Kids' Woodworking and Shop-skills Classes for Homeschool Families
Originally published Sep 25, 2026 — Chris Koerner on The Koerner Office Podcast
Chris Koerner on The Koerner Office Podcast · The Most Overlooked $1K/Hour Business Anyone Can Start ↗
You teach small groups of children basic woodworking with hand saws, screws, glue and later small power tools, building simple projects like wooden robots, flags, bird feeders and cornhole boards. The guest, Mike Herod, started with a plain Facebook post, ran two free classes for social proof, then charged $75 per hour per child for ages 7-9 and $50 for older kids, with deposits collected upfront. He grew into father-son events, spring-break and summer camps ($300-$500 per child) and a $30,000 contract with a homeschool co-op for two hours every Friday, and in Florida he is paid through the state's Step Up scholarship program. Classes can run in a garage, a backyard or park, or as a mobile setup brought to groups.
Mike says materials on a $750 class cost him about $150, starter tools pay for themselves in one class, and homeschool and moms' groups spread the word quickly because few places teach kids to use tools. He estimates someone keeping a day job could clear about $4,000 a month working two weekends a month.
Handy parents or retirees comfortable around tools who enjoy teaching children and have local homeschool or parent networks. You need a patient manner and a strict approach to safety.
The numbers come from one operator's account in an interview, not verified records; his $50,600 for March-July came from classes held in his commercial trade-school space, and most of his other work was mobile, travelling up to 45 minutes. It can be run from your own garage, but parents told him a proper space felt safer, so expect pressure to rent one as you grow. Liability is the big risk: he uses eye protection, waivers, screws instead of nails and business insurance (about $95 a month). State scholarship vendor programs like Florida's are local, and the podcast host sells a paid community.