Antiquing Furniture , Painting , Antiquing & Distressing Furniture , Refinishing

How to Start an Antique Furniture Refinishing

Business ?

Do you love to work with your hands? Do you often wish that you could earn a part time 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.

Step (1) : As long as you have the patience, and the know how, refinishing furniture can be a very rewarding practice. Your first step is to find your furniture to start your business with. The easiest way to start is to simply hop in your car or van and start cruising the neighborhood when it is nice out. Start looking for yard sales, garage sales, or especially estate sales. What many will consider to be junk, you can consider potential profit.

Step (2) : Once you have your furniture, work on them in a well lit and ventilated area. Many times in restoring this antique furniture you are simply stripping away decades worth of paint and varnish that the previous owners have piled on in order 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

Step (3) : Always take photos of the process, not only will this help you learn from your mistakes but it will also 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.

Step (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 will hopefully purchase your furniture. While you are there, make sure that you have a piece that you are working on (avoid working with chemicals at this point) 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.

Step (5) : Make contacts within the antique industry within your town. Again pass out your business cards, and bring your portfolio to show the antique stores your capabilities. Offer to the owner your services so that they can focus on their business, which is selling the antiques, while you focus on yours