Starting any business is difficult, and only some people can start one while working a full-time job. Starting your refurbishing side hustle is certainly no exception. It comes with all the difficulties of a normal business endeavor—such as establishing yourself, formulating a business plan, and developing ways to brand your side hustle—but with less time and, in many cases, less space. So, how do you start a side-hustle refurbishing old furniture? You’ll want to keep a few things in mind, and we’ll go into all of them below.
Write a Business Plan
Yes, we know this is a side hustle, but we’re sure you want it to be successful. What’s the point of side hustling if you don’t make any money? Writing up a business plan clarifies your projected goals, outlines your client approach and market demographic, and acts as a roadmap for your business’s structure and growth. It also gives you a list of potential investors—even if, at this stage, they happen to be friends or family members—and leaves room for growth. If you decide to expand your side hustle to a full-fledged business, it’ll guide your every step.
Do Market Research
It’s important to know the arena you’re about to jump into, even if it’s on a part-time basis. Remember, you’re doing this now to become more successful in the future. The best way to do this is to conduct market research. This research determines the viability of your service before you invest a ton of time and effort into something destined to flop. The best way to do this is to look around you. Are there any antique shops in the area that can take your wares? Do any of your friends or family need their furniture refurbished? How are sales doing on Craigslist for refurbishing services? These are the questions you must ask yourself, and you can answer them in as little as an hour.
Time Management
Time is of the essence when you have a side hustle. If you have a nine-to-five job, it might be best to work on your side hustle between 6:00 and 10:00 PM and on weekends. If you can, squeeze some time in on your lunch break—it only takes a few seconds to call or email a potential client or customer back during a 30-minute lunch break. Managing your time is the key to a successful business, so make sure you use your time wisely. It might be prudent to map out exactly what you’re going to do each day. This is a great way to ensure you have all the time you need to positively impact your business.
Find a Space
Most full-fledged online business articles will tell you to buy a giant warehouse to store your supplies as if it was that easy. We assume if you have a nine-to-five, it isn’t sustainable for you to rent or buy an entire building. Maybe the space isn’t worth it because you don’t yet have a client, or the problem could be a lack of funds. Regardless, you need to find some space to peddle your wares. It would also help if you had a place to put the tools you likely got from your online upholstery or staple company and a place to keep the furniture you’re currently working on. So, what do you do?
The answer is simple. Convert a small space in your home—such as a bedroom or even a corner—into a makeshift warehouse. Make sure you can fit the proper amount of furniture in there. You want to avoid trying to fit five couches in a 400 sq ft room. A garage or outdoor shed are other excellent alternatives. Start here, and if you want to get a warehouse later, you’re more than welcome to.
Do Your Paperwork
While selling your products and services out of your garage is likely a good start, you still have paperwork to take care of. This is especially true if you’re selling your furniture to other businesses. A business license will go a long way, and you’ll have it to fall back on if you want to take your side hustle to the next level. Check with federal and state legislation for guidance regarding what steps you should take next. Additionally, having a business license is a selling point you can make with your clients and demonstrates professionalism.
Brand Yourself
Having a brand will set you apart from other services and leave you poised to expand your business should you decide to go that route. Ultimately, branding yourself could include crafting a logo, working on a "catchphrase," and mapping your brand voice to your consumers’ needs. This is why demographic research is so important. By understanding your chosen clientele, you can craft your brand’s "voice" to speak to their needs. If you’re trying to refurbish your furniture to sell to antique shops or thrift stores, you’ll talk to them differently than someone you’re selling to on Craigslist. Branding is important when starting a side hustle selling refurbished furniture, so don’t forget this step.
Market Yourself
Advertise on social media. Create a profile for your side hustle on Facebook, Instagram—particularly important since it’s a visual medium—and Twitter. Creating social media is key, but so is walking into a local brick-and-mortar store and introducing yourself. Put the word out among your friends and family that you’re open for business and can offer them services. Advertise on Reddit and Craigslist. You can even set up fliers around town and in your local newspaper. Regardless of the method you choose, you must market yourself on all fronts. Everyone should know that you’re in business. More exposure equates to more money.
Source Materials
Whether using it for practice or selling, you’re probably wondering where you’ll get your source material. You can find furniture for refurbishment anywhere, so keep your eyes peeled. As the adage says, "Buy low and sell high." You can find furniture by the side of the road, at thrift stores, or even at garage sales. Some people go dumpster diving, but we certainly wouldn’t recommend that. Besides, you won’t need to if you work your sources correctly. You can even ask family or friends if they have any "junk" furniture they’re willing to part with. You can get furniture anywhere. It’s just a matter of opening your eyes and looking for it.
Now that you know how to start a successful side hustle refurbishing old furniture, it’s time to get some tools to do the upholstery job. Check out our wares at Salco Headquarters. We have many tools for upholstering and more. Shop Salco for all your hardware needs today!
