I would like to know too.
My wife, son, and I are moving to Hawai'i very soon, and I am going to become a pro luthier after I take my Hana Lima class this year.
so, any tips that any one has, I wanna hear them too.
Bob

I have been a pro woodworker for many years, I made my first guitar from a Stewmac kit a few years ago.  Then I had the opportunity to go to Wayne Henderson's shop to see his process.  I went to the best bluegrass player in our area, and offered to make him a custom guitar.  I went to Wanye's and offered to help him work on some of his guitars (mostly hand sanding and scraping) in exchange for him helping me build the custom dreadnaught guitar.  That was #3 and I gave it to the local picker, who plays it on stage.  Mostly as referrals from him, I am now making #25.  I am now making about 4 guitars for every piece of furniture, as far as making a living, wood collectors disease has prevented me from showing a profit.  But I rent shop space, and have enough wood to build about 40 guitars.  Only 2 of my guitars have not been presold.  I have now sold 4 ukes and hope to grow to about 15 instruments a year.  In order to get an efficient shop, complete with all the specialty tools, froms and bending molds, it can be quite capital intensive.  I am making any style that is requested, which cuts back on profit.  A builder like Wayne, builds almost exclusively Martin models, and is very efficient. He builds about 40 a year and has a 10 year waiting list, he has even referred me a few customers.  Making a living as a luthier is kind of an oximoron But when you see one of your instruments on stage, it gives you a feeling that is hard to express.
Find a good metor, and a good player, and give it a shot.