Pine furniture showroom and workshop

Local households, new homeowners, rental owners furnishing properties, and interior designers or stagers looking for solid-wood pieces.

Retail sales of finished pieces, custom orders with a deposit, and delivery or assembly fees. Selling both new and restored pieces gives you a range of price points.

• Woodworking or restoration, or a reliable maker to work with
• Retail selling and customer service
• Managing inventory and cash flow
• Basic bookkeeping

• Commercial lease terms, deposits and zoning, since many units restrict woodworking noise and dust
• General liability, property and product liability insurance, plus workers' compensation if you hire
• Fire safety for finishes, solvents and sawdust, and any local fire code requirements
• Slow sales months, because furniture is a big purchase, so keep cash in reserve
• Federal safety rules for children's furniture, and lead paint on old pieces
• Sales tax rules for in-store sales, delivery charges and out-of-state orders

Startup costs are typically around $20,000 to $60,000, depending on your lease, deposits, equipment and opening stock. These are estimates. Check commercial lease terms and zoning before committing, and keep cash in reserve for slow months.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on what you sell, your prices and how many customers visit. Furniture is a big purchase, so some months can be slow. Expect to work at least 35 hours a week.

Check commercial lease terms and zoning, since many units restrict woodworking noise and dust. Also check liability, property and product insurance, workers' compensation if you hire, fire safety for finishes and sawdust, children's furniture rules, lead paint, and sales tax on delivery and out-of-state orders.