You know, I've been going through quite a few videos these days about the woodworking business, and most workers don't want to give out even half of the information you just did. The peek behind the curtain, the statistics, the breakdown...this video was more informative and helpful than so many classes and such I've seen and taken in the past. Thank you so much for this information and the walk through your process. As I can and when I can I would love to help support you and what you do. I love your work and your humor and can't wait to see how you evolve in the future with your tables/furniture and various projects. Thank you again, Ryan!
@graidian hit it on the head. This video was one of the best I've ever seen on RUclips for woodworking or otherwise. It hit me about 2/3 of the way into the video (somewhat embarrassed by how long this took me) that you took the same approach to this video as you do your woodwork. Thoughtful, thorough, & attention to quality. Thank you for taking the time to make this.
nobody wants to go through this level of detail because no woodworkers want to admit that there is almost no money to be made. High intensity labor and high material cost.. combined with a high cost finished product that is limited to high end clients... the juice is not worth the squeeze.. McDonalds managers make more money and do far less work.. Unfortunately.
This is by far the most detailed behind-the-scene breakdown I've seen on this topic - and I've seen quite a few. I am not a woodworker. I have bought some tools and gathered some practice material to start woodworking as a hobby hopefully sometime soon. I loved watching the entire video and appreciate your sincerity. Thanks!
Ryan, my wife sat down as I was watching this video and commented that I must 'be in heaven' with all the woodworking and math nerdery going on. 😂 Appreciate your transparency in this video! And it goes without saying, you do great work! Thanks for the ideas for my own board-building and for the entertainment over the last few months.
Your breakdown is excellent. I've been in the photography business for 36 years (wood working is my hobby). There are so many people in both industries who don't understand that the cost of materials is just a drop in the bucket when considering costs. Everyone who wants to be in business for him or herself, in any industry, should see this.
This is one of the more educational and encouraging videos SO MANY SHOULD SEE! I'm sure there are plenty of people who see peeps like you selling cutting boards for hundreds of dollars and never think about everything that goes into making them beyond our material costs. Job well done, Ryan; have a 5-er (wish I could afford more). I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.
This is perhaps one of the best videos on running a business in general not just a wood working business. I grew up with self employed parents and while I work for a school many of these lessons were hard learned from them with similar considerations to be made.
My compliments on your analysis; it is the most thorough and realistic of any that I have seen on RUclips. So many people forget many of the things that you took into consideration, which is why your assessment is indeed extremely accurate. The challenge you have is that your incremental cost per board is almost flat. In an enterprise that is more manufacturing oriented, the first board would be the most expensive, and then each incremental board would have reduced costs; and those are the ones that help create positive profit margins. You get there by increasing output through increased efficiency and reduced time per unit produced. All the problems you listed have already been solved within the industry, but they will take capital investment to put into place. Specifics: You need a widebelt sander. (NOT a drum sander; do NOT make that mistake! The frequency and difficulty of changing paper is a killer of productivity.) You need a decent planer and jointer with segmented cutting heads to eliminate blade changes. You need something called a clamp carrier (google is your friend...) and a purpose-built glue roller. (search for it under veneering tool suppliers.) A used sliding table saw would be a good idea as well... See your MTM friend's saw for its value. OK, here's an almost free one; Get a tub and immerse the boards in oil. Let physics do the job! With those tools you could produce double or more the board count in the same time as the ones you made here. Now, do you WANT to do that? A much bigger question that I can't answer for you... Best wishes with your business!
Thank you for such a detailed explanation of the reality behind the scenes of us wood workers. I cringe when I think of what I need to charge a customer but then I also remember that I can't afford to go broke to give them a special built piece either :) I pray you video pays well and will for sure be sharing this to more people. More youtube creatives should do some breakdown videos like this and I hope you inspire them to do it. Thank you again!!! Chilly
Good info for people who dont think of all the details and gives you specific areas for focus on to reduce expenses to increase profits. Cheap wood that takes a ton of labor to prep and hundreds in tools/supplies is not cheap wood anymore. You Need a drum sander, cheaper source of walnut, dont need to raise grain between grits to cut production time, look into indistrial clamp racks or build them, you waste too much time and energy clamping- moving to clamp another board - moving back to unclamp and clean to move again to unclamp another then move a 3rd tine for final unclamp, buy rubber feet in bulk to cust cost by more than half. Cheaper office expenses ($25/board is 3x to high or include wirh shippinf costs). Look at LEAN manufacturing to eliminate inefficient parts of the process. Split your shop and rent to someone else or rent as storage to lower overhead. Start by taking notes on Kris Devo batching 6ft boards instead of of batching 2 ft boards. RUclips is a separate set of metrics. Outsource filming and editing so you can spend time in the shop, promote the channel to get subscribers up and get sponsors to supply newer better tools and supplies - laguna, jet, sawstop...even local hardwood dealer or online lumber suppliers
With your attention to detail you'd likely make a lot more money being a business manger..Most people don't understand these basic principals and this is a major reason why 80% of businesses fail.. Ive come to the realization woodworking can never be profitable or sustainable for me(without youtube revenue), but its something i still love.
I've been following your videos for some time now and can empathize with your struggles. As a semi-retired woodworker at 74 I have a shop and all the equipment needed to make cutting boards myself and have been toying with the idea for about a year. I find your analysis quite sobering and really appreciate all the work you put into it. Perhaps I'll keep it a hobby for now as my desire to work 10 hour days for $10.00 per hour is somewhat diminished after 40 years in the business.
I agree with so many of these comments! Your explanations and attention to details make me feel like I could also begin making edge-grain cutting boards and sell several a month. But at $10.00 an hour +/-, maybe I should just make a few and give them away as gifts! Great job and thank you!
Hats off for your unbelievable transparency on this subject! There's so many data/metrics exposed in this video, it would be awesome to have more video done like this by other YT channels. Truly glad you made this one :) I would also suggest that you reach out to different brand and try to get some sponsorship in the form of more beefed up (industrial) tools. Table saw on its last leg? Reach out to Saw Stop/Harvey/Laguna, I'm sure they would be glad to help you out! Same for the planer... I can hear the little dewalt planer scream when boards goes in and out of it (I know I had one) :D As someone suggested, go with something that has carbide inserts, it'll pay for itself with the amount you are currently spending on planner/jointer knives. Anyway comments is getting ridiculously long... like the video ;) So keep at it, you are really inspiring to watch :D
I absolutely loved the detail level shared. Solid cost analysis is critical to every business, yet is too often never properly analyzed, or, even worse, flat out ignored. There are numerous takeaways, including the need to raise pricing and looking deeply into cost-cutting with efficiency gains in materials, labor, and overhead. Well done! Thank you for sharing so openly!
As someone in the woodworking business myself, the breakdown on cost was enlightening. Thank you for your thoroughness and attention to detail. Blessings on your work!
Great info on numbers here! I have my Spreadsheet Locked and loaded. Change any variable and all the important numbers to watch will update with proper formulas. Thanks a million for taking the time to break this down.
Wow, I had no idea the amount of time and effort and hair pulling it takes to do this. I thought I was a hard worker but my hat is off to you young man. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Thanks for the video. Your experience is exactly why I have decided to keep my hobby a hobby. My free time is far more valuable than the 💵. I also enjoy the expression on the peoples faces I give gifts to.
What a cost / profit breakdown!!!! The time and effort to document, video & edit this alone is amazing. I don't do what you do but i can apply this method to my wood-resin casting world easy enough. A HUGE thank you for putting into perspective a subject i'm sure many of us think about but don't apply to it's fullest. Thank you very much sir.
This is the kind of data I have collected on work I have done in the past. It's amazing how many people don't count the little bits and pieces into their costs and really don't see how much overheads cut into profit. Great to see someone expressing a genuine business approach to honest numbers . Too many dreamers out there selling nonsense ideas.
Hit the nail on the head with the honest info given in this video. I've been running a cutting board business for yrs and while we love doing what we do unfortunately we don't make much overall. Theres alot of other videos out there that make it sound like overhead/time to construct is much lower than reality. Bottom line is you really have to enjoy this work and you have to be willing to work hard at it but not expect as much in return as the typically -Make Easy Money On Cutting Board videos, those people post what most new business dreamers want to hear and they take advantage of it sadly.
Thank you for this. I’m just getting into cutting and serving boards. If you invested in some additional tools, such as a CNC, larger plAnar or drum sander and perhaps a more powerful table saw, you could make your money and not have to raise your prices as much as is represented in this video. A CNC alone gets you a bunch of time back. The world needs your work!
Awesome video! I'm currently working on a batch of 50 cutting boards (not end grain) and keep wondering to myself if it's even profitable. This is great information to help refine processes and be more efficient.
This video is mental! The breakdown is phenomenal. It looks like its stressful. Alot of work. People here in Ireland simply wouldn't pay that amount of money for these boards. Good for you!
Ryan, you touched on an important thing.. well many... one that I find striking is your appreciation for arriving where you are how you did and being thankful for the same. I think that's a worldly trait.. humble to be sure. Thank you again.
nice video . I sell and build boards for 10 Years now.. your absolute right in your calcs, in my first year i was on this 10 € / hour gap. then i invested alot in sanding machines, drum sanders, and heavy planers, now i am over 70 € / hour... Machines rock.. thx for your video.. :)
I got into this via random feed recommendation, and I must say, this is not only one of the best primers on pricing around, but also for process optimization. Great work.
Amazingly detailed and well done video, much appreciated you posting this up. A huge planer and a sawstop are two tools I'd make the immediate upgrade to. The planer as you mentioned could cut your gluing and planing time down by a lot. A 3HP sawstop would give you a more powerful saw designed for commercial use as well as the sawstop technology in it. Making repetitive cuts is where accidents are most likely to occur since that's where you're most likely to zone out when working. I'm not sure if you have one already, but I'd strongly recommend adding a cyclone separator to your dust collection setups; both for the shop vac/sanding as well as the larger collector. The drum sander is another upgrade well worth the investment, though last time I checked those things are up there in price.
I have to say I know how you feel there about all of it most of the things I build end up as gifts cause I enjoy wood working that much or any type of making matchsticks included as you see in the picture of my frog... I only have a weekend to do anything anymore that flies by... but anyway really good video I learned a lot from the whole breakdown process gives me a lot to think about put this toward your tools or whatever
I hope you make it to 1.8 million views on this video. I greatly appreciate this video, it really showed me the ins and outs of this business and everything that goes into it.
Hi from Australia. I Just started on my woodworking journey and my main medium atm is palletwood. Your channel (amongst others) has been a huge inspiration for getting that journey started and figuring out which direction I want to go. Cutting boards are very high on my list, but I am thinking they will be more scrap wood projects, time fillers as I still want to work on bigger projects (once I have learnt and worked upon my skilset). Thank you again for the inspiration and keep up the great work. All 3 of my youtube accounts are subscribed to this channel. Hope that helps in some way.
Wow Ryan, a big reality check on the cost. Like some of the other comments on here, most woodworkers don’t show the info you’ve provided. Hope the endless viewing of your videos helps towards providing more income.
There is a gorgeous worksheet for pricing future projects buried in this video that someone is going to pull out and publish, and when they do I hope they give you proper credit. Was the info daunting as someone trying to stick a foot into the business? Absolutely. Was it discouraging? With how well you broke things down, not at all; it was empowering to be able to walk into this with eyes wider open. The "thanks" will be coming when I'm able, but a real thank you for this lesson right now.
Sad to see you haven't hit the 1.6M views yet. I stumbled across your videos, and 4 or 5 into the rabbit hole and I watched this movie of your breakdown of expenses. It was informative and entertaining, keep up the great work.
Ok. WOW! I actually made it through the entire video! I'm proud of myself just for that. This was one of the best if not, the best breakdown videos I've ever watched. Your cutting boards are amazing and you should be making much more for your talent and effort. That being said, your love of the work you do is very important and sometimes making $40. an hour may seem less important. I know this video is at least a year old now and your latest videos do show some of the equipment you stated would help to get you closer to that $40/hr goal. I had often thought about making items like these and you just changed my mind. Thank you for that. I have a career and I'm literally 3 years from retirement. I make just over $40/hr and have a fairly stress-free job. But the difference is that I've never liked what I do. For over 35 years I've worked in the same manufacturing industry in one small plant. I've moved from job to job within the same company for decades and never really cared for what I do. 😂 My most recent position is just ok and it's pretty much stress-free. I always tell my newer coworkers when asked if I like what I'm doing that out of all of the positions I've hated here, this is the one I hate the least. 😂 So, even though surviving and feeding the kids is important, it's equally important to love what you're doing and I admire you for that. Thanks for sharing this and your amazing talents.
I just told my wife I was going to make cutting boards for all the family for Christmas. Based on your numbers, I just saved myself far more time than I have available. $5 does not seem like thanks enough. Love what you, and hope you get those machines.
Woow amazing I am starting in the cutting boards making in mexico and struggle a lot triying to sell then in around $150 dlls your video makes me realizing that I should look for a better market thanks a lot
Thanks Ryan, this really breaks down the profits earned and the hours it takes to produce woodcrafts. I used to wholesale my products, but at the end of the day, it was the same amount of hours for half the cost. I think one big order, I made less than $2/hr. Lessons learned!
WOW what an amazing video. Your woodworking skills have to take a backseat to your analytical skills. Keeping it REAL. All of us watching have a passion for woodworking but turning that into profit is not an easy task as you soon discovered. It's all about the pricepoint and given your attention to detail in creating a unique and quality product, I feel you could still push that price point a little higher, which would certainly help. Your product really has no effective competition and the right customers will pay a premium price for that. Love your work
Fantastic Video! I've been looking for a video to spell out the details of building a cutting board business. You answered so many questions I've had the last few weeks. Thank you.
This is such a great video, and it really makes my neardy heart happy. Far too often we undervalue our time and effort, not to mention the materials that go into the beautiful objects that we make for others simply because we haven't taken the time to break it all down. Also, customers then tend to undervalue the product as well as criticizing the selling price because they may think "they could do it for less." That can be so heartwrenching! I am only part way through the video, and am wondering how you digest the numbers for your own situation. How do you use that info to make decisions about new tool purchases, like a planer that has a wider table, or super fine cutting heads, that would simplify or make your process more eficient. At what point are you able to say "this expenditure with net this much time savings, leading to x profitability"? I love the numbers, and love how you break it do into real tangible terms. Don't forget to include your knowledge base, your education, and the value of being able to problem solve. Keep up the great work- it is beautiful and so worthwhile!
Hi Ryan! I know others have already mentioned it, but this really was an excellent video. I’ve have never seen anyone come close to sharing numbers on their builds. You really opened my eyes to why woodworkers charge as much as they do for a product. When I first saw your boards I was surprised you were asking such a high price, and equally surprised that people were willing to pay this price, even though your boards are beautiful. Now that I know how much time they take to make, it makes perfect sense why woodworkers charge what they do. As I watched your video, I was thinking a drum sander and wide planner would save you time, but wonder if you can save some cost by buying the 55 gallon barrels of glue Titebond sells. Is it possible, or even feasible to buy sandpaper and saw blades in bulk from Freud/Diablo or 3M? Would it be cheaper to buy high priced saw blades that can be sharpened several times? Let these companies know you have a RUclips channel and they might give you a break on the costs, give it to you free, or even sponsor your channel. You never know until you ask. I also also thought about a CNC which could face the boards, cut the groove and handles at the same time, but not sure how much time you’d really save given the time it would take to set up each board, flip it and face the opposite side. At the end of the day, you should ask yourself if you’d rather make $18-20 some dollars per hour, plus whatever you get from RUclips, or would you rather flip burgers for the same wage? I truly hope you will continue to grow both businesses.
Glad you enjoyed it! I thought 55 gallon was a typo and that you meant 5 gallon but then I googled it and I learned something new today. If I had the cash flow to purchase nearly $3K in glue, I'd likely do it. I definitely plan to buy some 3M sandpaper in bulk and am looking at switching blade brands once my current blades wear out. Re: tool companies, sponsors, etc - I've got some things in the works ;)
Thank you for the video. Your openness and honesty are refreshing. I watched this with my wife and I kept saying “and you wonder why it takes me so long to complete a project”. It’s a lot of work and for very little money. I cringed at your cheap oak flooring. But you definitely confirmed my thoughts on that. But your product is amazing. I love your boards. Best wishes on your work going forward!!
Ryan, after your in-depth disclosures, it appears that you have taken the cutting board train to the end of the line, both creatively and monetarily. Furniture making would provide a more lucrative niche market that would allow no less creativity and skill than you have already demonstrated, while providng more satisfaction from increased revenue. You have a devoted following. Your work is highly esteemed. Capitalize on these accomplishments. It will benefit your understanding and supportive wife, and the future of your young child, while you open yourself to an expanded woodworking universe. Patience and perseverence, two attributes which you already possess, will serve you well in your future endeavors. Your communication skills are first-rate, and your clear-eyed assessment of your craft provides you with credibility. I see no reason why your career couldn't parallel that of Sam Maloof. Best wishes.
Awesome video, this is exactly the reason i like youtube you can find jem like this that helps you have an insight on what you usually see in videos. Great work💪
This was a great...very great video. I started this woodworking hobby to have something to do after 37+ years in the Fire department and the same in US Army Reserve (7 overseas deployments). I never expected it to become a way to make money. I went to an engineering high school (Baltimore Polytechnic Insitute), woodworking just seemed to be the right thing to have as hobby for me. I did an inventory of all the tools I have. I'm well over $35,000. They are not all the number 1 or best tools, but what works for me per my ability, safety and pocket. Some of them are garden tools (lawn mower, trimer etc.) some are machine tools for car repair (floor jack, engine lift, socket set, etc.). But a good portion of 35K, are woodworking tools. (3hp Sawstop table saw, drum sander, Dust Right, Ridgid tools, etc.) So, for me there would be an additional cost to calculate. And I would need to also include the books a magazines and classes. I do want to make some of the things I have seen on your many videos, but I did not start this until about 6 years ago. I'm not at the level to be selling too many things yet. So, for right now I think I need to keep it as a hobby and maybe an occasional money maker. Please keep doing what you do!
Great video Ryan! I just recently started an LLC and have sold a few boards…mostly to family. After watching your video I can see I did that at an extreme loss. At about the half way mark of your video I started feeling discouraged, but at least now(and early on in my journey) I have your detailed knowledge to learn with. Im now leaving excited and confident to charge what my heart is telling me to ask for and not feel guilty about it! I also have a guide to billing no matter where the craft takes me. Thank you sir I hope you hit 1.8 million and beyond.
I see on a lot of the Woodworking Facebook groups, people always asking what to charge for their work. I'm going to point them to this video. It takes into account so many things other people don't consider, but should. Thanks for sharing. And nice work on the boards
Great video! Appreciate the detail and stepping through the methodology to break it all down. I hope this one goes viral and gets you closer to that well deserved $40/hr!
I like your video and feel fortunate finding it. Something to consider to follow up with is an abbreviated video on how to build a customer base. How to approach the market to generate sales. Your explanation on how to measure time, and material in order to make a profit was excellent, well thought out and very well explained. Job well gone! Let us know your thoughts.
I thoroughly enjoyed your video. You are a good, honest guy who is very likable and trustworthy..Best of luck to you and know that you have at least one more subscriber..
I appreciate what you have done with this video. Transparency is something most people are unable to do. That being said, I feel like there are a few things that you are doing that are costing you time. You speak of MTM and I think he is probably the GURU of boards, at least on RUclips. I watched his two videos on how to make a cutting board. Generically. He never glues both sides of his pieces. He never unclamps and scrapes the excess glue off and then re clamps. This takes time and it's not necessary. Some of the boards take several glue-ups, so every time you do that, it's lost time and lost money Secondly, get a 20" thickness planer so you don't have to do glue-ups that fit your 13" planer. Purchase or build a drum sander. Get the best random orbital sanding pads you can find and don't over use them. When they are done, throw them away. The hardest thing you may need to do is move out of the big space and get your overhead down to where it isn't costing you an arm and a leg. I would kill for that much space, but if it's eating you up, you probably need to give it up or ramp up with a helper so you can get enough production to offset the cost of the facility. All that being said, you do great work with very nice quality. Good luck with your business!
This a great video Ryan and an incredible amount of detail. I have built a few cutting boards, none are as nice as yours and I realized pretty quickly I could never make enough money at it to justify the work required from a purely financial standpoint. I do envy the fact that you get to do something for a living you enjoy and that is hard to put a price on. I was at Costco the other day and they had an end grain board for $48 and I was thinking I would be hard pressed to spend less than that on materials for the size of this board.
this was a great insight on it all. i do things way too simple . and what i learned is i really need to take into account of more than just material cost. thank you .
Excellent info. I completed my first (and last) end grain butcher block in 1981 with just basic hand power tools, sanding took forever and I decided to never do that again. I am glad you included the portion on the time to video. While I have never actually timed it, I have always felt that creating a video at the very least, doubled the amount of time it took to complete a project. Steve
Many thanks Ryan for your generosity in documenting your entire journey. I do think the key in maximizing your hourly profit is to maximize your efficiency with more effective tools.
Not only is your breakdown precise and thorough, the end results are amazing. I'm thinking you need to charge more per finished board ft. You surely deserve, and command it. You're like a blacksmith/bladesmith doing Damascus work, but with wood. It was also cool you gave a shout-out to your inspiration over at mtmwood, which I immediately checked out and subscribed to. Have a blessed day brother!
Amazing boards. You forgot one crucial factor in your calculations. The factor that prevents me from pursuing my own carpentry hobby. The availability of time to do this is priceless. I'm lucky to get 30 mins a week that I can devote to hobbies.
Your "only table" caught my eye and I clicked on it. I am a retired carpenter and all that I could think of was that you must have another source of income. Then, the algorithm offered me this and I had to look. I did NOT need all of this info enough to spend this much time watching but your honesty and transparency were therapeutic. It is what I try to offer the world and it breaks my heart that so many people think that deception and privacy will bring them happiness. Do not underestimate the healing power that you are having on this world by being who you are. I promise you that if you keep the faith and enthusiasm, the world will thank you by gifting you with happiness, and taking care of you so that you can keep giving the gift that the world needs to unlock the joy and wisdom within other people's hearts.
Great information, well researched and presented. Thank you so much! A few advantages I have that others might think about: 1. My workshop is on my property, so there is no rent. It did cost me $12,000 to build and electrify. 2. I started my original career young, and retired last year at age 55. I'm on a pension now for the rest of my life, so making $40/hr isn't as crucial to me (though I would like to reach that level as a woodworker). 3. 9 years ago we converted our property to solar power, which includes my shop. It covers all our electricity needs. In about 7 months we will hit the break even point, where we have completely recouped the cost of installation over the electricity it has produced so far. After that, our electricity is totally free for at least another 15 years or so (the warranty of the solar panels).
Hello, Ryan. Thank you for this "complete" business presentation. For me you are a professional; You are funny, with excellent filming and editing techniques. I praise very few people in my life, and you are one of them, simple and humble enough to share your experience in the way you presented and compiled said information, taking the necessary time to do so. I was working on my own Excel sheet to evaluate and make a business plan for wood related products, when you appeared on RUclips and I decided to watch your video. Good luck on your channel. P.S.: I only subscribe to people who earn my respect, and you did. Subscribed to help your business grow expanding my knowledge by observing another point of view. From Spokane, WA.
Great show, good teaching experience 👏 I would like to make a couple of suggestions, edit this down into 4 or 5 separate videos with a common title and number them 1-4 or 5. More people would be apt to watch a 15-minute video over one that runs 1:17:12. The other suggestion is to offer the edited videos on patreon or offer as a sold course.
I liked and I commented and subscribed I don’t know what else should I do to give you A little bit of appreciation for the wonderful video that you have just provided for use Thank you so much 😊
I did antique restoration back in the 70s & 80s ( third generation woodworker). As I followed you through your whiteboard presentation, the point my heart ached for you was when you revealed a $16/hr wage for yourself. Back in the day, 40-50 years ago, we charged out our work at $16/hr. I know you're not in your comfort zone yet (hrly), however, your work is worth far more than you are charging. I hope your exquisite work will cause customers to beat a path to your door. It doesn't just apply to a better mousetrap. Wishing you good fortune from now on, Ryan.
Well on January 19, 2024 you’re up to 263,939 views. Getting closer to your 1.8M view goal. 😂. Great video! Loved it. This is the first time I’ve seen your videos so now I’m going to go watch more of them and see what I can learn. I also make cutting boards as client appreciation gifts. I make them out of hard maple, cherry, and sometimes include a 3/8” walnut strip for an accent piece. I sell my 7x10x1.25” for $110, 9x14x1.25” for $145, and my 11x17x1.25” for $175 plus shipping. Sold right at 100 boards in 2023. Got to find the right clientele for your boards.
Thanks Ryan, I spend 20 bucks going to the cinema to watch roughly a 2.5 hour long movie, so I thought I'd donate roughly the same. I learnt so much from your video, and it was entertaining to boot, cheers from Australia 👍
Thank you. I'll be showing this to my husband so he can better think about how much he charges for the woodworking he does. I'll also share it on facebook because the average person doesn't know why things cost what they do. Good luck.
You know, I've been going through quite a few videos these days about the woodworking business, and most workers don't want to give out even half of the information you just did. The peek behind the curtain, the statistics, the breakdown...this video was more informative and helpful than so many classes and such I've seen and taken in the past. Thank you so much for this information and the walk through your process.
As I can and when I can I would love to help support you and what you do. I love your work and your humor and can't wait to see how you evolve in the future with your tables/furniture and various projects. Thank you again, Ryan!
So glad it was helpful to you!
@graidian hit it on the head. This video was one of the best I've ever seen on RUclips for woodworking or otherwise. It hit me about 2/3 of the way into the video (somewhat embarrassed by how long this took me) that you took the same approach to this video as you do your woodwork. Thoughtful, thorough, & attention to quality. Thank you for taking the time to make this.
nobody wants to go through this level of detail because no woodworkers want to admit that there is almost no money to be made. High intensity labor and high material cost.. combined with a high cost finished product that is limited to high end clients... the juice is not worth the squeeze.. McDonalds managers make more money and do far less work.. Unfortunately.
This is by far the most detailed behind-the-scene breakdown I've seen on this topic - and I've seen quite a few. I am not a woodworker. I have bought some tools and gathered some practice material to start woodworking as a hobby hopefully sometime soon. I loved watching the entire video and appreciate your sincerity. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Ryan, my wife sat down as I was watching this video and commented that I must 'be in heaven' with all the woodworking and math nerdery going on. 😂 Appreciate your transparency in this video! And it goes without saying, you do great work! Thanks for the ideas for my own board-building and for the entertainment over the last few months.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Your breakdown is excellent. I've been in the photography business for 36 years (wood working is my hobby). There are so many people in both industries who don't understand that the cost of materials is just a drop in the bucket when considering costs. Everyone who wants to be in business for him or herself, in any industry, should see this.
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is one of the more educational and encouraging videos SO MANY SHOULD SEE! I'm sure there are plenty of people who see peeps like you selling cutting boards for hundreds of dollars and never think about everything that goes into making them beyond our material costs.
Job well done, Ryan; have a 5-er (wish I could afford more). I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.
Thank you Scott!
@@ryanhawkins the board foot thing freaked me out 😂 would be cool to see u do a video about metric. Maybe making a metric board using only metric 😂😂😂
This is perhaps one of the best videos on running a business in general not just a wood working business. I grew up with self employed parents and while I work for a school many of these lessons were hard learned from them with similar considerations to be made.
My compliments on your analysis; it is the most thorough and realistic of any that I have seen on RUclips. So many people forget many of the things that you took into consideration, which is why your assessment is indeed extremely accurate. The challenge you have is that your incremental cost per board is almost flat. In an enterprise that is more manufacturing oriented, the first board would be the most expensive, and then each incremental board would have reduced costs; and those are the ones that help create positive profit margins. You get there by increasing output through increased efficiency and reduced time per unit produced.
All the problems you listed have already been solved within the industry, but they will take capital investment to put into place. Specifics: You need a widebelt sander. (NOT a drum sander; do NOT make that mistake! The frequency and difficulty of changing paper is a killer of productivity.) You need a decent planer and jointer with segmented cutting heads to eliminate blade changes. You need something called a clamp carrier (google is your friend...) and a purpose-built glue roller. (search for it under veneering tool suppliers.) A used sliding table saw would be a good idea as well... See your MTM friend's saw for its value. OK, here's an almost free one; Get a tub and immerse the boards in oil. Let physics do the job! With those tools you could produce double or more the board count in the same time as the ones you made here. Now, do you WANT to do that? A much bigger question that I can't answer for you... Best wishes with your business!
This is really good advice. Especially the wide belt sander vs. drum sander. Thank you for taking the time to comment
Thank you for such a detailed explanation of the reality behind the scenes of us wood workers. I cringe when I think of what I need to charge a customer but then I also remember that I can't afford to go broke to give them a special built piece either :) I pray you video pays well and will for sure be sharing this to more people. More youtube creatives should do some breakdown videos like this and I hope you inspire them to do it.
Thank you again!!!
Chilly
This was a massive gift to all of us who are getting started (or hoping to) and well worth my paltry gift. Thank you so much!
WOW just WOW! After reading all the comments, after watching the entire video, that's all there's left to say WOW!
Good info for people who dont think of all the details and gives you specific areas for focus on to reduce expenses to increase profits. Cheap wood that takes a ton of labor to prep and hundreds in tools/supplies is not cheap wood anymore. You Need a drum sander, cheaper source of walnut, dont need to raise grain between grits to cut production time, look into indistrial clamp racks or build them, you waste too much time and energy clamping- moving to clamp another board - moving back to unclamp and clean to move again to unclamp another then move a 3rd tine for final unclamp, buy rubber feet in bulk to cust cost by more than half. Cheaper office expenses ($25/board is 3x to high or include wirh shippinf costs). Look at LEAN manufacturing to eliminate inefficient parts of the process. Split your shop and rent to someone else or rent as storage to lower overhead. Start by taking notes on Kris Devo batching 6ft boards instead of of batching 2 ft boards.
RUclips is a separate set of metrics. Outsource filming and editing so you can spend time in the shop, promote the channel to get subscribers up and get sponsors to supply newer better tools and supplies - laguna, jet, sawstop...even local hardwood dealer or online lumber suppliers
All good info!
With your attention to detail you'd likely make a lot more money being a business manger..Most people don't understand these basic principals and this is a major reason why 80% of businesses fail.. Ive come to the realization woodworking can never be profitable or sustainable for me(without youtube revenue), but its something i still love.
I've been following your videos for some time now and can empathize with your struggles. As a semi-retired woodworker at 74 I have a shop and all the equipment needed to make cutting boards myself and have been toying with the idea for about a year. I find your analysis quite sobering and really appreciate all the work you put into it. Perhaps I'll keep it a hobby for now as my desire to work 10 hour days for $10.00 per hour is somewhat diminished after 40 years in the business.
Thanks for watching
ditto
I agree with so many of these comments! Your explanations and attention to details make me feel like I could also begin making edge-grain cutting boards and sell several a month. But at $10.00 an hour +/-, maybe I should just make a few and give them away as gifts!
Great job and thank you!
My pleasure!
Hats off for your unbelievable transparency on this subject! There's so many data/metrics exposed in this video, it would be awesome to have more video done like this by other YT channels. Truly glad you made this one :)
I would also suggest that you reach out to different brand and try to get some sponsorship in the form of more beefed up (industrial) tools. Table saw on its last leg? Reach out to Saw Stop/Harvey/Laguna, I'm sure they would be glad to help you out! Same for the planer... I can hear the little dewalt planer scream when boards goes in and out of it (I know I had one) :D
As someone suggested, go with something that has carbide inserts, it'll pay for itself with the amount you are currently spending on planner/jointer knives.
Anyway comments is getting ridiculously long... like the video ;) So keep at it, you are really inspiring to watch :D
All good feedback, thanks!
I absolutely loved the detail level shared. Solid cost analysis is critical to every business, yet is too often never properly analyzed, or, even worse, flat out ignored. There are numerous takeaways, including the need to raise pricing and looking deeply into cost-cutting with efficiency gains in materials, labor, and overhead. Well done! Thank you for sharing so openly!
Thanks for making this video.
Your cutting boards make resin river tables look like a cop out!
This is a whole different level.
Thanks!
Better than any quality earnings call I've listened.
Thank you!
As someone in the woodworking business myself, the breakdown on cost was enlightening. Thank you for your thoroughness and attention to detail. Blessings on your work!
Great info on numbers here! I have my Spreadsheet Locked and loaded. Change any variable and all the important numbers to watch will update with proper formulas. Thanks a million for taking the time to break this down.
Wow, I had no idea the amount of time and effort and hair pulling it takes to do this. I thought I was a hard worker but my hat is off to you young man. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Thanks for the video. Your experience is exactly why I have decided to keep my hobby a hobby. My free time is far more valuable than the 💵. I also enjoy the expression on the peoples faces I give gifts to.
What a cost / profit breakdown!!!! The time and effort to document, video & edit this alone is amazing. I don't do what you do but i can apply this method to my wood-resin casting world easy enough. A HUGE thank you for putting into perspective a subject i'm sure many of us think about but don't apply to it's fullest. Thank you very much sir.
Thank you for a real life lesson on the economics of running a woodworking business. Well done!
Thanks for watching!
This is the kind of data I have collected on work I have done in the past. It's amazing how many people don't count the little bits and pieces into their costs and really don't see how much overheads cut into profit. Great to see someone expressing a genuine business approach to honest numbers . Too many dreamers out there selling nonsense ideas.
I appreciate how thoughtful and thorough your approach was. Thank you for taking the time to put it all together for us!
Hit the nail on the head with the honest info given in this video. I've been running a cutting board business for yrs and while we love doing what we do unfortunately we don't make much overall. Theres alot of other videos out there that make it sound like overhead/time to construct is much lower than reality. Bottom line is you really have to enjoy this work and you have to be willing to work hard at it but not expect as much in return as the typically -Make Easy Money On Cutting Board videos, those people post what most new business dreamers want to hear and they take advantage of it sadly.
Thank you for this video as a new business owner this helps so much! Already doing so much math in the making side of woodworking is crazy enough!
What a fantastic video, thank you so much!
Thank you for this. I’m just getting into cutting and serving boards. If you invested in some additional tools, such as a CNC, larger plAnar or drum sander and perhaps a more powerful table saw, you could make your money and not have to raise your prices as much as is represented in this video. A CNC alone gets you a bunch of time back. The world needs your work!
I appreciate your honesty and transparency! You are such a hard worker, i really wish you big success. You deserve it man!
This was awesome, thank you for taking the time to do this.
Glad it was of value to you
I’m listening to this while making cutting boards for Christmas gifts. How awesome.
Awesome video! I'm currently working on a batch of 50 cutting boards (not end grain) and keep wondering to myself if it's even profitable. This is great information to help refine processes and be more efficient.
Your frankness with your real numbers is unmatched anywhere! Keep up the great work :D
When people want a detailed breakdown of why custom work costs so much I’m gonna refer them to this video. Awesome job.
This video is mental! The breakdown is phenomenal. It looks like its stressful.
Alot of work. People here in Ireland simply wouldn't pay that amount of money for these boards.
Good for you!
Is this genuine???
THAT is an honest and very much appreciated video!!
Ryan, you touched on an important thing.. well many... one that I find striking is your appreciation for arriving where you are how you did and being thankful for the same. I think that's a worldly trait.. humble to be sure. Thank you again.
Thanks! Great breakdown of your project. More people need to run their numbers and understand what their time is worth! Keep up the great work!
nice video . I sell and build boards for 10 Years now.. your absolute right in your calcs, in my first year i was on this 10 € / hour gap. then i invested alot in sanding machines, drum sanders, and heavy planers, now i am over 70 € / hour... Machines rock.. thx for your video.. :)
I got into this via random feed recommendation, and I must say, this is not only one of the best primers on pricing around, but also for process optimization. Great work.
This is the greatest cutting board video on YT. Thank you.
Amazingly detailed and well done video, much appreciated you posting this up.
A huge planer and a sawstop are two tools I'd make the immediate upgrade to. The planer as you mentioned could cut your gluing and planing time down by a lot. A 3HP sawstop would give you a more powerful saw designed for commercial use as well as the sawstop technology in it. Making repetitive cuts is where accidents are most likely to occur since that's where you're most likely to zone out when working. I'm not sure if you have one already, but I'd strongly recommend adding a cyclone separator to your dust collection setups; both for the shop vac/sanding as well as the larger collector.
The drum sander is another upgrade well worth the investment, though last time I checked those things are up there in price.
All in due time my friend :)
Bro… this is the most well put together video I have ever watched!
Best video on the business side of wood working ...I need to show this video to my neighbors who insist I do things for them ..
I have to say I know how you feel there about all of it most of the things I build end up as gifts cause I enjoy wood working that much or any type of making matchsticks included as you see in the picture of my frog... I only have a weekend to do anything anymore that flies by... but anyway really good video I learned a lot from the whole breakdown process gives me a lot to think about put this toward your tools or whatever
I hope you make it to 1.8 million views on this video. I greatly appreciate this video, it really showed me the ins and outs of this business and everything that goes into it.
Hi from Australia.
I Just started on my woodworking journey and my main medium atm is palletwood. Your channel (amongst others) has been a huge inspiration for getting that journey started and figuring out which direction I want to go. Cutting boards are very high on my list, but I am thinking they will be more scrap wood projects, time fillers as I still want to work on bigger projects (once I have learnt and worked upon my skilset).
Thank you again for the inspiration and keep up the great work. All 3 of my youtube accounts are subscribed to this channel. Hope that helps in some way.
Wow Ryan, a big reality check on the cost. Like some of the other comments on here, most woodworkers don’t show the info you’ve provided. Hope the endless viewing of your videos helps towards providing more income.
There is a gorgeous worksheet for pricing future projects buried in this video that someone is going to pull out and publish, and when they do I hope they give you proper credit. Was the info daunting as someone trying to stick a foot into the business? Absolutely. Was it discouraging? With how well you broke things down, not at all; it was empowering to be able to walk into this with eyes wider open. The "thanks" will be coming when I'm able, but a real thank you for this lesson right now.
Sad to see you haven't hit the 1.6M views yet.
I stumbled across your videos, and 4 or 5 into the rabbit hole and I watched this movie of your breakdown of expenses.
It was informative and entertaining, keep up the great work.
Ok. WOW! I actually made it through the entire video! I'm proud of myself just for that. This was one of the best if not, the best breakdown videos I've ever watched. Your cutting boards are amazing and you should be making much more for your talent and effort. That being said, your love of the work you do is very important and sometimes making $40. an hour may seem less important. I know this video is at least a year old now and your latest videos do show some of the equipment you stated would help to get you closer to that $40/hr goal. I had often thought about making items like these and you just changed my mind. Thank you for that. I have a career and I'm literally 3 years from retirement. I make just over $40/hr and have a fairly stress-free job. But the difference is that I've never liked what I do. For over 35 years I've worked in the same manufacturing industry in one small plant. I've moved from job to job within the same company for decades and never really cared for what I do. 😂 My most recent position is just ok and it's pretty much stress-free. I always tell my newer coworkers when asked if I like what I'm doing that out of all of the positions I've hated here, this is the one I hate the least. 😂
So, even though surviving and feeding the kids is important, it's equally important to love what you're doing and I admire you for that. Thanks for sharing this and your amazing talents.
I just told my wife I was going to make cutting boards for all the family for Christmas. Based on your numbers, I just saved myself far more time than I have available. $5 does not seem like thanks enough. Love what you, and hope you get those machines.
Thanks so much!
Woow amazing I am starting in the cutting boards making in mexico and struggle a lot triying to sell then in around $150 dlls your video makes me realizing that I should look for a better market thanks a lot
Thanks Ryan, this really breaks down the profits earned and the hours it takes to produce woodcrafts. I used to wholesale my products, but at the end of the day, it was the same amount of hours for half the cost. I think one big order, I made less than $2/hr. Lessons learned!
WOW what an amazing video. Your woodworking skills have to take a backseat to your analytical skills. Keeping it REAL. All of us watching have a passion for woodworking but turning that into profit is not an easy task as you soon discovered. It's all about the pricepoint and given your attention to detail in creating a unique and quality product, I feel you could still push that price point a little higher, which would certainly help. Your product really has no effective competition and the right customers will pay a premium price for that. Love your work
Fantastic Video! I've been looking for a video to spell out the details of building a cutting board business. You answered so many questions I've had the last few weeks. Thank you.
This is such a great video, and it really makes my neardy heart happy. Far too often we undervalue our time and effort, not to mention the materials that go into the beautiful objects that we make for others simply because we haven't taken the time to break it all down. Also, customers then tend to undervalue the product as well as criticizing the selling price because they may think "they could do it for less." That can be so heartwrenching!
I am only part way through the video, and am wondering how you digest the numbers for your own situation. How do you use that info to make decisions about new tool purchases, like a planer that has a wider table, or super fine cutting heads, that would simplify or make your process more eficient. At what point are you able to say "this expenditure with net this much time savings, leading to x profitability"?
I love the numbers, and love how you break it do into real tangible terms. Don't forget to include your knowledge base, your education, and the value of being able to problem solve. Keep up the great work- it is beautiful and so worthwhile!
Great information for any woodworker out there.
I watched this entire video, I really appreciate you taking the time to teach the math, but we do it for the fun, the money is just a bonus
Hi Ryan!
I know others have already mentioned it, but this really was an excellent video. I’ve have never seen anyone come close to sharing numbers on their builds. You really opened my eyes to why woodworkers charge as much as they do for a product. When I first saw your boards I was surprised you were asking such a high price, and equally surprised that people were willing to pay this price, even though your boards are beautiful. Now that I know how much time they take to make, it makes perfect sense why woodworkers charge what they do.
As I watched your video, I was thinking a drum sander and wide planner would save you time, but wonder if you can save some cost by buying the 55 gallon barrels of glue Titebond sells. Is it possible, or even feasible to buy sandpaper and saw blades in bulk from Freud/Diablo or 3M? Would it be cheaper to buy high priced saw blades that can be sharpened several times? Let these companies know you have a RUclips channel and they might give you a break on the costs, give it to you free, or even sponsor your channel. You never know until you ask.
I also also thought about a CNC which could face the boards, cut the groove and handles at the same time, but not sure how much time you’d really save given the time it would take to set up each board, flip it and face the opposite side. At the end of the day, you should ask yourself if you’d rather make $18-20 some dollars per hour, plus whatever you get from RUclips, or would you rather flip burgers for the same wage? I truly hope you will continue to grow both businesses.
Glad you enjoyed it! I thought 55 gallon was a typo and that you meant 5 gallon but then I googled it and I learned something new today. If I had the cash flow to purchase nearly $3K in glue, I'd likely do it. I definitely plan to buy some 3M sandpaper in bulk and am looking at switching blade brands once my current blades wear out. Re: tool companies, sponsors, etc - I've got some things in the works ;)
@@ryanhawkins you should check out the Italian CMT ITK Extreme sawblades and the Famag Bormax 2.0 forstner bits. I'm pretty sure you'll like both.
Thank you for the video. Your openness and honesty are refreshing. I watched this with my wife and I kept saying “and you wonder why it takes me so long to complete a project”. It’s a lot of work and for very little money. I cringed at your cheap oak flooring. But you definitely confirmed my thoughts on that. But your product is amazing. I love your boards. Best wishes on your work going forward!!
Thank you!
Ryan, after your in-depth disclosures, it appears that you have taken the cutting board train to the end of the line, both creatively and monetarily. Furniture making would provide a more lucrative niche market that would allow no less creativity and skill than you have already demonstrated, while providng more satisfaction from increased revenue. You have a devoted following. Your work is highly esteemed. Capitalize on these accomplishments. It will benefit your understanding and supportive wife, and the future of your young child, while you open yourself to an expanded woodworking universe. Patience and perseverence, two attributes which you already possess, will serve you well in your future endeavors. Your communication skills are first-rate, and your clear-eyed assessment of your craft provides you with credibility. I see no reason why your career couldn't parallel that of Sam Maloof. Best wishes.
Awesome video, this is exactly the reason i like youtube you can find jem like this that helps you have an insight on what you usually see in videos. Great work💪
This was a great...very great video. I started this woodworking hobby to have something to do after 37+ years in the Fire department and the same in US Army Reserve (7 overseas deployments). I never expected it to become a way to make money. I went to an engineering high school (Baltimore Polytechnic Insitute), woodworking just seemed to be the right thing to have as hobby for me.
I did an inventory of all the tools I have. I'm well over $35,000. They are not all the number 1 or best tools, but what works for me per my ability, safety and pocket. Some of them are garden tools (lawn mower, trimer etc.) some are machine tools for car repair (floor jack, engine lift, socket set, etc.). But a good portion of 35K, are woodworking tools. (3hp Sawstop table saw, drum sander, Dust Right, Ridgid tools, etc.) So, for me there would be an additional cost to calculate. And I would need to also include the books a magazines and classes.
I do want to make some of the things I have seen on your many videos, but I did not start this until about 6 years ago. I'm not at the level to be selling too many things yet. So, for right now I think I need to keep it as a hobby and maybe an occasional money maker.
Please keep doing what you do!
Great video Ryan! I just recently started an LLC and have sold a few boards…mostly to family. After watching your video I can see I did that at an extreme loss. At about the half way mark of your video I started feeling discouraged, but at least now(and early on in my journey) I have your detailed knowledge to learn with. Im now leaving excited and confident to charge what my heart is telling me to ask for and not feel guilty about it! I also have a guide to billing no matter where the craft takes me. Thank you sir I hope you hit 1.8 million and beyond.
I see on a lot of the Woodworking Facebook groups, people always asking what to charge for their work. I'm going to point them to this video. It takes into account so many things other people don't consider, but should. Thanks for sharing. And nice work on the boards
Thanks for spreading the word
Great video! Appreciate the detail and stepping through the methodology to break it all down. I hope this one goes viral and gets you closer to that well deserved $40/hr!
Thanks!
That was such an awesome comprehensive explanation on the reality of being in business. THANK YOU!!!
Awesome presentation. Well done.
I hope the algorithm picks this up and you can get to 1.8M views. I loved the detailed breakdown.
I like your video and feel fortunate finding it. Something to consider to follow up with is an abbreviated video on how to build a customer base. How to approach the market to generate sales. Your explanation on how to measure time, and material in order to make a profit was excellent, well thought out and very well explained. Job well gone!
Let us know your thoughts.
Great job. Everything you learn comes it’s you something. You will do great.
I thoroughly enjoyed your video. You are a good, honest guy who is very likable and trustworthy..Best of luck to you and know that you have at least one more subscriber..
Fantastic thorough info on calculating real costs and maintaining proper profit margins. Thank you!
This is underrated! GREAT!!! It must have been so much work to put this together. Thank you very much
I appreciate what you have done with this video. Transparency is something most people are unable to do. That being said, I feel like there are a few things that you are doing that are costing you time. You speak of MTM and I think he is probably the GURU of boards, at least on RUclips. I watched his two videos on how to make a cutting board. Generically. He never glues both sides of his pieces. He never unclamps and scrapes the excess glue off and then re clamps. This takes time and it's not necessary. Some of the boards take several glue-ups, so every time you do that, it's lost time and lost money Secondly, get a 20" thickness planer so you don't have to do glue-ups that fit your 13" planer. Purchase or build a drum sander. Get the best random orbital sanding pads you can find and don't over use them. When they are done, throw them away. The hardest thing you may need to do is move out of the big space and get your overhead down to where it isn't costing you an arm and a leg. I would kill for that much space, but if it's eating you up, you probably need to give it up or ramp up with a helper so you can get enough production to offset the cost of the facility. All that being said, you do great work with very nice quality. Good luck with your business!
This a great video Ryan and an incredible amount of detail. I have built a few cutting boards, none are as nice as yours and I realized pretty quickly I could never make enough money at it to justify the work required from a purely financial standpoint. I do envy the fact that you get to do something for a living you enjoy and that is hard to put a price on. I was at Costco the other day and they had an end grain board for $48 and I was thinking I would be hard pressed to spend less than that on materials for the size of this board.
I never thought I'd still be making cutting boards at this point but it seems to have worked out.
this was a great insight on it all. i do things way too simple . and what i learned is i really need to take into account of more than just material cost. thank you .
Excellent info. I completed my first (and last) end grain butcher block in 1981 with just basic hand power tools, sanding took forever and I decided to never do that again. I am glad you included the portion on the time to video. While I have never actually timed it, I have always felt that creating a video at the very least, doubled the amount of time it took to complete a project. Steve
Andrei is amazing. It's been fun watching his twins grow up as well.
Outstanding video! I loved every aspect of how you break down the money behind the build.
Very well and thoughtful explanations!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Many thanks Ryan for your generosity in documenting your entire journey. I do think the key in maximizing your hourly profit is to maximize your efficiency with more effective tools.
WOW, that's an extremely detailed analysis. Well done, and thanks for sharing !
Not only is your breakdown precise and thorough, the end results are amazing. I'm thinking you need to charge more per finished board ft. You surely deserve, and command it.
You're like a blacksmith/bladesmith doing Damascus work, but with wood. It was also cool you gave a shout-out to your inspiration over at mtmwood, which I immediately checked out and subscribed to.
Have a blessed day brother!
@INBOXMEONTELLEGRAMRyanHawkins2 everyone knows you're a larping con man. You're not the channel owner. Fuck off.
Geez!!! A lot of info and time into your video. Thanks for all the time you have put in. 1st video I’ve seen of yours. New subscriber. 🇨🇦
Amazing boards. You forgot one crucial factor in your calculations. The factor that prevents me from pursuing my own carpentry hobby. The availability of time to do this is priceless. I'm lucky to get 30 mins a week that I can devote to hobbies.
Your "only table" caught my eye and I clicked on it. I am a retired carpenter and all that I could think of was that you must have another source of income. Then, the algorithm offered me this and I had to look. I did NOT need all of this info enough to spend this much time watching but your honesty and transparency were therapeutic. It is what I try to offer the world and it breaks my heart that so many people think that deception and privacy will bring them happiness. Do not underestimate the healing power that you are having on this world by being who you are. I promise you that if you keep the faith and enthusiasm, the world will thank you by gifting you with happiness, and taking care of you so that you can keep giving the gift that the world needs to unlock the joy and wisdom within other people's hearts.
Amazing on all counts - impressive to see the work output and inputs.
Great information, well researched and presented. Thank you so much!
A few advantages I have that others might think about:
1. My workshop is on my property, so there is no rent. It did cost me $12,000 to build and electrify.
2. I started my original career young, and retired last year at age 55. I'm on a pension now for the rest of my life, so making $40/hr isn't as crucial to me (though I would like to reach that level as a woodworker).
3. 9 years ago we converted our property to solar power, which includes my shop. It covers all our electricity needs. In about 7 months we will hit the break even point, where we have completely recouped the cost of installation over the electricity it has produced so far. After that, our electricity is totally free for at least another 15 years or so (the warranty of the solar panels).
Thank you so much!
Hello, Ryan. Thank you for this "complete" business presentation. For me you are a professional; You are funny, with excellent filming and editing techniques.
I praise very few people in my life, and you are one of them, simple and humble enough to share your experience in the way you presented and compiled said information, taking the necessary time to do so.
I was working on my own Excel sheet to evaluate and make a business plan for wood related products, when you appeared on RUclips and I decided to watch your video.
Good luck on your channel.
P.S.: I only subscribe to people who earn my respect, and you did. Subscribed to help your business grow expanding my knowledge by observing another point of view.
From Spokane, WA.
Great show, good teaching experience 👏
I would like to make a couple of suggestions, edit this down into 4 or 5 separate videos with a common title and number them 1-4 or 5. More people would be apt to watch a 15-minute video over one that runs 1:17:12.
The other suggestion is to offer the edited videos on patreon or offer as a sold course.
Thanks!
I liked and I commented and subscribed
I don’t know what else should I do to give you A little bit of appreciation for the wonderful video that you have just provided for use
Thank you so much 😊
I did antique restoration back in the 70s & 80s ( third generation woodworker). As I followed you through your whiteboard presentation, the point my heart ached for you was when you revealed a $16/hr wage for yourself. Back in the day, 40-50 years ago, we charged out our work at $16/hr. I know you're not in your comfort zone yet (hrly), however, your work is worth far more than you are charging. I hope your exquisite work will cause customers to beat a path to your door. It doesn't just apply to a better mousetrap. Wishing you good fortune from now on, Ryan.
Well on January 19, 2024 you’re up to 263,939 views. Getting closer to your 1.8M view goal. 😂. Great video! Loved it. This is the first time I’ve seen your videos so now I’m going to go watch more of them and see what I can learn. I also make cutting boards as client appreciation gifts. I make them out of hard maple, cherry, and sometimes include a 3/8” walnut strip for an accent piece. I sell my 7x10x1.25” for $110, 9x14x1.25” for $145, and my 11x17x1.25” for $175 plus shipping. Sold right at 100 boards in 2023. Got to find the right clientele for your boards.
Thanks Ryan, I spend 20 bucks going to the cinema to watch roughly a 2.5 hour long movie, so I thought I'd donate roughly the same. I learnt so much from your video, and it was entertaining to boot, cheers from Australia 👍
Helping the algorithm! :) Thanks so much for this video. I will no doubt be watching it again in the future
Thank you. I'll be showing this to my husband so he can better think about how much he charges for the woodworking he does. I'll also share it on facebook because the average person doesn't know why things cost what they do. Good luck.
I am in awe of the detail and quality of all of it! And you don't even have a cabinate saw or 20" planer!