Free Woodworking Business Startup Checklist

When it comes to starting a woodworking business, there are a lot of things you need to do! Use this free printable woodworking business start-up checklist to get your business off to a great start!

You can download the free PDF printable of this business startup checklist at the bottom of this page!

free printable checklist for starting a woodworking business

Steps to Starting Your Woodworking Business

Below is the list of everything you need to do when starting your woodworking business.

Step 1: Create a Business Plan

Choose Your Business’s Legal Structure (Individual Proprietor, Partnership, LLC, etc.)
Name Your Business
Write Your Mission Statement
Write Your Elevator Pitch
Define Your Niche
Research Your Target Market
Research Your Competition
Decide What Products to Sell
Determine What Price to Set For Your Products
Estimate Start-Up Costs
Set Measurable Goals

Step 2: Setup Your Business

Meet With Small Business Attorney and Accountant
Register Your Business Name
Apply for EIN#/Tax-Exempt ID
Apply for Necessary Permits/Licenses
Open a Business Checking Account
Create a Stripe/Paypal Account
Choose Your Online Shop Platform
Purchase Small Business Insurance
Setup Accounting Software and System for Keeping Records

Step 3: Setting Up Your Workspace

Organize Your Workshop Space
Organize a Shipping Area
Create a System for Managing Inventory
Organize Your Office Space
Order Necessary Supplies and Materials for Products
Order Packaging and Shipping Supplies

Step 4: Create Your Online Web Presence

Register Domain for Your Business Website
Purchase Hosting For Your Website
Create Social Media Accounts – Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, etc.
Design Your Logo or Hire a Graphic Designer
Setup Your Website and Blog or Hire a Web Developer
Setup Your Online Shop
Setup Business Email
Create & Build Email Mailing List

Step 5: Selling Your Products

Make Products
Photograph Products
Research Product Keywords
Write Detailed Product Descriptions
List Products for Sale in Your Shop

Step 6: Marketing Your Business

Create a marketing plan
Schedule Your Newsletters
Create & Order Business Cards
Post to Social Media Channels
Notify Your Circle of Influence
Join Networking Groups
Create a Blog Posting Schedule

While it may seem overwhelming to start a woodworking business, this checklist will help make sure you stay focused and on-task!

What each step involves

The checklist above is the short version. Here is what each stage actually involves, in the order that saves you money, with the tools on this site that help.

Step 1: the plan is mostly arithmetic

A woodworking business plan does not need to be long, but it does need three numbers: what one piece costs you to make, what you can sell it for, and how many you can make in a month. Work them out for your first two or three products before you register anything. Our woodworking pricing calculator and lumber cost calculator do the sums.

Worked example: a cutting board uses $14 of hardwood, $2 of finish and hardware, and 2.5 hours of shop time. At $25 an hour for your labour that is $62.50, so the cost of the board is $78.50 before overhead. Add 15% for overhead (blades, sandpaper, electricity, fees) and the break-even price is about $90. If boards like yours sell for $60 in your market, the plan has told you something important: batch the work down to an hour per board, or make a different product. These figures are an example, not a market price; use your own.

Step 2: registration and tax, in a sensible order

Structure first: a sole proprietorship needs no formation filing in most US states (though trading under a name other than your own usually needs a DBA registration); an LLC is filed with your state’s business registry. An accountant can tell you which fits your situation.
Name: check it is free before you print anything (see our business name guide for how).
EIN: in the US the IRS issues an Employer Identification Number free of charge on irs.gov. Be wary of sites that charge for it.
Sales tax: most US states require a seller’s permit before you sell taxable goods, including at craft fairs. Your state revenue department’s website lists the rules.
Separate bank account and insurance: keeping business money separate makes bookkeeping and taxes far easier. Ask an insurer about product liability cover if you sell items such as toys, furniture or cutting boards.

Step 3: the workspace

Set the shop up around the products you chose in step 1. Plan dust collection and safe storage before buying more machines (see our woodworking safety tips), and set aside a clean, dust-free area for finishing and packing so finished pieces do not pick up dust.

Steps 4 to 6: selling and marketing

Photograph pieces in daylight against a plain background, and write descriptions that state the wood species, the finish and the exact dimensions; buyers ask about all three. Our wood species database has hardness and stability figures you can quote accurately. For promotion ideas, see 59 marketing ideas for your woodworking business, and for what sells, the most profitable woodworking projects.

This checklist is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules differ by state and country, so confirm the registration and tax steps with your local authorities or an accountant.

Download the Free Printable Checklist!

Here is a preview of what the printable woodworking business checklist looks like. You can see I also added a space for you to add your own to-do list items.

There is no sign-up necessary to download the free checklist – just click on the download link below to download the file!

Click Here to Download the Free Printable Woodworking Business Checklist PDF

Looking for more great resources for starting your woodworking business? Check out these other posts on our website:

I hope this business start-up checklist is helpful for you in starting your woodworking business – Tell me about your woodworking business plan in the comments section below!