Carpentry

Are you an experienced carpenter with an eye for profit? We’re here to tell you that you can capitalize on your craft through multiple mediums and make a good amount of money.

From creating a furniture store with your unique designs to selling customized wooden items on Etsy, the sky’s the limit for how you can increase your earning potential with carpentry.

It doesn’t have to involve woodworking itself! You can share your master carpentry experience through a blog or an e-book.

Make use of today’s booming gig economy and boost your value with your craftsmanship. In this article, we’ll briefly discuss what you can expect when entering this side hustle.

An Overview of Carpentry: A Primer

A gig in carpentry involves working with wood, whether you’re joining, cutting, repairing, or installing timber. You can specialize in various types of woodworking, including cabinet-making and structural construction.

Some specializations allow you to create props for the film industry. Others will require you to create temporary formwork used to mold concrete into shapes for beams, slabs, and columns. Carpentry gigs can also focus on window, furniture, or door construction.

The process of becoming a carpenter requires you to obtain your high school diploma and enroll in an apprenticeship program for job training.

Afterward, you’ll have to work on refining your skills to stand out from competitors and effectively market your carpentry work to prospective clients.

How Much Can Carpentry Earn You?

According to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) information, carpenters typically earn $24.71 per hour. This can rack up to a yearly salary of $51,590.

Now, if you’re trying to make money in woodworking as a side hustle, your income will likely differ, depending on your approach.

For instance, as a master carpenter, you might choose to create detailed wooden structures and sell them online. This might earn you a decent income on top of your main job.

You might create a blog and share your carpentry knowledge with novice and advanced woodworkers. As a blogger, your earnings rely on how long you’ve had your platform and the number of audience accumulated. On average, the side gig can earn you a yearly $51,971.

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Carpentry Side Hustle?

Carpentry is one of the many hobbies that make money. The best part is that start-up costs aren’t too high compared to other side business hustles.

Chances are, you’ve already completed your apprenticeship program and have a decent number of years in the wood construction industry.

Most costs will focus on the building materials, tools, transport, and insurance. During start-up, you can be looking at $6,000 to $45,000.

Costs fluctuate depending on various factors. For example, you might already have the tools and transport settled, so you’ll be able to cut off a large chunk of the costs. In contrast, you might opt for higher-quality building materials and hire a rider, increasing your bill.

Here’s an estimate of each cost:

• Insurance: $500 to $900
• Transport: $4,000 to $40,000
• Tools and Building Materials: $700 to $2,000

Where Can You Find Carpentry Gigs?

You can find carpentry gigs through two prime routes, independent or via gig economy companies.

Where to Independently Find Carpentry Work

Independently selling your carpentry service requires extensive marketing efforts. You need to showcase your brand among other options to gain footing in your local community.

For this reason, you need to set up a website and portfolio of your previous carpentry work. Using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram will also boost your popularity and credibility in the area.

Now, using these methods will take some time to gain clients. You can opt to work with a lead generation company that’ll sift through clients for you and allow you to focus more on enhancing your craft.

Gig Economy Companies That Offer Carpentry Work

With a $500 billion projected valuation in the upcoming five years, the gig economy has seen a mammoth expansion. This growth is shared among several industries, including carpentry and construction.

You can advertise your work on multiple companies, including TaskRabbit, Fiverr, and Upwork. As you build your profile, add referrals from previous positive client reviews to boost your chances of getting picked.

Be sure to refine your carpentry portfolio before going live. Afterward, choose your hourly rates and wait for clients to contact you.

Why You Should Consider Carpentry as a Side Hustle

Going for a carpentry side hustle reaps multiple benefits, including refining your woodworking skills and enhancing your portfolio.

• Skill Development: Consistently working on projects and associating with a diverse pool of clientele will expose you to more knowledge in the industry. It can include learning new techniques or marketing methods to upsell your product.
• Get More Control: As with most side hustle gigs, you’ll get more flexibility with your working schedule. You get to set your deadlines and workflow to cater to your lifestyle.
• Build Your Portfolio: Working with more clients will allow you to diversify your portfolio. The more varied your portfolio, the more dedication you’ll exhibit.

Problems With Carpentry

Starting a carpentry side hustle is not without its challenges, from experiencing high physical exertion to managing customer expectations.

• Physically Challenging: Woodworking requires you to exert lots of physical strain. Plus, work-related injuries are common in this field.
• Job Outlook Falling: Based on BLS data, carpentry’s job outlook and overall growth are below average, reaching only 2% by 2029. Consequently, you need to work harder to distinguish yourself from competitors, which can involve learning niche techniques and fine-tuning your woodwork skills.
• High Customer Expectations: Since you’ll be working with clients directly, you might face issues where they give unrealistic deadlines. You can avoid this by initially communicating your workflow and average timeframe.

Frequently Asked Questions