Second-hand office furniture showroom
Run a small showroom or warehouse unit selling used desks, chairs and storage to local businesses and home workers.
- £5k-25k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
What it is
A shop or trade unit where customers can see and try desks, chairs and storage before buying. You source stock from office clearances and sell to walk-in customers, local firms and online, with delivery as an optional extra.
Your first three steps
- Research local rents for retail or industrial units, and visit competitors to see what stock and prices they offer
- Build supplier relationships with office clearance firms, commercial landlords and companies that are downsizing
- Agree a short, flexible lease if possible, then fit out a simple showroom and set up an online listing alongside it
Who pays
Small businesses fitting out offices, start-ups, home workers, schools, community groups and landlords.
How it makes money
Margin on each item sold, plus delivery and setup charges. Bulk deals for fitting out a whole office can add larger orders.
Skills that help
- Sourcing and pricing used stock
- Selling and dealing with business buyers
- Basic repairs, cleaning and testing of chairs and desks
- Organising stock, delivery and records
Watch out for
- Business rates, rent and lease terms: check these carefully before signing, including any small business rate relief
- Planning use class for the unit: check with your council that retail or storage use is allowed
- Public liability insurance and stock cover for fire and theft
- Fire safety rules for upholstered furniture sold in the UK, check what applies with Trading Standards
- Employer's liability insurance if you hire help, and safe manual handling for heavy items
- Stock can sit unsold for months, so keep a close eye on cash flow
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: second-hand office furniture showroom
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: 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 second-hand office furniture showroom?
Startup costs are typically around £5,000 to £25,000, depending on the premises, how much stock you buy and whether you offer delivery. Stock can sit unsold for months, so keep a close eye on cash flow.
How much can an office furniture showroom make?
Monthly revenue is typically around £3,000 to £15,000, depending on your location, stock quality and the mix of walk-in, business and online buyers. Remember that revenue is not profit once rent, rates and stock costs are paid.
What should I check before starting a used office furniture business?
Check business rates, rent and lease terms, including any small business rate relief, and ask your council whether retail or storage use is allowed. Also check fire safety rules for upholstered furniture with Trading Standards, and your insurance cover.
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