Cane and rattan furniture showroom

Local homeowners, interior designers, restaurants, cafes, hotels and short-term rental owners furnishing several rooms.

Retail margin on furniture sold from the floor or ordered from suppliers, plus delivery fees and trade sales to hospitality buyers.

• Retail merchandising and display
• Sales and customer service
• Inventory and supplier management

• Lease terms and rent: negotiate carefully and keep your monthly fixed costs low
• Tying up cash in slow-moving stock, so start with a smaller range and reorder what sells
• Check your city's zoning and signage rules before signing a lease
• General liability insurance, property insurance, and workers' compensation once you hire staff
• Check state furniture labeling and flammability rules, and customs rules if you import

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on your lease, shop fit-out and opening stock. Starting with a smaller range and reordering what sells can help avoid tying up cash in slow-moving stock.

Monthly revenue is an estimate, typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on your location, range and how many local homeowners and businesses you reach. Custom orders and sales to cafes or rental hosts may add to this.

Check your city's zoning and signage rules before signing a lease, and negotiate rent carefully. Check state furniture labeling and flammability rules, customs rules if you import, and insurance such as general liability, property and workers' compensation once you hire.