Mobile furniture repair and touch-up
Fix scratches, loose joints and damaged finishes on furniture at customers' homes, offices and showrooms.
- $800-4k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
3,168 US businesses with employees in this field, -2.9% in a year
NAICS 811420 “Reupholstery and furniture repair”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
On-site repairs such as filling scratches and gouges, touching up finishes, tightening wobbly chairs and fixing small breaks, using a van or car loaded with a compact kit.
Your first three steps
- Practice on secondhand furniture and take before and after photos for a simple portfolio
- Put together a portable kit (fillers, wax sticks, stains, clamps, hand tools) and set prices by checking local repair rates
- Contact local furniture stores, movers and property managers to offer repairs on damaged items
Who pays
Homeowners, property managers, movers, furniture stores, hotels and offices.
How it makes money
Flat price per repair or an hourly rate with a call-out minimum. Repeat work from stores, movers and property managers adds steady jobs.
Skills that help
- Basic woodworking and finishing
- Color matching
- Patience and attention to detail
- Customer service
Watch out for
- General liability insurance, and cover for damage to customers' items
- Check whether your city or county requires a business license
- Valuable antiques: be honest about what you can safely repair and decline risky jobs
- Ventilation and safe use of finishes and solvents, especially indoors
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: mobile furniture repair and touch-up
Researched with live web search for United States: 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 start a mobile furniture repair business?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on your repair kit, how you equip your car or van, and insurance. A compact kit for on-site work keeps the starting outlay lower than a workshop.
How much can a mobile furniture repair business earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on how many jobs you take and which customers you serve, such as homeowners, property managers or showrooms. Estimates start from about 8 hours a week.
What should I check before starting furniture repair work?
Check general liability insurance, including cover for damage to customers' items, and whether your city or county requires a business license. Be honest about what you can safely repair on valuable antiques, and check ventilation and safe use of finishes and solvents indoors.
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