Antique furniture shop

Private buyers furnishing their homes, interior designers, collectors and visitors to the area.

Margin on each piece sold, plus extra from light restoration, finding pieces on commission and trade sales to designers.

• Knowledge of periods, makers and materials
• Buying confidently and negotiating
• Customer service and building trade relationships
• Managing stock and cash flow

• Rent, business rates and a lease, so check the full running costs and any small business rate relief before signing
• Public liability and stock insurance, plus employer's liability insurance if you hire staff
• Cash tied up in unsold stock, which can make income uneven
• Check rules on selling items with restricted materials such as some ivory, and on fire safety labelling for upholstered furniture
• Keep records of what you buy and from whom, and check whether you need to register for VAT as turnover grows
• Planning permission or change of use if you convert a space into a shop, so check with your council

Startup costs are typically around £8,000 to £40,000, depending on your premises and how much stock you buy. These are estimates, so check the full running costs, including rent and business rates, before signing a lease.

Monthly revenue is typically around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on your stock, location and sales. These are estimates, and cash tied up in unsold stock can make income uneven.

Check rules on selling items with restricted materials such as some ivory, and fire safety labelling for upholstered furniture. Also check planning permission or change of use with your council, VAT registration as turnover grows, and your insurance.