Upholstery & Furniture Reupholstery
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Overview
Upholstery services reupholster furniture with new fabric, foam, and springs restoring function and appearance.
With quality furniture frames lasting decades and reupholstering cheaper than new, upholstery generates revenue of $100,000-$360,000 with 60-75% margins.
The business requires workshop, industrial sewing machines, upholstery tools, foam and fabric inventory, and upholstery skills.
Services include full reupholstery, cushion replacement, fabric selection assistance, spring and frame repair, custom furniture upholstery, and outdoor furniture cushions.
Pricing typically $600-$2,500 per piece plus fabric.
Success factors include quality upholstery craftsmanship, fabric sourcing and selection guidance, working with interior designers, offering pickup/delivery, and maintaining reasonable turnaround.
Most upholsterers combine residential with commercial/auto upholstery.
Marketing focuses on interior designers, furniture stores, and before/after photos.
With reupholstering quality furniture economical and sustainable in 2025, upholstery offers fabric opportunities requiring skilled craftsmanship.
Required Skills
- Upholstery techniques
- Sewing machine operation
- Foam and spring work
- Fabric knowledge
- Pattern making
- Frame repair
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Good margins on labor
- Recurring designer work
- Fabric markup revenue
- Sustainable repair vs replace
- Skilled trade
Cons
- Workshop and equipment investment
- Physically demanding
- Long project timelines
- Fabric inventory costs
- Competition from cheap furniture
How to Get Started
- Learn upholstery skills
- Set up workshop
- Acquire industrial equipment
- Build fabric supplier relationships
- Partner with designers
- Offer pickup/delivery
- Show portfolio
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