How do I go from hobby to business?

Our expert answers

It depends on quite a few factors Oliver. Turning your woodworking hobby into a business starts with focus and comprehensive planning. It can take years to build a clientele. You really need to define your niche carefully – the specific product or products you can profitably make –  then build a strong portfolio – photos of your products, web site, etc. – and you should test your market before scaling up. Price your work to include labour, materials, overhead and profit, and set up your business properly with separate finances and insurance. Grow gradually, build an online presence and keep learning. Some community colleges offer course on starting a small business – I highly recommend you take one if available in your area. Best of luck.