While many people see woodworking as a fun, creative, and relaxing way to build pieces of furniture or other wooden projects, it can also be an excellent way to make money during your free time.
Whether you choose to sell your pieces online or through local classifieds, the market for custom pieces of woodwork is booming. In a world full of cheap options, there’s nothing that compares to a piece made of real wood.
In this post, I'll explore some of the best ways you can make money woodworking, easy woodworking projects for beginners, some of the best woodworking projects that sell, and tips to make more money with your woodworking business. Let's get started.
What is Woodworking?
In the simplest of terms, woodworking is essentially using wood to complete projects. These projects could be anything from tables to cabinets. It is a unique skill that becomes easier over time. Here is a great video with some woodworking tips!
Make Money Woodworking (6 Easy Ways to Make Money!)
One thing I love about making money with woodworking is the number of options you have. Not only can you build furniture to make money, but there are some other ideas to help boost your earnings even further.
Build Custom Pieces of Wood Furniture
For those who are more seasoned woodworkers, building custom pieces of furniture is a superb way to make money because of extremely high-profit margins for your pieces.
You could opt to make bed frames, tables, or side tables to get started. It’s common to charge more than $1,000 for custom pieces of furniture making it well worth the time.
Build Other Wood Projects
Whether you’ve decided to make floating shelves or wooden mantels, there are plenty of options to get started. We’ll explore more of these below.
Teach Others About Woodworking
Another great way to make money with your skills is to teach others about it. You could choose to create a class or have individuals pay for personal instruction.
The amount of money you can make teaching classes varies widely depending on your skills and offerings.
Start a Woodworking Blog
Similar to teaching others about woodworking, you could also opt to start a blog dedicated to helping others master their woodworking skills. While starting a blog is not the quickest way to make money, over time your audience will grow and your ability to make money will become easier.
To make money with your blog you can display ads on your website, sell digital products, or offer coaching like mentioned above.
Start a Woodworking YouTube Channel
Just like starting a blog, you might opt to teach others via video. The best place to do this is likely YouTube. You can make money through ad revenue generated by people viewing your videos.
A YouTube channel will often supplement a blog, but it’s possible to only have one.
Flipping Furniture
Sometimes you don't always have to start from scratch to make money. Instead, you can purchase an existing piece of furniture and restore it to sell for a profit. Check out my complete guide to flipping furniture to get started.
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What You Need to Start Making Money Woodworking from Home
Before you can get started woodworking, you’ll need some tools and supplies to get started. While the list below isn’t meant to be a complete list, it’s a great place to get started. You can find a list of my favorite tools here!
- Circle Saw – this will help you cut your wooden pieces into the exact divisions you need. I really like this circle saw.
- Sand Paper – you can opt to purchase a sanding machine for larger pieces or you can purchase individual sheets of sandpaper to get in between those knocks and crannies. If you're looking for a machine, this is a great option on a budget.
- Jig Saw – for some pieces, you'll need to be more agile when cutting and that's where a jigsaw comes into play. This will give you more agility than a circle saw and is simple to operate. If you're looking for a jigsaw, this one is a great option.
- Power Drill – to speed up your work, you’ll want to purchase a power drill so that you can drill holes faster. These are often less than a couple hundred dollars and can last a lifetime. Give this power drill a try.
- Clamps – these can help when attaching two pieces of wood together. It can help you to perfect your drill or it can be used to squeeze together multiple pieces using wood glue.
- Paint or Stain – most wood projects will require paint or stain before completing.
Guide to Making Money Woodworking in Your Garage
The beauty of making money by woodworking is that it can be completed in the comfort of your own garage, basement, or workshop.
For most pieces, the size of your project can easily fit into a garage or workshop. You’ll need to have some free space to work in, though. Here are some tips to help you make money woodworking in your garage.
Clean Up Your Space
The first and most obvious point when deciding to complete woodworking projects in your garage is to ensure you have a clean and decluttered space to work in. This will mean removing any vehicles currently in your garage and give it yourself a clean work area.
Related: How to Make $500 a Day
Install Workbenches
As just mentioned, having a clean area to work is vital to making money with woodworking. You'll want to install or build workbenches for you to work on. You can opt to purchase some like these or build your own.
Keep the Temperature Moderate
One of the challenges when working in a garage is keeping the temperature moderate to ensure your wood does not flex and bend due to massive swings in temperature. To combat this problem, you could choose to use a space heater in the winter months or fans in the summer months.
15 Best Woodworking Projects That Sell
There are many different woodworking projects you can make to sell. Below are some of my favorites to help you make more money.
Custom Furniture
As mentioned previously, custom furniture is in high demand and can be a great way to make money. The options are endless when it comes to furniture.
Planter Boxes
Making custom planters are a great and super-easy way to make money woodworking. You'll need a few pieces of wood and a nice color stain with a few screws to complete this project.
Picture Frames
Picture frames are another great item to build and sell. Similar to planter boxes, they don’t require much work and can be easily shipped and sold online.
Wooden Shelves & Brackets
Custom wooden shelves with brackets can be a great option to sell and make money. These are a simple project that don't require a ton of materials to make.
Cutting Boards
Wooden cutting boards can make a perfect gift and are a great opportunity to make money.
In addition to a custom cutting board, you can also offer engravings into the wood to make it even more personal.
Custom cutting boards can sell for more than $100 for each board, making them highly profitable.
Related: How to Make 10K a Month
Wooden Clocks
Clocks can often be the centerpiece for home decor placed on your walls. They can be as small or large as you’d like them to be, making it a great opportunity to make money. Larger clocks can sell for over $100 and even small clocks can bring in around $50. You can purchase the mechanical pieces for your clock to count time separately, making it simple to complete.
Adirondack Chairs
Anyone with outdoor furniture knows how expensive it can be to purchase. You can easily sell outdoor seating products like Adirondack chairs to place around a patio or fire pit. These chairs can be slightly more difficult to construct than some of the other items on this list but you can easily sell your chair for over $200.
Coffee Tables
Coffee tables are another great woodworking project to sell because of how simple they can be to make. There are many different types and styles of coffee tables to make, giving you endless opportunities. You can sell your coffee tables for well over $200.
Wooden Desks
While desks can be slightly more complex to build, they can also be sold for more than $600 with some selling for thousands. There are many different types of desks and they can be built with various types of woods depending on your client's wants.
Picnic Table
Building a wooden picnic table is an excellent choice to sell or use in your own backyard. These tables can easily be sold to friends and family or online for over $200.
Kids Toys
There are many kids toys built out of wood making it a great opportunity for the holidays or birthdays. Between wooden blocks or a wooden kitchen, you have many options to get started.
Birdhouses
Selling wooden birdhouses is an excellent choice to make money woodworking. These smaller projects can be completed in less time, allowing you to make more and in turn, sell more. Birdhouses can usually be made with a few pieces of wood, some screws or nails, and your favorite paints and stains.
You can also check out these crafts to sell to make money!
Wooden Home Decor
There are thousands of potential wooden home decor pieces you could make and sell. From custom signage to wall art, your options are endless. A quick Pinterest search can help for your inspiration.
Corn Hole Boards
One of my favorite games to play on summer nights or holiday cookouts is corn hole. The wooden boards can easily be constructed and sold for more than $150.
To boost your sales, you’ll want to create boards that stand out. This might mean including lights on your boards or offering custom designs.
Wooden Coat Racks
Coat racks are a household essential and can be constructed with just a few pieces of wood, nails, and your favorite paint or stain making it a perfect item to sell.
Wooden Kitchen Utensils
Wooden kitchen spoons, forks, and other utensils are perfect items to sell because they're used in virtually every home. These items will only require wood to produce making them a cheap option with high-profit margins.
Easy Woodworking Projects for Beginners
Woodworking can be difficult when you first get started. It takes time to master the techniques to obtain the results you desire. Here are a few easy woodworking projects perfect for those just getting started. You can also check out these woodworking blogs for more help!
Floating Shelves
Floating shelves are a great option for beginners because of how simple they are to construct. You’ll need a few pieces of wood and some wood glue, screws, and finish nails to complete the project.
Wooden Storage Boxes
Wooden storage boxes can be quite simple to build for even the newest carpenters. You’ll need some wood, screws, nails, and your favorite paint or stain to complete this simple project.
Wooden Coasters
By making wooden coasters you can not only protect your coffee or side tables but also give them some added life. Coasters will only require a piece of wood to build and your favorite stain. You can coat them with epoxy for an added layer of protection.
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Blanket Ladder
A wooden blanket ladder is a great beginner to intermediate project for those just getting started with their woodworking skills. It is essentially two pieces of wood bound together with spindles that hold blankets.
Wooden Benches
Perfect for your porch or right inside the doorway, making a wooden bench can be a simple project for those looking to sharpen their woodworking skills.
How to Make Money Starting a Woodworking Business
If you plan to turn your woodworking side hustle into a registered business, you’ll need to complete a few steps. Because woodworking is very profitable, this is a great business idea for men and women to start making extra money.
Create a Business Plan
The first step is to create a business plan that outlines everything about your business including the products you will offer, your marketing efforts, and the structure of your business. You can find more about how to create a perfect business plan here.
Obtain Funding
You’ll need to have some cash to start your woodworking business. Even if it’s just a few hundred dollars, you need to have this in place before you can get started.
Related: How to Start a Painting Business
Decide a Name for your Woodworking Business
Naming your business is the first step in opening a woodworking business. You’ll want to find a name that is easy to remember and is related to your company and the items you sell.
Register Your Business
Once you’ve landed on a name, you’ll want to register your business with state and local government. You can find out more about how to register your business here.
Open a Business Bank Account
You’ll want to open a business bank account to keep your personal and business finances separate. This will help you come tax season. There are many free business checking accounts so a quick search should do the trick.
Start Your Woodworking Business
Now that you’ve completed all the steps, it’s time to start your business! You can start making wooden projects to sell and marketing your business.
Related: How to Make Money as a Kid
Tops Methods to Sell Woodworking Projects
Once you’ve built your piece, you’ll need to decide a method on how you will sell it. Below you’ll find some of the best ways to sell your wood pieces!
Facebook Marketplace
Selling your woodworking projects on Facebook Marketplace is a great way to offer your products to the masses. You can easily snap a picture of your completed product and include a short description with an asking price to get started for completely free.
The downside of selling on Facebook Marketplace is that you’ll likely receive uninterested buyers or people offering significantly less than your asking price.
Etsy
Etsy is the perfect option for those looking to sell their products online and want a simple setup. You can have your own custom Etsy shop up and running in less than an hour.
The downside of Etsy is there will be a fee charged on every sale you make, which can add up over time.
Shopify
Shopify is another great option if you’re looking to start an online pretense but don’t want to invest in a full business website. Similar to Etsy, you’ll be charged a fee whenever you make a sale. In addition, there is a monthly cost to keep your store running. This cost ranges from $29 per month to $299 per month for the full suite of features.
Social Media Promotion
There’s nothing quite like word of mouth marketing. By posting pictures of your items across your social media channels, you’ll be surprised how many friends and family might be interested in purchasing your products. As a bonus, you can always ask them to share your post to expand your reach.
Company Website
Creating a company website for your woodworking business can be an excellent way to promote your products.
To get started, you’ll need to purchase a domain name and hosting. These costs will often be less than $10 per month depending on your plan.
Then it's time to build your website. For beginners, it's a good idea to build your website using WordPress as it is simple to set up. You can opt to purchase a premium theme to get started.
Tips to Making More Money Woodworking
Below are a few tips to help you make even more money from your woodworking projects.
Cut Costs by Purchasing in Bulk
Purchasing your materials in bulk is a great way to cut your costs and boost profits on your woodworking projects.
You can purchase paint, stain, wood glue, screws, nails, and wood in bulk to save money.
Boost Efficiency
As you become a better carpenter, you'll become more efficient with your time and be capable of making more money. Even if it's just 15 minutes per project, this time can add up significantly over the course of a few weeks.
Take Your Skills to the Next Level
Advancing your skills is the best way to increase your woodworking income. Because you'll be capable of completing more complex projects, you can charge more for your products.
There are many methods to learn to become a better carpenter. You can purchase books or watch videos online that can help you to sharpen your skills. You could also find a mentor that can help you along the way.
Sell Your Wood Projects Online
By offering your products online, you’ll expand your audience significantly. You’ll want to consider the costs of shipping, but many times customers will not have a problem paying for this.
Have a Professional Camera
Photos of completed projects can be a make it or break it for potential buyers. By taking professional photos, you’ll be more likely to sell your products and for more money!
You can easily improve the looks of your photos by ensuring the lighting is correct and you edit out any clutter surrounding your product.
Check What’s Working for Others
By browsing other woodworking shops, you can easily find what’s working for them and draw inspiration for your own projects. This should give you some ideas that might be worth trying.
Final Thoughts on Making Money Woodworking
Making money woodworking can be quite simple and it’s not only for the most seasoned carpenters. By purchasing some basic supplies for less than $1,000, you can get started making money building wood projects and selling them through various channels.
Whether you choose to make custom coffee tables, corn hold boards, or storage boxes, there are thousands of potential projects you can build to make money in no time.
Have you tried making money woodworking? Comment your experience below!
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