Secondhand furniture flipping from home

Local households, renters, students and first-time home buyers looking for affordable furniture.

You sell each piece for more than you paid and spent on cleaning or repairs. Profit depends on buying well and choosing pieces that sell quickly.

• Spotting good-value pieces
• Basic cleaning and light repair
• Taking good photos and writing clear listings
• Negotiating

• Check your state and city rules on selling used goods, including sales tax registration with your state
• Some states have rules on reselling upholstered items or mattresses (labeling, sanitizing), check your state's rules
• Check for bed bugs, mold and recalled items before buying
• Check HOA or lease rules on storing stock at home and on customer visits
• Lifting heavy items can cause injury, and you will probably need a vehicle or a borrowed truck

Startup costs are typically around $300 to $2,000, depending on how much stock you buy, your cleaning and repair supplies, and whether you need to borrow or rent a truck. Treat this as an estimate.

Monthly revenue is typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on how much stock you source, the pieces you choose, local demand and the hours you put in. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Check your state and city rules on selling used goods, including sales tax registration. Some states have labeling or sanitizing rules for upholstered items and mattresses. Also check HOA or lease rules on storing stock at home and on customer visits.