10 Ways To Make Money From Woodworking

Woodworking is one of those rare skills that can start as a hobby in a garage and evolve into a profitable, flexible business. Whether you want a side income or a full-time shop, there are practical, low-risk ways to get paid for making beautiful, useful things. In this guide, we’ll walk through 10 ways to make money from woodworking, show you how to choose the right offers for your skills and tools, and share resources that can speed up your path to profit.

If you’re looking for a massive blueprint library to kickstart your ideas and eliminate guesswork, check out TedsWoodworking—it’s a popular shortcut for finding buildable project plans and saving time at the bench.

Custom Furniture and Built-Ins

If you want high-ticket commissions, custom furniture and built-ins are a proven way to make money from woodworking. Unlike mass-produced pieces, your work can be tailored to exact spaces, finishes, and functions—think dining tables, media consoles, entryway storage, home office built-ins, and mudroom lockers.

What to build and why it sells

• Statement pieces: Live-edge dining tables, farmhouse tables, and solid wood slabs command premium pricing due to materials and craftsmanship.
• Space solutions: Built-ins solve problems that big-box retailers can’t address—awkward nooks, alcoves, and precise storage needs.
• Specialty styles: Mid-century modern, Japandi, rustic industrial, and shaker designs have durable search demand. Check trends to validate styles in your area.

Pricing and profit tips

• Price by materials + labor + margin. A simple formula is: (Materials × 1.3–1.5) + (Hourly Rate × Estimated Hours) + Shop Overhead. Don’t forget delivery and installation.
• Offer tiered options. Present different wood species and hardware packages to keep price-sensitive clients on board while maintaining a premium tier.
• Require deposits. A 50% deposit protects your cash flow and discourages cancellations.

How to find clients

• Local SEO and Google Business Profile bring high-intent leads. Showcase before/after photos, reviews, and your service area.
• Partner with interior designers and realtors for steady referrals. Designers will often pre-sell your shop if your portfolio is clean and dependable.
• Build a portfolio page and a simple estimate form. Include CAD sketches or a hand drawing workflow so clients visualize your work. See: [How to build a compelling woodworking portfolio](INTERNAL LINK PLACEHOLDER)

Time-saving resource
To streamline the “what to build” decision and keep a backlog of projects ready, browse TedsWoodworking for inspiration and plan references you can customize for clients. For turning your hobby into a real business structure, a step-by-step guide like WoodProfits can help you think through pricing, legal basics, and the shop workflow.

Small Home Décor and Giftables on Marketplaces

Selling small goods is one of the fastest ways to make money from woodworking because you can batch-produce and ship easily. Think cutting boards, charcuterie boards, coasters, picture frames, serving trays, plant stands, candle holders, wine racks, and minimalist shelf brackets.

Why small goods work

• Lower upfront cost and shorter build time—ideal for weekend production.
• High repeatability—jigs and templates improve consistency and profit margins.
• Gift-friendly—holidays, weddings, and housewarmings drive demand.

Where to sell

• Etsy: Great for niche search traffic. Learn best practices in the Etsy Seller Handbook: Etsy Seller Handbook.
• Local markets: Craft fairs and pop-ups build your local brand and Instagram following—plus, you’ll get priceless feedback on price, finish, and style.
• Wholesale and corporate gifts: Batch orders for local boutiques and corporate clients (logo boards, awards, branded desk organizers).

Product strategy

• Focus on 3–5 SKUs you can make quickly with consistent quality.
• Offer personalization—monograms, laser engraving, or inlaid initials.
• Present “good-better-best” options by wood species and finishing touches (e.g., walnut with chamfered edges, maple with juice groove, end-grain premium).

Photography and listing tips

• Use natural side light, neutral backdrops, and scale cues (hands, table settings).
• Optimize titles and descriptions with material and use-case keywords.
• Show process shots to establish craftsmanship and justify pricing.

Compliance and basics

• Mark boards as “hand-wash only” and include care cards.
• If selling as a business, understand the basics of business setup and licenses with the U.S. Small Business Administration: U.S. Small Business Administration.
• Clarify whether your activity is a business or a hobby for tax purposes: IRS Hobby vs. Business.

Helpful internal resources

• [How to price small woodworking products](INTERNAL LINK PLACEHOLDER)
• [Beginner’s guide to food-safe finishes](INTERNAL LINK PLACEHOLDER)

Digital Woodworking Plans and Content Monetization

Selling digital plans is a scalable way to make money from woodworking because you build once and sell repeatedly with near-zero inventory costs. If you already refine jigs and repeatable designs, you’re halfway there.

What to sell

• Step-by-step plans (PDF + cut list) for popular projects: coffee tables, wall shelves, workbenches, shop storage, play kitchens.
• Template packs (DXF, SVG, STL) for CNCs and lasers.
• Jig plans (dovetail jig, tapering jig, crosscut sled) and shop storage systems.

How to package

• Include a parts list, tool list, and variations for common lumber sizes (e.g., S4S 1× material vs. rough saw).
• Add beginner tips—wood choice, grain direction, joinery options, finishing sequences.
• Offer a printable version and a photo-rich version with exploded diagrams.

Where to sell and how to promote

• Sell via your website, Etsy, or Gumroad.
• Use short build videos on social platforms; link to your plan in bio and video description. For better video learning and channel growth, explore YouTube Creator Academy: YouTube Creator Academy.
• Leverage SEO—target queries like “floating shelf plans PDF,” “workbench plans,” “toy storage plans.”

Bundle and licensing ideas

• Offer a discounted bundle (e.g., “Apartment Furniture Starter Pack”).
• Sell commercial-use licenses for laser/CNC templates so buyers can legally sell their finished goods.

Resource shortcut
If you need a large repository to study format and build ideas quickly, TedsWoodworking gives you a wide variety of plans you can learn from and adapt to your style. Use Google Trends to validate demand for plan keywords before you build: Google Trends.

Teaching Classes and Workshops

Teaching is a powerful, fulfilling way to make money from woodworking while building a reputation that lifts all your other income streams. You can start small—intro to hand tools, cutting board workshop, or “build your first coffee table”—and expand to advanced joinery or finishing masterclasses.

Formats that work

• In-person group classes: Rent a community shop, partner with a makerspace, or host small cohorts in your own well-equipped shop.
• Private lessons: 1:1 instruction for clients who want bespoke training or have a specific project.
• Online workshops: Live Zoom classes, cohort-based courses, or video-on-demand lessons.

Curriculum ideas

• Beginner bootcamp: Safety, measuring, milling, square and true work, basic joinery, and finishing.
• Weekend projects: Cutting boards, picture frames, keepsake boxes, or coffee tables that students can complete and take home.
• Skills intensives: Mortise-and-tenon, dovetails, cabinetmaking, veneering, spray finishing.

Pricing tips

• Charge per seat for group classes with a clear materials fee.
• Provide tool lists and pre-milled lumber to reduce class time and mistakes.
• Record the sessions (if online) for replays—this becomes a sellable asset.

Marketing and partnerships

• Partner with local lumberyards, breweries, or community colleges to host recurring classes.
• Offer gift cards and seasonal workshops (holiday ornaments, Valentine’s keepsake boxes).
• Use testimonials and before/after student projects on your site for proof.

Safety and structure

• Teach safety fundamentals and maintain clear shop rules.
• Consider basic business setup, waivers, and event insurance. Use SBA resources to understand business structure and risk mitigation: U.S. Small Business Administration.

CNC, Laser Engraving, and Shop Services

Offering services—CNC routing, laser engraving, cut-to-size, and edge-banding—opens the door to B2B clients and higher-volume orders. Even a modest desktop CNC or diode laser can help you make money from woodworking, and a CO2 laser or larger CNC unlocks signage, cabinet parts, and production templates.

What to offer

• CNC routing: Cabinet parts, chair templates, signs, custom jig plates, foam inserts.
• Laser engraving: Logos on cutting boards, wedding signage, awards, branded coasters.
• Shop services: Panel breaking, straight-line ripping, planing, crosscutting, and drilling for local DIYers and contractors.

How to price

• Minimum shop charge + hourly rate, or per-minute machine time with design fees separate.
• Rush fee for quick turnarounds.
• Proof approvals for any engraving to avoid rework.

Finding clients

• Local cabinetmakers, event planners, wedding vendors, and small product brands need custom parts and personalization at scale.
• Showcase capability on Instagram and short videos—before/after, time-lapses, and process shots.
• Create a simple intake form for vector files, dimensions, quantity, and deadlines.

Shop efficiency matters
If you’re working in a small space, optimizing layout, dust collection, and tool selection protects your margins. A practical guide like UltimateSmallShop – The Next Woodworking Blockbuster! can help you plan a compact, efficient shop without overspending on gear you won’t use.

Pro tip
Use Google Trends to identify seasonal niches for signage and gifts, then pre-design templates so your production is ready before the rush: Google Trends.

Repairs, Refinishing, and Restoration

Not every job starts with fresh lumber. Repairs and refinishing are steady, local-demand services that pay well because they require patience, knowledge of finishes, and careful problem-solving. If you’re meticulous, this can be a high-margin segment and an entry point to bigger commissions.

Service ideas

• Furniture repairs: Regluing chairs, fixing split tops, replacing drawer runners, reinforcing loose joints.
• Refinishing: Strip, sand, stain, and topcoat refreshes for tables and cabinets.
• Antique restoration: Veneer repair, color matching, shellac and French polish for period pieces.
• Reclaimed wood projects: Salvage, resaw, and remill materials for eco-friendly builds.

Pricing and process

• In-home assessments for quick fixes; shop quotes for larger work.
• Itemize labor for disassembly, repair, finishing, and pickup/delivery if needed.
• Make finish samples for client approval to avoid rework.

Marketing angles

• Before/after photos are king—show close-ups of damage and restored surfaces.
• Partner with movers and insurance adjusters for damage claims.
• Work with local antique dealers and estate sale companies.

Monetize your offcuts

• Sell turning blanks, pen blanks, and offcut bundles to local makers.
• Create micro-products like keychains or cable organizers from small hardwood scraps.
• Offer “mystery scrap boxes” for crafters on marketplaces.

Compliance check
As income grows, clarify your tax obligations and whether your shop is a hobby or a business: IRS Hobby vs. Business. Protect your lungs—dust collection and PPE are must-haves. For deep-dive finishing know-how, add: [Beginner-friendly finishing schedule](INTERNAL LINK PLACEHOLDER)

Outdoor Structures and DIY Kits

Outdoor builds are in-demand and often command higher prices due to size and materials. If you want to make money from woodworking with faster scaling, think beyond furniture: sheds, pergolas, playhouses, chicken coops, raised garden beds, planter benches, and outdoor kitchens.

What to offer

• Prefab kits: Cut-to-size lumber, hardware, and a printed plan so customers can assemble at home.
• Installed builds: Full-service design and installation for premium clients.
• Seasonal garden products: Raised beds, trellises, compost bins.

Sales strategies

• Offer on-site measurements and 3D mockups for larger structures.
• Provide a kit and an install option—two price points doubles your market.
• Partner with landscapers and garden centers for referrals.

Permits and logistics

• Check local codes, setbacks, and HOA rules for sheds, decks, and pergolas.
• Plan for delivery—flat-pack kits and pallet shipments keep logistics manageable.

Plan shortcut
If you want ready-to-build outdoor plan sets, My Shed Plans can save you significant design time and help you present clear kit documentation to clients.

Subscription boxes and kits
A related idea is creating small DIY kits—birdhouses, tool totes, spice racks—pre-cut with sanded edges and a simple instruction sheet. Offer monthly themes as a subscription for families and craft groups. This locks in recurring revenue and smooths the feast-or-famine cycle.

Content Creation and Affiliate Income
Content may not seem like a “shop service,” but it complements every other revenue stream. Teach, entertain, and document your builds—then monetize via ads, sponsorships, and affiliate links.

Formats

• Short-form: Quick tips, tool comparisons, and 30–90 second build summaries for Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts.
• Long-form: YouTube build videos and blog tutorials that rank in search and generate passive traffic.
• Newsletters: Share new plans, product drops, and local class announcements.

Monetization

• Display ads and video ads (as your audience grows).
• Affiliate marketing—link to tools and materials you genuinely use.
• Sponsorships—negotiate deliverables and usage rights.

Workflow tips

• Document every build: cut list, tool list, process shots. This yields a video, a blog post, and a plan you can sell.
• Repurpose content: one project → multiple platforms → more visibility.

Skill-to-revenue alignment
Content also boosts your primary sales: more eyeballs on your Etsy shop, more students in your classes, and more plan downloads. For an organized business approach and monetization roadmap, explore WoodProfits.

Marketing and Pricing Essentials That Multiply Every “Way”

Regardless of which of the 10 ways you focus on first, a few fundamentals will compound your results.

Positioning and brand

• Niche down: “Modern walnut furniture,” “laser-engraved wedding decor,” or “refinishing and restoration” are clearer offers than “I make everything.”
• Proof matters: Before/after photos, reviews, and in-progress shots build trust.

Pricing and profitability

• Track build time meticulously; your hourly rate becomes clear after 5–10 jobs.
• Batch work: Cut all parts, then assemble, then finish—context switching kills margins.
• Upsell finishing options and engraving to raise average order value.

Simple marketing funnel

• Top: Short videos and Instagram reels show your style.
• Middle: Blog posts or product pages optimized for specific keywords.
• Bottom: Inquiry forms and clear packages—“Cutting board with engraving,” “Custom coffee table in three sizes,” “Shed kit + install.”

Local SEO and marketplaces

• Keep your Google Business Profile updated with fresh photos and posts.
• Add your city and service area to website headings and copy.
• Use social proof tiles from clients in your product pages.

Shop efficiency and safety

• Your layout, storage, and dust collection are profit levers. A resource like UltimateSmallShop – The Next Woodworking Blockbuster! can help you design a space that’s safe, efficient, and budget-conscious.

Compliance and structure

• Review SBA resources for registering your business and writing a simple plan: U.S. Small Business Administration.
• Clarify taxes early to avoid surprises: IRS Hobby vs. Business.

Conclusion

There are many paths to income in woodworking, and you don’t need to pursue them all at once. Start with one or two of these 10 ways to make money from woodworking—custom furniture, small goods, digital plans, teaching, CNC/laser services, repairs, offcut sales, outdoor structures, DIY kits, or content—and double down on what sells. Keep your portfolio clean, your pricing disciplined, and your shop efficient. As demand grows, tools and processes pay for themselves—and your craft turns into a resilient business.

FAQ