How to Start Your Own Carpentry Business: A Guide to the Basics of Woodworking Careers

Do you love working with your hands building things? Does the smell of the hardware shop tickle your fancy like nothin’ else?  Are you considering turning your woodworking or home reno hobby into a professional career?  Then today’s blog is surely for you!  We’re going to detail the different fields in carpentry as well as the basics of where you’ll need to start your own carpentry business.

How do you become a professional carpenter?

There are many different paths you can take to creating your own carpentry business. Some carpenters go to professional trade schools and receive a certification through formal learning, while others proceed right to an apprenticeship and rack up hours of on-the-job learning in the field.

No matter what niche of carpentry you choose, there are several consistencies across the board. The first is being very attentive to detail; carpenters must learn how to measure accurately and efficiently, read and follow blueprints and architectural notes, and be a veritable perfectionist.  The second is that they must be extremely physically fit; this job is physcally demanding, requiring you to crouch, bend, lift, stand, support, and lift heavy objects on the regular.

This is not a job for the faint of heart, either!  Many carpenters find themselves precariously perched while standing in and on unfinished worksites as they install vital parts of a structure.  You’ll need a steady hand, steady balance, and a lot of physical strength.

What different fields of carpentry might I look at for a career choice?

Railing and Stair Carpentry is a highly specialized field with an extremely precise craft. There is no room for error here as these vital areas of your home must be built exactly to code.  No one railing or staircase can fit into another space, and each one is completely custom measured and designed to fit a very specific space.  These carpenters must follow very strict state and local municipal requirements for each railing and stair width and precise distance measurements.

Joisters are a structural carpenter who specializes in making the joists that support a structure’s floors or decks.  Floor joists are horizontal boards connected to a building’s frame structure.  They are a very specialized field of carpentry, providing a vital role that ensures the floors are stable and strong while providing support.  It requires a keen eye for detail as these must be perfectly balanced to ensure flat, even flooring.

Rough Carpentry and framing is a more practical and structural area of carpentry.  These carpenters build the rough wooden structures used in framing and structuring houses; bridges, scaffolds, tunnels and related structural supports; and temporary frame shelters.  They’re essential to construction of tall buildings and other daily use structures.  These carpenters closely study blueprints to ensure that the framework and initial foundational structures are built correctly.  They’ll work with wood and metal structures and sheathing of a building.

Trim Carpentry or Finish Carpentry is often referred to as finish carpentry, since they specalize in installing and repairing the molding and trims on windows, doors, baseboards, and other areas like cabinets, etc.  Many trim carpenters also install cabinets and window casings in shops. They may also work on ornamental trim details and pieces; common options are crown moulding, bead board, corbels, and specialty milled pieces for feature accents.

Specialty Woodworkers may create things like tables and chairs, storage or bookshelves, cutting boards, wall shelving, handcarved housewares, and even children’s toys.  This is an extremely niche field, and is usually most sustainable when you enter the high end market of custom furnishings.

Now that I’ve chosen a field, what business skills will I need to keep things running?

If you’re working solo or even with a small team, you’ll need to wear many hats to keep the lights on!  Talk to other professionals and pick their brains, and find a mentor to help you design an outline of what to expect.  If you’re in a mentorship program or formal education, pick their brain about the business aspect of things!  Consider taking a business class or two so that you can learn from the professionals; at the very least you’ll want to look into basic accounting, business management, and a modern marketing oriented class or workshop.

First, you’ll need to create a business plan, a critical element in the planning process. You’ll want to research the industry, your local area market for work, and take a good hard gander at your competitors.  Learn what sets you apart from the rest and gives you the edge as a unique business in the field.  Gauge what the pricing is in your region for the average job, as well as the highest point and lowest point.  Consider your own experience level and skill set when deciding your prices.  Do some research and decide if it’s worth the cost to rent a space or office, versus working from home at your garage or an official woodshop.

It’s important you remain very organized and exercise impeccable record keeping from the get go.  You’ll need to be a meticulous accountant and learn how to do a bit of bookkeeping to help you stay within budget and manage expenses versus income to turn a profit.  You’ll also need to understand the legal guidelines within the construction industry, and we recommend consulting with someone on contracts and liability to ensure you’re protected against accidents and damages.

Select and register a Business name, something memorable and unique to you and your niche. You’ll then create a tax profile for your business such as an LLC or Corporation (LLC is easier on the tax filing end.)  Check with your lawyer and accountant on the best option for your business and needs.

You’ll also need to require the necessary permits and licenses for your area such as a Builders and Construction Permit, Business License with your County/City, Contractor’s License, etc.  You’ll also need a very solid insurance plan since this is a high-risk industry; insurance should cover not just you and your employees but also your tools, your shop, and your craftsmanship.

If you haven’t already built capital, you’ll need to select a bank loan or open a line of credit to help you get off the ground running.  This is where your business plan and financial planning will come in handy!

Make sure you have an adequate undersetanding of today’s modern marketing communications such as social media sites (Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Houzz, and Pinterest to name a few.)  Gone are the days of door-to-door marketing and flyers, you’ll need to have a niche angle to online social media marketing, understand the basics of SEO, and have a solid website to back up your portfolio of work.  A basic understanding of Facebook Ads and Google Adwords will also do you well, as they’re a major hub for business to client marketing options.

As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when starting your own business, but we really encourage you to go for it!  When you put your mind to it, cheesy as it may sound, you really can accomplish just about anything!  We started this business with a dream and a prayer and a proverbial nickel in our pocket, and thanks to hard work, consistency, and dedication. We’ve been in the industry in different capacities for more than 2 decades now, so you can trust that we know our stuff and have seen it all.  Even though we’ve had our own ups-and-downs over the years, Pinto Carpentry has grown into a multifaceted family-owned and operated business with a sterling reputation for bespoke stair building and indoor handrails.  When you love what you do, are passionate about it, and give it your all, it’s possible to achieve success!

At the time of this publication, our new installation appointments are scheduled into June and July of 2025.  Please note, our wood shop is not open to the general public. To request an appointment please call (908) 922-1778.

If you’re looking for expert carpenters to upgrade your home, office, or business’s indoor handrails and stairs, look no further than Pinto Carpentry. We’re a family owned and operated business serving most regions of New Jersey, and based out of our Plainfield woodshop. We specialize in creating bespoke staircases and interior handrail installations, and we have more than two decades of experience in doing so.

Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be able to help you find the perfect materials and styles to match just about any interior design aesthetic, and best suited to your budget and price points.  Just give us a call!  There’s no job too big or too small, here at Pinto Carpentry we do it all.  Our experts will get you set up with an estimate appointment so our installers and carpenters can create a custom estimate for your project.  We can’t wait to work with you!