Start Your Own Woodworking Business Today!

Hello and welcome to the Start Your Own Woodworking Business Course. The course is targeted to both part-time woodworkers and woodworking hobbyists willing to take the next step.  A woodworking business can begin as a part-time business and grow into a full-time business. You essentially become your own manager and apply all your efforts into your own business. There is considerably less investment and risk if your woodworking business is begun part-time. The income earned while in a part-time business can be used to grow your business, expand your workshop and finance new tool purchases. The skills and techniques learned while woodworking part-time can be effectively transferred to a full-time business.

Included with course. Start Woodworking (eBook) is a $15 value and describes a good introduction to woodworking basics along with the basic tools necessary to start woodworking. Available at link below.

https://online.fliphtml5.com/xcdme/rymr/?code=torrent

In this lecture we explore if self-employment at woodworking is the right path for you.  Are you at a point in your life where self-employment begins to make sense? Do you have the motivation and ambition to launch a woodworking business and make it successful?  Do you have the support of your family to go down the self-employment path? Are you willing to take some risk to achieve the goal of being self-employed? Are you confident in your woodworking skills?

In this lecture we explore the subject of converting your woodworking hobby into a business. Do you have sufficient knowledge of woodworking to be able to create wood products, furniture or cabinets for sale. It is recommended to acquire at least some formal woodworking education or mentor with a knowledgeable woodworker. Transitioning a hobby to a business introduces you to other business-related aspects. You need to be prepared to shift focus away from woodworking to deal with the business side of woodworking. Being in business will open your eyes to competition and to creating high quality work in minimal time. This is radically different from woodworking as a hobby, where there is little to no pressure to complete projects in a defined time.

In this lecture we explore the skills necessary for you to be self-employed at woodworking. Shifting your woodworking from hobby to business will force you to produce higher quality products. The competitive aspect of business will work its way into your woodworking. You will develop new products, improve on existing products and acquire new business-related skills. Are you confident that you have the drive and ambition to make a go at woodworking as a business? Do you have the confidence in your woodworking skills to be able to create wood products for sale? Are you confident you can work faster and more efficiently? Can you meet deadlines for orders and commissions? Do you feel confident about your client interaction skills? Are you confident in selling yourself and your work?

In this lecture we explore the importance of knowing your joinery. Joinery is what holds furniture and cabinets together. Over the centuries, many different types of joinery have been developed for different woodworking applications. Being familiar with a selection of joinery will benefit you and your work. Being able to offer decorative joinery options to clients will increase the appeal of your business. The skills necessary to create a wide variety of woodworking joinery are crucial to the success of your business. Invest the time in learning the skills necessary to create joinery used in the furniture and cabinets you will be creating and marketing.

In this lecture we explore the importance of applying finishes to furniture and cabinets. Clients see the finish first in any order or commission. Different types of finish apply to different applications. The finish applied to an order or commission will need to be discussed with your client prior to beginning work. You will need to acquire the skills necessary to successfully apply finish to furniture or cabinets. Finishes can either be hand-applied or through the use of a spray gun. The expertise of successfully applying finish to projects is gained over time. Do not feel intimidated by the finishing process!

In this lecture we explore the importance of time in your woodworking business. Efficient use of time is critical to the success of your business. Increasing yield should become one of the main objectives in your business. More pieces per month translate to more sales and a greater profit. Efficient time management and workflows are critical. Meeting deadlines for orders and commisions is very important in any business. A client will expect their order or commission to be ready on an agreed upon date. Any delays will be negatively viewed by the client. It is critical to meet your deadlines and not take on more work than you can handle. Over time, you will become better able to determine the quantity of work you can successfully handle in your woodworking business.

In this lecture we explore if you should begin your business on a part-time basis or go full-time. Starting a business part-time will provide you with a financial buffer of your salary while you develop the business. This is assuming you are employed however. If you are the victim of downsizing or lost your employment, maybe a full-time woodworking business makes more sense. Starting any business has a cost associated with it. Going part-time will minimize this cost since it is assumed your overhead is minimal. Use part of your existing property if starting out part-time. Being in business part-time will allow you to take more risks since you can absorb the cost better.

In this lecture we explore the legal considerations for a woodworking business. It becomes critical to protect yourself against any possible litigation and claims owing to injury. We discuss the importance of the correct insurance for your business and how incorporating yourself limits your exposure to lawsuits and litigation. We also discuss the importance of designing your furniture to avoid the possibility of injury to a client. How to set up your business is covered as well. The importance of a business plan for your business cannot be emphasized enough. A business plan is valuable even if you are not seeking financing for your business. This is also discussed at length in this lecture.

In this lecture we explore the variety of machinery you will need to successfully operate a woodworking business. Machinery will save you large amounts of time in the processing of rough lumber into usable wood planks for furniture or cabinets. Although it is possible to create furniture and wood products using strictly hand tools, the labor-saving virtues of machinery will allow you to dramatically increase your yield or amount of pieces you produce in a year.

Since machines take up considerable space which includes the operating area around each piece of machinery, your shop size will need to be significantly larger than if you were using hand tools exclusively. Machines also generate large amounts of dust and wood chips and this will need to be addressed in the form of an effective dust collection system.

In this lecture we explore the use of hand tools in a woodworking shop. Hand tools bring another dimension to your woodworking and business. Certain clientele value the handcrafted aspect of furniture and cabinets. Hand tools bring a level of peacefulness and a dust-free environment to woodworking. Hand tools require a new set of skills along with considerable patience. When hand tools are used in combination with woodworking jigs, your productivity will increase. Hand tools allow you to work in a smaller space. Perhaps you have very limited space to start your first woodworking business. Hand tools can be used along with a workbench in a very small space such as a condominium. Precise detail work is also possible through the use of hand tools.

In this lecture we explore the space requirements for your woodworking business. Depending on the size of work you create in your workshop, space requirements will vary. If creating large furniture or cabinets, you will need considerably more space than if you were creating small boxes. The required space also depends on whether you use machines in your business or work exclusively with hand tools. Much less space is required if working solely with hand tools. As well, machines need an operating are around them for safety and to maneuver workpieces. In my own workshop, I work in a hybrid environment of machines and hand tools. I typically use machines to do the grunt work, and hand tools for detail work.

In this lecture we explore how to select a product or products for your business. Market research will need to be performed in your area to determine if there is a particular niche not being addressed. The style of furniture is dependant on what you prefer making. Some woodworkers enjoy creating period pieces where others enjoy creating contemporary furniture. Clients will seek you out once you have established yourself as a maker of a particular style of furniture or cabinets. Clients will also seek you out if you make wood products which appeal to them. Its becomes important to look at the competition in your general area and possibly select a product that no other woodworkers are creating and marketing.

In this lecture we explore what product you should be creating in your woodworking business. It is advisable to perform market research in your area to determine if there is a demand for a particular wood product or style of furniture. You need to decide whether you will be creating unique, one of a kind furniture or cabinet pieces or instead work at producing  higher volumes of identical products. Each of these directions has its merits.

One of a kind work is usually speculative in nature and you must either work with a commission or create the work to be sold… upon completion or in the future. Creating multiples of the same popular wood product or furniture is a safer path as the market for the product has been established.

In this lecture we explore the importance of using market research to determine the right product  you should be creating in your woodworking business. Marketing your product can be performed on a small or large budget. Word of mouth is the least expensive form of advertising and this is discussed in this lecture. We also discuss where to invest your advertising dollars in this lecture. Also discussed is the importance of getting local media attention for your unique wood product. The importance of getting your wood product or furniture out there is also discussed. People need to be aware that you do great woodworking and the more exposure you can get the better!

In this lecture we explore the power of the Internet in the marketing of your woodworking business. The Internet has radically changed the concept of traditional advertising. Discussed is the importance of having a web site for your business. Other social media methods of generating interest in your furniture and wood products are also discussed. The ups and downs of the business cycle are also discussed.

How being aware that business works in cycles will prevent  you from over-extending your business. Also discussed are the steps to follow in the event of a downturn in the business cycle and the drying up of orders and commissions.

In this lecture we explore the importance of creating a portfolio of your work. The criteria for a quality portfolio are discussed. Also discussed is how and when to use your portfolio to generate orders and commissions. Portfolios are typically hardcopy so you can bring around to show prospective clients. Clients like to see the furniture and cabinets you have completed, often to get a better idea of what they desire.

Discussed is the relevance today of an online portfolio or gallery of your work. An online gallery will broaden your business reach to other regions. As well, an online portfolio is quickly updated with you latest work. Also discussed are the importance of sketches and drawings of previous work. It is often preferable to have your completed projects in situ or in a home setting. Photos of your work in a home setting better convey the scale of the furniture or cabinets to a client.

In this lecture we explore the client relationship. We discuss how critical it is to develop a good rapport with your client and to listen to what they expect in the commission they are placing. The importance of creating high-quality products is also emphasized. Clients will view the quality of their commission positively and you will be able to leverage this for further sales to their friends and colleagues. It is very important to arrive at a correct estimate of time and cost for a commission. This will remove the burden on you to reduce the cost of creating the commission. The correct price for a commission will also motivate you to create better work since you will not feel you are being taken advantage of.

Discussed are the extra costs incurred in creating commission work such as creating specialized jigs. If the jigs are to be used in the future, this can be beneficial to you. The topic of maintaining the style of furniture you prefer to create is also discussed. It is wise to only work in a style which you are known for, this will help establish your brand with prospective clients. The topic of turning away work which does not fit into your business is covered.

In this lecture we explore the importance of maintaining a good work-life balance. Discussed are the issues of spending too much time in your workshop and how it can negatively affect your family and social life. The importance of spending time away from your business to network with other woodworkers is also discussed. Maintaining the passion and motivation is critical in a woodworking business. This topic is covered in this lecture. Coping with business cycles and business downturns is discussed with an emphasis on maintaining a healthy work-life balance in spite of the ups and downs of business cycles. The importance of pushing your boundaries and developing new styles of furniture or new wood products is another topic covered in this lecture.

In this lecture we explore the future expansion of your business. It is difficult to determine if you will be successful at creating furniture, cabinets or wood products. Chances are you will be successful and will entertain the thought of expanding and growing your business. Discussed are the criteria necessary for expanding your business. Criteria such as a larger workshop, more machinery and tools. This brings with it higher overhead costs. We talk about how you will need to ramp up your productivity to overcome these higher fixed and variable costs.

Discussed are the options you have to grow your business. Should you stick to your core products or furniture? Should you look into diversifying your business into other products or furniture? This is all dependant on what you wish to derive from your business. Some woodworkers are perfectly content with a small business with a focus on one product where others prefer to offer a larger selection of wood products or furniture. The additional marketing of an expanded business is also discussed.

In this lecture we explore the expansion of your business in your present location. This option is often desirable since the additional costs of moving to a larger space and the associated overhead is eliminated. If you have the space, it is wise to at least consider this option. This will speed your business expansion and will allow you to grow your business in a shorter time. Discussed in this lecture are the techniques to obtain higher productivity in your present business location. The use of woodworking jigs is covered.

Also covered are the advantages of maintaining a simple business structure. Having your business as a part-time business will give you breathing room to perfect the furniture or wood products you create and market. The issue of devoting more time to your business is discussed. Is spending more time at your business something you are comfortable with? Do you have family obligations that keep you from spending more time at your business? These factors will influence your decision to expand your business.

In this lecture we explore how the introduction of technology can rapidly increase the productivity of your woodworking business. Technological innovations are coming fast and furious and CNC machines are ideal in handling the repetitive tasks in furniture and cabinet making. The design aspect of technology is also discussed in this lecture. Design software has increased in sophistication and it is now possible to draw and render furniture and cabinets in 3-D. It is therefore simpler to show designs to prospective clients. The designs can be easily updated or modified if not satisfactory. Discussed are the many options available to a small woodworking business owner to implement CNC machinery as part of their workflow. The lecture covers how possibly adding CNC capability to your business will allow you to take on work from other woodworkers. This will provide you an additional revenue stream and allow you to focus on your traditional woodworking.