If you love working with your hands then starting a woodworking business may be your thing. 

With a set of skills, the right tools, and the info in this guide, you could soon have a successful business. So, get ready to take notes because you’re about to learn how it’s done.

1. Consider Your Unique Selling Point and Business Branding

You’ll want to figure out two important things well before writing up a woodworking business plan:

  • Unique Selling Point — What makes your products different, unique, and worthwhile
  • Branding — Your presentation and the idea/image of what you’re representing

The USP (unique selling point) is that visceral feeling you have about your woodworking. It’s that thing that makes people want to follow and buy what you’re making. Brainstorm what sets your work apart. As for branding, it’s very personal because products are just as tied to you as a person as you are to the products.

So: you may want to consider using your name or a personalized brand name for the biz.

You can further support the branding by applying branding elements to the products. An extra investment into a laser machine from this laser marking company lets you burn logos (or whatever you want) onto the finished piece. There, your brand is always present when someone is using your wood piece!

2. Figure Out What Products Sell and What You’ll Offer

The products you’re crafting is up to you.

But:

You may want to consider doing a few commercial pieces to get your foot in the door. Specifically, creating things that people are already buying. By going this route, you can support the business AND those specialty pieces/projects on the side.

Try this:

  • Check out the top-selling products from direct competitors
  • Check out top sellers and popular products on craft sites

Find a balance in what you can do, what the market demands, and what satisfies your woodworking abilities.

3. Set up and Promote Your Woodworking Business

A woodworking business website is your next vital task. With one, you can reach people interested in your wares AND cultivate a brand following. This site will be a combination of information + eCommerce, selling while also educating.

Setting up a site is quick and easy with tools like:

  • Shopify
  • Wix
  • Etsy
  • SquareUp
  • Mozello

Though, you can go a more in-depth route by crafting an eCommerce site. With this, you could combine WordPress with the WooCommerce plugin to create a site. Or, embed shopping cart features onto an HTML/CSS/JS site if you want a lightweight option.

Once set up with the site, you’ll want these other essentials for your presence:

  • Google My Business, Yelp, and Yellow Pages listing
  • Social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn)

These platforms establish your brand while also offering ways to promote your work.

So:

Get active on these channels and connect with people interested in what you do. Drive them to your website where they can research and buy your goods & services. Repeat what works and you’ll have a strong woodworking marketing plan!

Carve Out Your Place in the Market

With so many selling run-of-the-mill, mass-produced products, offering something handcrafted is a BIG change-up. A woodworking business lets you craft wholly unique items that carry a premium. With branding, creating an online presence, and marketing, your craftiness could become quite a success story!

What’s next? See how far it can go! Use the small business guides on the site to amplify your efforts!