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On Going Professional
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I welcome feedback from my readers, and this article brought a response from Jim Delahunty, a professional woodworker. I felt that his comments were valid and important so I posted them here on inthewoodshop.org. You can read Jim's thoughts here. Howard Ruttan
December 15, 2002
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I wrote this article a while ago and the issue comes up every once in a while on rec.woodworking. Sometimes I think I am the only one who feels this way. However this month, Ernie Conover, author of 7 woodworking books including the first and second editions of the classic, The Lathe Book, shows that I am not the only one who believes one should proudly pronounce their amateur status before the world. Read about it here!
Howard Ruttan
November 6, 2002
<HR align=center width="75%" color=#0080c0>Going professional is a big step, one that can involve a few changes or a total restructuring of your methods of work. A person who sells crafty woodwork or simple furniture at craft sales might consider himself a professional, and providing he is earning money working wood, he is right. On the other end of the spectrum there is the full service cabinet or furniture shop. This is usually a significant departure from the backyard recreational woodworker. Either way, I have decided that I choose to make my living doing something other than woodworking. If you work wood for reasons even closely resembling mine, I would suggest that you do the same. If you are unsure, don't do it. If you are absolutely positive, well different strokes, but I suggest that you look into it in detail before you start as there may be a number of hurdles in your way.
I would add the following disclaimer at this point. The following is not intended to be a comprehensive list. The point of this little essay is to provide you with a few, and I stress the word few, things to ponder while you consider what is probably the dream of every woodworker - to get paid for working wood.
For me, woodworking is a catharsis. It is a love, a need, a method of cleansing, not just a means to an end. Going professional will associate deadlines, rude or unappreciative customers, boring administrative tasks and the like with your woodworking. As soon as this happens, the magic leaves it. I know this from experience. Basically what happens is that you lose your hobby. The fun disappears and the craft becomes diluted by the customer service and business aspects of making money. You will stop woodworking in your spare time, thus it no longer is your hobby. Before I started taking money for my worked I asked around a bit. The common thread I found was that although people enjoyed what they were doing, the working wood for pure enjoyment aspect was lost to working wood as work. After I started to do it for money I found out that they were right. In the long run I decided that it was not worth the hassle.
In addition, there are many factors you have to consider. You can't just turn your garage or basement shop into a working business. First you have to decide what your business is going to be. Then you have to form a company. At this point you have to decide whether you are going to be a sole proprietorship, a partnership or a limited liability corporation. It isn't an easy decision. Consult a lawyer. Even if you think there is even the least little possibility that you might get sued you probably want to incorporate. This involves even more paper work and other such things.
Then you have to get a license to practice from your locality. Is you basement shop going to pass muster? The locality, and in all likelihood all of your neighbors will get to decide for you whether they think the noise and increased traffic and other factors are going to be acceptable. You may find yourself looking for another shop space. This may be especially the case if you finish with combustible spray finishes. Heaven help you if you fudge a little on the description and get caught by the neighbors later on.
Once others decide for you whether you have to move, some additional money (a little if you can stay in your present shop, or a lot if you have to set up all over again) will be required for getting underway. You need quotation forms, letterhead, business cards, possibly a logo or design work, signs, new license plates for you vehicle, or maybe a new vehicle. You must draft a business plan, if you truly wish to be successful, or if you even expect to stand a chance at getting business loan. I haven't even mentioned going to the bank to open your business accounts yet. Without them you will not be able to enjoy the money saving low prices of some of the wholesale vendors, who may not deal with retail customers at all. You will also have to read. If you aren't already familiar with the how to's of marketing, you will have to learn fast. Like it or not, most of your time will now be spent marketing. You will probably have to be bonded if you are going to do any installation work. There is also the issue of all those tools you don't have now, but need. Along with this comes learning how to haul them around so that they don't get stolen, and you always have what you need on the job site. Unless you are just making a few things for a craft sale (which is an entirely different animal to prepare for), you are going to have to be prepared for a slow period until you get enough work to sustain you. You won't be earning right away. In fact, depending on your expense you may not earn anything for up to a year or more. Any how much will you charge? Learning how to charge for the work you do is an art-form all in itself. It took me a long time to come up with a realistic shop rate and the estimating skill to implement it. I never did rely on woodworking for a living so I probably don't have it right yet anyway. Then there are medical insurance and unemployment benefits to consider, and so on. Still not convinced? Unsure? Don't do it. Look into it some more and be sure before you do it. Or are you convinced it is what you want to do? If you are convinced, let me recommend you
look at the following list of books. They will assist you in many of the issues that I have listed. Make sure that you do your homework and look into every angle. Talk with fellow woodworkers. Visit the competition. Believe it or not, you will probably get your best information from them. And if it sounds like we are all trying to talk you out of it, well we just want you to be absolutely sure before you try it. If you work wood for the reasons that I do, please don't consider it. It will be very disappointing. But if you are sure, good luck and Godspeed
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