Are you a woodworker for years, or is it just a hobby that you’ve picked up recently?
Wooden goods have always been in demand, mostly because of their timeless appeal/beauty, and they also usually last longer than their synthetic counterparts.
If woodworking is something you thoroughly enjoy, then this craftsmen ship can be turned into a successful business.
In this post, from furniture to decor, we will cover the most profitable woodworking business ideas you need to know to get started on your journey toward entrepreneurship.
So, grab your tools, and let’s get started!
Top woodworking business ideas
Before we move to our list of ideas, I want to mention something important.
I strongly believe that building a brand is vital for any business to achieve long-term success and stand out from the crowd.
Regardless of the industry, it helps
create recognition,
gives credibility, and
improves customer loyalty.
Hence when it comes to woodworking businesses, the same principles apply.
In today’s digital landscape, having an online presence is necessary to build a brand.
So let’s discuss some online ways/ideas that can help you
Get more exposure,
Increase the credibility of your woodworking business, and connect you with your audience.
Launch a woodworking blog.
One of the best ways to build a brand is to build out a blog. (This site is my personal brand)
Blog does not need physical labor like woodworking, but it needs patience and time and has the higher potential to get you to a wider audience (than just a wood working shop).
Now what would you publish with a woodworking blog? (honestly, you’ll never run out of topics)
You can write about…
- Your favorite woodworking tools
- Updates about your current projects
- Woodworking tips
- Projects tutorials etc
And how this would bring you money???
- You can show display ads on your blog.
- Include affiliate links to products that you write about.
- Sell physical/digital copies of your ebooks or woodworking plans.
- Sell your woodworking course through this blog (more on this later in the post)
- Create a store on your site and sell your physical woodworking pieces.
So starting a blog is undoubtedly a lot of work.
But you can pull it off if you’re truly serious about your craft and want to share your knowledge with others.
Alright…
What’s the next route (and business idea)???
Launch a woodworking YouTube channel.
Yes, start a YouTube channel…
What do most people do when they need help with a skill or particular technique?
They’ll go on YouTube!
There are a ton of folks who have achieved success on YouTube by making tutorials for skills they have.
Don’t worry if you are not a PRO woodworker (or just doing it as a hobby)
Viewers enjoy following someone on their journey as they go through each project.
You will give them a chance to avoid your mistakes and replicate your successes.
My friends that live less than 45 minutes from my office run a woodworking YouTube channel called Woodbrew.
Once your YouTube channel is live, you can earn through:
- Adding affiliate links in your description.
- Running ads on your videos (through the YouTube Partner Program).
- Collaborating with other brands and getting sponsorships.
Teach an online woodworking course.
An online course is a fantastic alternative if you want to build a direct connection with your audience by sharing your knowledge.
Depending on your skill set and the effort you choose to put into it, there are many ways to build an online course.
You may start by creating instructional videos to post on a platform like Skillshare.
Instead of someone purchasing your course, you are compensated based on how many views you’ve had from paying members.
It’s a simple method that requires little money up front to produce your tutorials.
The second (and better) choice is to develop your own course.
Though it might appear complicated, creating your own online course is actually very straightforward.
All you have to do is write, take pictures, make videos, or combine all three to generate your content.
Then use an online courses platform like Thinkific or Teachable to turn it into an interactive course.
And if you are confused about which platform you should pick, here is my deep dive video on the four top ones and why I picked Podia over others for my courses.
Sell your wood projects on Etsy
Etsy is a heaven for people like you.
Well, I meant the craftsmen!!!
It has a sizeable market of woodwork buyers as well.
As of March 2023, the Etsy marketplace has active sellers and active buyers of 5.9 million and 89.9 million, respectively.
It is straightforward to use, and seller accounts are free to setup.
Etsy charges a listing fee and a transaction fee for every item you sell on the site.
When looking at how much Etsy takes per sale, you’ll find that you pay $0.20 for each item you list and a 6.5% transaction fee for every sale.
The items that have more chances of sale on Etsy are…
Wooden wall art and photo frames
Wooden pens and pencils
Custom cutting boards
Wooden Candle holders
Wooden jewelry and Jewelry Boxes
Wooden toys and puzzles
Utensils ( including wooden spoons)
Storage boxes
Coat racks
Cup racks
Wooden iPod stand
Wooden planter boxes
Wooden business card holder
Essentially, if you can make it, there’s someone out there who’s likely to buy it!
Sell custom furniture
If you like to take on bigger projects, building custom furniture can be a fantastic route for you.
For this, you need to promote your work.
Take some nice images of your projects and
Send them to your friends and family,
Set your WhatsApp status
Post on your social media channels
Post on Facebook groups
Create a listing on the Facebook Marketplace
Showcase your products at local events
These all are free (or low-cost) ways to promote your products.
Here are some custom furniture items that will sell like hotcakes:
- Beds and dog beds
- Wall shelving
- Bookshelf
- Chairs
- Desks
- Storage cabinets
- Baby cradles and cribs
- Deck/patio furniture
- Island butcher block
- Doors
- Consoles
- Dining tables
- End tables
- Vanities
- Closets
Here is some motivational talk for you (while riding a bike) to help you kickstart your woodworking business. Watch this video below.
Hold in-person woodworking classes
Hosting in-person woodworking lessons could be one of the terrific ways to build your business if you enjoy interacting with others.
You can start small by teaching your students how to make frames.
Maybe you only want to teach advanced learners who want to take on more complex projects.
It’s entirely up to you!
Simple projects like wooden pencil manufacturing can be taught, as well as more difficult ones like building a kitchen cabinet.
You would need to rent an appropriate venue or host the class in your own workshop.
Of course, there are extra expenses for in-person classes.
You would have to pay for:
- Lumber for you and your students to work on
- Tools and woodworking equipment
- Space rent
You can factor these costs into the fees that your students will pay you.
If you love feeling like you’re a part of your community, this is undoubtedly one of the most enjoyable business concepts for woodworkers!
Ideally, you’ll get to meet a lot of new people.
They will spread the word about you if they enjoy your classes.
There are a few options for marketing your classes.
Social media comes to the rescue again!
Posting on local Facebook groups would be your first step.
You might also consider placing flyers on local noticeboards or buying ads in the neighborhood paper.
Hosting live classes does require more funds upfront than most of the suggestions on this list.
It can, however, also be highly lucrative financially and socially.
PS: You can record your in-person classes (or do them live) and upload them on your YouTube channel. This would help you build your online presence on the side.
Open a woodworking shop
Maybe there are already many woodworkers in your area, and the market is pretty fierce.
If so, why not create a shop and make money by selling other people’s work?
You can purchase their best products in bulk at wholesale rate, then resell them with profit margins that are within reason.
If you’d like to add your own touches to existing wood furniture, try a furniture flipping business.
You’ll have to source vintage or discarded wooden furniture, then make the necessary fixes and upgrades.
Become a woodwork contractor.
The expertise of woodworkers is required for many building and construction projects.
People hire woodworkers to build cabinets into the wall, decorate ceilings with moldings, or install wooden flooring.
You can establish yourself as the premier woodwork contractor in your area!
The more folks know about you, the better it is for your venture.
This business idea will work best in areas where folks are redoing their homes.
FAQs- Woodworking business opportunities
How to make money woodworking?
Here are the ways to make money woodworking in bullet points:
Sell your handmade wood creations online through platforms such as Etsy or in person at craft fairs or markets.
Offer woodworking services such as furniture repair, custom cabinetry, or home renovation.
Teach woodworking classes to others who are interested in learning the craft.
Create woodworking tutorials on YouTube or other platforms and monetize them through ads or sponsorships.
Write woodworking books or articles for magazines and websites.
Create woodworking plans for others to use to create their own wood projects and sell them online.
What are the most profitable woodworking projects to build and sell?
Here are some of the most profitable woodworking projects to sell.
Farmhouse-style dining tables
Rustic wooden signs
Wine racks
Cutting boards
Custom picture frames
Children’s toys, such as puzzles and blocks
Decorative shelves
Dog beds
Wooden phone cases
Jewelry boxes
Coffee tables
Wooden planters
Wooden serving trays
Wooden coasters
How much money can you make woodworking?
The amount of money you can make woodworking depends on several factors, including your skills, the demand for your products or services, and your marketing and sales strategies.
The money you can make can range between a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
The bottom line
With all that said, if you’re a woodworking enthusiast looking to turn your passion into a profitable business, there are many opportunities available to you.
From selling handmade products to offering woodworking services or teaching classes, the possibilities are endless.
By focusing on high-quality products, effective branding, and targeted marketing strategies, you can build a successful woodworking business that meets the needs and preferences of your target audience.
Whether you’re a seasoned woodworker or just starting out, the key to success is to stay passionate, stay creative, and stay focused on your goals.
