Office furniture showroom and supplier
Open a small showroom with new and used office furniture, serving local businesses with delivery and setup.
- $20k-100k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
What it is
A small retail and showroom space displaying desks, chairs and storage, where business owners can try before they buy. You can mix new stock with used or refurbished pieces and offer delivery and installation.
Your first three steps
- Research local competitors and look for affordable retail or light industrial space with easy loading access
- Set up dealer accounts and test the market with a small range of best-selling chairs and desks
- Build relationships with commercial real estate agents, property managers and office movers for referrals
Who pays
Local businesses, startups, home office workers, landlords and organizations furnishing new space.
How it makes money
Markup on new and used furniture, plus delivery, installation and space planning fees, with repeat orders from business clients.
Skills that help
- Retail and stock management
- Selling and negotiating with business buyers
- Basic bookkeeping and supplier management
Watch out for
- Commercial lease terms, deposits and zoning, check with your city or county
- Business license, sales tax permit and resale certificate requirements in your state
- General liability, property and commercial auto insurance, plus workers' compensation if you hire
- Tying up cash in stock that sells slowly
- Large online sellers that compete on price, so focus on service, delivery and local relationships
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: office furniture showroom and supplier
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 open an office furniture showroom?
Startup costs are estimated at typically around $20,000 to $100,000, depending on your commercial lease, deposits, how much stock you buy and whether you mix in used pieces. Be careful about tying up cash in stock that sells slowly.
What licenses, permits and insurance should I check?
Check commercial lease terms, deposits and zoning with your city or county. Also check business license, sales tax permit and resale certificate requirements in your state, and look into general liability, property and commercial auto insurance, plus workers' compensation if you hire.
How much can an office furniture showroom earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on location, stock, pricing and how many business clients you win. Plan for at least about 35 hours a week. Large online sellers compete on price, so focus on service, delivery and local relationships.
Other ways to run this business
Online office furniture dealer
Sell desks, chairs and storage to local businesses and home offices through a website, with supplier shipping.
- $800-5k
- Side hustle
- Online
Office furniture dealer with install service
Supply, deliver and assemble desks and chairs for local offices, working from home or a small storage unit.
- $5k-25k
- Part-time
- Out and about
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