How to Start an Antique Furniture Refinishing Business

If you love working with wood and furniture, building your own or re-finishing pieces that long ago seemed lost, you might be able to turn that passion into a part- or full-time income with the skills that you currently possess. If you have carpentry skills and a desire to take something that has become faded and ugly with time and return it to the beauty that it deserves, starting an antique furniture refinishing business may just be the answer.

Things You'll Need

• Workshop
• Tools
• Stain

Instructions

1. As long as you have the patience and ability, refinishing furniture can be a very rewarding practice. Your first step is to find some furniture to start your business. The easiest way to start is to simply hop in your car and start cruising the neighborhood when it is nice out. Look for yard and garage sales. What many will consider to be junk, you can consider potential profit. You can also search online on sites like Craigslist to find reasonably priced pieces.

2. Once you have your furniture, work on it in a well lit and ventilated area. In many cases, when restoring antique furniture you are simply stripping away decades worth of paint and varnish that the previous owners have piled on to keep their furniture "trendy." Once removed, the beauty of the natural wood will be revealed, and you can finish it with a penetrating oil or stain to protect your work.

3. Always take photos of the process. Not only will this help you learn from your mistakes, but it will provide great before and after shots that can be shown on your website or portfolio for potential clients. If advertising on the Internet, using these photographs makes a great impression on your potential customers. People want to see your abilities and the final product of your refinished antiques.

4. When starting out, take your finished furniture to swap meets or flea markets. For a small investment, you can get a lot of foot traffic that may purchase your furniture. While you are there, make sure that you have a piece that you are working on so that people know that you aren't just another salesperson, but rather you are someone who is creating a thing of beauty. Pass out your business card and ask them to visit your website.

5. Make contacts in the antique industry within your town. Again, pass out your business cards and bring your portfolio to show the your capabilities. Offer your services so that store owners can focus on their business, which is selling the antiques while you focus on your business, which is restoring furniture.

Tips & Warnings

• Always use adequate ventilation, rubber gloves and eye protection when using chemical strippers.

References

• Entrepreneur: Business Idea Center -- Antique Furniture Refinishing