Why You're NOT Making Money Woodworking | 7 Business Tips

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These 7 strategies will help you grow your woodworking business and take it to the next level. Find out what mistakes are costing you and how to fix them. These tips are something I wish I would have known early on. These steps are easy to follow and learn. Ryan goes over practical woodworking knowledge from industry professionals and personal experience. I hope you are better off as a woodworking business after this video!
My Favorite CNC Router Bit - amzn.to/3cFhFt7
#1 Not Focusing On A Niche - 1:00
#2 Death by Choices - 3:54
#3 Not Understanding Your Market - 7:27
#4 Not Writing Plans - 9:13
#5 Making What You Think is Cool - 11:01
#6 Focusing on the Wrong Details - 12:17
#7 Saying Yes to Everyone - 15:05
About Cutting It Close:
Our goal is to help aspiring craftsmen do what they love for a living! Through training videos, CNC router techniques, unique projects, and practical applications, we hope to share our knowledge in the woodworking field and CNC routering.
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[@joem2209]

Balancing perfection vs time spent is a daily battle. Also learned to never point out a flaw. All projects have flaws. 99.99% of the people will ever notice it.

[@emaddarawsheh7420]

Amen

[@poleguy4857]

*never ;)

[@michaelklein496]

Love this book! kzbin.infoUgkxpCNxqmAkyjN6NPx1fyB7QiEFWyO5mUWL it is simply one-of-a-kind! I really love it, because karah explained all tools required to have the job done, not mentioning the fabulous diy pallets ideas. I'm pretty sure this will be a fresh start in my new endeavour. Amazon was great, they delivered on time. Thank you!

[@ronrussell66]

I wish I had seen this many ,many years ago. Most of these mistakes, I see everyday where I work now. Have been in production woodworking for 35 years. I will be 55 in June and I'm finally going to try it on my own. I totally agree with concentrating on a niche market and having your shop setups dedicated to that market. Thank you Ryan for your words of wisdom. You seem very knowledgeable, beyond your years. Congrats on your success.

[@JohnDoe-jc3cl]

Ron Russell I’ve made ALL these mistakes too. Still making them. That’s why I’m here trying to change. I checked back at his face, he looks about 25-30 Very wise for that age. Trying to specialize/ assembly line idea is the key. And asking the customer what they want/ how much effort spent on the project is a big time saver

[@lawrencehud]

Finally someone who cuts to the chase with the real problems instead of marketing strategies and business lingo. I haven't seen anybody else talk about the difference between what a customer wants and what we think is cool or "done with integrity" etc. Thanks for your insight and sharing your own mistakes - It makes me feel much better about some of my ideas.

[@royalecrafts6252]

Marketing and business strategy is 50% of the process, if you cant market it to the right audience, forget about selling anything

[@DanielRodriguez-qq1ot]

Perfection of explanation. It's 1:14 am right now and I've been surfin all over KZbin on how to start my woodworking business. This was the last video I was going to watch before going to sleep. I am thankful I was able to watch this video. A lot of great tips. I'm always doing so many different projects and can'r stick to one. Now it's 1:17 am. Good night. :)

[@CalebJamesMaker]

I’ve been self employed since 2003 and I can say that you hit a lot of the key points right on the head. Great topic.

[@sherrithompson7574]

I honestly wish I would have found you 2 years ago! But probably wouldn't have listened. I have started watching your videos just this morning. This is the fourth one, I believe. Honestly, I could cry, this hit home on so many levels, I am so overly critical of my work. I also have such a hard time saying no, for exactly the reasons you said, yes I can make it, but everything has to stop and because of then the perfection kicks in, I end up spending hours, days, if not weeks designing, redesigning, painting, or staining, then to think I know this can look better, so I go at it again. Ugh, it's killing me and my potential business. I also have this overwhelming need to please everyone, and if they then become critical (which most don't, because lets face it, its practically perfect before I allow them to even view it lol) but its the fear of them being disappointed. I am going to make a recording to play on a loop and signs posted everywhere to hold back and protect my yes's and that I don't have to sand or stain to my ideals of perfection. Literally, just this past week, last minute, I made a personalized family recipe cutting board for my husbands family reunion on the 4th, to be auctioned off (we all donate different items for prizes, bingo, etc, then auction certain items to raise money for those games, expenses.,....I had already made two other cutting boards, with the agreement Id add a monogram if they wanted. I had originally just planned to make the recipe board for my MIL as a gift, but when she learned of this, she asked if I could make one for the auction, if it wasn't too much trouble. Of course I agree, no trouble at all! Lord! But now it wasn't just going to my mil, it was up for anyone, I had to make sure it was gorgeous! Long story, longer, I missed the entire reunion, got there last minute to watch fireworks, and for last item of auction/drawing... it was cut earlier that morning, but just before my husband took it down, I looked at it again, and realized it hadn't been sanded again,, and that one of the recipes was just below the line of the grove I had added (how did I miss that?! exhaustion, that's how.... Therefore I spent the remaining day trying to fix, re-cut, and of course trying to do other items, I thought I could add to improve, or do more of, etc. Now this is way tmi, but I just wanted to thank you so much for this, and hopefully your video reaches others earlier in their journey than mine. Should they additionally read my comment, learn such a valuable lesson, I wish I had watched this particular video last Saturday! I wish I would walk away from trying to be perfect and that it's ok to say no and to spend time with your family!!! We care way more about things than most customers. Bless you Ryan for such helpful and appreciated advice! This old lady is gonna try her best to take! I wish you continued success in all areas of your life!

[@cutting-it-close]

Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@sherrithompson7574]

@@cutting-it-close thank you! just a little funny note to the recipe board story, I have requests to make 3 more of the same recipe board from the 4th. The "fixed" file has disappeared and I can only find the one with the mistake! So do I cut it with the last line not moved up, or fixed or should I just cut it the way it is? Ok let's not get crazy here! Let's just say I am a work in process, I have to fix that line!!!! LOL but I will only be giving a light final sanding! LOL baby steps, right?! Keep those video's coming, you definitely have a new follower/fan! Have a good weekend, take it off and enjoy!

[@CommercialForest]

Excellent points 👍 Needlessly over-complicating things happens all too often. Years ago I worked with a company that was doing stair systems for large residential construction tracts. Cherry was one of their high end options. Quality Control was driving them crazy because someone (probably a perfectionist) installed 16 foot long all heart cherry handrails in their models. No problem for one stair system but try to do replicate in 1000 homes! Understandably, homeowners expected the same. After a few years of frustration, someone had the brilliant idea to put heart/sap Cherry handrails in the new models. Made their lives exponentially easier, sold it for the same price and never got a complaint. True story!

[@matthall2860]

Man, you summed it up for me perfectly. Most days I'm going 100mph and wheels are spinning. Projects all over the place with no efficiency and not profitable. Great advice all around.

[@vote4pedro7]

You are right about every single thing you said. I just keep making miscellaneous stuff and giving it all away to friends and family. Can't ever say no.

[@MarkH10]

This is so important for anyone making the transition from a dream to a reality in business. Not just a hobby, woodworking, to a woodshop business, but everyone. The businesses I think of while listening are many of Gordon Ramsay's and other TV show chefs' restaurants that get rescued on TV. One exceptional thing that stands out too often is large menu selections. So many businesses have menus up to 11 pages long on TV. If you were to write down MacDonald's menu, would it be 8 or more pages long? No. Neither would my favorite steak house with $35 Chicken Dinner as a lowest priced meal. 4 pages or less. As to cutting boards. Just think. You batch out 40 large. In comes an order for 22 small. You cut off 1 inch in width, 4 inches in length, and rechamfer 2 edges, and off you go.

[@moldings_etc]

It took me 30 years in wood working to figure these out! Where were you in my high school shop class? This was very wise advice I wish my dad had taught but had to learn on my own. Thanks for this.

[@dal2888859]

Man this hits home. I built my woodshop a little over a year ago. Ive watched basically all of your videos, and enjoy and learn from them all, but this one really spoke to me. Out of the 7 mistakes you listed, this year i have been and am currently making all 7 lol. Thanks for putting this and your other stuff out there Ryan. You are one of the only ones, maybe the only one, making videos that pertain to industrial level woodshop cnc. As an IS408 owner for a year now, and learning it all from scratch on my own, i always look forward to watching your new videos, and even go back and watch some of the older ones 2 and 3 times to learn about chip loads and the various bits. So thanks.

[@CarpenterCore]

As a 30 year veteran in the industry, I can say that you are dead on target. A good compliment to this is to understand and embrace lean principles. A good first step for someone taking this advice would be to throw stuff at the wall, see what sticks, leverage #3 (understand your market), and make these principles a lifestyle.

[@PanayiotisMavrokefalos]

I have already shared this video to people who have nothing to do with woodworking just because those advises apply in any business. Well thought video with very good points. I am happy to admit we are on the same page in all of those points. Enjoyable to watch as always. Keep up the good work. Thanks for sharing!

[@scobob]

#7.1 - Don't do "freebies" for friends. The only word that get's out is you will do things for free. Great video, thank you!

[@benh715]

These are brilliant business tips for ANY industry. Brilliant.

[@AngelinaKaul]

You are talking about woodworking but these rules are easily applicable to so many industries. Thank you so much for speaking about your experiences so clearly and presenting your helpful and much needed ideas. You're brilliant!🙂

[@EclecticKing74]

A lot of what you said, I already knew and or felt as a woodworker, but hearing it from someone else really put it into perspective. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!!

[@davidblakesley4801]

Ryan, I get where you're coming from and I can see that you're going to be a great success at what you're doing. And I also agree with a lot of what you're saying as far as ways to stay out of trouble when it comes to understanding how best to serve your customer base. I've looked at your website and I see the kinds of products that you and your team are turning out and they're in line with the advice that you're providing. A lot of woodworkers dream of owning their own shop, upskilling their talents, finding a customer base and having a long term, diverse woodworking career. They and I believe that there's a bespoke quality to woodworking. When you remove that quality, you're drifting away from doing woodworking. You're going to be a success at making money. Woodworking is a craft. Programming a computer is a technological function and not a craft. Where I sit is that you're making money out modeling with wood and not woodworking. You're also not just using wood. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with what you're doing or your advice. I'm just saying that it's not woodworking. I also thought your prices were about 15% too low.

[@benjiandmckenzie8269]

I am happy to say I follow this strategy to the T. It's crazy to hear it outloud when I never thought about it. Follow this man's advice, and you will be successful.

[@christiantierno3309]

Great advice! I just scaled up and move into a real shop and I sure as hell have learned these lessons the hard way. It really helps to hear it from an outside source like yourself! Thanks!

[@harrybates5545]

Glad I found this. Very helpful as I’m venturing out and turning my side hustle into a more legitimate business. But I realize I have to find my niche, streamline, and become much more efficient. Everything you explained. Thank you for taking time to give advice to new starters like myself.

[@pattyofurniture100]

1 more thing I'd like to add.... whatever your #1 seller is... STOCK UP BEFORE CHRISTMAS!! every year it never fails I'll get 10-15 requests for something, e.g cutting boards, within 2 days before Christmas. Just bought a drum sander so I can batch them out now and have plenty on-hand.

[@richardc.4348]

Man these points are really relatable. Probably one of the best video on this topic that I’ve found on YT. Great job, keep on with these!

[@carlosroman586]

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[@Oh6Torch]

I have no clue of your age but you young man have wisdom beyond your years. Thank you for sharing this.

[@GaryLundgrenCrafts]

Great video! Thanks! Everything you talk about makes perfect sense. Some may disagree. But I, who has spent 40+ yrs as business tax consultant, with a BS Degree in business, former Revenue Officer, find that this falls into the common sense of business management. In my semi-retirement I enjoy making crafts and woodworking. But I need to return to the old lessons learned to make something of this. Your points are spot on. Congratulations! I am returning to the basics I learned in college so many yrs ago. Great job!!

[@wooddogg8]

I finally have a shop after 10 yrs. still moving machinery and it is small, like 12 x 12 small but I have a nice 12 x 12 storage loft and I'm determined to make this work. Not sure I can make a living with it but I'm gonna try. Your advice is solid. great video!!!

[@cadilacrich]

"Then make it out of PINE!" Funny cause it's true. You crack me up. This is amazing advice and you can tell it's from experience - not just regurgitated. Thanks man.

[@JohnWaclawski]

I was breaking about 2-3 of these. And I see what I need to do change my marketing strategy. Thanks for this great, great video!!

[@woodencustomcars]

Found you by looking for something specific to educate myself. However the more I watch you the more sense your words make for whatever I had planned. Keep up the good videos, very easy to listen to you. Thanks

[@tomquagliata9381]

This is great wisdom. Thanks for sharing. It all makes sense. Doesn’t mean you still can’t do some one off custom stuff and even have it remain a hobby. But niche down and create an efficient system - and I’m thinking the money will follow. Cut down on the variables. Love this!

[@joelhaby6754]

This is all true. I have found that when I step out of my niche for a customer it doesn't work out for me. I always have problems. Even something as changing the sizes of my projects from the norm creates problems. I make about 10 different projects and I always do runs, never a one off piece. If I have to set up my tools for one piece I might as well make 10 or 100 so I don't have to set up again.

[@artemnoz]

Thank you very much! It's a big deal to share your real experience! You are the best! Keep doing what you do. I wish you more clients for your interesting and creative and expensive works ;) Best regards from Ukraine!

[@after26inside]

I really enjoyed this vid. I'm a handyman now but grew up in a terrific cabinet shop that is mine now. I'm looking to turn my love of creating into a biz, and I just today decided to go for it. this vid was right on time.

[@AngieWilliamsDesigns]

I've enjoyed this video. I would personally like to see a video on Rule #1. I think I fall in this category. But #4 was a definite for me. I'm glad you included this because I was wondering if I was wasting my time on this. However... I kinda knew the answer. I have done enough pieces now that people will ask for one and it's already sold. They ask if I can build another and usually the answer is yes.... but it won't be just like it. So I've started writing down plans. And taking notes. I use Trello to track things so I have a handy way to pull up my notes and pics to match.

[@Joestacemazjojo]

First video I’ve watched of yours but definitely helped if I can personally stick to it, that’s on me though. Appreciate the insight. Got my subscription. I’m in the process of selling the same table I’ve made a base for now 3 times, and spent a lot of time looking back at those builds trying to figure out exactly how I built it previously

[@antoniobiguini6073]

Great information that gets right to the point. Thank you!

[@willyfriesen2451]

Thankyou for these tips

[@MarkRVillano]

The line between perfection and practical efficiency is a tough line to straddle. You have to ask yourself, "Am I creating a work of art, or am I manufacturing something?" They don't call them "starving artists" for nothing.

[@Louie16]

lol, I'm the guy with the chainsaw 😂 excellent video!!!

[@mattbowers5342]

Great info for any business!

[@whitneycoyle4571]

Love it, thank you!

[@robsandstrom9854]

Thank you really made me think about a couple things that were not intuitively obvious.

[@anthonytulonga5588]

I really needed this advice. Thanks

[@nesstillson2742]

I've been running wood working businesses for 30 years, and this is a nice video and very important advice for any starting wood worker going professional.

[@cutting-it-close]

Thank you it means alot

[@tsmith1729]

@@cutting-it-close You should talk to a barber.

[@ScaleModelCraft]

Great talk and well thought out advice!!!!

[@judah2kx]

great points. Good luck with your future videos.

[@ObiecteDeosebite]

so,so,so,so,so, much true. THX A LOT!!!

[@donaldamlaw1266]

Common sense and the benefit of hind sight. I appreciate your sharing with us.

[@breeblebrax]

As an MBA who has started many small businesses, please accept my compliments on your choice of points to portray to up and coming entrepreneurs. This is a very good approachably presented video. Well done!

[@jarodmorris611]

Wow an MBA!

[@tzfletcher]

Brilliant points and really well presented.

[@miknefish1]

Good stuff, I absolutely agree.

[@michaeljameson1046]

thanks for the advise it got me thinking cheers.

[@sarahweerheim6123]

Awesome advice! I just spent the summer insulating my workshop so that I can work in warmth all year. Now that the snow is flying I'm enjoying refining my skills. I will definitely put your advice to some use. Thanks from Sarah in southern Ontario, Canada.

[@bernardkinsky1637]

I had to move my shop because of the noise the router made.

[@anthonyegner1382]

Realy a eye opener thanks

[@chestermujibelo6955]

Thanks, very helpful info.

[@hasancan7189]

Another great video for beginner and apply to almost all businesses. Better have detailed ideas about the background of the work. Keep up the good work mate.

[@chetusher444]

Excellent advice. Thank you for posting.

[@user-zo6ch5zo8d]

Best advice I've seen on this topic! Please do more videos on profitability!

[@Stepwel4two]

Thanks that really helps and yes I’m all over the place making different items for different people, it’s doing my head in, No More! Cheers

[@jessecunningham2305]

Very helpful words of wisdom!

[@dabprod]

Yep.....excellent advice.

[@mateodemateus5444]

Wow! Great information, thank you for sharing.

[@johnmartin9090]

Great overview and advice! Thanks for sharing.

[@toldson90]

THANK YOU!

[@glenncooper447]

Great video bud. Solid tips.

[@joeymerrell8585]

Saying no is great advice. My sister asked me to help with a remodel. 4 months, and countless hours building new cabinets and staining and custom work, she got a rediculously high end kitchen and all she had to do was pay for appliances and countertops. I painted the walls, I wired the electrical, I did the plumbing, I laid the custom tile, and built everything. And I didn’t even get a mention on fb. I lost an estimated 40 grand on that job, not counting what I had to turn away because of time.

[@mustafaalnoori5213]

family love is unconditioned and you couldnot ask for anything in return i will be more than happy to do a favor to my sister just to see her smile

[@joeymerrell8585]

Mustafa Alnoori fixing a sink is a favor. Renovating a entire kitchen with new custom cabinets and updating the entire electrical system in the house and paying for it out of your own pocket isn’t. That’s what I do for a living.

[@brentonnoe9538]

@@mustafaalnoori5213 I have five sisters

[@egidis2]

@@joeymerrell8585 Why would you pay it all of your own pocket? Designing and installing it for your sister should be more than enough.

[@joeymerrell8585]

@@egidis2 I was supposed to be paid for materials. I was doing the work for free. Instead I didn’t get anything.

[@Jeff-qq1tz]

This is incredible information

[@jasonshrieves4467]

👍🏽 great advice and enthusiasm! Thx for sharing.

[@trees2treasureswoodworking921]

Couldn’t of said it any better myself. I find myself telling new upcoming Woodworkers the same thing. I must say I’m very envious of your Shop Sabre. I wish I had invested in one a few years ago.

[@nanthisjonathan751]

Thanks Man, really helpful tips

[@shambakanguya853]

Needed to hear this so bad. WOW!!..

[@cutting-it-close]

What was the most impactful?

[@TheNyhm1]

Good advice. Thank you

[@daveprice9128]

Ty soooooo much for the info

[@kreech68]

great words of advice - thanks for the honesty

[@stevend9960]

Excellent advice, well said!

[@thehamlinwoodshop]

100% Good advice!

[@jaybtre2435]

Great Informative Video, blessing to hear another pro emphasize the factors of this business

[@alanwojcik2213]

Great video, I think your advice does help. I tend to want to build everything under the sun for people when they ask for something built.

[@shannonwilliams7743]

This is an outstanding presentation. You really tie all relevant facts together nicely. SUBSCRIBED!!!!!

[@MrJohngi1207]

Great video, respect

[@whitneyharry991]

Very good info and I really needed to hear!!!!

[@hi-tech55]

I live about 3000 miles from you. With all the points you made, I live inches from you. Everything you have said I have done and still do. Great video. Thanks from sunny London. Not London Texas to where I once visited.

[@ianmorrison2003]

Thank you, thank you, thank you for this. This will help me focus so much better!

[@EddieJohnson25]

Truth bombs sir.

[@davidndahura7437]

Good lessons learnt here, the niche not to focus much on details understand the market don't do everything and say no to what doesn't pay thank you.

[@alexbordo4449]

Great points.

[@mahjoubali]

Thanks a lot, we can talk in 2022 God willingly. Definitely goin to follow your advise.

[@Mirnikk]

Круто! Прям все по полкам разложил) большое спасибо чувак! Буду делать именно так, не отступая от всех 7 пунктов

[@igorreshetov7565]

Thank you , lots of good advice !

[@timelesswoodworks8680]

This video was spot on! Appreciate the info 👌🏽

[@davidrice7655]

This is a great video. Thank you🙏

[@GreenLeafWoodwork]

Great info thank you!!

[@buildingnfixing7348]

These are very helpful, thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@willbrown2020]

Great video man. Subscribed from Dallas!

[@SheLsPeaker]

Intelligent advice! ThankYou Bro

[@dennisbracci1504]

Great advice. Thanks

[@circlelab9716]

Thank you for this man ! Great tips !

[@1402saw]

great advice!