Furniture repair and upholstery studio

Households, restaurants, cafés, offices, interior designers, and furniture or antique retailers who need repairs or re-covering.

Quotes per piece, covering labour and materials. Trade clients can provide repeat work, and re-upholstery brings in higher-value jobs.

• Upholstery and sewing
• Woodworking and refinishing
• Quoting and job planning
• Customer and trade relationships

• Check municipal zoning, business licence and fire code requirements for your unit
• Commercial general liability insurance, plus cover for customers' goods in your care
• Check whether your province has rules on labelling or materials used in upholstered furniture, especially if you sell items you rework
• Rent and equipment are fixed costs, so slow months can be tight
• Check WCB/WSIB requirements in your province before you hire anyone
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on the unit you rent, your equipment and your materials. Rent and equipment are fixed costs, so slow months can be tight.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your mix of household, business and retailer work and the size of jobs. Plan for slower months, as rent and equipment costs continue.

Check municipal zoning, business licence and fire code requirements for your unit, plus insurance for customers' goods. Check provincial rules on labelling or materials in upholstered furniture, WCB/WSIB before hiring, and when to register for GST/HST.