Furniture wholesaler with a small warehouse

Independent furniture and home stores, hotels, restaurants, student and rental housing operators, and interior designers.

You buy in bulk at lower unit prices and sell at wholesale prices in smaller lots, earning the margin on each order plus delivery fees where it suits.

• Selling to businesses
• Inventory and cash flow management
• Organising storage and deliveries
• Negotiating with suppliers

• Stock ties up a lot of cash, so start small and test demand before ordering in volume
• If you import, check customs, duties and any trade measures with the CBSA or a customs broker, as these can change costs quickly
• Check product safety and labelling rules, including composite wood formaldehyde limits and children's furniture rules
• Check commercial general liability and property or stock insurance, plus zoning for your unit
• Check workers' compensation (WCB/WSIB) once you hire, and provincial training rules for forklifts or lifting equipment
• Retail customers can be slow to pay, so check credit terms and be careful with large unpaid accounts
• Check GST/HST registration and your province's resale and sales tax rules

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $25,000 to $120,000, depending on your warehouse rent, how much stock you buy and whether you import. Stock ties up a lot of cash, so starting small is wise.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $15,000 to $75,000, depending on your stock levels, customer base and delivery capacity. Slow-paying retail customers can strain cash flow, so check credit terms.

If you import, check customs and duties with the CBSA or a customs broker. Also check product safety and labelling rules, zoning and insurance for your unit, GST/HST and resale tax rules, and provincial training rules for forklifts.