Online furniture reselling from home

Local shoppers looking for good-value pieces, people furnishing rentals and buyers who prefer to browse online before visiting.

The difference between what you pay for a piece and what you sell it for, plus delivery charges. Higher-value items such as solid wood dining sets and desks tend to earn more per sale.

• Photography for listings
• Writing clear descriptions
• Pricing and negotiating
• Lifting and moving safely

• Check whether your municipality allows a home-based business and whether storing stock at home is permitted
• Check your province's rules on selling used mattresses and upholstered items, which can be restricted or need labelling
• Meet buyers safely and prefer secure payment methods to avoid scams
• Track your income and check when you need to register for GST/HST with the Canada Revenue Agency
• Winter weather can make collection and delivery harder, and storage space can limit how much stock you hold
• Check that your vehicle insurance covers carrying goods for sale

Startup costs are typically around $500 to $5,000, depending on how much stock you buy and how you store it. Storage space can also limit how much stock you hold.

Check whether your municipality allows a home-based business and storing stock at home. Check your province's rules on used mattresses and upholstered items, when to register for GST/HST, and that your vehicle insurance covers carrying goods for sale.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $4,000, depending on your stock and the hours you put in. Winter weather can make collection and delivery harder.