Small Business Help Needed

[Designer]

I purchased a BT32 Standard to add CNC capability to my new business. Does anyone know of a resource that provides advise on starting a small woodworking business. I found Jim Morgan's WoodProfits, but there is some interesting info calling it a scam. Any advise would be appreciated.

The name of my business is Designer Woodworks LLC. That's were my user name comes from.

[Brady Watson]

The short answer is no.

Nobody is going to tell you what you should make to be able to make a living or even have a successful business. Sorry to say but...that aspect is all on you. The best advice I could give you is to 'just do it' and stop thinking about all of the incidentals. Do the work and the money will follow. If you can't think of a specific product to make, consider being a job shop that cuts for other people. I've done this for 15 years.

If you need specific business advice, you may wish to contact your local SCORE chapter (https://www.score.org/chapters-map). You may also wish to network via a Rotary Club etc. to drum up local B2B work.

I can't say one way or another about the scam you mention...but I will say that you probably don't need it anyway. Just get into action using your machine and making things...show them off, make samples etc. Get out and get known. There's no magic advice. YOU are the expert for your life and your business. Scary, I know, but true.

-B

[MogulTx]

Brady is right. There is no magical formula.... you have to write the story of your life and that of your business. I especially like his last line... "Scary, I know, but true." ( Oh how true that is!!!)

[coryatjohn]

The machine and the skill to use it is the key. Make stuff. Show it off. Tell people. Do promo work for a school or church. Get the ball rolling and it gets difficult to stop. Being an entrepreneur is not a natural thing for most people. You may be out of your comfort zone but that's actually normal and ok.

[Brian Harnett]

Brady has good advice on the local score chapter, I sat down and had a long conversation with a retired businessman when I started it helped get a business plan started.

How long have you been doing woodworking? what are your specific goals custom or mass production? they are approached in very different mindsets. I still don't have it figured out after 11 years but it beats a "real job".

The part I hate the most is the bookwork.

[Joe Porter]

I would hang around the Vectric forum also. People from all over the world post pictures of things they make and sell, and then tell you how to do it and usually supply the carve file for free. There are two interesting projects that Russell Crawford has for sale are cut files for a Maloof style rocker and stool that a lot of people are interested in. I am not affiliated with Russell, but he is a professional woodworker and helps a lot of us out when he can. I would especially look at the stool plans, that looks like something you could sell and actually make a profit....joe

[Designer]

Thanks for the comments. I had a business in the mid to late 90's making custom cabinet style products. It went fairly well until my main source of income (my full time job) decided to move me. I started this business late last year and was looking for a magic cook book to get moving again. I plan to make low volume high quality products as I did in the past, but I am also providing a CNC service to a couple of businesses at this time. I really like the idea of networking. I will head down that path. I never thought about doing promo work for a school or church. That sounds promising. My end goal is to work for myself and leave the world of corporate intrigue. Thanks again to all for your inputs.

[bleeth]

If you are looking to do low volume high end product (as in custom?) then canvassing local interior designers with your portfolio will likely get you work. But BEWARE: Designers can be real prostitutes and pound you on pricing and seemingly never ending design modifications, as well as copping a plea about "I can't pay your final bill yet because the client hasn't paid me" They are entitled to a reasonable time to pay it off (No work till deposit) but don't let them stretch it out past a couple weeks. But when you get a good one it's repeat business.