I finally rented a workshop for my business.
For years, I handled all of my woodworking projects as a side job.
After I started selling my pieces very quickly and establishing a waiting list, I switched to it full time. My wife and I recently moved our family into a home that doesn’t offer any kind of work area for me. I had nowhere to work on my pieces. I looked into purchasing a prefabricated shed or having one built to specs. The fabricated sheds were all too small and not professional in appearance. Building from scratch requires passing inspection, getting blueprints, building to code and a huge expense. Completing it in a timely manner was next to impossible. I then started looking at rental spaces that would work as a shop and I finally had some luck. The shop I chose to rent is super big. I can keep all my scrap wood, finishes, stains and tools organized in the shop with no issue. I also store the finished pieces there with plenty of space to work on my various projects. The cement floor is no problem to keep clean and I have a thermostat for the first time. I used to work out of the garage, where I was bothered by temperature extremes. I deal with cold winter weather as well as the intense heat and humidity of summer. I am super relieved to be in a temperature controlled space with efficient heating and air conditioning. Another benefit of a shop rental is that I can have people pick up their finished pieces. I don’t disrupt my family’s afternoon or have strangers at my house. I have a more professional set up where people aren’t walking around my yard or squeezing around my car to get inside the garage. I can focus more on my work now. The rental costs are reasonable and I’m able to be more productive and earn greater profit.