Just curious as what your goals are in your custom rod building business. Mine have scaled back a little to where I just want to build and sell enough rods to pay for my own rod building and fishing habit. I had thought about more when I started this but sometimes the business is just not there. Custom rod sales are not automatic these days. Curious as to what other members intended and what they ended up with. Do you want to sell more rods? Are you happy with the number you are selling now? Do you make enough to consider it a second income? Or do you just make enough to make gas money for your own boat? Where is the line between hobby and real business?

And for a fishing habit. That would be great haha.

For me, the goal was to provide a little extra income in retirement. I'm growing my client base, slowly and mostly through exposure in fly fishing shows in the Pacific NW. I'm considering getting a booth or 2 at a gun show but would probably show mostly gear rods at those venues. I've also paid some folks to help amp up my presence on Facebook, my website and god forbid, Twitter. So, we'll see how it goes.

The fly fishing shows tend to happen in the jan-april timeframe and keeps me hopping in the winter months. Sort of ramps down in the summer, which gives me some fishing time.

REgardless of the number of rods, I always strive for the best quality rod matched to the angler's needs. This has always been my first goal and seems to serve me pretty well.

Terry

James, are you doing this full time or part time?
I started part time for 15 years and now I am actually advertising and in June 2014 going full time. I also have two high school student who work in the rod shop 10 to 12 hours a week, each.
Let me know YOUR goals and perhaps I can send you some information that I have learned over the years.

Buzz

I would love to build full time either for my self or someone. I really enjoy it but as I work 2 jobs its hard to find time as I have two small kids under 2. So my goal is in 5 years to build full time. Would be cool if there was some apprentetship when it comes to rod building. Any ways that's my goals

Thanks. My "business" is strictly a part time thing just to make a few extra dollars. Never had the sales to justify anything more and at this point it really serves to give me the opportunity to keep building rods. If I was only building for myself I would have been done after a few rods. Just wondered how many really operate as a bonafide business and make enough money to do more than pay for gas and travel expenses. I got the idea that it may not be very many.