Job Description of Furniture Repair
- Repair broken pieces of furniture.
- Make minor fixes to torn upholstery.
Things break, and upholstery tears, but a major piece of furniture, a valued heirloom, or merely a favorite couch may be worth repairing to save the cost of buying a new piece.
The two principal challenges are deciding whether a broken piece of furniture can be repaired and whether the repair makes economic sense. If the total cost of removal of the item, labor, parts, and return of the piece is appreciably less than the price of a new one, you have business to perform.
Be especially careful if you are working on an heirloom or antique; don’t accept a job you are not capable of doing properly, and don’t accept liability for an item of extraordinary value.
Know the Territory of Furniture Repair
You’ll need to have basic repair skills and access to dependable specialists for jobs such as welding broken frames, cutting a custom piece of wood or metal, and reupholstering. In a way, this job could be compared to being a contractor on a house: Much of the work consists of assembling a team of capable subcontractors. Some jobs can be done in the homes of clients; assemble a mobile workshop for house calls. Otherwise, you will need a truck or require that the client arrange for pickup and delivery.
How to Get Started Furniture Repair
Advertise your availability at community centers, home and houseware stores, and antique stores.
Up-front Expenses for Furniture Repair
You’ll need a set of basic tools. You can rent many specialized devices or subcontract out unusual tasks. Other expenses include promotion and advertising.
Charge for Furniture Repair
Charge an hourly rate plus the cost of materials; give your clients an estimate of the number of hours a job should require and notify them if the price will change markedly.