Tom Richardson was at a crossroads. His custom furniture side hustle had outgrown his two-car garage. Orders were backing up. He'd just turned down a $45,000 commission for eight dining sets because he literally had nowhere to build them.
"I was making furniture between my wife's car and the lawnmower," Tom recalls. "Professional? Not exactly."
The breaking point came when a high-end client visited his "workshop." They took one look at the garage chaos and canceled their $8,000 order on the spot. That night, Tom knew something had to change.
Three years later, Tom's running a $150,000/year custom furniture business from a professional workshop that commands respect—and premium prices. Here's how a 30x36 metal building in Olympia transformed a cramped hobbyist into a thriving business owner.
Tom's first surprise: Olympia doesn't just let you build a commercial workshop in your backyard. The city has specific requirements for home-based businesses:
Most contractors told Tom to rent industrial space instead. At $18/sq ft in Olympia, that meant $19,440/year for minimal space. We had a better idea.
Olympia's design review isn't just bureaucracy—it's your neighbors having official input on your plans. Tom's street had strong opinions about a "commercial building" in their residential neighborhood.
Our solution: Design it to look better than the houses.
Result: Neighbors went from opponents to supporters. Two actually asked for our contact info.
The main 30x36 space became Tom's furniture factory:
What Tom didn't expect: "The height changed everything. I can store materials up and work down. My efficiency jumped 40% just from better organization."
The 12x30 lean-to became a climate-controlled finishing room:
Game-changer: "I can apply finishes year-round now. In the garage, winter humidity ruined everything."
A 10x12 corner became Tom's office:
Professional impact: "Clients take me seriously now. They see a real business, not a garage hobby."
Standard workshops get 100-amp service. Tom needed more:
Cost for electrical: $4,200. Revenue enabled: $75,000+/year.
Tom's respiratory health depended on air quality:
Health result: "My chronic cough disappeared in two months."
Olympia's humidity wreaks havoc on wood. Our solution:
Monthly cost: $85. Wood saved from warping: $500+/month.
Olympia requires a pre-application meeting for commercial structures. We prepared:
City feedback: "Finally, someone who comes prepared."
Olympia requires notifying neighbors within 300 feet. We helped Tom:
Result: 12 support letters, zero objections.
With neighbor support and complete plans:
Typical timeline: 10-12 weeks. Our timeline: 7 weeks total.
April in Olympia means rain. We planned for it:
Inspector comment: "Nice to see pros who plan for weather."
Once posts set, we moved fast:
With shell complete, specialized work began:
Details that made it a business:
Tom discovered what professional space enables:
Revenue jump: From $6,250/month to $8,500/month immediately.
Word spread about Tom's "real" workshop:
Revenue: Consistent $10,000/month.
By year's end, Tom had:
Workshop investment: $67,000 total
Return on investment:
"Same dining table, but now I charge $4,200 instead of $2,800. Why? Clients see a professional operation, not a garage hobby. They trust the higher price." - Tom
"Last winter, I worked straight through while competitors shut down. Heated workspace, controlled humidity. I captured $30,000 in business others couldn't handle."
"I rent the space for woodworking classes on weekends. $500/day. The workshop pays for itself while I'm building my reputation as an expert."
"No restaurant will buy tables from a garage. But a professional workshop with proper insurance and real address? I just landed a $40,000 hotel contract."
"I originally planned 24x30 to save money. Thank God ProBuilt talked me into 30x36. I filled the extra space in 6 months."
"The finishing room seemed like luxury. Now it's my profit center. Climate-controlled finishing commands premium prices."
"I wanted 100-amp service. ProBuilt insisted on 200-amp. Now I run everything simultaneously without tripping breakers."
"I thought neighbor meetings were silly. Turns out, two neighbors became my best customers. One refers high-end clients regularly."
"Everyone focuses on the building cost. Wrong. Focus on the business it enables. My $67,000 workshop generates $150,000/year. That's not an expense—it's the best investment I ever made."
"The difference between amateur and professional isn't skill—it's workspace. Clients pay for professionalism. Give them a professional experience, charge professional prices."
"I waited too long. Every month in the garage was money lost. If you're serious about your craft, invest in proper space. The business will follow."
- Tom Richardson, Tom's Custom Furniture, Olympia
Tom's story isn't unique. We've helped dozens of Olympia makers, crafters, and entrepreneurs transform hobbies into businesses with proper workshops. The formula is simple: Professional space enables professional results.
Maybe you're where Tom was—talented but trapped in inadequate space. Orders backing up. Opportunities passing by. Wondering if a "real" workshop is worth it.
Here's what Tom knows now: The question isn't whether you can afford a workshop. It's whether you can afford not to have one.
Call ProBuilt at (253) 434-0550. We'll visit your property, understand your business, and show you exactly how a professional workshop can multiply your income.
Stop turning down profitable work. Stop apologizing for your workspace. Stop watching competitors with better facilities win your contracts.
Your craft deserves a professional home. Your business deserves room to grow. You deserve to work in a space that inspires your best work.
Let's build it together.