If you have skills, experience, and a talent for woodwork and carpentry, you may be considering starting your own business. By taking on contract work and commissions, you could earn a substantial living, but it can be difficult to kickstart a business when you are a new company. Before you have established a reputation and can attract new business via referrals and word of mouth, you will need to earn your place in the market. Once you have established your business, you can choose whether you work with commercial construction companies or on private contracts. This guide outlines some of the most crucial steps to follow when starting your own woodworking business.
Write your business plan
Before you start advertising your business or committing to projects, you need to have your business plan documented. This plan confirms in writing what type of business you will run, the services you will provide, how you will operate, who your customers will be, and how you will attract your target customers. Will you take on employees? If so, how much will you pay them? How will you decide on a pricing strategy, e.g. by the hour or by the project? With a clear plan which you can refer to, you will find it easier to remain focused on your objectives.
Decide on your brand
Your next task is to choose a name and brand, which will help you to establish your reputation and market your services. It can be tough to decide on a company name, but ideally, it should make it clear what you offer, different from the competition, and memorable. It might be tempting to be ‘clever’ or humorous with your company name, but this might be difficult to remember and can put some customers if seen as unprofessional. When you have chosen your name, you need to register it and decide on your logo and brand colors which will tie your marketing campaigns and materials together.
Buy your tools and equipment
To work at your best, you need to have the best tools that you can afford. Your toolkit and equipment list will include the essentials like a drill, hammer, saw, chisel, measuring tape, and lathe, but you should also consider investing in more specialist equipment like a miter saw and jigsaw.
Think about getting a truck to transport your timber and tools and add your branding and contact information to the bodywork for advertising purposes. To ensure that you are ready to take on your first commission or project, do some research into timber suppliers in your area that offer high-quality materials at competitive prices such as cabinet timbers to take a look at their range.
Insure your business
Insurance should be a top priority for a woodworking business, including liability insurance. If you are not adequately insured, your income could be at risk, and you could end up facing costly legal action. It is important to take out insurance in case you are injured while working.
Create and market your website
You need to create a website for your woodworking business that tells visitors who you are, the services you offer, your contact details (including an online inquiry form within the website), your experience and training, and photos of your previous projects. With a digital marketing strategy, including search engine optimization, social media marketing, and pay-per-click advertising, you can maximize your online exposure, increase traffic to your website, and find new clients.
