Upholstery workshop and showroom
Run a small unit with a workshop and fabric samples, serving homes, cafes, hotels and offices.
- A$12k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A rented workshop in an industrial area, set up for larger jobs such as sofas, booth seating, bar stools and headboards. It has space for fabric samples, cutting tables and storage, and may take on an apprentice or employee.
Your first three steps
- Get experience with an established upholsterer, or complete a trade qualification, before taking on a lease
- Price up local industrial units and the equipment you need, and build a simple budget covering rent, materials and slow months
- Introduce yourself to local cafes, hotels, designers and furniture dealers, and offer to quote on a trial job
Who pays
Households, cafes and restaurants, pubs, hotels, offices, boat and caravan owners, and interior designers.
How it makes money
Quoted jobs combining labour and materials, plus repeat and contract work for businesses. Trade accounts with designers and venues can fill quieter weeks.
Skills that help
- Solid upholstery experience across different furniture types
- Pricing, quoting and job scheduling
- Building relationships with businesses and designers
- Managing stock and suppliers
Watch out for
- Lease terms and zoning: check with the council that your unit allows this use
- Public liability, property and contents insurance, and workers compensation once you hire (state schemes)
- Commercial work may need furniture to meet fire-retardant or safety standards: check what applies to your clients
- Fixed costs like rent make slow months harder, so keep a cash buffer
- Cash flow on large commercial jobs: consider deposits and payment terms
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: upholstery workshop and 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
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to open an upholstery workshop?
Startup costs are typically around $12,000 to $50,000, depending on your premises, equipment, fabric samples and insurance. These are estimates, so check lease terms and keep a cash buffer for slow months.
How much revenue can an upholstery workshop make?
Monthly revenue is typically around $5,000 to $20,000, depending on your mix of household and commercial jobs, how many jobs you can schedule and your pricing. This is an estimate of revenue, not profit.
What rules should I check before opening an upholstery workshop?
Check your lease terms and ask the council whether your unit allows this use. Also check insurance, including workers compensation once you hire, and whether commercial clients need furniture to meet fire-retardant or safety standards.
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