Taking your carpentry hobby to the next level and making it a fully-fledged career has crossed just about every amateur woodworker’s mind at some point or another. Being able to earn a full-time living doing what you love most would, of course, be an incredible achievement. However, before you quit your day job and jump into the world of professional carpentry, there are a few things you need to consider.
Working out of home as an amateur carpenter, taking on projects around the house and helping your friends is one thing. However, to turn your hobby into a profession, it’s important to remember that there is a lot more to consider. Not only will you need to continue with the manual work, operating table saws, sanding, drilling and measuring, but you will also have to take on the responsibilities of running a business. Managing this transition can be difficult at first. However, finding the right balance between running the business and dedicating yourself to your craft is certainly possible. Many have succeeded in turning their carpentry hobby into a career and there’s no reason that you can’t join them.
Continue reading to learn how you can successfully make the transition from a hobbyist carpenter to having a carpentry career.
Consider The Market
Be sure to consider your area of expertise and what your unique selling point (USP) is before you make the jump to a professional career in woodwork. If you make furniture for example, what makes your pieces stand out from the crowd? Why will customers buy from you instead of your competitors? Is there enough demand for your product? Taking some time to consider the market is crucial in ensuring that your carpentry business is a success and you provide a product or service that is in demand.
Start Small
While you might be tempted to jump straight in and start working on large expensive pieces, it’s important to be patient in the beginning. You need time to build up your brand, establish yourself locally and figure out what people want and need. Smaller items that can be sold at local markets or online, is a great place to start. Woodworkers who have a CNC machine can quickly create beautiful carved furniture and decorative items. If you need to produce large quantities of items quickly and easily, a woodworking CNC machine is perfect for quickly filling the orders. Whether you’re an aspiring professional woodworker or a hobbyist, a CNC machine is a great investment to start. The last thing you want is to invest too much time or money in the beginning only for your idea to not work out and be left drowning in debt.
Sell To People You Know
For most new businesses, the first customers are almost always friends and family. Those closest to you will be as excited about your new venture as you are and will be there to support and encourage you, especially in the early days. Once you start making sales to your friends and family, word will spread naturally as your work starts to find its way out into the world.
Look At Your Options Online
There is a host of great websites out there to help creators to sell their wares. Popular websites like Etsy allow artists and creators to sell their work with ease. The trick with these online platforms is to set your carpentry business up for success from the start. Be sure to choose a great brand name, take professional standard photos and draft engaging descriptions of your offerings.
You can also set up your own website and online store to sell from, either with the help of a developer or through one of the many free website builders available.
Set your brand up with social media accounts too where you can connect with your audience, market your offerings and even sell directly through the platform.
Establishing a strong online presence is crucial for just about any business nowadays. If you are going to turn your woodworking hobby into a career, being visible online will be crucial to your success going forward.
Get Your Carpentry Career Off To The Best Possible Start
Turning your carpentry hobby into a full-time income is an exciting proposition. Just like starting any business, be sure to consider the market, start small and start spreading the word about your new venture. Set your new business up with a strong online presence and in no time at all, you could be working full-time on your new carpentry and woodworking business with a bright future ahead.
Shirley is a content writer at 10Twick, who has written on a technology, from Jewellery to SEO Software. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, sketching, cooking, and shopping.
