Secondhand furniture store
Open a small shop selling pre-owned furniture sourced from clearouts, estates and trade-ins.
- $8k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
What it is
A small storefront or warehouse unit showing pre-owned furniture for sale. You source stock from house cleanouts, estate sales, downsizing households and people who drop items off, then clean, repair and display it.
Your first three steps
- Visit similar shops in your area and note their stock, pricing and foot traffic, then price a few possible locations
- Line up regular sources of stock such as estate sale companies, cleanout services and local landlords
- Register your business (sole proprietorship or LLC), get an EIN and check city and state requirements before signing a lease
Who pays
Local households, renters, students, landlords furnishing rentals and interior decorators looking for character pieces.
How it makes money
Markup on each item sold, plus optional delivery fees. Some shops also take pieces on consignment for a share of the sale price.
Skills that help
- Pricing and sourcing stock
- Light repair and restoration
- Customer service
- Organizing a showroom and inventory
Watch out for
- Check your state for a sales tax permit and any rules on reselling used furniture, mattresses or upholstered items
- Check zoning and your city or county business license before signing a lease
- General liability insurance and coverage for stock and premises
- Rent and slow-moving stock can tie up cash, so budget for quiet months
- Workers' compensation insurance once you hire help, and a safe way to move heavy items
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: secondhand furniture store
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 a secondhand furniture store?
Startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on lease deposits, initial stock, repair tools, display fixtures and insurance. Treat this as an estimate and budget for quiet months.
How much can a used furniture store make?
Monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on your location, how quickly stock sells, your pricing and opening hours. These are estimates, and rent and slow-moving stock can tie up cash.
What licenses and rules should I check before opening?
Check your state for a sales tax permit and any rules on reselling used furniture, mattresses or upholstered items. Check zoning and your city or county business license before signing a lease, and arrange liability insurance.
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