13 Woodworking Business Success Stories [2023]
While many see woodworking as a hobby to pass the time, it is a profitable blue-collar business with growth potential. If you are skilled, passionate, and looking for a blue-collar side hustle, consider starting a woodworking business.
Starting a woodworking business allows you to work from home. Besides, you can scale the business easily and enjoy unlimited earning potential. Some opportunities you can go for include building custom wood pieces, teaching others about woodworking, starting a woodworking blog, and flip furniture.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a woodworking business:
1. Timber Grove Studios ($78K/year)
Sasha Weekes, the 25-year-old owner of Timber Grove Studios, started her business by making mountain shelves to sell on Facebook and Kijiji. After realizing their popularity, she launched her business on Etsy and focused on creating a clear color chart with 20 customization options for customers. Despite initial challenges with shipping, Sasha prioritized customer service and now runs a successful business with revenue ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 per month.
How much they make: $78K/year
Where they're located: Hunter River, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Current team size: 0
Sasha Weekes, owner of Timber Grove Studios, turned her fine arts and cabinetmaking education into a successful home-based woodworking business that grew from a side project to netting 20-50% profits month-to-month and up to $10,000 in sales during peak periods through Etsy, with her company's growth continuing to increase through other social media outlets.
2. Brex International, LLC ($216K/year)
Brett's passion for woodwork inspired him to design an easy-to-use and effective alternative to the cumbersome traditional featherboard.
How much they make: $216K/year
Where they're located: Knoxville, TN
How much did it cost to start: $45K
Current team size: 0
This case study follows Brett Burdick, founder of Brex International, LLC, and the creation of his patented spiral featherboard designed to improve safety and quality in woodworking, which has now generated $18k per month, with 87% of sales coming from Amazon.
So... can you actually make money with a woodworking business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesnβt.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. Mini Materials ($240K/year)
Mat Hofma, a graphic designer, wanted to start his own e-commerce shop but didn't know what to sell until he saw a guy making mini cinder blocks on Reddit. He taught himself 3D design and made molds from 3D prints, eventually creating Mini Materials. The business took off with features on Uncrate, The Awesomer, and Laughing Squid, and has since grown to have 45k Instagram followers.
How much they make: $240K/year
Where they're located: Portland, OR
Current team size: 2
Startup Mini Materials sells miniature masonry and woodworking supplies with a cult following gained through viral videos, social media and email newsletters.
4. MTN SIDE BUILDERS ($480K/year)
Cameron Vilcsak, the founder of Mountain Fire Woodworks, came up with the idea for his business through his passion for carving and building things out of wood. After documenting the process of building a log cabin on his YouTube channel, a viral video with over 25 million views, he realized the potential to turn his passion into a scalable business. With steady passive income, plans to release more content, and exciting future projects, Vilcsak's business is thriving.
How much they make: $480K/year
Where they're located: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
How much did it cost to start: $50K
Current team size: 5
Mountain Fire Woodworks founder Cameron Vilcsak shares how he used YouTube to promote his log cabins, chainsaw carvings, and passion for woodworking, culminating in one of his videos that has gone viral with over 25 million views and counting.
So... can you actually make money with a woodworking business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesnβt.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
5. 2Puggles ($30K/year)
High school marketing teacher, Steve Smith, started 2Puggles as a 3-year experiment to see how big one person could build a part-time craft-based business. Inspired by a video on YouTube, Smith made wooden snowflake earrings as Christmas gifts and received positive feedback. He then decided to design and sell more styles of earrings on Etsy, and with the encouragement of his students, used their support to fuel the growth of his business.
How much they make: $30K/year
Where they're located: Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
Current team size: 1
This high school teacher experimented with building a part-time woodworking-based business, 2Puggles, which generates $15,000 annually and has enjoyed significant growth after starting in crafts shows, Kickstarter, and relying on word of mouth referrals to generate revenue.
6. SketchUp For Woodworkers ($12K/year)
Zack Hall, a software developer and woodworker, came up with the idea for SketchUp For Woodworkers after struggling to find updated SketchUp tutorials for woodworking. He saw the potential in an old website that had valuable SEO and purchased it for $5,000. Zack then partnered with an experienced woodworker to create a comprehensive online course teaching woodworkers how to use 3D design software. The business is currently earning about $1k/month and Zack plans to focus on SEO, affiliate marketing, and video marketing to grow the audience and increase sales.
How much they make: $12K/year
Where they're located:
How much did it cost to start: $7.5K
Current team size: 0
Zack Hall started SketchUp For Woodworkers, an online course for teaching woodworkers how to use 3D design software, after acquiring an old website and investing $5,000, with the business now earning around $1k per month and attracting almost one sale per day through organic SEO traffic.
So... can you actually make money with a woodworking business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesnβt.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
7. IsGood Woodworks ($1.99M/year)
How much they make: $1.99M/year
Where they're located: Seattle, WA, USA
Current team size:
IsGood Woodworks has transformed from a small, independently funded contract woodworking business to a well-known neighborhood woodworking shop that brings in about $2 million annually, providing equipment, resources, education, one-on-one mentoring, and certifications to thousands of students and independent shop workers since its establishment in 1992.
8. Fixer ($19.2M/year)
How much they make: $19.2M/year
Where they're located: Chicago, IL, USA
Current team size: 46
Fixer, a handyman service co-founded by former GrubHub COO Mike Evans, has completed nearly 25,000 jobs so far in Dallas and Chicago, offering skilled career paths for both men and women in the building trades.
9. Ventana Surfboards & Supplies ($96K/year)
David Dennis, co-founder of Ventana Surfboards & Supplies, was inspired by his business partner's reclaimed and eco-friendly surfboards, leading them to launch an environmentally responsible surf company. Frustrated with the industry's pollution and unsustainable practices, they started small, marketed their unique products through compelling content and stories, and have seen success with their line of boards, apparel, and surf supplies. With tripled board values over the past three years and profitable operations from the start, they plan to continue growing their brand organically while giving back to ocean conservation organizations.
How much they make: $96K/year
Where they're located: California, USA
How much did it cost to start: $15K
Current team size: 0
Ventana Surfboards & Supplies co-founder David Dennis discusses their environmentally responsible surf company that has seen their boards triple in value over the last three years, and has grown a profitable eco-apparel line, focusing on compelling content and stories to attract customers.
Hey! π I'm Pat Walls, the founder of Starter Story.
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