Been in the carpentry/cabinetry game for 40yrs. Worked for others the first 3yrs then went on my own. There are 2 types of clients, those who care about price, and others who care about quality. I started out getting any work available, then worked my way up. One thing is for sure, excellent craftsmanship always stands out
Awesome book that gives you step-by-step photos ruclips.net/user/postUgkxTNB_zFBSnTo_O1PqfVUwgi7ityw0JlKt and directions to make every day project. I can see myself making a few of these projects and giving them as housewarming and holiday gifts!
Tip 11: Charge more than you think you should! A lot of us got into doing things ourselves because we're filthy cheapskates. Our impression of what things are worth is heavily skewed because when we do things for ourselves, materials is the only cost. If someone is paying you to do or make something, they would almost definitely would have agreed to pay more than what you thought to ask. Sincerely, a guy that feels guilty about his prices but everyone keeps saying yes.
It's true.. Plus you will annoy any other woodworkers in your area because if you're so cheap.. why is he so expensive and it will devalue the trade in the area.
I run a tree pruning business and I know how you feel! I look at my prices and think theres no way I'd pay that much for this lol. But people say yes. Don't forget, people are getting you to do it because they cant do it themselves
I raised my rates from $55 an hour to $115 and hour and I've never been busier. Don't be afraid to ask for more than you think you are worth. Not everyone will appreciate the higher price, but some will. Also, just something to think about..... some people associate higher prices with higher quality. Hopefully you have the quality factor nailed down (pun intended).
You missed one of the best bits of advice I've ever received. Stop pointing out your mistakes. It's only human to be self critical but your run of the mill customer won't spot that tiny detail that's driving you mad. So why highlight it!?
Even if the final product is absolutely perfect I obsess over any tiny mistakes. 99% of the clients will never see the mistake or care about it but it's always the first thing that comes to my mind when looking at the piece. Unfortunately I focus on the smallest imperfections and not the overall beauty of the work I created. I think this is the major problem that is hindering my woodworking career.
I'm horribly harsh on myself, and one of my latest projects I wanted to smash to pieces. For shits and giggles, I took it to the client instead, certain I'd have to rebuild it since the finish came out weird, and they absolutely loved the way it looked. I did not point out what I thought was wrong. Instead, i let them be the judge of their thoughts. So far so good. I absolutely would have rebuilt it, free of charge, if they had not liked them.
The pricing guide was some of the best advice you can give. People forget about paying themselves a good wage. They also forget about installation or delivery. They forget that their best friend will only help diliver or install things for free for a while. At some point you are going to have to pay them for their time and using their truck.
All good stuff. Tip 11 - Clean and sweep up the job site at the end of the day. It's professional and the client can walk around and focus on work not mess.
Siempre antes de terminar el día de trabajo dejar limpio y ordenado nada de herramientas por ahí eso demuestra respeto por las pertenencias del cliente y pulcritud en tu trabajo
Second this, first, I've had work done where they DID NOT clean up, and I was pissed. Second, i would never want someone to say i did not at least try to leave their home clean when i left.
Another one to add... Try to limit your client's design choices to 3 options or less. Most people get completely overwhelmed by the myriad of choices we can offer. Helping to limit them makes their decision easier. Of course, occasionally you will have clients that know exactly what they want, but that is rare for end users.
I agree. I haven’t done custom woodworking yet but i do custom shirts, and vinyl designs and i have had to limit the options i give people (got good practice with friends) because they get overwhelmed and or cant tell the difference in fonts and small details.
Great stuff. I would only add that for pricing purposes, you MUST include a percentage to cover your overhead expenses. Wear and tear/ maintenance costs on machinery, new blades, shop utilities, shop maintenance, vehicle costs/ maintenance,YADA, YADA, YADA. You have many costs which exist just to keep the operation going, regardless of the volume of business you might do. One option is to calculate this overhead for a yearly basis, then divide it by 2000 hours (typical 40 hour work week x 50 weeks) to yield an hourly figure which is added to the hourly labor estimate. That way, your shop expenses are covered. Omitting this item means you are EATING thousands of dollars of costs, and your hourly wages are actually MUCH less than you think. Of course, you need to include at least 5-10% profit on top of ALL costs, and this is MINIMUM. Paying yourself a decent wage without profit just means you are still working for someone else. Thanks for sharing you experience with us.
Your hourly wage should of course include your expenses. Just like any normal job. So learn accounting its really easy. Always keep your finances clearly separate. Which costs are for finished product, which is maintenance, and which are personal. Always have access to easy credit but never actually use it unless its absolutely must.
Your hourly wage should of course include your expenses. Just like any normal job. So learn accounting its really easy. Always keep your finances clearly separate. Which costs are for finished product, which is maintenance, and which are personal. Always have access to easy credit but never actually use it unless its absolutely must.
I just started some woodworking out of my small shop, made a few end tables for family and friends, then a coffee table for a coworker...I already have preorders with two others now, and it's all because I shared "in process" pictures with them. They loved seeing what I was creating and instantly wanted something for themselves
Super helpful, I’ve been a self taught woodworker for the last six years, just as hobby while I do carpentry full time. Looking into starting my own business (daunting now that my daughter has been born) and working towards doing woodworking full time, these tips videos have been crazy helpful for me.
Great tips ! As an estimator in another trade. I learned when to do a lump sum proposal/contract and when to break out each item. You will get more business if you are very specific about the materials and scope of the work. This also is good for you to make sure you have all your bases covered. If a client sees each phase or item broken out they are put at ease. if somehow there are any problems later you have a legal leg to stand on too. The rule of thumb I heard in the trades was figure the materials and labor would be 1.5 times that for a very rough guess. You need to use actual quantities (not theoretical) count on an appropriate amount of waste. I think this is probably higher in wood working than many other trades. I mark up my materials separately from overhead, tools and profit.
This is a good point. Many people are used to paying Ikea prices for furniture and even balk at Scan Design prices. If someone asks for a coffee table and expects to pay $500, then receives a $5,000 quote, they're going to wonder where that figure came from. The client needs to understand that you run a business and have an employee to pay (you!) that needs to pay the rent and feed their family. There's no shame in listing a 'labor cost' and 'design cost' on the quote. Sure, they can get a table built by some other guy, but it won't be furniture with your name on it. They contacted your shop for a reason - they liked what they saw or heard from a friend.
When i was in college we did a business plan competition in my entrepreneurial-ship class and what I remember best is that art (which is what a custom wood piece is) cannot be price only by supplies and time, art is also the creativity that goes into it. So while yes we can break down our work to supplies and time, the artistic aspect is part of it. So its harder to break down a detailed quote.
As a relative newcomer to woodworking, I've been exploring different channels and enjoying the personalities I've come across. Buy you and your channel are a notch above. I love your humor, playfulness, and knowledge. Someone give this guy a TV show!!
I used to do weddings out of my own home. Most times there are flowers left over because one needs to buy from the wholesale place and flowers come in bunches. So I usually had flowers left over. What I would do is make another arrangement and deliver that the day after the wedding to the Parents of the bride who usually paid for all that stuff with a thank you card for their business. You would not believe how much other weddings I got to do because of that. Woodworking is just my hobby but now that I am retired from the floral business I am thinking of making small stuff and selling it and maybe even an occasional wedding from my home. Love your videos.
You're the best, man. This is actually great advice for anybody starting out in a number of contracting industries, not just wood work. And that getup at 5:25... just priceless.
"stop pouring epoxy on everything like a freak" 🤣🤣🤣 that gave me a really good laugh! I love it! Thanks for the informative video. I'm considering going into woodworking full time, so this is helpful.
Hey, I've been watching your videos for a while, I find you entertaining and informative. I am starting my own business and the tip about giving clients a number instead of a date it a total game changer for me. I have a full time job and 3 kids. I can't always get in to my shop every day. This is going to save me some major headaches!!! Thank you! You are awesome!
Have done woodworking for 25 years as a hobby. Now I'm retired and want to expand into a business but not go crazy with it. Want to keep it PT so I can still go fishing when they're biting. Lots of great info in your videos.
Hi! I've been in the interior design field for about 10-yrs and thought I'd chime in regarding the scheduling point. Interior designers always want an estimated time-frame, not to be given a # to be "in line." Our clients always ask for lead times on all furniture selections, so not knowing when they'll have their furniture usually leads to us going to a different vendor/manufacturer. So while yes, clients are willing to wait a long time for custom high-quality furniture pieces, they also want some sort of an idea for the timeframe. Most furniture/cabinet makers I've worked with give an estimated timeframe of 6-10 weeks. The time starts after a deposit is given AND the drawings are approved. They also make us aware that if they get a large production order before we provide a deposit and signed drawings, then the time will be longer.
Wow. I've seen a lot of small business coaching and these were some of the best and most concise set of suggestions I've come across. Especially starting with how to get clients. Remember the truism that to have a business PEOPLE have to pay you MONEY for your goods or services. It's not for nothing that the first step in any business plan it to know who those people are, what they really want, what they are willing to pay for that, and how to reach them. Well done and thank you.
Finally a video by someone who gets business pricing. When you suggested $65/hr. as an example I anticipated the comments to blow up. But people need to realize custom woodworkers aren't in competition with IKEA or Ashley Furniture. This is CUSTOM! That means better materials made to the customer's specifications. The reason furniture manufacturers can sell stuff so cheap is because of the lower quality of materials and they are mass produced. Customers are asking us to use tens of thousands of dollars we have invested in equipment to make a one-of-a-kind product. You also need to factor in advertising expenses, a vehicle to get supplies and make deliveries, the business needs to profit. You need to cover your own benefits, there's insurance, a building, utilities, taxes and so on. People who ask me about a custom piece expecting to get a dining room table for $1,000 have no idea that they are asking me to make one at a loss.
Thanks for the effort Jason. I just retired from a 30 year gig in the Navy. I'm looking for something to allow me to walk away from the government completely and am considering woodworking. I have a long way to go and rely on guys like you to help guide the way. Thanks for not being stingy with your knowledge. Thanks for making it entertaining. I would love another video from you discussing the CONTENT aspects of what you do. Video and sound specifics, video editing and what your investment in time looks like. Again, thanks Brother. Great video as always. Like your SPEC OPS wall.....
Hope it goes well for you, and thanks for your service in the Navy. Check out Paul Sellers on RUclips if you haven't. Lots of great content creators but I think Paul is the best I've found for old-world hand-tooled woodworking. Obviously for making a business out of it many of the techniques he shows would be too inefficient, but some of the old methods are surprisingly faster for some stuff! I myself am finding I like to use a mix of both old and new methods, sometimes by hand, sometimes with power tools, I usually choose whichever method I think will be faster and still provide the quality I want.
Turn 2 shïtbag. Just started mine too and made custom pieces for a few buddies (4-5) and sent them to em all over the country for free. Already got a few orders across a few states! Took off pretty quickly. They were really simple pieces like coasters and plaques just to have my work out there.
Lovely way you're moving towards!! Maybe you feel you can see some NAvy influences being carved out into woods, subtle symbolism or something. Way the go mate!
A place for clients that has worked really well for me are event venues. Weddings/Corp events etc. I've made a few bars, tables, and such for them. Also, get connected to a reputable realtor who wants custom gifts when they sell a house. If you have a laser engraver or CNC some super simple projects sell well. In fact, they often order a bunch in bulk and just request a name being put on it.
Can't thank you enough for sharing your experience as I am in process of moving to full time woodworking. I have worked in sales myself and have to say that you are not only good woodworker but you have good salesmanship. Thanks for sharing.
I was contacted by a local machine shop not long ago. They wanted some simple rolling parts racks built out of plywood. Not an exciting build by any means, but whoa boy - it was a nice paycheck. That was a great tip. Those companies definitely contract out woodworking jobs.
I've been a remodeling contractor for what seems like a lifetime (it has been a lifetime-Mine) and in lieu of flat out retiring I'm contemplating building myself a shop and turning out custom wooden projects. This video was very timely however most of what you covered I've been doing in my contracting business. I do like the clipboard set up for clients as it puts the whole schedule in plain view! The lingerie drawer predicament got a big laugh out of me! Keep up your highly entertaining and informative channel!
I have been in this industry many (4+) decades. When I do a site visit I have a large sample case that shows all the joints I use, the wood's we spoke about on the initial call, and our portfolio. Letting a client handle the samples and see exactly how the joints fit together in person is a great way to make the visit pay off. It also helps to have half a board foot of material so IF they whine about how expensive it all is you can pull out the sample and show that this piece of walnut in your palm costs $12.00 or whatever. If you think that might scare that paying customer off then THANK ME NOW. The "Try not to poop at a clients house" is SOLID ADVISE and has earned you a like and a sub, pun intended.
😂lol this is the first time I have watched this guy videos and he's funny as hell!! And pretty damn smart to!! And I am just getting into wood working as a hubby but also to build furniture and restore furniture and I figured out in less than 3 minutes this is the guy that I need to be watching to learn from and be entertained at the same time!!
I don’t know that I’m good enough to call what I’ve made custom furniture, but my wife adores her desk. I really enjoyed making it. I wish I had the time to make desks… and that I’d been a little less skittish about it when Covid had every family in the world looking for desks to fit their new WFM or quarantine/online schools… talk about missed opportunity.
Wow! Thank you so much! This is indeed very helpful... and different and more useful than other videos with the same topic. Your honesty and transparency are to be praised. Merci, Jason!
I am a woodworker that is starting up since the last 3 years and your video have always been helpful but this one maybe the most useful for me!!thank a lot ,from Québec!!
You have quickly become one of my favorite youtube channels and I don't own a single tool, just goes to show how addictive passion and good quality content are. Keep it up you are awesome!
Always great to hear your tips and tricks. Your straight forward no nonsense approach brings a sobering reality to the craft. One has to wonder if you ever just lighten up and kid around though.
2 apprentices and I were working at a client's home. We were told by our boss to not use the washrooms. Sure enough one of the kids drops a big one in the downstairs toilet. Little did he know that toilet didn't work... After some time in the can he ended up walking off the job and quitting. Leaving my boss with the task of scooping out a messy one like a dog doo.
@@henrysilver2134 hahahaha that's hilarious man. I've never pooped in one that didn't work. I stopped one up once and went to the store and bought a plunger lol. I do flooring and tile showers so it will take a few days for me to complete my job there. Often times nearly an hour from home and I don't poop at stores... At all.
That's all fantastic advice, thank you. I think it's also important that folks give some attention the business side before diving in... take an online class in basic business accounting, make sure to keep good records, keep your personal and financial accounts separate, and so on. The IRS does not fool around. :)
Excellent advice! I might also add that this part of the business isn't difficult, but there are a lot of nitpicky things to keep in mind. A solid bookkeeping software package should be able to handle it, and talking to a local CPA is a good way to get started, as well.
This is an area many think is difficult, hard to understand and don't want to deal with. Which will come back and bite them at some stage. Staying on top of the finances is not just important but crucial to understanding how well your business is going. After all, partly the reason for going into business is to make money! A financial package will help in understanding trends of expenses, money expected to arrive (and when) and how much material do I have in stock even. Worth the time invested (which would be maybe a few minutes per day).
I can appreciate someone starting their own business doing something they love but it seems like so many people fail on the marketing side of things. I love that Jason focused on that. If you're going to start a business, you probably (hopefully) know how to do that work. But marketing doesn't come easy to a lot of people. And it can be frustrating when going out and getting clients means you aren't actively doing production work. I like these tips.
Dude ! U flat out, rock it ! I enjoy watching. I been a gm master tech now for 23 years and owning a home and always fixing something there inspired me to started maybe 2 years now, wood working and getting In to it a lot. Imma try making a cabinet like in your 3 part cabinet video. Thanks man great videos ! God bless 👍
Thank you. I don't have a woodworking business, but we do post "glamour shots" of the finished projects that we do. Maybe we should post a few "process" shots as well. Great idea!
I build ‘souped up’ chainsaws for tree companies and the like as a side gig. The clips showing how it was built always get more likes than the shots of it ripping through a log like a rabid banshee.
Thank you for this useful video. I have a full-time career but always wanted a part-time career working with my hands. After I fell in love with and moved into our 100 year old house with original wood built-ins, I have everyday motivation to get into woodworking. Hoping to start small in 2022 and build a good reputation within my community.
Great tips! Lots of solid stuff. I love the gift basket idea. Not only does it show you care about your clients, but it's a great marketing piece to get future customers as well.
Dude, I am usually not a big fan of the slide in the video transitions, but I have to give it to you... that slide on 2:50 was super AWESOME!!!! I rewound that bad boy like 20 times. I guess we all have our style... I am now a subscriber due to the slide and your great tips. You the man!
Covering your material costs with your deposit is smart. If they back out down the road, you can still sell the piece (albeit not as quickly or easily) and you won’t be running too much in the red.
As a beginner at what point did you start feeling confident about selling what you made , I'm often too critical of anything I make for myself And how do you deal with a client that isn't happy with the design they approved?
Hay Jason , Good question Iv been going for 10 months an stil at times bin a commission mid way through as I’m not happy but everyone goes through this Just make your best item sell it and you will get a huge confidence boost
I recently sold a bench seat I made and even though I knew it wasn't perfect, the person who bought it absolutely loved it and they've now ordered a matching coffee table. It's given me a great confidence boost and rekindled the spark that I was starting to lose!
Most of the time you're far more critical about your own creation than the people not involved in the process. I can tell you that to this day I look at some of my older works and cringe about some stupid mistake I made. While I myself will never be able to unsee those errors; my wife, sister, or friends wouldn't even notice anything wrong if I told them what to look for.
@@chrisr8996 yes, being any portion of a perfectionist can drive you batty, but the average Joe won’t have your eye for the detail (unless, of course, it is blatantly horrendous).
We are harder on ourselves than most clients. I strive for perfection, but as we all know it’s not always attainable. Remember, you built it and know every mm of it. They didn’t and don’t.
As always, informative and entertaining. Mucho appreciado. I just made my first ‘paid for services’ project yesterday - a few risers for cabinet top displays for a neighbor. It felt good to put a few bucks in my pocket, even if it went toward today’s supply run.
Uber helpful, Mr. Hibbs. A lot of things you said made absolute sense. Sometimes, or better yet, often times, we clobber ourselves with profit gain and not really pay attention on HOW we do exactly that. It really helps to pause for a while, wear your favorite "yee-haw!" costume, and think about THE business.
This is by far my favorite woodworking channel! This guy is entertaining and can keep your attention. I like to watch several woodworking channels but sometimes it's hard to keep my attention because of they are monotonous most of the time. Keep up the great work Bourbon Moth Woodworking!
I actually learned to never give hard dates to people/bosses when I was working at a state company that did street cleaning and stuff. The boss sent us to unclog a huge sewage pipe that was full of dirt from rain (there was a freaking tree in there too!). I was new there, so I thought nothing of it when my co-worker told the boss it should be done in about 3 to 4 weeks. After the boss was gone he told me _"we can probably get this done in under a week, but you shouldn't tell him that, unless you wanna risk getting caught up with unforeseen problems that make you take 3 weeks and then you'll have to explain yourself."_ :D Also, a lesson I learned making a 3D model for a guy: I made several conceptual drawings of the thing, and then I made the mistake of showing him all the drawings, including one that I really disliked. Guess which one he chose! Suffice to say I hated my life working on that...
When I was an apprentice, two of us got sent to the boss' house to change some wall-light fittings in the master bedroom. We decided to move the bed out half a meter to get at them easier, a massive purple strap on that fell out and landed by my feet, his wife was at the door looking on in sheer fucking horror. Was a bit awkward the next time we back in the office...
I like your new, not almost deadly, tricks at the start of the videos. So we can admire your cool videos for longer. Thank you for the great quality and effort.
If anyone is located in the Northeast, there’s a company called Woodrich in Pennsylvania, awesome furniture, but also a huge selection of slabs and Craftwood.
I love the horse costume!! I see all the comments with questions and I won't bother you with that. I'm proud of you for making a video about the business. Shows real professionalism. You're a true inspiration to a lot of people(wood workers). Although I'm a meat cutter(butcher), I enjoy hackin' some wood up from time to time lol. Thanks for your videos!
Been in the carpentry/cabinetry game for 40yrs. Worked for others the first 3yrs then went on my own.
There are 2 types of clients, those who care about price, and others who care about quality. I started out getting any work available, then worked my way up. One thing is for sure, excellent craftsmanship always stands out
Thanks Honky tonklin
I’m getting referrals finally. They pure gold. They’re patient and forgiving. And will wait when I am booked
Awesome book that gives you step-by-step photos ruclips.net/user/postUgkxTNB_zFBSnTo_O1PqfVUwgi7ityw0JlKt and directions to make every day project. I can see myself making a few of these projects and giving them as housewarming and holiday gifts!
Tip 11:
Charge more than you think you should! A lot of us got into doing things ourselves because we're filthy cheapskates. Our impression of what things are worth is heavily skewed because when we do things for ourselves, materials is the only cost. If someone is paying you to do or make something, they would almost definitely would have agreed to pay more than what you thought to ask.
Sincerely, a guy that feels guilty about his prices but everyone keeps saying yes.
Another great tip!
It's true.. Plus you will annoy any other woodworkers in your area because if you're so cheap.. why is he so expensive and it will devalue the trade in the area.
I run a tree pruning business and I know how you feel! I look at my prices and think theres no way I'd pay that much for this lol. But people say yes.
Don't forget, people are getting you to do it because they cant do it themselves
I raised my rates from $55 an hour to $115 and hour and I've never been busier. Don't be afraid to ask for more than you think you are worth. Not everyone will appreciate the higher price, but some will. Also, just something to think about..... some people associate higher prices with higher quality. Hopefully you have the quality factor nailed down (pun intended).
(*not a wood worker) but if litterally everyone says yes, you could be charging more
You missed one of the best bits of advice I've ever received. Stop pointing out your mistakes. It's only human to be self critical but your run of the mill customer won't spot that tiny detail that's driving you mad. So why highlight it!?
Very true. I have a habit of it also.
Even if the final product is absolutely perfect I obsess over any tiny mistakes. 99% of the clients will never see the mistake or care about it but it's always the first thing that comes to my mind when looking at the piece. Unfortunately I focus on the smallest imperfections and not the overall beauty of the work I created. I think this is the major problem that is hindering my woodworking career.
Good advice! "Don't point out the flaws. Those are not flaws, they are features!" - some woodworker somewhere.
I'm horribly harsh on myself, and one of my latest projects I wanted to smash to pieces. For shits and giggles, I took it to the client instead, certain I'd have to rebuild it since the finish came out weird, and they absolutely loved the way it looked. I did not point out what I thought was wrong. Instead, i let them be the judge of their thoughts. So far so good. I absolutely would have rebuilt it, free of charge, if they had not liked them.
No body will see it only us .. because our ocd
The pricing guide was some of the best advice you can give. People forget about paying themselves a good wage. They also forget about installation or delivery. They forget that their best friend will only help diliver or install things for free for a while. At some point you are going to have to pay them for their time and using their truck.
All good stuff. Tip 11 - Clean and sweep up the job site at the end of the day. It's professional and the client can walk around and focus on work not mess.
I second this comment
Siempre antes de terminar el día de trabajo dejar limpio y ordenado nada de herramientas por ahí eso demuestra respeto por las pertenencias del cliente y pulcritud en tu trabajo
lol, my shop is a disaster. pure and simple. of course i sell online so its not a real issue.
Jobsite clean, yes. my shop, hell no !
Second this, first, I've had work done where they DID NOT clean up, and I was pissed. Second, i would never want someone to say i did not at least try to leave their home clean when i left.
Great tips dude! I personally take my horse to every client meeting, but I will say it does sometimes cause a distraction.
No I don't think it's for me thanks
Your both channels are awsome, i'm starting my woodworking adventure soon and i will defo use some tips from ypu
Shh John, distractions are just a great excuse for a break.
A little Bourbon in the morning...just right! Thanks for all the tips, especially planning out orders using a numbering system.
Do a video regarding just proper milling of wood. Hints and tips to get perfect milled wood like I see you do so easily.
Jason: I don’t do client work anymore
Jason’s wife: Laughing as he builds her a custom office
lol
are you gay
Well said,thank you for enlightening what I lost in my list of woodwork. Am from ZAR,South Africa. Thank
Another one to add... Try to limit your client's design choices to 3 options or less. Most people get completely overwhelmed by the myriad of choices we can offer. Helping to limit them makes their decision easier. Of course, occasionally you will have clients that know exactly what they want, but that is rare for end users.
I agree. I haven’t done custom woodworking yet but i do custom shirts, and vinyl designs and i have had to limit the options i give people (got good practice with friends) because they get overwhelmed and or cant tell the difference in fonts and small details.
@@isabelgutierrez8150 exactly!
great tips, but the best part was your spinning re-entry and the the church outfit! perfect!!
Great stuff. I would only add that for pricing purposes, you MUST include a percentage to cover your overhead expenses. Wear and tear/ maintenance costs on machinery, new blades, shop utilities, shop maintenance, vehicle costs/ maintenance,YADA, YADA, YADA. You have many costs which exist just to keep the operation going, regardless of the volume of business you might do. One option is to calculate this overhead for a yearly basis, then divide it by 2000 hours (typical 40 hour work week x 50 weeks) to yield an hourly figure which is added to the hourly labor estimate. That way, your shop expenses are covered. Omitting this item means you are EATING thousands of dollars of costs, and your hourly wages are actually MUCH less than you think.
Of course, you need to include at least 5-10% profit on top of ALL costs, and this is MINIMUM. Paying yourself a decent wage without profit just means you are still working for someone else.
Thanks for sharing you experience with us.
Very helpful tip, man! Considering overhead expenses enables a clear understanding of actual margin and actual wages. Thank you!
Your hourly wage should of course include your expenses. Just like any normal job. So learn accounting its really easy. Always keep your finances clearly separate. Which costs are for finished product, which is maintenance, and which are personal. Always have access to easy credit but never actually use it unless its absolutely must.
Your hourly wage should of course include your expenses. Just like any normal job. So learn accounting its really easy. Always keep your finances clearly separate. Which costs are for finished product, which is maintenance, and which are personal. Always have access to easy credit but never actually use it unless its absolutely must.
I just started some woodworking out of my small shop, made a few end tables for family and friends, then a coffee table for a coworker...I already have preorders with two others now, and it's all because I shared "in process" pictures with them. They loved seeing what I was creating and instantly wanted something for themselves
Super helpful, I’ve been a self taught woodworker for the last six years, just as hobby while I do carpentry full time. Looking into starting my own business (daunting now that my daughter has been born) and working towards doing woodworking full time, these tips videos have been crazy helpful for me.
Thank you for reading the comments in the video section.
Also I know what I'm earing to church this Sunday
Great tips !
As an estimator in another trade. I learned when to do a lump sum proposal/contract and when to break out each item. You will get more business if you are very specific about the materials and scope of the work. This also is good for you to make sure you have all your bases covered. If a client sees each phase or item broken out they are put at ease. if somehow there are any problems later you have a legal leg to stand on too.
The rule of thumb I heard in the trades was figure the materials and labor would be 1.5 times that for a very rough guess. You need to use actual quantities (not theoretical) count on an appropriate amount of waste. I think this is probably higher in wood working than many other trades. I mark up my materials separately from overhead, tools and profit.
This is a good point. Many people are used to paying Ikea prices for furniture and even balk at Scan Design prices. If someone asks for a coffee table and expects to pay $500, then receives a $5,000 quote, they're going to wonder where that figure came from. The client needs to understand that you run a business and have an employee to pay (you!) that needs to pay the rent and feed their family. There's no shame in listing a 'labor cost' and 'design cost' on the quote. Sure, they can get a table built by some other guy, but it won't be furniture with your name on it. They contacted your shop for a reason - they liked what they saw or heard from a friend.
When i was in college we did a business plan competition in my entrepreneurial-ship class and what I remember best is that art (which is what a custom wood piece is) cannot be price only by supplies and time, art is also the creativity that goes into it. So while yes we can break down our work to supplies and time, the artistic aspect is part of it. So its harder to break down a detailed quote.
As a relative newcomer to woodworking, I've been exploring different channels and enjoying the personalities I've come across. Buy you and your channel are a notch above. I love your humor, playfulness, and knowledge. Someone give this guy a TV show!!
My dogs and I are liking these new tutorials. Coffee and dog bones. Rain day studies. Thanks amigo.
I used to do weddings out of my own home. Most times there are flowers left over because one needs to buy from the wholesale place and flowers come in bunches. So I usually had flowers left over. What I would do is make another arrangement and deliver that the day after the wedding to the Parents of the bride who usually paid for all that stuff with a thank you card for their business. You would not believe how much other weddings I got to do because of that. Woodworking is just my hobby but now that I am retired from the floral business I am thinking of making small stuff and selling it and maybe even an occasional wedding from my home. Love your videos.
Can’t wait until you zip-line into the scene. Lol
Don't give him any ideas 🤣
We should start a poll. 1) zip-line 2) belt-sander skates. 3) hoverboard. 😂🤣
Beltsanderskates sounds like his speed!
Parachute through the skylight?!?!
You're the best, man. This is actually great advice for anybody starting out in a number of contracting industries, not just wood work. And that getup at 5:25... just priceless.
"stop pouring epoxy on everything like a freak" 🤣🤣🤣 that gave me a really good laugh! I love it!
Thanks for the informative video. I'm considering going into woodworking full time, so this is helpful.
Hey, I've been watching your videos for a while, I find you entertaining and informative. I am starting my own business and the tip about giving clients a number instead of a date it a total game changer for me. I have a full time job and 3 kids. I can't always get in to my shop every day. This is going to save me some major headaches!!! Thank you! You are awesome!
Have done woodworking for 25 years as a hobby. Now I'm retired and want to expand into a business but not go crazy with it. Want to keep it PT so I can still go fishing when they're biting. Lots of great info in your videos.
Hi! I've been in the interior design field for about 10-yrs and thought I'd chime in regarding the scheduling point.
Interior designers always want an estimated time-frame, not to be given a # to be "in line." Our clients always ask for lead times on all furniture selections, so not knowing when they'll have their furniture usually leads to us going to a different vendor/manufacturer.
So while yes, clients are willing to wait a long time for custom high-quality furniture pieces, they also want some sort of an idea for the timeframe.
Most furniture/cabinet makers I've worked with give an estimated timeframe of 6-10 weeks. The time starts after a deposit is given AND the drawings are approved. They also make us aware that if they get a large production order before we provide a deposit and signed drawings, then the time will be longer.
These tips are great not just for woodworking, but for many different types of self-employment. Well done!
Wow. I've seen a lot of small business coaching and these were some of the best and most concise set of suggestions I've come across. Especially starting with how to get clients. Remember the truism that to have a business PEOPLE have to pay you MONEY for your goods or services. It's not for nothing that the first step in any business plan it to know who those people are, what they really want, what they are willing to pay for that, and how to reach them. Well done and thank you.
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Finally a video by someone who gets business pricing. When you suggested $65/hr. as an example I anticipated the comments to blow up. But people need to realize custom woodworkers aren't in competition with IKEA or Ashley Furniture. This is CUSTOM! That means better materials made to the customer's specifications. The reason furniture manufacturers can sell stuff so cheap is because of the lower quality of materials and they are mass produced. Customers are asking us to use tens of thousands of dollars we have invested in equipment to make a one-of-a-kind product. You also need to factor in advertising expenses, a vehicle to get supplies and make deliveries, the business needs to profit. You need to cover your own benefits, there's insurance, a building, utilities, taxes and so on. People who ask me about a custom piece expecting to get a dining room table for $1,000 have no idea that they are asking me to make one at a loss.
Thanks for the effort Jason. I just retired from a 30 year gig in the Navy. I'm looking for something to allow me to walk away from the government completely and am considering woodworking. I have a long way to go and rely on guys like you to help guide the way. Thanks for not being stingy with your knowledge. Thanks for making it entertaining. I would love another video from you discussing the CONTENT aspects of what you do. Video and sound specifics, video editing and what your investment in time looks like. Again, thanks Brother. Great video as always. Like your SPEC OPS wall.....
Hope it goes well for you, and thanks for your service in the Navy. Check out Paul Sellers on RUclips if you haven't. Lots of great content creators but I think Paul is the best I've found for old-world hand-tooled woodworking. Obviously for making a business out of it many of the techniques he shows would be too inefficient, but some of the old methods are surprisingly faster for some stuff! I myself am finding I like to use a mix of both old and new methods, sometimes by hand, sometimes with power tools, I usually choose whichever method I think will be faster and still provide the quality I want.
Turn 2 shïtbag. Just started mine too and made custom pieces for a few buddies (4-5) and sent them to em all over the country for free. Already got a few orders across a few states! Took off pretty quickly. They were really simple pieces like coasters and plaques just to have my work out there.
Lovely way you're moving towards!! Maybe you feel you can see some NAvy influences being carved out into woods, subtle symbolism or something. Way the go mate!
A place for clients that has worked really well for me are event venues. Weddings/Corp events etc. I've made a few bars, tables, and such for them. Also, get connected to a reputable realtor who wants custom gifts when they sell a house. If you have a laser engraver or CNC some super simple projects sell well. In fact, they often order a bunch in bulk and just request a name being put on it.
Love your approach and sense of humor.
I’ve been building and using all but one of the tips for 40 years. Market to your clients! I could improve on that one.
I've always enjoyed your sense of humor. Right on the money.
Very eye opening, thanks! The 50% down is an angel I never thought of.
I'm so glad you did the "do do" joke.
Can't thank you enough for sharing your experience as I am in process of moving to full time woodworking. I have worked in sales myself and have to say that you are not only good woodworker but you have good salesmanship. Thanks for sharing.
I was contacted by a local machine shop not long ago. They wanted some simple rolling parts racks built out of plywood. Not an exciting build by any means, but whoa boy - it was a nice paycheck. That was a great tip. Those companies definitely contract out woodworking jobs.
I've been a remodeling contractor for what seems like a lifetime (it has been a lifetime-Mine) and in lieu of flat out retiring I'm contemplating building myself a shop and turning out custom wooden projects. This video was very timely however most of what you covered I've been doing in my contracting business. I do like the clipboard set up for clients as it puts the whole schedule in plain view! The lingerie drawer predicament got a big laugh out of me! Keep up your highly entertaining and informative channel!
16:39-16:44 - ABSOLUTELY LAUGHED MY A$$ OFF!!! Good one, Jason!
I have been in this industry many (4+) decades. When I do a site visit I have a large sample case that shows all the joints I use, the wood's we spoke about on the initial call, and our portfolio. Letting a client handle the samples and see exactly how the joints fit together in person is a great way to make the visit pay off. It also helps to have half a board foot of material so IF they whine about how expensive it all is you can pull out the sample and show that this piece of walnut in your palm costs $12.00 or whatever. If you think that might scare that paying customer off then THANK ME NOW.
The "Try not to poop at a clients house" is SOLID ADVISE and has earned you a like and a sub, pun intended.
😂lol this is the first time I have watched this guy videos and he's funny as hell!! And pretty damn smart to!! And I am just getting into wood working as a hubby but also to build furniture and restore furniture and I figured out in less than 3 minutes this is the guy that I need to be watching to learn from and be entertained at the same time!!
I don’t know that I’m good enough to call what I’ve made custom furniture, but my wife adores her desk. I really enjoyed making it. I wish I had the time to make desks… and that I’d been a little less skittish about it when Covid had every family in the world looking for desks to fit their new WFM or quarantine/online schools… talk about missed opportunity.
Wow! Thank you so much! This is indeed very helpful... and different and more useful than other videos with the same topic. Your honesty and transparency are to be praised. Merci, Jason!
You are killing it my friend. Excellent video.
5:33.....THAT WAS GREAT!
I am a woodworker that is starting up since the last 3 years and your video have always been helpful but this one maybe the most useful for me!!thank a lot ,from Québec!!
Most helpful RUclips video I've ever watched.
You have quickly become one of my favorite youtube channels and I don't own a single tool, just goes to show how addictive passion and good quality content are. Keep it up you are awesome!
Thank you for the tips! I just bought some live edge walnut pieces and am thinking up my first ever build.
as a full-time gardener and amateur woodworker, a lot of this is just sound business advice. another great video!
What a happy spaz . Keep them coming bouncy boy
Thanks for the humor and information. It helps to keep my mind of my 2 year old daughter in the hospital with pneumonia.
best wishes
Thank you very much. She's on the mend. It's been a long road.
Always great to hear your tips and tricks. Your straight forward no nonsense approach brings a sobering reality to the craft. One has to wonder if you ever just lighten up and kid around though.
SO incredibly helpful man!! Love this channel!!!
And the woodworking Entertainer of the Year award goes to……. YOU!!!
Yes sir, solid tips right there! This brilliant video is going to help a lot of woodworkers break through, myself included. Appreciated.
“Don’t poop at your client’s home”. Classic.
I install floors and tile showers which takes time. If I gotta poop... It's going down.
I wonder if there is a story behind that
2 apprentices and I were working at a client's home. We were told by our boss to not use the washrooms. Sure enough one of the kids drops a big one in the downstairs toilet. Little did he know that toilet didn't work... After some time in the can he ended up walking off the job and quitting. Leaving my boss with the task of scooping out a messy one like a dog doo.
@@henrysilver2134 hahahaha that's hilarious man. I've never pooped in one that didn't work. I stopped one up once and went to the store and bought a plunger lol. I do flooring and tile showers so it will take a few days for me to complete my job there. Often times nearly an hour from home and I don't poop at stores... At all.
@@henrysilver2134 he should have left an “upper decker”
Great video, much appreciated. You are still by far one of my favorite creators.
This is great information in an entertaining way! Love your content, you have a British style sense of humour I appreciate. Love it, keep going!
That's all fantastic advice, thank you. I think it's also important that folks give some attention the business side before diving in... take an online class in basic business accounting, make sure to keep good records, keep your personal and financial accounts separate, and so on. The IRS does not fool around. :)
Excellent advice! I might also add that this part of the business isn't difficult, but there are a lot of nitpicky things to keep in mind. A solid bookkeeping software package should be able to handle it, and talking to a local CPA is a good way to get started, as well.
This is an area many think is difficult, hard to understand and don't want to deal with. Which will come back and bite them at some stage. Staying on top of the finances is not just important but crucial to understanding how well your business is going. After all, partly the reason for going into business is to make money! A financial package will help in understanding trends of expenses, money expected to arrive (and when) and how much material do I have in stock even. Worth the time invested (which would be maybe a few minutes per day).
Thanks. This is super helpful as I consider moving to woodworking as more than a hobby
Awesome sense of humor, Jason! Subscribed to your channel now.
I can appreciate someone starting their own business doing something they love but it seems like so many people fail on the marketing side of things. I love that Jason focused on that. If you're going to start a business, you probably (hopefully) know how to do that work. But marketing doesn't come easy to a lot of people. And it can be frustrating when going out and getting clients means you aren't actively doing production work. I like these tips.
Dude ! U flat out, rock it ! I enjoy watching. I been a gm master tech now for 23 years and owning a home and always fixing something there inspired me to started maybe 2 years now, wood working and getting In to it a lot. Imma try making a cabinet like in your 3 part cabinet video. Thanks man great videos ! God bless 👍
That table spin!!! You a break dancer???? Hahahaha
Thank you. I don't have a woodworking business, but we do post "glamour shots" of the finished projects that we do. Maybe we should post a few "process" shots as well. Great idea!
I build ‘souped up’ chainsaws for tree companies and the like as a side gig. The clips showing how it was built always get more likes than the shots of it ripping through a log like a rabid banshee.
Thank you for this useful video. I have a full-time career but always wanted a part-time career working with my hands. After I fell in love with and moved into our 100 year old house with original wood built-ins, I have everyday motivation to get into woodworking. Hoping to start small in 2022 and build a good reputation within my community.
Great tips! Lots of solid stuff. I love the gift basket idea. Not only does it show you care about your clients, but it's a great marketing piece to get future customers as well.
Whenever possible don’t poop in a clients home! That tip works for any business! Love solid business advice
Dude, I am usually not a big fan of the slide in the video transitions, but I have to give it to you... that slide on 2:50 was super AWESOME!!!! I rewound that bad boy like 20 times. I guess we all have our style... I am now a subscriber due to the slide and your great tips. You the man!
Covering your material costs with your deposit is smart. If they back out down the road, you can still sell the piece (albeit not as quickly or easily) and you won’t be running too much in the red.
As a beginner at what point did you start feeling confident about selling what you made , I'm often too critical of anything I make for myself
And how do you deal with a client that isn't happy with the design they approved?
Hay Jason ,
Good question Iv been going for 10 months an stil at times bin a commission mid way through as I’m not happy but everyone goes through this
Just make your best item sell it and you will get a huge confidence boost
I recently sold a bench seat I made and even though I knew it wasn't perfect, the person who bought it absolutely loved it and they've now ordered a matching coffee table. It's given me a great confidence boost and rekindled the spark that I was starting to lose!
Most of the time you're far more critical about your own creation than the people not involved in the process. I can tell you that to this day I look at some of my older works and cringe about some stupid mistake I made. While I myself will never be able to unsee those errors; my wife, sister, or friends wouldn't even notice anything wrong if I told them what to look for.
@@chrisr8996 yes, being any portion of a perfectionist can drive you batty, but the average Joe won’t have your eye for the detail (unless, of course, it is blatantly horrendous).
We are harder on ourselves than most clients. I strive for perfection, but as we all know it’s not always attainable. Remember, you built it and know every mm of it. They didn’t and don’t.
Thank you for your sharing of your wit and wisdom. Always a pleasure to watch your videos.
As always, informative and entertaining. Mucho appreciado.
I just made my first ‘paid for services’ project yesterday - a few risers for cabinet top displays for a neighbor. It felt good to put a few bucks in my pocket, even if it went toward today’s supply run.
Uber helpful, Mr. Hibbs. A lot of things you said made absolute sense. Sometimes, or better yet, often times, we clobber ourselves with profit gain and not really pay attention on HOW we do exactly that. It really helps to pause for a while, wear your favorite "yee-haw!" costume, and think about THE business.
The clipboard idea, so simple, so beneficial.
This is by far my favorite woodworking channel! This guy is entertaining and can keep your attention. I like to watch several woodworking channels but sometimes it's hard to keep my attention because of they are monotonous most of the time. Keep up the great work Bourbon Moth Woodworking!
That was great Jason, thanks for the tips. Love the channel.
I actually learned to never give hard dates to people/bosses when I was working at a state company that did street cleaning and stuff. The boss sent us to unclog a huge sewage pipe that was full of dirt from rain (there was a freaking tree in there too!). I was new there, so I thought nothing of it when my co-worker told the boss it should be done in about 3 to 4 weeks. After the boss was gone he told me _"we can probably get this done in under a week, but you shouldn't tell him that, unless you wanna risk getting caught up with unforeseen problems that make you take 3 weeks and then you'll have to explain yourself."_
:D
Also, a lesson I learned making a 3D model for a guy: I made several conceptual drawings of the thing, and then I made the mistake of showing him all the drawings, including one that I really disliked. Guess which one he chose! Suffice to say I hated my life working on that...
When I was an apprentice, two of us got sent to the boss' house to change some wall-light fittings in the master bedroom. We decided to move the bed out half a meter to get at them easier, a massive purple strap on that fell out and landed by my feet, his wife was at the door looking on in sheer fucking horror. Was a bit awkward the next time we back in the office...
Purple is such a passe colour these days!
Job security!
Appreciate the video. Been thinking about branching out with my woodworking. Certainly gave me a few things to think about.
Great tips Jason. Thanks for the video!
I like your new, not almost deadly, tricks at the start of the videos. So we can admire your cool videos for longer. Thank you for the great quality and effort.
Love your videos. Todays video is a big help. Thanks for the tips.
Great vid! A lot of what you said applies to many businesses! Loved the horse dress. Showed my kids. They approve.
Great tips. Thanks, Jason!!
Thanks for going over this information!
Very useful and timely for me! Thanks mate!
thank you very very much I'm 66 and going to get started
If anyone is located in the Northeast, there’s a company called Woodrich in Pennsylvania, awesome furniture, but also a huge selection of slabs and Craftwood.
Jason, you rock! Thanks for making this video.
beauty vid bud. started a biz last year in a neighbouring trade and this helps me aplenty. cheers
I love the horse costume!! I see all the comments with questions and I won't bother you with that. I'm proud of you for making a video about the business. Shows real professionalism. You're a true inspiration to a lot of people(wood workers). Although I'm a meat cutter(butcher), I enjoy hackin' some wood up from time to time lol. Thanks for your videos!
Perfect. I'm trying to start my own before I'm done with my last year of high school and all of this was helpful
many of these tips are good for most service based industries!
Excellent thoughts. I had never thought of the business cards left with fabricators.
Awesome tips! There are only a couple that overlap with some of the other RUclipsrs building for a living. And these are SO much better…