Online antique furniture dealer

Private buyers, interior designers, stagers and collectors, often within driving distance or willing to pay for delivery.

You earn the margin between what you pay for a piece and your selling price, minus any cleaning, repair, delivery and marketplace fees.

• Spotting quality and period styles
• Good photography and honest descriptions
• Negotiating prices
• Basic cleaning and minor repairs

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and whether you can store stock at home
• Fakes, reproductions and misdated pieces can cost you money, so research before buying
• Furniture with old finishes or restricted materials (for example certain ivory or old lead paint): check federal and provincial rules
• Register for GST/HST once revenue passes the small supplier threshold and check provincial sales tax rules
• Insurance for stock in storage and during delivery, plus liability cover if customers visit

Startup costs are typically estimated around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on how much stock you buy, storage, photography gear and insurance. These are estimates, so research local prices first.

Monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000 as an estimate, depending on the quality of the pieces you source, your pricing and how quickly they sell.

Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and allows storing stock at home. Also check federal and provincial rules on restricted materials such as certain ivory or old lead paint, and GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold.