Used office furniture showroom

Small businesses, startups, nonprofits, schools, coworking spaces and people setting up a home office.

You sell items for more than you paid, often in sets (for example 10 matching desks and chairs). Delivery, assembly and bulk-order deals add income.

• Spotting quality furniture and fair prices
• Negotiating with sellers and buyers
• Basic cleaning and repair
• Customer service

• Local business license and sales tax registration with your state, check what applies in your city, county and state
• General liability insurance, plus workers' compensation once you hire staff
• Zoning and lease terms for showroom or warehouse use
• Lifting injuries and the need for a truck or van, plus delivery insurance
• Check whether your state has rules on reselling used upholstered items such as chairs
• Stock that doesn't sell ties up cash, so buy carefully at first

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on your space, stock and vehicle. Monthly revenue is also an estimate, typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on how quickly your stock sells.

Check your local business license and state sales tax registration, plus general liability insurance and workers' compensation once you hire. Also check zoning and lease terms for showroom use, and whether your state has rules on reselling used upholstered items such as chairs.

Expect at least about 30 hours a week. Useful skills include spotting quality furniture and fair prices, negotiating, basic cleaning and repair, and customer service. Buy carefully at first, since unsold stock ties up cash.