How to Start a Woodworking Side Hustle

Do you feel like your job isn’t fulfilling?

Do you want to make more money or find a new career path but don’t know where to start?

If so, then the solution is as close as your nearest hardware store! With woodworking side hustles, it’s possible for anyone with some basic carpentry skills and an interest in woodworking to create a lucrative hobby.

In this post we will explore how to start a woodworking side hustle and provide tips on what equipment and tools are needed.

So if you’re ready for a change of pace, read on!

Starting a woodworking side business

Woodworking is a great hobby that has the potential to be more. It can provide an extra income stream for your family, or give you some additional spending money. However, before you even think about starting a woodworking side hustle, there are three things you need to do:

1) Figure out what kind of woodworker you want to be.

Figuring out the type of woodworker you’d like to be is the first step. If you don’t know what type of woodworker would best suit your interests, take a look at this list to help get started:

Do It Yourself (DIY) Woodworkers

If DIY is your thing, these are the types of products that will interest you. You’ll be making things like birdhouses or furniture where each item is one of a kind.

Production Woodworkers

These woodworkers make cabinets, doors and trim (and everything in between) for new buildings. Their products are similar to those made by carpenters and construction workers but their items will be unique as they work with custom orders from architects or interior designers. Those that find this type of woodworking side hustle appealing will need to invest some money up front in industrial machinery like table saws and jointers.

Manufacturing Woodworkers

This woodworking side hustles group is the largest of the three groups, which includes large furniture retailers that create items on a mass scale for companies like Wal-Mart or Ikea. These types of woodworkers aren’t working with custom orders but are instead creating products that can be found in many homes or businesses.

Reasons to start woodworking

If you’re not sure which type of woodworker sounds the best, take a look at our list of reasons to start your own woodworking business and see if any resonate with you:

It’s creative

Making items from wood is a creative and fun process that most people enjoy.

It’s rewarding

People who start their own woodworking side hustle find it to be incredibly rewarding, especially when they see the finished product for the first time. Plus, you’ll get an added bonus of getting paid while doing something you love!

You’ll have a new career

Even if you just want to make some extra money on the side, starting your own woodworking business will give you an entirely new career.

You’ll be your boss

After all, who wouldn’t enjoy being their own boss? Not only do people love having this level of control over their lives, but they also find that they are more productive working for themselves.

You have the potential to make a great income

As your business grows, so too will your salary! Plus you can easily provide yourself with an extra source of income by starting a side hustle in woodworking.

There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to figuring out what kind of woodworker you want to be. Whichever type of woodworker you decide is right for you will play a large role in the next step, which is finding your perfect equipment and tools.

Finding Your Perfect Equipment & Tools

The second thing that every new woodworking side hustler needs to do is find their ideal equipment and tools.

If you’re making handmade items like birdhouses and furniture, the equipment and tools that you’ll need will be different than those needed by manufacturing woodworkers or production woodworkers. For example:

DIY Woodworker

If your goal is to start a DIY business where each item is one of a kind then it’s important to have the right equipment and tools. You’ll need woodworking hand tools like saws, hammers and screwdrivers as well as power tools like routers, jigsaws and band saws.

Production Woodworker

Production woodworkers will get by with fewer types of machinery than DIY or manufacturing workers but their list is still quite extensive. They’ll need to invest in tools like table saws, jointers and planers.

Manufacturing Woodworker

Manufacturing woodworkers will have the widest range of equipment needed because they are making products on a large scale for companies with big orders. For this reason, they’ll want power tools like CNC routers, band saws and CNC lathes.

3) Create a Plan

Now that you have all the equipment, and know what woodworking niche to pursue, start building your amazing pieces.

The third and final thing that every new woodworking side hustler needs to do is come up with a plan for building their product.

If you’re trying to start your own business, it’s important to take the time now to create detailed plans so that you can establish goals along the way. While there isn’t one “right” way to create your plan, there are some things you might want to include:

• What type of products will you make?
• How many items do you think that you can produce per week/month?
• Will each item be handmade or mass produced using machinery? If so, what kind of machinery will your business need? – How will you promote your business?

Don’t forget to include a section in your plan about the budget for equipment and tools. For many people, this is where they’ll need to do some research before moving forward with their plans.

Start building!

Now that you have everything set up it’s time to start building! Once production starts rolling, make sure to keep detailed records of everything. This will help you monitor your progress and spot problems before they become huge issues down the road.