20 Creative Woodworking Business Ideas
Interested in starting a woodworking business but not quite sure what to start?
Fortunately, there are plenty of different opportunities to start an innovative and profitable business in this line of work.
If you're looking to start your own woodworking business, there are several low-investment options you can choose from.
Here they are:
1. Start a blog ($60K/year)
Chhavi Agarwal from New Delhi, Delhi, India started Mrs Daaku Studio over 4 years ago, a blog.
- Revenue: $5,000/ month
- Founders: 2
- Employees: 3
- Location: New Delhi, Delhi, India
I am a licensed attorney in India and right after my master’s in law, I started working with a leading company as a lawyer. I worked there for about two years before I quit my job to become more location independent.
Choose a niche in whatever you start. It is critical for streamlining your efforts and make money.
My job paid me well but I worked 12 hours a day, I was exhausted by the end of each day, spent my weekends sleeping and I almost quit the things I liked to do - for example, sketching, yoga, traveling, etc.
2. Start a clothing blog ($72K/year)
Jon Shanahan from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA started The Kavalier about 8 years ago, a clothing blog.
- Revenue: $6,000/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 1
- Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
My days with a camera can be traced back to my parents’ Sony Handycam when I was 6 directing my friends to make mini movies (still somewhere around here on VHS) but high school was a defining time for that passion as I joined the video club.
There’s certainly no substitute for hard work and dedicating thoughtful time to what you’re working on. I’ve published over 500 videos in the last three years and it takes a lot of time and effort to get there but if you show up everyday you will be ahead.
I was a distracted student in high school but my one reprieve was making videos at the direction of my teacher Brad Schulte. One of my earliest projects is still on YouTube which received 700k views at a time when that was a big deal. Most of those views came from people searching for keywords which planted a seed.
3. Create an online course ($60K/year)
Lidiya Kesarovska from The Netherlands started Let's Reach Success about 10 years ago, a online course.
- Revenue: $5,000/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 0
- Location: The Netherlands
Back in 2013, I had already discovered my passion - personal development - and had realized writing is the best way to express myself. So I combined these and started a self-improvement blog.
Starting the blog was the best decision and not giving up on it over the years (even when no traffic or money was coming in) was what helped me move forward.
It was first just a hobby and I knew nothing about blogging. Over the years, after publishing a ton of content, gaining traffic, learning about SEO, email marketing, social media, and all the ways to monetize a blog, it became a real business.
4. Start a woodworking business ($78K/year)
Sasha Weekes from Hunter River, Prince Edward Island, Canada started Timber Grove Studios almost 6 years ago, a woodworking business.
- Revenue: $6,500/ month
- Founders: 1
- Employees: 0
- Location: Hunter River, Prince Edward Island, Canada
I was always the art kid growing up, so I naturally began my post secondary education by pursuing a degree in Fine Arts. I spent my summers refinishing furniture and doing photography and that’s how I got my feet wet with business, so by my second year, I was also pursuing a minor in Commerce.
I had never really done much woodworking at all but became a lot more interested in design and home decor during those years. After finishing my third year, I was itching to do something more practical than becoming a gallery artist, so I set my sights on furniture design and enrolled in a college cabinetmaking course instead. It really wasn’t where I had ever expected to end up, but it was sort of a natural progression and I’m so glad I did it!
I started making mountain shelves in the morning before class to sell on Facebook and Kijiji. It was intended to be a fun side project but they were so popular that I started my business shortly after graduating with the mountains as my first product.
5. Start a plywood manufacturing business
Examples of a successful plywood manufacturing business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a plywood manufacturing business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Start Me Up: Creating And Running A Successful Manufacturing or Industrial Business: Greg Brede
- How To Start A Manufacturing Business - A Step By Step Guide To Starting A New Small Manufacturing Company: Meir Liraz
Learn more about starting a plywood manufacturing business ➜
6. Start a book shelf business
Examples of a successful book shelf business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a book shelf business:
- Making A Simple Bookcase - Limited Tools Build For Beginning Woodworkers
- So I Did This To My Books ✨ Aesthetic Bookshelf Makeover
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Start Your Own Self Publishing Business: Your Step-By-Step Guide To Success (StartUp Series)
- How to Start a Business: Startup Essentials-The Simple, Step-by-Step Guide to Successfully Start Your Own Business (Online Business, Small Business, Work ... (Business Startup for Newbies Book 2)
Learn more about starting a book shelf business ➜
7. Become an interior designer ($1.32M/year)
Examples of a successful interior designer:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a interior designer:
- 10 Steps To Help You Start An Interior Design Business - Part 1
- How To Start An Interior Design Business - 5 Things You Need To Guarantee Success
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How To Start A Home-Based Interior Design Business
- Rearrange It! How To Start A Profitable Interior Redesign Business: Barbara Jennings
Learn more about starting an interior designer ➜
Well, to make a long story short, my mother and I started this company together in 1996. I was working as a staff interior designer at a private firm in NYC, and my mother, Rosemarie was the manager of the Estate and Trust department at a large Law Firm. We both HATED our jobs and dreamed of doing our 'own thing'. We had no idea what that looked like, and so we turned to our passion..antiques and design.
That passion has morphed into a boutique design firm that boasts over 1M in annual revenue and has completed hundreds of trophy projects.
8. Start a picture frame making business
Examples of a successful picture frame making business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a picture frame making business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How To Make Your Own Picture Frames, Revised And Enlarged
- How To Start Making Your Art Your Business: 100 DIY Tips: Tamara Holland
Learn more about starting a picture frame making business ➜
My name is Mehdi Kajbaf, Co-Founder at Matboard and More ™ , the company that makes framing your art easier than you think. We brought sophistication to one of the oldest industries on earth, picture framing.
However, if you can live the life you want, have financial security for the future and the freedom to enjoy it, you are probably successful.
9. Start a beer bottle crate business
Examples of a successful beer bottle crate business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a beer bottle crate business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting a beer bottle crate business ➜
10. Start an antique furniture refurbishing business
Examples of a successful antique furniture refurbishing business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a antique furniture refurbishing business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
Learn more about starting an antique furniture refurbishing business ➜
11. Start a candle holder business
Examples of a successful candle holder business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a candle holder business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How To Start A Candle Business: Step-by-step guide how I went from making $0 to $200,000 a month in under a year selling candles
- How To Start A Candle Business: Step-By-Step
Learn more about starting a candle holder business ➜
My name is Kevin Gillespie, and along with Garrett Le’ Tourneau, we created Wax & Wick, the 100% soy candles with wood wicks.
Some notable differentiation between Wax & Wick and traditional candles is that our branding is simple, the style of the candle will fit with any decor, and we use only 100% soy wax and Fsc-Certified wood wicks. Our impact on the environment is intentionally small.
12. Start a woodworking supplies business
Examples of a successful woodworking supplies business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a woodworking supplies business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Start Your Own Woodworking Business: Profit From Your Passion!
- Woodworking Business: Start Quickly And Operate Successfully: An Expert Woodworker Reveals The Keys To Succeeding In The Woodworking Business: A William Benitez
Learn more about starting a woodworking supplies business ➜
Hello! My name is Zack Hall. I’m a software developer, and I’m the founder of SketchUp For Woodworkers, an online course teaching woodworkers how to use 3D design software. This was a project that grew from scratching my itch. In my spare time, I joined a makerspace near my home in the suburbs of Boston to start woodworking.
Fast-forward and I ended up acquiring an old website and setting out to build the woodworking design tutorials and resources I wish I’d had when I was getting started. After launch, it is currently earning about $1k/month.
13. Start a jewelry box business
Examples of a successful jewelry box business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a jewelry box business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Starting A Business All-In-One For Dummies
- How To Start A Subscription Box Business: With 50 + Money Making Ideas
Learn more about starting a jewelry box business ➜
I am Nikolay Piriankov, the Founder and CEO of Taylor & Hart. We are an award-winning, disruptive e-tailer of custom-designed, ethical engagement rings, wedding rings, and fine jewellery, that capture your story. Our online platform, processes, and brand democratises bespoke jewellery, allowing us to offer this service at scale. Taylor & Hart's vision is to reconnect customers with the original purpose of jewellery - a personalised product that tells a unique story.
Recently we closed a seed round of £1M. The London based Garage Soho, an early stage investor and brand builder also supported us in the last round.
14. Start a cabinet making business
Examples of a successful cabinet making business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a cabinet making business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Illustrated Cabinetmaking: How to Design and Construct Furniture That Works (Fox Chapel Publishing) Over 1300 Drawings & Diagrams for Drawers, Tables, Beds, Bookcases, Cabinets, Joints & Subassemblies: Bill Hylton
- How To Plan & Build Bookcases, Cabinets & Shelves
Learn more about starting a cabinet making business ➜
15. Start a decorative wood business
Examples of a successful decorative wood business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a decorative wood business:
- 10 Tips For Starting Your Woodworking Business In 2022
- Low Cost High Profit - Small Projects That Sell - Make Money Woodworking
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How To Start A Faux Painting Or Mural Business - Rebecca F. Pittman
- Start Your Own Woodworking Business: Profit From Your Passion!
Learn more about starting a decorative wood business ➜
16. Start a planter box business
Examples of a successful planter box business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a planter box business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Raised Bed Gardening for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know to Start and Sustain A Thriving Garden: Tammy Wylie
- Start Your Own Herb and Herbal Products Business (Entrepreneur Magazine's Start Up)
Learn more about starting a planter box business ➜
17. Start a cutting board business
Examples of a successful cutting board business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a cutting board business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- Custom Kitchen Cutting Board Business
- The New Bandsaw Box Book: Techniques & Patterns For Modern Woodworker
Learn more about starting a cutting board business ➜
18. Start a puzzle business
Examples of a successful puzzle business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a puzzle business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How to Start an Online Business: A Step by Step to Make Money from Your Computer Even If Your Starting from Scratch! (How to start an Online Business, ... Startup, Online Business for Beginners): LR Smith
- How to Start a Business: Startup Essentials-The Simple, Step-by-Step Guide to Successfully Start Your Own Business (Online Business, Small Business, Work ... (Business Startup for Newbies Book 2)
Learn more about starting a puzzle business ➜
19. Start a wooden remote business
Examples of a successful wooden remote business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a wooden remote business:
For further info, check out these books and products:
- How To Open Your Own In Home Bookkeeping Service 3rd Edition: Julie A Mucha
- Cabins: A Guide To Building Your Own Nature Retreat: David Stiles
Learn more about starting a wooden remote business ➜
20. Start a wooden boat repair business
Examples of a successful wooden boat repair business:
Here are some great videos on how to get started with a wooden boat repair business:
- Starting A Business - Handmade Wooden Boat Building Plans And Wooden Fishing Boat Manufacturers
- Working On The Wooden Shipyard I Wooden Boat Repair I Livn Channel
For further info, check out these books and products:
- The Complete Wooden Runabout Restoration Guide: Danenberg
- Planking & Fastening (The WoodenBoat Series)
Learn more about starting a wooden boat repair business ➜
Hey! 👋 I'm Pat Walls, the founder of Starter Story.
Get our 5-minute email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.