Home-Based commercial seating dealer

Churches, schools, small theaters, restaurants, offices, clinics, community centers and local government buildings.

You mark up the seating you resell, usually as a margin between the manufacturer's price and your quote. You can add a separate fee for installation coordination or space planning.

• Sales and quoting
• Reading floor plans and measuring spaces
• Organizing orders, deliveries and subcontractors
• Customer service

• Sales tax registration and resale certificates, check with your state's tax agency
• General liability insurance, and check whether your clients require proof of coverage
• Fire safety and accessibility requirements for fixed seating in public buildings (such as local fire codes and ADA), check with the client's building department
• Large orders may need deposits to you, while manufacturers may want payment up front, so plan your cash flow
• Check whether your city or county requires a business license or home occupation permit, and your HOA or lease rules

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $1,500 to $8,000, depending on your quoting tools, samples and setup. Large orders may need deposits, and manufacturers may want payment up front, so plan your cash flow.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the size and number of jobs you win. This is revenue before the cost of seating you order and the installers you hire.

Check sales tax registration and resale certificates with your state's tax agency, plus general liability insurance clients may require. Also check fire safety and accessibility requirements such as local fire codes and ADA, and any city or county license, home occupation permit or HOA rules.