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I love the feeling of turning a quiet corner of the yard into a little money machine. Making money with your shed is a great way to earn extra income without leaving home, and it’s a fun project you can start small and grow.
A shed gives you a dedicated workspace away from household distractions. It’s the perfect place to focus, make, fix, teach, or store things. Lots of entrepreneurs start in a garden shed and build a real small business over time.
- One of the top ways to make money from your shed is with Woodworking: furniture, custom shelving, cutting boards, toys, wood turning bowls, carving, CNC routing. Go digital with a 3D printer farm, CNC router, or laser engraver. Make custom signs, parts, and gifts for Etsy and local markets. Ventilate properly and keep a fire-safe mindset with lasers.
- Metalwork: brackets, railings, garden art, welding projects.
- Laser cutting/engraving: signs, gifts, awards, personalized items.
- 3D printing: prototyping, custom parts, cosplay props, miniatures.
- Leather work: wallets, belts, bags, dog collars.
- Jewelry making: metal/clay/resin, beading, wire wrapping.
- Candles and wax melts; soap and bath bombs; natural skincare.
- Ceramics/pottery.
- Stained glass and mosaics.
- Sewing/embroidery/quilting: bags, apparel, patches, custom embroidery.
- Screen printing/sublimation/heat press: shirts, mugs, merch.
- Resin art, epoxy river tables, coasters.
- Upholstery and furniture refinishing.
- Sign making (wood/acrylic/vinyl).
- Instrument making/repair (guitars, ukuleles).
- Model building, dioramas, war gaming terrain.
- Knife making and sharpening services.
-Gourmet mushrooms. Set up a clean area with humidity control and fresh air exchange. Sell to farmers markets and chefs who want local, fresh produce.
-Seasonal plays add punch. Sell firewood bundles, holiday wreaths, or carved pumpkins. Short bursts can bring high margins when everyone’s in buying mode.
- Cottage bakery: breads, cookies, pastries. Cottage foods are popular. Bake, jar jams, or dehydrate snacks if your state allows it. Follow labeling rules, keep the shed sanitary, and separate personal and business supplies.
- Jams, jellies, pickles, hot sauce, spice blends, rubs.
- Dehydrated snacks, granola.
- Coffee roasting; tea blending.
- Kombucha/ferments (where legal).
- Homemade pasta; candy/chocolate (licensed if required).
- Pet treats (with labeling compliance).
- Beekeeping/honey extraction and beeswax products. Beekeeping can pair with a shed as your honey bottling and gear room. Check zoning, keep hives at the right distance, and be a good neighbor. Honey, wax, and candles can bring in good money.
- Cut flowers, bouquets, dried flowers, wreaths. Flowers are hot. Start a cut-flower shed for bouquet prep, wreaths, and dried arrangements. Build strategic partnerships with wedding planners and florists for repeat orders.
- Houseplant propagation; rare plant sales
- Dried herbs and teas
- Hydroponics/aquaponics produce. Grow microgreens or seedlings. Sheds make a great propagation room with racks, lights, and fans. Sell subscription boxes to neighbors and supply local restaurants for steady extra income.
- Worm farm: composting worms and castings
- Compost tea or soil mixes (where permitted)
- Small engine/lawn equipment repair
- Bicycle repair and tune-ups
- Electronics repair, soldering, game console mods.
- Phone/tablet screen replacement (with ESD setup).
- Appliance/small tool repair
- Knife/scissor sharpening
- Key cutting/lock smithing (licensed)
- Tailoring/alterations; shoe repair
- Watch battery replacement; jewelry repair
- Window/door screen repair
- Engraving and personalization
- 3D print-on-demand parts for locals
-Guest house ideas come up a lot. Converting a shed to a tiny home or a short-term rental looks tempting, but it needs permits, utilities, and code compliance. Done right under the right conditions, it can pay off over a long time.
- Tool library or tool rental (saws, pressure washers, specialty tools)
- Party supplies rental (chairs, decor, backdrops)
- Outdoor gear rental (bikes, kayaks, camping gear)
- Photo/video studio rental (backdrops, lighting)
- Podcast/voiceover booth rental. Add acoustic panels, a mic, a simple switcher, and decent lighting. Rent it by the hour to creators who need a clean set and fast internet.
- Maker space memberships (shared shop access)
- Storage rental (via Neighbor or local networks)
- Day-use office “work shed” rental (Peerspace, local listings)
Teaching pays, too! Keep class sizes manageable and charge for materials plus your time.
-Tutoring and lessons work nicely. Do math or language tutoring, music lessons, or test prep. Parents love the dedicated space because it feels more focused than a spare room.
-Fitness and yoga sessions in a shed are a viable option. Add mats, a fan, and a small heater. Offer one-on-one training or tiny classes, and be sure your insurance covers it.
- Workshops: woodworking, welding, 3D printing, laser basics.
- Craft classes: candle/soap making, sewing, embroidery, screen printing.
- Gardening, seed starting, composting, mushroom cultivation.
- Beekeeping intro, honey extraction demos.
- Food preservation: canning, fermenting (if permitted).
- STEM/robotics/coding for kids (safe tools and policies).
- Bike maintenance classes.
- Paint-and-sip or private craft parties.
- Paid tours of a high-efficiency or off-grid shed setup.
-Turn the shed into a photography studio. Set up backdrops and lights for portraits, product shots, or content creation. Quiet, controlled light makes the space feel like those big photography studios without the high rent.
- YouTube/TikTok channel about making, gardening, repairs, tiny workshops.
- Blog/newsletter with affiliate marketing for tools/materials.
- Digital products: plans, patterns, SVGs, templates, CAD files, eBooks.
- Online courses, live streams, memberships, Patreon.
- Podcasting/voiceover studio.
- Product photography/videography for local makers.
- Remote services: web design, SEO, copywriting, bookkeeping, virtual assistant.
- Etsy/Shopify maker shop.
- eBay seller: flipping, parts harvesting, collectibles.
- Amazon FBA prep and labeling.
- Subscription box assembly and fulfillment.
- Local delivery packing station.
- Print-on-demand with in-house finishing (DTF/HTV).
Pet services are a winner. A dog kennel shed can work for short-term boarding or daycare with proper sanitation and airflow. Add grooming for an upsell if you enjoy it.
- Dog grooming or self-wash station.
- Pet daycare/boarding (zoning/insurance heavy).
- Pet training sessions.
- Pet photography studio.
- Feeder insects (crickets/mealworms) for reptile owners.
- Backyard eggs/quail (if allowed).
- Massage, barbering, hair/nail services (licenses, sanitation, plumbing).
- Personal training or yoga micro-studio.
- Cold plunge/sauna experiences (safety and local codes).
-Raising and selling chickens, and selling eggs.
- Custom PC building, water-cooling, crypto rigs setup (with power/cooling considerations).
- Retro console restoration and modding.
- Drone building/repair and FPV tuning.
- RC car/plane repair; track tuning services.
- Miniature painting commissions; 3D printed miniatures.
- Trading card breaks, grading prep, storage solutions.
- Halloween haunted shed or escape-room experiences.
- Holiday wreaths/ornaments, gift baskets.
- Seasonal equipment storage service.
- Photo booth for seasonal portraits.
- Scrap metal sorting/resale.
- E-waste collection and parts resale (data security!).
- Pallet breakdown and reclaimed wood sales.
- Ink/toner cartridge refilling.
- Textile upcycling; denim/leather repurpose.
- Landscaping/lawn care/snow removal base of operations.
- Window/gutter cleaning gear hub.
- Pressure washing, deck/fence staining, holiday light installation.
- Handyman service scheduling and staging.
- Off-grid demo shed: solar consults, tours, and kits.
- Battery pack reconditioning (safety-critical).
- Crypto mining farm (noise/heat/power costs considered).
- EV charging as a paid amenity if accessible.
- Sell ad space on shed exterior (if visible and permitted).
- Neighborhood pickup point for local brands.
- Community bulletin hub with paid listings.
- Local CSA/produce pickup site hosting fees.
First step before any shed business: check the rules. Look up home-occupation laws, local zoning, and HOA/strata bylaws. Make sure your idea is a legal use, and ask about permits or licenses for retail, food, manufacturing, or storage.
Safety matters. Keep the structure sound and weatherproof. Use safe electrical, proper outlets, and GFCI where needed. Add ventilation for fumes or dust, a fire extinguisher, clear exits, and safe storage for chemicals and fuels.
Check utilities. You’ll want enough power, good lighting, heating/cooling for colder temperatures and summer heat, and reliable internet. If your work needs water or drainage, plan for that upfront.
Think about neighbors. Set reasonable hours, manage noise and odors, and plan parking for deliveries or clients. Good boundaries keep everyone happy and avoid complaints.
Secure your outdoor shed. Use strong locks, a camera, and an alarm. Track inventory, and keep customer data safe if you take payments on-site.
Start with one focused offer, validate demand locally/online, then expand.
Use platforms like Google Business Profile, Etsy, Shopify, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Peerspace, Neighbor, Patreon, and YouTube to find customers.
Document and share the journey—content can become a second revenue stream.
Create a simple website or landing page, set up online booking and payments, and claim your Google Business Profile if customers visit. Build an online presence so people can find you on search engines.
When I got started with shedking, the company I used to set my site up was Solo Build It. It's just an awesome company that truly gives more than what you pay for! If you are interested in setting up your website, give them a try. You won't be dissapointed!
Here’s my take: Making Money With Your Shed isn’t the only way to start a side hustle, but it might be the best way to create a dedicated space and earn backyard bucks with your shed. Pick one idea, check local zoning, set up safely, and start small. If you’re building fresh, study how to build a shed that fits your plan. With a little focus and a lot of heart, that little building can become a real business.
Check out all my shed plans here at shedking. I have over 50 plans for you, ranging from small to big. Gable style sheds, saltbox style sheds, barn style sheds, and lean to style sheds.
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