Rustic furniture showroom

Open a small shop or warehouse showroom where locals can see and buy rustic, reclaimed furniture.

Startup costA$15k to A$70k
Monthly revenueA$6k to A$30k
Time needed30+ h/week
First incomeMonths
  • A$15k-70k
  • Full-time
  • Own premises

Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.

What it is

A small retail space displaying rustic and reclaimed furniture and homewares. Customers can view, touch and order pieces, with some stock sourced from local makers and some bought in.

Your first three steps

  1. Scout affordable premises such as an industrial unit or shopfront and compare lease terms
  2. Line up suppliers and makers, and plan an opening range that fits your budget
  3. Register your ABN and business name, and set up a payment system and stock list
Who pays

Local households, renovators, interior stylists and small hospitality businesses.

How it makes money

Retail mark-up on furniture and homewares, plus delivery fees and custom or made-to-order pieces.

Skills that help
  • Sourcing and buying stock
  • Merchandising and display
  • Sales and customer service
  • Basic bookkeeping
Watch out for
  • Lease terms, bond and fit-out costs, get advice before signing
  • Public liability, contents and stock insurance
  • Check with your local council about signage and zoning for retail use
  • Slow-selling large stock ties up cash, so start with a small range
  • Workers compensation insurance once you hire staff

Deep research report · Australia

Everything you need to start: rustic furniture showroom

Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.

  • Startup costs with real prices
  • Licences, registration and rules
  • Pricing: what others charge
  • Break-even example
  • Finding your first customers
  • 30-day launch plan
  • Risks and how to reduce them
Ready in about 2 minutes · one-off payment, tax included

See a full sample report

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start a rustic furniture showroom in Australia?

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $15,000 to $70,000, depending on the premises, lease bond, fit-out and how much stock you buy. Starting with a small range can help limit the cash tied up in large pieces.

What should I check before opening a furniture showroom?

Check the lease terms, bond and fit-out costs, and get advice before signing. Also check insurance for public liability, contents and stock, and ask your local council about signage and zoning for retail use. Workers compensation applies once you hire staff.

How much can a rustic furniture showroom earn?

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on your range, location and how quickly stock sells. Plan on roughly 30 or more hours a week in the shop. Revenue is not profit, as stock and rent come out of it.

Other ways to run this business

Similar retail ideas

More ideas →