Used office furniture showroom
Open a small shop or warehouse unit selling used desks and chairs to local firms and home workers.
- C$10k-50k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Canada, not guarantees.
What it is
A small premises, often an affordable industrial unit or retail space, where customers can see and test used desks, chairs, boardroom tables and storage. You buy from office clear-outs and sell both to walk-in customers and to businesses furnishing a space.
Your first three steps
- Visit local used furniture sellers and note their prices, stock and gaps, then choose a niche such as ergonomic chairs or start-up packages
- Look at rents for small industrial units or low-cost retail space and check zoning with your municipality before signing a lease
- Build relationships with office movers, property managers and liquidators so you get first offer on furniture from closing or downsizing offices
Who pays
Small businesses, start-ups, landlords, schools, community groups and people setting up a home office.
How it makes money
Margin on each item sold, plus delivery and set-up fees, bulk deals for whole offices and buy-back or clearance services for businesses.
Skills that help
- Pricing and negotiating
- Basic repair and cleaning
- Customer service and sales
- Managing stock and a small budget
Watch out for
- Zoning, signage and business licence rules vary by municipality, so check with yours before leasing
- Commercial general liability insurance and cover for stock
- Lease commitments and rent are a real risk if sales are slow, so negotiate terms carefully
- Check GST/HST registration and sales tax on used goods in your province
- WCB/WSIB coverage may be needed once you hire staff, with rules varying by province
- Quebec has French-language rules for signs and customer service, so check requirements if you plan to open there
Deep research report · Canada
Everything you need to start: used office furniture showroom
Researched with live web search for Canada: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to open a used office furniture showroom?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on your rent and deposit, how much stock you buy, fit-out, signage and insurance. Negotiating lease terms carefully helps manage risk.
How much can a used office furniture showroom earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your stock, pricing, foot traffic, business customers and how many hours a week you keep the showroom open.
What rules should I check before opening a furniture showroom?
Check zoning, signage and business licence rules with your municipality before leasing, plus GST/HST and sales tax on used goods. Also check WCB/WSIB coverage when you hire, and Quebec's French-language rules for signs and service.
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