Reupholstery and Furniture Repair Revenue Benchmarks
The average reupholstery and furniture repair business in the United States generates $324K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 3,249 reupholstery and furniture repair businesses in the U.S., employing 10,664 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $46K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Reupholstery and Furniture Repair Business Actually Do?
Reupholsterers reworking existing furniture with new fabric and refurbishment. Wood furniture repair and refinishing.
Who buys: Homeowners with quality furniture worth restoring, antique collectors.
Average Revenue
$324K
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$99K
per year
Total Businesses
3,249
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$26K
small business avg
Labor Cost
38.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$46K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.0
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Reupholstery and Furniture Repair Charge?
Reupholsterers price per project depending on fabric and complexity.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Dining chair (each) | $50–200 + fabric |
Sofa (avg 3-seat) | $800–2,500 + fabric |
Fabric cost markup | 50–100% over wholesale |
Antique restoration | $1,500–7,500 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete reupholstery and furniture repair business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a reupholstery and furniture repair business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the reupholstery and furniture repair industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Supplies & materials | $16 | $52K | Direct consumables — parts for repair shops, chemicals for laundries, etc. |
Wages & benefits | $38 | $123K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $11 | $35K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $17K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $22 | $70K | Insurance, licensing, tools, uniforms, small equipment. |
Net profit | $8 | $26K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
13.57%
openings/year
Closure Rate
11.18%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+5.8%
annual
Businesses Closed
1,861
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Reupholstery and Furniture Repair Business?
Startup Cost
$30K – $150K
Break-Even
42 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a reupholstery and furniture repair business do?
- Reupholsterers reworking existing furniture with new fabric and refurbishment. Wood furniture repair and refinishing. Homeowners with quality furniture worth restoring, antique collectors.
- How much do reupholstery and furniture repair charge?
- Reupholsterers price per project depending on fabric and complexity. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average reupholstery and furniture repair make per year?
- The average reupholstery and furniture repair business generates $324K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $26K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many reupholstery and furniture repair businesses are there in the US?
- There are 3,249 reupholstery and furniture repair businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 10,664 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a reupholstery and furniture repair business?
- Startup costs for a reupholstery and furniture repair business typically range from $30K to $150K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the reupholstery and furniture repair industry?
- The average employee in the reupholstery and furniture repair industry earns $46K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The reupholstery and furniture repair industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 5.8% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (13.6% entry vs 11.2% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 55% of reupholstery and furniture repair businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 1,861 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the reupholstery and furniture repair industry earns $45,573/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 3,615 establishments employing 13,199 people, the typical business has about 4 employees. Most businesses in this industry are small operations — often owner-operated with minimal staff.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The reupholstery and furniture repair industry has declined 20% since 2000 (from 23,666 to 19,006 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Reupholstery and Furniture Repair revenue with other industries: