Home-based furniture upholsterer

Homeowners with furniture worth keeping, antique and vintage owners, interior decorators and people refreshing second-hand finds.

A quote per piece based on labour hours plus fabric and foam, usually with a deposit for materials. A markup on supplies adds a little extra.

• Hand sewing and basic machine sewing
• Patience and attention to detail
• Measuring and quoting accurately
• Comfortable with tools such as staple guns and tack removers

• Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and what zoning allows for a workshop with deliveries and customer pick-ups
• Commercial general liability insurance, and check that your home insurance covers business equipment and materials
• Foam, adhesives and old fabric can be a fire risk and create dust, so check ventilation and safe storage
• Older furniture may contain lead paint or flame-retardant foam, so check safe handling guidance
• Space for large pieces and winter garage heating, since glues and foam behave badly in the cold

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on the tools, workshop setup and materials you buy. Treat this as an estimate, not a quote, and allow for space and heating if you use a garage.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $600 to $3,500, depending on how many jobs you take, the size of the pieces and whether you supply fabric. These are estimates, and revenue is not the same as profit.

Check whether your municipality requires a home-based business licence and what zoning allows for deliveries and pick-ups. Check insurance, ventilation and safe storage of foam and adhesives, and safe handling guidance for older furniture that may contain lead paint or flame-retardant foam.