Architectural salvage shop
Open a shop or warehouse selling reclaimed doors, fireplaces and fittings to renovators and designers.
- C$15k-60k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A shop or warehouse unit stocked with reclaimed doors, mantels, windows, tiles, hardware and fittings. You buy from demolition and renovation jobs, display pieces and help customers find what fits their project.
Your first three steps
- Build supplier relationships with demolition firms, renovators and deconstruction crews, and visit existing salvage shops to learn pricing
- Price a few industrial units or small retail spaces, with loading access and cheap rent in mind, and check zoning with the municipality
- Gather a first stock of items, list them online and run an opening weekend aimed at local renovators and designers
Who pays
Renovators, contractors, designers, heritage home owners, restaurants and film or stage set builders.
How it makes money
Mark-up on salvaged stock sold in store and online. You may also earn from delivery, light restoration and sourcing specific pieces on request.
Skills that help
- Knowledge of building materials and period styles
- Buying and pricing stock
- Customer service and design advice
- Safe lifting and handling of heavy items
Watch out for
- Check zoning and business licence rules for retail and outdoor storage with your municipality
- Commercial general liability and property insurance are worth checking, since customers handle heavy items
- Older materials may contain lead paint or asbestos, check federal and provincial guidance before buying and selling
- Check WCB or WSIB rules when you hire staff, as rules differ by province
- Stock can sit unsold for a long time, so watch cash flow and rent
- Register for GST/HST once required, and check provincial sales tax rules where you live
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: architectural salvage shop
Researched with live web search for Canada: 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 start an architectural salvage shop?
Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on your premises, deposit, fit-out and how much reclaimed stock you buy before you open. Treat these as estimates, not guarantees.
How much can an architectural salvage shop earn?
Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your stock, pricing and location. Stock can sit unsold for a long time, so watch cash flow and rent alongside revenue.
What rules should I check before opening a salvage shop in Canada?
Check zoning and business licence rules for retail and outdoor storage with your municipality. Also check insurance, lead paint and asbestos guidance before buying and selling older materials, and WCB or WSIB rules if you hire staff.
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