If you’re serious about making money woodworking in 2026—even if it’s just a side hustle—you’re going to need an actual strategy. In this video, I break down three shifts I’m leaning into in my own woodworking business this year that I genuinely think will be a game changer. The big theme is simple: it’s getting harder and harder to compete with mass-produced stuff, so small woodworkers have to play a different game. First, I’m focusing on higher-end products instead of low-end, commodity items. I tell a story about bidding on 60 small cutting boards and losing out to $2.50 Amazon bamboo boards—there’s just no competing with that. So I’m raising the level: better materials (walnut, cherry, etc.) and outsourcing the parts I don’t specialize in—like buying metal legs so I can obsess over the tabletop, epoxy pour, sanding, and finish. Second, I’m prioritizing custom projects over batching everything out, because people will pay more when they can speak into the design process—just like the custom coffee cart I built. Third, I’m selling to businesses more than individuals because they’re often less nitpicky and they tend to buy again as they grow. And no matter what year it is, the more you talk about your woodworking business—in person and online—the more sales you’re going to make.