Home workshop woodturner

Shoppers at craft fairs and farmers' markets, online buyers, gift shoppers and local gift shops.

Selling finished pieces at a set price each, through markets, an online shop or wholesale to shops. Prices rise with size, wood type and finish quality.

• Safe lathe and tool handling
• Good eye for shape and finish
• Patience and attention to detail
• Basic selling and photography

• Wood dust and flying debris: check dust extraction, eye and lung protection, and fire safety in your workshop
• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence or has noise and zoning rules
• Home insurance may not cover business tools or stock, so ask your insurer about commercial coverage
• Market tables often require liability insurance, so check the organizer's rules
• Register for GST/HST if your sales go over the small supplier threshold, and check provincial sales tax rules
• Sourcing wood: check local rules on moving firewood or untreated timber, as some areas restrict it to limit pests

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on your lathe, tools, safety gear and wood supply. Treat this as an estimate and price your own workshop setup before buying.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $200 to $1,500, depending on what you make, where you sell and how often. The estimates assume at least 8 hours a week, so results will vary.

Check dust extraction, eye and lung protection and fire safety in your workshop. Also check municipal licence, noise and zoning rules, insurance for tools and stock, market liability requirements, GST/HST registration, and local rules on moving firewood or untreated timber.