Office furniture showroom

Local businesses, home-office workers, professional practices and organizations that want to see and test furniture before buying.

Markup on furniture sold from stock or ordered in, plus fees for delivery, installation and office layout planning. Larger business orders add to walk-in sales.

• Retail and stock management
• Selling to businesses
• Customer service
• Managing a small team or helpers

• Check with your municipality whether you need a business licence for retail premises, along with any zoning, occupancy and signage permits, before you open
• Commercial lease terms, deposits and fit-out costs, ideally reviewed before signing
• Commercial general liability and property insurance, including customers on the premises
• GST/HST and provincial sales tax registration and collection
• Tied-up cash in stock and slow-selling lines
• Product safety and labelling rules for furniture, check with the relevant federal and provincial bodies
• WCB/WSIB coverage once you hire staff or delivery helpers (rules vary by province)
• Competition from big chains and online sellers

Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $150,000, depending on the premises, lease deposits, fit-out and how much display stock you carry. Treat this as an estimate and get quotes for your own location.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on foot traffic, the size of business orders and how many lines you stock. That is revenue before rent, stock, staff and other costs.

Check whether your municipality requires a business licence for retail premises, plus zoning, occupancy and signage permits. Also check lease terms, insurance, GST/HST and provincial sales tax, furniture safety and labelling rules, and WCB/WSIB once you hire.