If you've been practicing your woodworking a lot, chances are good you've probably got a workshop full of finished projects. Why not make some money off of these and sell a few of them? Here are some tips and tricks to help you make the transition from hobbyist to seller when it comes to woodworking.

Choose a Place to Sell

First, you need to figure out where you're going to sell your items. Handmade items sell very well on sites like Etsy as long as you're making something unique that doesn't already have a saturated market, like cutting boards. For online sales, you also have the option of selling through your own website or through established marketplaces like those made available by Facebook and other social media websites. You've got plenty of options for online sales .

You also have the option to sell locally, through flea markets, trade shows or similar options. Where you sell will determine what you sell. Online sales are ideal for small items because they don't weigh much and it won't cost you an arm and a leg to ship them to their destination. If you're crafting bigger items, working locally saves you money because you can deliver them personally — as long as you have a work truck large enough to handle the load. If you're going to work locally and craft large items, consider investing in a work truck to help you haul large items .

Pick an Item to Market

Once you've decided where you're going to sell, you need to figure out what you're going to market. First, ask yourself a few questions:
  • Is there already a market for the things I want to make?
  • Who is the most successful in this field and what are they doing right?
  • Can I take something that already exists and put my own spin on it?
  • Is there anything I can do in woodworking better than anyone else?

Don't just create something blindly and throw it out there expecting it to sell. Do your research and spend some time investigating your successful competition to see what they're doing that sets them apart.

Take the Plunge

Step three is both the simplest and most difficult thing you'll ever do. Just step off the diving board and take the plunge into the deep end. Put yourself out there and see how many sales you get. If it doesn't take off the way you're expecting, take a step back and analyze what you're doing and how you can improve it. Selling your woodworking projects isn't something that's going to help you get rich quick, but it's a great way to share what you love with those around you while making back some of the money you spend on supplies and tools.

The best part of selling your woodworking is that you get to make money doing what you love. You can even turn it into a career and spend the rest of your life creating amazing things for others to enjoy. They say that if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life — so why not turn your hobby into a side-gig and then maybe into a career?

Scott Huntington is a writer from central Pennsylvania. He enjoys working on his home and garden with his wife and 2 kids. Follow him on Twitter  @SMHuntington