Starting a Woodworking Business

Kevin shares how he and his wife make a living making charcuterie boards, tables, counters and more

When Kevin was looking for ways to rehabilitate his body after being sick he decided to take up woodworking again. 

He didn’t know it would lead him to starting a woodworking business, where he and his wife would end up full time making cutting boards, doing high quality furniture and more. Soon, they began selling their woodworking projects, taking the leap from hobbyists to business owners, and found that their handmade items really appealed to customers.

“It was her and I together doing things,” says Kevin, who runs Circle K Creations, adding she’ll do the smaller pieces and he’ll do the larger ones, oftentimes working alongside each other in their shop. She often focuses handcrafted boards, which are made with care and attention to detail.

All of these items are handmade, and over the years, they have worked on a lot of different projects, gaining hands-on experience while enjoying each other's company.

It’s great because it’s allowed them to make a living turning their woodworking into a business, become self-employed and continue following their passion. While the pair are retired, Kevin says the extra income helps and means they can go on some extra trips with their grandkids.

They encourage others to try selling their own woodworking projects, taking inspiration from finding new ideas in off-cuts and always approaching each new product as a project. They went from making things for themselves to running a business, taking on different jobs from small items to large furniture pieces, and always striving to deliver the best possible product.

How it Started

Kevin has always done woodworking and used to be an industrial arts teacher. In the year 2017, he says he was dealing with some illnesses and was stuck at home. During that time, he began finding new ways to stay active and productive through woodworking.

Looking to start something new and do something physical to get his body back into shape, he bought a Woodland Mills HM126 Portable Sawmill and started getting back into woodworking.

It wasn’t necessarily the idea to start a woodworking business but that’s eventually what it became Kevin started milling up salvaged lumber and fallen trees, to turn into cabinets and other projects for customers. His wife started seeing the off-cuts from his projects and apparently took a liking to it.

“She started seeing a little inspiration in them,” says Kevin. “Never in her life had she done any type of woodworking. Well, she got interested in it.” 

That’s when she started using those smaller pieces to make cutting boards and charcuterie boards. Meanwhile he’s making custom furniture and the pair are making a living and loving working together. Over the years, they worked on a lot of different projects, gaining valuable experience. Each item they made was carefully handcrafted.

The pair do everything, including:

• • Paper towel holders

  • Guitar bodies

  • Countertops

  • Epoxy river boards

  • Dining room tables (Kevin’s favorite)

It’s a unique business, and not one they expected to take off the way it did, but they’re very happy with how it’s been going.

Transforming Wood

One challenge Kevin sought to deal with was a lack of lumber and the escalating lumber prices in their area. Because of that, Kevin wanted a way to source his own material, which required investment of time, money, and effort.

That’s why he chose to get himself the HM126. While he says there are larger sawmills on offer, he likes his HM126 because it allows him to mill medium-sized logs while also being able to do smaller, lighter logs.

And that means he’s been able to keep the cost of his projects lower. While woodworking can be expensive, Kevin says he loves cutting a deal and helping out his customers. Setting the right price is crucial for staying competitive, and Kevin always aims to offer the best value to his clients.

Right now he’s making a custom countertops for a horseshoe bar for an elk club and he says “if I had to go out and buy that [material], there’s no way I could’ve priced that where they could’ve done it. There’s no way possible with hardwood cost what it is now.”

Custom-built projects like these set his business apart from mass-produced options and he maintains fair pricing so everyone is happy.

While he could get more money for his projects, the couple are able to keep their customers happy and continue doing their passion. They take on a variety of jobs, from small projects to large commissions, and pay close attention to business expenses.

“It makes us smile, it keeps us happy,” says Kevin.

Starting Your Own Woodworking Business

Want to start your own woodworking business, maybe doing custom-built furniture or even opening your own cabinet shop? Look for opportunities in your local area and research what other woodworkers and shops are doing to find unique project ideas and collaborations. Building relationships with local shops can provide access to specialized project opportunities that larger retailers may not offer.

When starting out, it's important to have positive thinking and the right mindset—avoid overanalyzing and focus on taking proactive steps toward your goals. See more examples of successful woodworking businesses and projects to inspire your journey.

Kevin says he focuses on listening to his customers, listen to their likes and dislikes to get a sense of what they want. Each new commission is approached as a project, ensuring that custom-built solutions fit specific client needs.

The customer knows what they want, and if you work with them it’ll lead to a great product that they’ll love, he says. Choosing the best strategies and developing strong skills—both technical skill and business skills—are key to running a successful woodworking business.

Furthermore, Kevin says owning a portable sawmill is more than just a “game changer,” but it keeps his lumber costs low and it means he doesn’t have to take time shopping around to find cheap materials, he’s able to mill his own in the dimensions he needs.

“I have access to it and I can cut it and we can make them a good deal, and that’s what we like doing is making people a good deal.”