How to Start a Furniture Store: Your Clear 10-Step Guide

The furniture industry is alive and well, projected to generate a total of $799.46 billion in revenue in 2025. According to research, 92% of shoppers begin their furniture search online. But 77% still want to sit, touch, and test pieces in-store before buying.

That gap—between finding it online and feeling good about it in person—is where a smart furniture business can really shine.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown to help you get started with your own furniture business, complete with real-world examples and practical tips along the way.

How to start a furniture store

Step 1: Research and plan your furniture store

Start by grounding your idea in reality. Good instincts help, but research gives you clarity.

• Study the furniture market: What styles are trending? Who are your competitors in the local market? What are people in your area actually looking for? Notice the styles people are drawn to and the price tags they're comfortable with. 
• Define your niche: Trying to be everything to everyone is expensive and ineffective. Narrow your focus to a style, purpose, or audience. Maybe it’s modern office furniture for busy millennials, eco-friendly home goods for Gen Z buyers, or made-to-order pieces with custom finishes for high-end shoppers.
• Understand your customer: Who do you picture walking through your doors (or visiting your website)? Think beyond age and income—what are their habits? Do they browse Instagram for design ideas? Do they care about sustainability or local sourcing? Is your target market first-time homeowners, upscale clients, or budget-conscious apartment dwellers? Knowing your ideal customer helps you choose the right furniture and tailor your marketing. 

Also, take a look at other furniture stores in your local area.

What are they doing well? Where could you offer something different or better? Spotting those opportunities can give you a real competitive edge.

Next, create a solid business plan that tells your store's story. A one-page plan is fine to start.

Map out your costs, expected sales, and marketing ideas. Keep it practical and specific. Your business plan works like a roadmap, and opens doors when you chat with potential investors or banks.

Step 2: Set up your legal and financial structure

Each business structure has different implications for taxes, liability, and operations:

• Sole proprietorship: Simplest structure, but offers no personal liability protection
• Limited liability company (LLC): Provides liability protection while maintaining tax flexibility
• Corporation: Offers the most liability protection but involves more complex regulations and potential double taxation

💡Pro tip: Use Shopify’s AI Business Name Generator to brainstorm creative, brandable names. Just enter a keyword—like “modern,” “wood,” or “cozy”—and get a list of names tailored to your niche. Once you find one you love, you can check domain availability and claim it in seconds—no tech skills required.

Once you've chosen a business structure:

1. Register your business name with your state's secretary of state or agency.
2. Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS.
3. Open a dedicated business bank account to separate personal and business finances. This protects your personal savings if the business runs into trouble.
4. Set up accounting systems to track revenue, expenses, and tax obligations.

This makes managing your finances much cleaner and easier.

Step 3: Secure licenses and permits for your furniture store

Time for the official stamps of approval.

• Sales tax permit: Required in most US states to collect sales tax. Without it, you could face penalties—even for online-only sales.
• Business license: Often issued by your city or county to operate legally
• Zoning and occupancy permits: If you’re leasing a physical space, check that it's zoned for retail. In many cities, you’ll also need a certificate of occupancy.
• Sign permits: If you're hanging a sign on your storefront, you may need approval from the city or local business district—especially in historic or regulated areas.
• Additional permits: Hosting events in your store? Serving drinks at a launch party? You might need a temporary event permit or a food/beverage license.
  
  

Retail regulations vary by location, so remember to check local guidelines.

Step 4: Choose the right POS system for your furniture company

A basic cash register won't cut it. If you want to host an online furniture business that also extends to a brick-and-mortar store—or vice versa—you need a point-of-sale (POS) system that connects everything behind the scenes.

The reason is simple: buyers don’t shop in a straight line. They might browse a showroom, compare options online, request a custom quote, and return later to complete the purchase. Your POS system needs to support all of that—without friction. 

This is the foundation of unified commerce. And it’s where Shopify POS shines.

A Shopify POS-based unified commerce strategy for retailers boosts sales by 8.9% annually, while reducing total cost of ownership (TCO) by as much as 7% upfront and 16% on an ongoing basis. The savings allow retailers to reinvest resources in creating exceptional customer experiences.

Shopify is the only unified commerce solution that natively connects your ecommerce store and point of sale.

That means no middleware, no third-party workarounds, and no double data entry.

Everything—your products, furniture inventory, customer profiles, sales reports, and marketing tools—flows through a single, scalable system.

Plus, with the Shopify POS app, every sale you make is automatically synced with your Shopify store, keeping your orders and inventory aligned across all channels.

When California lifestyle brand Jenni Kayne expanded into furniture with Jenni Kayne Home, they needed a platform that could support both rapid store expansion and thoughtful, relationship-driven sales. Shopify POS gave them the flexibility and functionality to grow without sacrificing the customer experience.

“What excites me most about being on Shopify is having that true omnichannel experience. Our clients have the ability to explore beautiful imagery and videos on the website, and it translates seamlessly to the store where everything and everyone is on the same page,” says Sam Mella, director of home experience.

With Shopify POS, Jenni Kayne has:

• Doubled their retail footprint
• Enabled staff to view real-time inventory and ship warehouse items to customers
• Provided custom quote tools for designers and trade clients
• Built branded, image-rich product quotes directly from the POS interface
• Easily identified loyalty and trade program members through customer tagging

“Shopify has helped us fulfill our omnichannel vision and provide a customer experience that is smooth and seamless. We can sell everything from clothing to dinner tables all in one system. Everything just feels easy for our clients and our team.” 

Step 5: Find a retail business location 

Retail space doesn’t come cheap—costing an average of $22.95 per square foot. So, choosing the right location is a make-or-break decision for your furniture store.

Start by asking: where do your customers already shop, live, and spend time?

• Think about being seen: Look for spaces with good street frontage, clear signage opportunities that comply with local ordinances, and maybe even being near complementary businesses like home goods stores or interior design studios. 
• Make it easy to reach: Consider how easy it will be for your customers to actually get to your store. Is there ample parking available, in line with local zoning requirements and customer expectations? Are you near major roadways or public transportation options?
• Consider foot traffic: While furniture isn't always an impulse buy, having people walking by your store can definitely increase brand awareness and attract curious browsers. Think about areas near popular coffee shops, boutiques, or other retail destinations that align with your target customer's lifestyle.

Furniture is large, heavy, and expensive to move. That makes logistics just as important as foot traffic.

• Loading access: Is there a freight elevator or back door for deliveries?
• Storage space: Can you hold inventory onsite, or will you need to store it offsite and ship directly?
• Parking: Can customers park easily if they’re picking up smaller items or just browsing?
• Delivery radius: If you offer local delivery, is your location central to the areas you serve?

Some entrepreneurs skip the traditional showroom entirely—and still find success.

When Andre Jr. Ayotte and Mackenzie Duncan launched JM&Sons, a furniture brand known for its rugged mix of reclaimed wood and raw metal, they didn’t rent a storefront. They rolled out a walk-in shipping container in downtown Toronto.

Yes, a shipping container. Outfitted like a tiny showroom, it gave customers a way to experience the look and feel of their furniture without the cost or commitment of a full retail lease.

Once you’ve secured your location—whether it’s a flagship store or a creative popup—the next step is layout.

Your floor plan should make it easy for customers to picture how your products might fit into their own lives. Think less warehouse, more walkthrough inspiration.

• Use room vignettes to show how products go together—a full bedroom setup, a cozy reading nook, or a styled dining room.
• Leave space to move comfortably, especially if you carry large-scale items.
• Incorporate digital tools like tablets with lifestyle images, product specs, and catalog browsing.
• Add small, tactile moments—fabric samples, lighting, and accessories—that create a more immersive shopping experience.

✨Get inspired: A Cottage in the City is a boutique retail store specializing in vintage and farmhouse-style furniture sourced from around the world.

The shop uses a free-flow layout, encouraging customers to explore at their own pace. Display pieces double as products for sale, creating a cozy, country-barn feel that helps shoppers picture how items might look in their own homes.

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People take time with furniture decisions. Make your store a place where they want to linger, sit on that couch, and imagine it in their living room.

Step 6: Source your inventory

Some furniture stores keep it simple by buying wholesale. Others partner with local artisans or even make pieces in-house. Your sourcing strategy should align with your store’s identity, your customer expectations, and your operational capacity.

Here’s a breakdown of the four most common sourcing models furniture retailers use:

Not sure where to start? Many first-time store owners begin with dropshipping to test product fit and keep costs low, which can be a great way to begin your journey of owning a furniture business with less upfront risk.

You get to focus on marketing, merchandising, and building your brand—while your suppliers handle the storage, packing, and fulfillment.

Shopify makes it easy to run a dropshipping furniture store by connecting your storefront to trusted suppliers and automating the fulfillment process. You can manage everything from a single dashboard—without the fuss of juggling spreadsheets, emails, or manual orders.

Step 7: Create an online presence for your business store

Even if you’re opening a physical store, most of your customers will check you out online first. They’ll want to browse your products, see your aesthetic, and figure out if your style fits theirs.

Whether you're a small business owner or a growing furniture brand with multiple showrooms, Shopify scales with you.

With Shopify, you can create a fully customizable ecommerce website that looks and feels like you. Choose from thousands of professionally designed themes (many of them free), and tailor everything—from fonts and colors to page layouts and product descriptions—to match your brand’s aesthetic.

Shopify’s drag-and-drop website builder makes it easy to:

• Add and organize your products
• Customize pages for collections, inspiration, and storytelling
• Embed video, lifestyle imagery, or fabric guides
• Offer appointment booking for in-person consultations
• Showcase customer reviews or interior design projects
  
  

You don’t need to know how to code. You just need a vision—and Shopify gives you the tools to build it.

Take it from Mike and Doug, the father-son duo behind Wrightwood Furniture in Chicago. After years in wholesale, they launched their own storefront and ecommerce site to cut out intermediaries, reduce markups, and offer high-quality, handmade furniture at a fair price.

Wrightwood’s store doubles as a warehouse, allowing them to keep costs low and ship directly to local customers. Their website plays a crucial role, not just for online sales (which now make up over 12% of revenue), but for driving in-store visits—with more than half of buyers browsing online before coming in.

Here’s what Mike and Doug say: “Shopify provides us with one database with information on all our customers, orders and products. This is our first time engaging in the retail business, and we just can't imagine doing it without this technology and streamlining those two sales components.” 

Once your website is raring to go, it’s time to expand to social media. Use it to roll out new arrivals, share styling ideas, answer questions, and connect with your audience in a more personal way.

With Shopify, you can turn your Instagram and Facebook presence into a powerful sales channel:

• Sync your product catalog directly to Facebook and Instagram to create shoppable posts and dynamic ads.
• Use Shopify’s integration with Meta Pixel and Conversions API to optimize ad targeting, improve tracking, and boost return on ad spend.
• Convert faster with Shop Pay, offering customers one-tap checkout without ever leaving the app.

From the first scroll to the final sale, Shopify helps you streamline your social strategy and turn engagement into revenue.

Step 8: Promote your furniture store 

You’ve got the product and the online store. Now get people to see it.

Start spreading the news about your store:

• Place ads in local magazines where homeowners look for ideas: That kitchen renovation feature? Your ad belongs there.
• Set up Google My Business so people searching "furniture near me" find you: Add photos of your best pieces, a contact number, and your address to complete your profile.
• Plan a calendar of promotions: Memorial Day sale? Winter clearance? New arrivals in spring? Give people reasons to visit.
• Send emails that inspire action: "This sectional just arrived" gets more clicks than "Buy now."
• Partner with local interior or furniture designers: They bring clients with open wallets, and their recommendations carry weight.
• Create a simple referral program: "Send a friend, get $50 off your next purchase" works wonders.
• Share helpful content: "How to measure for a sofa" or "5 ways to arrange a bedroom" can position you as an expert in the furniture industry.

Try offering something competitors don't. Free delivery within 20 miles? Design advice with purchase? Easy financing? These extras turn browsers into buyers.

Step 9: Set up operations

Your furniture store might look amazing from the outside, but it’s the behind-the-scenes operations that actually keep everything running.

You’ve got to optimize the back-end process for front-end success.

Here’s what to set up before launch:

• Hire and train your team: The right people—and the right training—can make or break your in-store experience. Hire staff who are comfortable learning new tools and who enjoy helping customers navigate higher-consideration purchases.
• Organize fulfillment and delivery: Set clear workflows for how orders will be fulfilled—whether they’re shipped from a warehouse, picked up in-store, or delivered locally with white-glove service.
• Keep inventory tight and synced: Managing inventory across multiple sales channels is easier with the right tools. Shopify helps you track stock levels across online and in-store sales; create product variants with separate SKUs (e.g, fabric swatches, sizes, colors); get low-stock alerts; and sync with fulfillment locations and plan for reordering.

Before opening their first physical store, modular furniture brand Cozey tested retail operations through a popup in Toronto’s STACKT Market. The original idea was to let people experience their product, not sell it.

But interest quickly outpaced expectations. Instead of installing a traditional checkout counter, Cozey gave sales associates iPads running Shopify POS, allowing them to sit on sofas with customers, chat, take orders, and look up stock—all without leaving the living room setup.

“I think in two days, not even, we were set up, capturing transactions, and ended up making hundreds of thousands of dollars per month in that container,” says Frédéric Aubé, founder of Cozey.

The team also used Shopify POS to collect swatch requests and create customer profiles, giving them valuable data for follow-ups, marketing, and future restocks.

Listen to the second episode of our podcast mini-series, Road To Retail, to find out how Cozey managed their first retail day and provided the Cozey experience to customers:

Their success came down to preparation. Testing first, learning quickly, and building a system that connected every part of the business under one platform: Shopify. 

Frédéric says, “It’s simple for the customer, and it’s simple for our team. And it’s really the backbone of Cozey.” 

Step 10: Launch and refine

Your launch isn’t the finish line—it’s the start of learning what works.

Prelaunch checklist:

• Have you tested your website for easy navigation?
• Is your POS working smoothly?
• Is your staff prepped, and your items stocked?

Next, plan a memorable launch event:

• Can you invite any local media, influencers, or interior designers?
• What opening specials or exclusive discounts can you offer?
• Do you have a plan to capture content for social media and future marketing?
• How are you going to collect email addresses for follow-up marketing?

After launch, start gathering data:

• Which products are selling?
• Where are people dropping off online?
• What feedback are you getting?

Refine based on that input—adjust your mix, improve your delivery options, and build systems that scale.

The boring (but important) considerations for your furniture store

Before you flip the “Open” sign or launch your first product online, there are a few essential details to sort out. 

Business insurance

Furniture is high-value, heavy, and not immune to damage, either in-store or during delivery. 

You’ll want to look into:

• General liability insurance (to cover accidents in-store)
• Product liability insurance (in case a piece malfunctions or causes injury)
• Commercial property insurance (to cover your showroom, equipment, and inventory)
• Cargo or transit insurance if you deliver or ship items
  
  

Talk to a broker who understands retail or home goods specifically. They’ll help tailor a plan that matches your risk profile as you navigate starting a furniture business.

Pricing strategy

Your pricing should reflect more than your costs—it should also consider perceived value, customer expectations, and how your products stack up to competitors.

Some tips:

• Research what customers are paying for similar items at retailers like West Elm, Article, or Wayfair.
• Factor in delivery, storage, assembly, and return handling. Don’t underprice to compete—especially if you’re selling quality, long-lasting pieces.
• Use tiered pricing for collections or bundles (e.g., $300 for the coffee table, $700 for the whole living room set).

💡Bonus: Shopify’s analytics can help you track bestsellers and margins over time so you can adjust your pricing with data, not guesswork.

Tax and compliance

Different provinces, states, and countries all come with their own tax rules. Luckily, Shopify can help take the complexity out of sales tax collection and reporting.

With Shopify Tax, you get:

• Sales tax liability insights, so you know where you need to collect
• Rooftop-level accuracy (based on your customer’s exact address, not just ZIP code)
• Product category suggestions that apply the right tax rules automatically
• Enhanced reporting to simplify filings with state or local jurisdictions

Stay on top of regulations affecting furniture retailers:

• Flammability standards: Make sure all upholstered furniture meets federal flammability requirements.
• Labeling requirements: Maintain proper labeling on materials and construction.
• Warranty documentation: Provide clear warranty information to customers.
• ADA compliance: Make sure your physical store is accessible to all customers.
• Data protection: Maintain PCI compliance for payment processing.
• Environmental regulations: Be aware of restrictions on certain materials or finishes.

Open your furniture store today with Shopify

You’ve got the vision. You’ve got the products. And now you have the plan.

Shopify gives you everything you need to bring your furniture business to life—and keep it running smoothly. Build a beautiful online store, sell in person, manage inventory, and stay on top of every order—all from one unified platform.