Having more free time on my hands I’ve been thinking of starting a woodworking business in my garage. Plus, I have “a few” ” good friend who makes good money with wood art. Naturally, I had some concerns and questions and I want to share with you some things I’ve discovered.
Someone can run a woodworking business from their garage with the right setup!
Keep reading and I’ll share how much space is needed to start this type of business, an easy product to start with, where to find tools and customers, and 3 things to be aware of when starting.
How many Square Feet do you Need for a Woodworking Shop?
According to my friend Jim HERE, he got started in a 10-foot by 20-foot space. He also got started with almost no capital and a few shop tools. A common misconception is you need LOTS of money, expensive tools, and a big garage to get started.
According to Maydays Custom Woodworking HERE he got started with 5 feet by 10 feet space in a garage that he put his car in.
Many people have started woodworking shops in their garages, it’s just good to be a good neighbor (be respectful of people sleeping) and to make sure your work area is VERY safe.
There are also many things you can do to be organized and to work efficiently in a small space such as using magnets for metal tools to find them easily and putting wheels on equipment.
I’ve also known many garage woodworking shops to get tools stolen from them. Depending on where you live, having good security could be something worth considering.
One thing I’m a HUGE fan of is selling a product first and then creating it. Take the order for it and get “at least” a deposit of half the cost and then create the item.
This way you “know” there is a market for what you’re creating. If nobody gives you an order then you don’t waste time building something that nobody may want (and that could save you time and space).
Worst case scenario you can’t build the item you could always try to get someone else to build it (woodworking dropshipping) or refund their money. You might be wondering how do you find people to buy these products? What wood products should you even attempt to market?
I highly recommend checking this place HERE out for education. He shares the top 10 profitable items to start with, little-known marketing methods, and most importantly it’s a step-by-step system to get you profitable, including what tools to start and how to buy them for a discount.
The truth is if you want this business bad enough you probably could make it happen!
Like many things in life the why is MORE important than the how. Why do you want to start this business?
- Is it to replace your job and spend more time at home?
- Is it to make a little extra money on the side of a job you love?
- Is it to fire a boss you dislike?
- Is it to do something more creative?
- Maybe it’s to have fun and to tinker with stuff?
- Maybe it’s to reduce your commute time and save money on gas.
- It could be to prove to yourself, that you can build something.
Knowing why you are doing something is going to help you get through the ups and downs.
Next, with any business, it’s probably best to put yourself in profit as quickly and cheaply as you can, then you can use your profits to reinvest back into it.
Starting in your garage is “BY FAR” the best way to get started because it’s the cheapest. All you really need is a tiny little area to work.
The number 1 reason people go out of business is they spend too much money.
It’s best to ONLY buy tools when you need them NOT when you want them.
You want the right tool for the job, it’s not about the BEST name-brand tool to start with. You can always use your profits to buy better tools. If you’re not making a profit, then it’s not a business, but a hobby.
Next, it’s good to have a game plan to get started. There are thousands of things you can create out of wood. My good friend near where I live creates wood art and loves bears (he did the art below).
Of course, this is more advanced starting with something easier might be better. The first thing I ever created with wood is a cutting board. My friend who owns a woodworking shop nearby recommends mushrooms. In his own words “any idiot” can create a mushroom, plus they can sell for a lot of money.
You want to crawl before you can walk and then later you can run. You might be wondering if this business is EVEN worth starting.
3 Things to Be Aware of with a Woodworking Business
One of the challenges I have is being too optimistic about a business idea. Being positive, but realistic and pragmatic is a very good attitude to have.
With ANY business it’s probably best to start it on the side and keep your job (even if you hate it). This is another reason to start in a small garage area. Business can be booming one month and the next change for the worst.
Being aware of the downturns and having a second source of income can only help you weather the storm.
The second thing to be aware of is if you’re going to have a legit woodworking business, you’re probably going to be ok with painting. Not everything is going to have some type of finish (look at the picture of the bear), but many things do.
Having a good finish on a product is everything because it’s the image. If the woodworking is fantastic, but the paint is off then the product will not be as good. This is something you may not have realized.
The third thing to realize is woodworking uses tools. Being a little bit of a machinist and being able to operate machines comes with the territory. These tools also cost money!
Before thinking about buying tools it’s probably best to get the right education. I recommend checking out this HERE. Plus, he shares where to buy your tools and materials at a discount. This tip alone can save you thousands of dollars over the course of your woodworking career.
The best part is it includes one-on-one coaching. Oh, and he also gives you TONS of ideas on what to build with blueprints to get you started. You can think of these blueprints as a jumping-off platform.
Conclusion
We live in crazy times and having a side hustle or business is a great idea. Woodworking is not the easiest business due to the cost to get started, physical items, and competition, but it’s fun.
One side hustle that I’m a big of is this one HERE, which may NOT be the sexiest and it’s dirty, but could have a lot of potential in your area.
The easiest side business might just be affiliate marketing. You can do it anywhere, anytime with next to NO money and it’s very flexible.
The cool thing is you can document your journey with your side business and have an extra income stream. I’ve been doing affiliate marketing for 10+ years and I’m giving away a free eBook on some things that I feel can be helpful at this link HERE.
I hope this post on woodworking was helpful, bye for now.