turn your passion for woodworking into a lucrative business. 

A Man Working On Wood in His Shop.

The Best Woodworking Business Ideas To Consider Trying This Year

You can launch a small business using various methods based on your passion for woodworking.

Some of these techniques involve selling more lightweight things that can be manufactured relatively quickly.

Some demand more effort and generate higher-quality goods that you may sell for a higher price.

I’ll also discuss how you can make money teaching carpentry to others.

Sell Your Wooden Creations On Etsy

Etsy is one of the most well-known platforms for selling handicrafts.

Fortunately, Etsy also has a substantial woodwork market.

Here are some of the most profitable woodworking projects you may offer on the platform:

  • Wooden wall decor
  • Artwork and photograph frames
  • Wooden pens and pencils
  • Customized chopping boards
  • Candle holders
  • Jewelry chests
  • Wooden games and toys
  • Chopsticks of lacquered wood
  • Wooden jewelry
  • Birdhouses Utensils
  • USB drives
  • Card and telephone holders
  • Flower boxes
  • Storage chests
  • Coat hangers
  • Fruit bowls
  • Wooden signboards
  • Cup holders
  • Clocks
  • Wooden chimes

If you can make it, someone will likely buy it!

Etsy is simple to use, the seller account is free to create, and you may begin selling your products within an hour. 

On Etsy, you sell to a pre-existing customer base, making it great for beginners.

You can capitalize on AI writing tools, write compelling product descriptions and capture attractive photos.

This will ensure that you rank well in search engine results.

Related reading: Thing To Sell On Etsy – Learn About It Here.

Sell Custom Furniture

Making custom furniture could be a good woodworking business if you like working on more significant projects with a creative brief.

Take pictures of the furniture you’ve made for yourself or your family and use them to sell your services.

There are numerous methods for selling custom-made furniture.

Posting photographs to local Facebook groups and the Facebook Marketplace is one of the most straightforward methods to get started.

Your only costs will be the resources you use to market your work, as you now have a free place to do so!

Here are a few pieces of furniture that will sell like hotcakes:

  • Beds and dog beds
  • Bookshelf
  • Chairs
  • Desks
  • Storage lockers
  • Cradles and cribs for infants
  • Outdoor/patio furnishings
  • Island carving block
  • Doors
  • Consoles
  • Dining tables
  • Vanity Cabinets

Setting up a website for your custom woodworking business is an investment that will get you good returns in the long run. 

Your website will serve as your online portfolio by showing off each wooden product you make, which will build trust with your clients.

With some help from SEO, your website may help you expand your business by making it easy for potential customers to find you online.

You should create social media accounts and upload images of your work on them.

Start A Woodworking Blog

If you appreciate woodworking but are interested in something other than building items for other people, a blog is an excellent method to monetize your skills.

If you start a blog about a hobby, you will always have ideas to write about.

Your blog on woodworking may include the following:

  • The preferred woodworking tools that you can recommend.
  • Status reports on your projects.
  • How woodworking influences your creative endeavors
  • Advice on woodworking
  • Tutorials for projects

Then, how do you intend to monetize your woodworking blog? Easy! 

  1. You could allow advertisements on your blog.
  2. Include affiliate links to products you discuss in your writing.
  3. Sell print and digital versions of your ebooks and woodworking plans.
  4. Collaborate with other brands in the same market.

Although blogging may not require physical work in the same manner as carpentry, it does require time and dedication.

If you want many people to read your blog, you must do more than write blog posts.

You must also work on search engine optimization (SEO) and marketing.

In the world of blogging, more readers equal more income.

You can also consider selling items or handmade wooden decorations.

Some of your future fans may wish to own one of your masterpieces.

However, selling digital products is far easier!

Digital products are remarkable because each can be sold an unlimited times.

Launching a blog requires a lot of time, effort, and energy, but it is possible if you are sincerely dedicated to your art and want to share your skills.

Related Reading: SEO Plagiarism Tools – Deep Dive Here.

Create a YouTube woodworking channel.

Numerous individuals have found success on YouTube by creating tutorials for their abilities.

If you think you’re good at woodworking, you can start your YouTube channel and teach others what you know.

It is acceptable to be just getting started!

You will also require some equipment to get you started on your channel.

The audience enjoys watching a person’s journey as they complete each assignment.

You will provide the audience with the opportunity to avoid your mistakes.

Once your YouTube channel is functional and starts getting views, you can generate revenue with the YouTube Partner Program.

Related Reading: How To Get A YouTube Sponsor – Read More Here.

Teach An Online Course In Woodworking

An online course is an excellent option if you enjoy and have passion for your knowledge of others and are interested in passive income.

There are many ways to create an online course, depending on your skill set and the work you’re willing to put in.

You can begin by generating instructional videos for platforms such as Udemy.

Numerous free and low-cost resources are accessible online to assist with the procedure.

Write, take photographs, create videos, or mix all three to develop content.

Then, use a platform for online courses like Thinkific or Teachable to turn the information into an interactive course.

Offer On-Site Woodworking Classes

If you enjoy communicating with others, hosting in-person woodworking sessions could be one of the best woodworking business ideas for you.

You can begin by teaching your students how to construct frames.

Simple projects like making wooden pencils can be taught alongside more complex ones like constructing a kitchen cabinet.

To do this, you’ll need to rent a suitable space or hold the session in your workshop.

There are additional costs associated with in-person classes.

Sell Woodworking Blueprints and Instruction

Selling woodworking plans and blueprints is another beautiful method for using your woodworking skills to earn passive income.

You may sell PDF instructions or blueprints online if you enjoy designing diverse projects.

This project’s setup is time-consuming because each step must be thoroughly explained and documented.

However, you can sell each plan as often as customers are willing to purchase it after you finish.

This means you can earn a passive monthly income without creating new products.

You might sell your blueprints or plans online via Etsy or your website.

If you start a blog or register a social media account, you could show people the finished product and get them to buy the instructions.

Instructions can be in a printable PDF format or a video. 

Open A Woodworking Shop

Perhaps several woodworkers are already in your area, and the competition is tough.

If so, why not open a store and make money selling the work of others?

You can purchase and resell their most outstanding products with reasonable profit margins.

You need to stock a range of wooden goods in your store and open it in a competitive marketplace to succeed in this line of employment.

Consider starting a furniture flipping business to customize pre-existing wooden furniture.

It would be best to find vintage or discarded wooden furniture, make the necessary repairs and enhancements, and flip those profits. 

Work As a Wood Worker In Construction Business

Numerous building and construction operations need experienced woodworkers.

People hire woodworkers to build cabinets into walls, secure aluminum sheets with wood parts, add moldings to ceilings and put down wooden floors.

You may position yourself as the leading woodwork contractor in your area!

The more people know about you, the better it is for your woodworking business.

Related Reading: How to Start A Painting Company – Learn More Here.

How To Start A Woodworking Business

Get The Right License

As with any other business, you must register yours as the proprietor.

Additionally, you also need a business license and GST registration.

Prepare Your Goods

What will you be selling?

Once you’ve decided on your product(s), you must determine your manufacturing schedule, technique, and pricing.

Obtain the Necessary Materials and Equipment

You could already have this stuff, so skip this step.

If you still have to, you must choose the right tools and machines for production.

Collect Natural resources like wood and other consumables.

Improve Your Process

It is usually preferable to improve one’s working methods.

This becomes essential if you have a team.

Quality Assurance

Examine the final products to ensure there are no flaws or faults.

Only those things that pass the check are provided to the buyer.

Ensure that the products are packaged adequately to prevent damage during transport.

Related Reading: Best Side Hustles For Men – Check Them Out Here.

Final Thoughts – Woodworking Business Ideas

Woodworking has always been a lucrative hobby since high-quality crafts always stay popular.

Now is the time to monetize your talents and share them with others.

Try one of the above woodworking business ideas and get crafting!

Disclosure:  this article might contain links to the resources discussed.
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Brooks Conkle

Brooks is an Entrepreneur, Sponge, Father, Husband, & Follower of the Golden Rule. He has over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur after graduating with a BSBA in Finance from Auburn University. He’s addicted to growing new business ideas and any food that includes chocolate and peanut butter. Brooks is a firm believer in creating multiple streams of income and creates content here on BrooksConkle.com to help other hustlers in the areas of marketing, online business, personal finance, and real estate.