Made-to-Order furniture from a home workshop
Build tables, shelving and cabinets to order from a garage or shed workshop, selling online and locally.
- C$3k-15k
- Side hustle
- From home
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
Designing and building custom pieces such as dining tables, bookcases, benches and cabinets in solid wood or plywood, made to a customer's size, style and budget, from a workshop at home.
Your first three steps
- Build three to five sample pieces in a consistent style and photograph them well
- Work out your cost per hour and materials, then set a quoting template with a deposit
- Set up an Instagram or simple website page and approach two or three local interior designers or home stagers
Who pays
Households wanting pieces that fit their space, plus local interior designers and small businesses like cafés and offices.
How it makes money
A quoted price per piece based on materials, your hours and finishing, often with a deposit upfront. Repeat commissions and referrals build the order book.
Skills that help
- Woodworking and joinery
- Reading and drawing plans
- Quoting and costing jobs
- Customer communication
Watch out for
- Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and what zoning allows for workshop noise and dust
- Dust extraction, fire risk from finishes and rags, and hearing and eye protection
- Commercial general liability insurance, and check whether your home insurance covers a workshop and stored stock
- Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check provincial sales tax rules
- Lumber prices change, so quote with a validity date and take deposits
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: made-to-order furniture from a home workshop
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a furniture making business at home?
Estimated startup costs are typically around $3,000 to $15,000 CAD, depending on the tools and machines you already own, dust extraction, safety gear, lumber stock and insurance.
How much can a home furniture maker earn?
Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $800 to $4,000 CAD, depending on the pieces you build, your pricing and how many orders you take. Lumber prices change, so quote with a validity date and take deposits.
What rules should I check before setting up a home workshop?
Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and what zoning allows for noise and dust. Also check dust and fire safety, whether home insurance covers a workshop, commercial liability cover, and GST/HST and provincial sales tax.
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Photo: Monoar_CGI_Artist on Pixabay