How to Make Money from Woodworking

Written by: Alexis Schroeder

Publish Date: June 28, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I receive a commission for purchases made through these links, at no cost to you.

Are you a hobbyist woodworker and want to make money woodworking?

You can totally do this as the market is continuing to grow for unique, custom-designed pieces. 

With the right talent, craftsmanship, and business plan, you can turn this hobby into a profitable business.

Before you turn your woodworking hobby into a profitable business, you first need to hone in on your skills and create a diverse portfolio of projects.

Doing this will give you a leg up from others in the industry and showcase your abilities. This will attract new customers who are searching for unique, custom-made woodwork. 

List of the most profitable woodworking projects

  • Picnic tables
  • Custom furniture 
  • Wooden utensils
  • Coffee tables
  • Wooden signs
  • Wooden toys or wooden blocks
  • Wood carving art

You can sell your woodworking pieces online, local market, flea markets, fairs, and festivals.

Examples of people selling wooden items on Etsy

Etsy is one of the best ways to get inspiration for wood projects. You can find so many different ways to make extra money here with an Etsy online store. 

Other ways to make money woodworking

  • Offer woodworking classes
  • Create online courses
  • Sell woodworking plans online

Starting a Woodworking Business

Identifying Your Woodworking Skills

Once you’ve come up with the idea that you want to turn your hobby into a profitable small business, it’s time to assess your woodworking skills and see if you can improve.

Take this time to learn and practice various techniques and work with different types of wood.

Once you do these things, it’ll help you determine what kind of woodworking projects you most enjoy doing and what you can improve on.

The more proficient you get at woodworking, the higher your chances of running a profitable business.

Setting up a Workshop

Now that you’ve honed in on your woodworking skills, it’s time to set up a workshop if you haven’t already.

This is a space where you’re going to want to work efficiently and safely.

The space should be well-lit, properly ventilated, and have enough room for your woodworking tools and equipment.

Here are some key elements to consider when setting up your workshop:

  • Workspace: Make sure you have enough space for your workbench, tools, and storage.
  • Electrical outlets: Ensure there are enough outlets for all your power tools and good lighting.
  • Tool Storage: Organize your tools in a way that makes it easy to access them when needed.
  • Safety Equipment: Have safety equipment such as eye protection, hearing protection, and a first-aid kit readily available.

Related: 30 Best Side Hustles To Start Right Now

Legal Approvals and Permits

As with any business, you need to address any legal requirements and obtain any necessary permits for your business.

Start by looking at zoning laws and regulations in your area. Make sure that a woodworking business is permitted and allowed in your location.

Once you find out it is allowed, you may need to obtain special licenses or permits from your local government.

You need to also consider forming an LLC to protect your personal assets.

This makes your business appear much more professional and will help separate your personal finances from your business finances.

Don’t get overwhelmed by this. I had to do this same exact thing for running my blog from home. I contacted an online lawyer from A Self Guru who specializes in blogs and small businesses. She helped me even form an LLC in my state.

Now that you’ve developed your skills, set up a woodworking space, and handled legal requirements, you can move onto the next step to turn this into a profitable business.

Photo by Dominik Scythe on Unsplash

Profitable Woodworking Projects

Furniture and Home Decor

One of the most popular woodworking projects is furniture and home decor items. 

These projects are in high demand at festivals and online marketplaces. People love the woodworking skills and creativity in furniture pieces.

Some amazing furniture items include:

  • Floating shelves (pictured below)
  • Coffee table
  • Bedside table
  • Plant table
  • Bench
  • Bookshelves
  • Dining tables
  • Dog crates

Keep an eye on local and online trends by seeing what people are buying on sites like Etsy. This helps you stay attractive and desirable in this business.

Most importantly, quality is key. Customers highly appreciate well-made and sturdy products that will last. 

Related: 10 Practical Tips For Balancing A Side Hustle And Full-Time Job

Photo by Andrea Davis on Unsplash

Garden and Outdoor Items

Another great option for woodworking is building garden and outdoor items. 

People love handmade work that combines both functionality and aesthetic appeal.

The key to doing this right is focusing on products that enhance the visual appeal of an outdoor space and provides solutions to common gardening issues, like having no where to pot plants. 

This is where you come in and build a potting bench in your woodworking shop.

Some amazing garden and outdoor items include:

  • Planters
  • Adirondack chairs
  • Outdoor dining tables
  • Potting bench for plants
  • Birdhouses

Once you’ve excelled in your woodworking skills, you can create elaborate projects such as gazebos or pergolas. 

Handcrafted Gifts

Do a quick search on Etsy for handcrafted woodworking gifts and hundreds of listings will come up.

Some amazing handcrafted gift items include:

  • Personalized art pieces
  • Flags
  • Address signs
  • Clocks
  • Cutting boards
  • Custom wine racks
  • Carved wooden boxes

People love receiving gifts that are handmade and made with love. This is a profitable area you may want to explore in your woodworking business.

Search online to see what’s popular and what people are interested in buying. 

As with any business, there’s competition. Make yourself stand out by focusing on your woodworking skills and getting really good at what you do.

Create unique and attractive designs using high quality materials.

By doing these things, you’ll really make yourself stand out among others.

Related: How I Make $10,000 A Month With Side Hustles

Photo by Andrew Ruiz on Unsplash

Selling Woodworking Items

E-Commerce Platforms

Running and building a successful woodworking business requires reaching a huge audience.

A great way to do this is by utilizing popular e-commerce platforms to list your handmade woodworking items.

You may want to consider opening an Etsy shop, starting your own website (which means no Etsy fees) or selling on Amazon or eBay.

Listing your items on multiple websites increases eyes on your handmade items and increases visibility. This means a potential for a lot more money and business.

Lumber and other tools needed for woodworking can also be sold online, so this is another money-making option for you.

Make sure that you list the type and dimensions of each piece of wood and prepare the items appropriately. 

You may also want to consider connecting with Woodworkers Guild of America or other organizations like this.

Being in organizations like this provides you with the best resources, support, and networking opportunities for this field.

Craft Fairs and Local Events

One of the best spots to sell your woodworking items is local craft fairs and events.

Craft fairs attract hundreds if not thousands of people who are looking out for a quality handmade piece.

Make sure your booth is visually appealing and organized, with prices on everything. You can even make tables and stands in your booth from your woodworking skills, which will make you stand out even more.

Selling local has a lot of key benefits, such as meeting customers face to face and having your work be spread word of mouth, which can get you a lot of new customers.

Social Media Promotion

Lastly, promote your woodworking business on social media to increase awareness and drive traffic to your online platforms.

This can be done by:

  • Sharing high-quality photos of your finished products
  • Posting videos of your woodworking process or tutorials
  • Engaging with customers and providing prompt responses to their inquiries
  • Connecting with other woodworkers and networking in relevant woodworking communities
  • Utilizing targeted advertising strategies to reach a larger audience

Social media is incredibly helpful these days and will greatly help your woodworking business to gain traction as you gain experience and customers.

Now that you’ve harnessed the power of e-commerce and social media, you’ll be setting yourself up for success and profitability.

Photo by Yasamine June on Unsplash

Maximizing Revenue in Woodworking

Sourcing Materials

To make the most profit in your woodworking business, it’s best if you source materials at the most affordable prices without compromising on quality.

Look out for discounted lumber or reclaimed wood to save on material costs.

Make sure to stay connected with lumper suppliers in your area and compare prices.

Keep the quality of your work consistent even when using affordable materials.

Expanding Your Product Line

Once you’ve created a few items and have been making the same thing for awhile, you may want to consider branching out and offering new products such as:

  • Coasters
  • Toys
  • Picture frames
  • Serving trays
  • Coat racks

The list is really endless.

Experiment with different styles and finishes that cater to different tastes and preferences.

Building a Loyal Customer Base

When you meet potential customers, be friendly and stay connected with them. You can do this by keeping a social media presence and sharing your passion with others.

You could even create a woodworking blog and sell your items on there as well. This blog can showcase your work while you share tips, stories, and projects on your blog.

Doing this will get you new followers regularly and new people looking at your work and potentially buying from you as well. 

On your website, you can even offer deals, discounts, or promotions for returning readers or customers to encourage brand loyalty.

You also need to learn about local and federal regulations for running a small business in your area. A small business lawyer or attorney can help you with this. This is to make sure your business stays legal and compliant.

Once you know how to source high quality materials, expand your product line, and build a solid customer base, you’re woodworking business will take off. 

Keep learning and getting better at your craft and continue to provide your customers with top-quality products.

Best side hustles to start right now

  • Sell printables on Etsy – Selling printables is the #1 side hustle to make money. This can be done on your own schedule and turn into passive income! You can earn over $10,000 a year selling printables.
  • Sell dog treats – Make $1,000+ selling dog treats from the comfort of your home. Be your own boss and make your own schedule.
  • Proofreading – Earn $20+ an hour proofreading from home. Great for people who enjoy editing and working from a computer.
  • Surveys – Make money filling out surveys. You can take as many surveys as you want and earn up to $5 per survey.