For many Filipinos, side hustles are a great way to supplement their primary source of income. Even if you’re starting from scratch, you only need the right amount of strategy to make furniture selling work.
This guide will help you create a focused and efficient furniture flipping business plan, along with a solid marketing strategy.
Hopefully, making this business plan will help you get started, whether you plan on restoring contemporary pieces or eyeing vintage gems.
What is Furniture Reselling?
Furniture reselling involves purchasing used or damaged furniture and then refurbishing it to improve its condition. When this is done, it can be sold for a profit.
Some examples of this include deep-cleaning a dirty chair, repainting a faded table, or reselling an underrated furniture piece.
While flipping usually involves some restoration, reselling can be as simple as advertising items that are better than those of the original seller or owner. These are two sides of one side hustle and work well together to earn a profit.
Visiting stores like Mandaue Foam is a great way to check out furniture trends and get a better idea of proper pricing for your side hustle.
Is It a Profitable Side Hustle in the Philippines?
Yes, reselling or flipping furniture is one of the most profitable side hustles. A key reason is the vast market of people in the Philippines who are willing to purchase high-quality furniture at a lower price than retail.
Online marketplace platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Shopee, and even local community chat groups make it very convenient to reach out to buyers.
Since furniture is often expensive when bought new, a well-priced second-hand item that looks great can sell fast. That said, your profit will depend on how low you buy, how much you spend on improvements, and how quickly you can flip each piece.
Research and Understand Your Market
Before spending a single peso, observe what buyers in your area are looking for. Visit Facebook groups, search listings on Carousell, and check top-selling items on Shopee and Lazada.
Are minimalist shelves popular in condo units? Is there a demand for repainted vintage aparadors in provincial towns?
Check out the types, sizes, and styles of furniture that are trending, and try to avoid overly large or bulky pieces unless you have ample free space.
Make sure to define your ideal customer and target market. Ask yourself: Are they budget-conscious families? Newlyweds? Renters in small apartments? This thinking will guide the direction of your sourcing and pricing strategy later on.
Sourcing Furniture: Where and How
You don’t need a massive warehouse to begin—just good instincts and a reliable way to hunt for furniture. Great finds often come from online listings, surplus warehouses, garage sales, ukay-ukay-style stores, or even friends moving out.
When sourcing, always inspect for signs of major damage, such as termites, broken joints, or water stains. Solid wood is more valuable than laminated boards and can be cleaned with sanding and polish.
Set a personal sourcing budget, and don’t be afraid to negotiate—your margin starts at the point of purchase.
Budgeting and Cost Breakdown
Start with a small capital—anywhere from ₱5,000 to ₱15,000 can cover a few starter pieces, paint supplies, and basic tools.
List every expense: furniture cost, materials, tools, transportation, storage (if needed), and online selling fees.
Track each item’s total cost and set a resale goal. If you buy a broken chair for 500 pesos and spend 200 pesos fixing it up, you should sell it for 1500 pesos to get a good profit out of it.
Try to keep your budget in check, as the more money you save and earn, the more you can reinvest in the business.
Refurbishing and Value-Adding
You don’t need to be a master carpenter to start—know how to clean, repaint, and present your pieces well. A good scrub, new paint color, or fresh knobs can instantly raise the value of an item.
Learn basic sanding, wood staining, and upholstery techniques from free YouTube tutorials. When you can afford to, consider getting tools like a sander, drill, or staple gun. Using these tools to fix up the furniture you sell can have a huge impact on the sale price.
Don’t forget to take “before” and “after” photos to use in your product marketing later on!
Pricing and Profit Margins
Choosing the right selling price can determine whether it sits or sells. One of the basic formulas for reselling or flipping is: Item Cost + Labor + Supplies + Desired Profit = Sale Price.
A reasonable starting profit markup is between 50% and 100%, but adjust this percentage according to demand and the item’s condition.
Make sure to check other similar listings to see how much they’re selling it for. Don’t price items too high unless you can justify it. It’s better to sell quickly and clear inventory than wait a long time for a sale that may never materialize.
Where to Sell: Online and Offline Channels
The best channels include free-to-use platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Carousell. They don’t require any fees or commission whenever you post or sell items.
Shopee and Lazada are excellent platforms for reaching a larger audience without worrying about logistics. It also works well for selling smaller items, offering free delivery.
Some offline selling platforms include weekend markets, hosting your own garage sale, or consigning pieces at a local decor shop.
Start by trying out a mix of a few different platforms, and then invest more time and effort into those that yield the most sales.
Marketing and Branding Your Reselling Business
Having a consistent and memorable brand can give you a competitive edge. Picking a catchy name can be very helpful, such as “Cebu Cozy Finds” or “Retro Manila.”
In today’s social media-dominated age, creating a Facebook or Instagram page is basically required. After making accounts, post your products, including the previously mentioned before-and-after photos, customer feedback, and any new products you’re working on.
Remember to take photos using natural light and clean up the background when taking pictures of your items. Add some personality to your captions—tell short stories about the pieces you restore. Customers love knowing the “rescue” story behind their furniture.
Growing your business isn’t just about the operations and finances. Marketing your products well is just as important in increasing sales.
Planning Delivery, Pick-up, and Storage Logistics
In the furniture business, planning for storage and delivery is crucial. If you’re just starting your business, consider meeting with buyers in person or using a delivery service to pick up and drop off items.
When preparing the listing for your furniture piece, include the size and weight. Doing this helps buyers plan how to fit it into their home and how they’ll transport it there.
For deliveries, consider using apps like Lalamove or Transportify, which utilize hired motorcycles, cars, vans, and trucks to transport items (primarily within and around Metro Manila).
If you scale up, renting a small storage space can help you organize unsold items without cluttering your home.
When pricing your items, factor in fuel costs, helper fees, or storage rent. A well-planned logistics strategy helps avoid last-minute delivery issues and enhances your professional reputation.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Newer resellers or flippers can buy too many furniture pieces at the beginning and then struggle to sell them later on. Others forget to factor in costs like fuel, delivery fees, or storage, and then lose money.
Focus first on selling what you have on hand, reducing your inventory before buying new pieces. You might find that you’ve run out of space and can’t sell some pieces later on.
Always test your pricing strategy before committing to large batches. Discipline and documentation go a long way.
Final Thoughts
Furniture reselling isn’t just about buying and selling tables and chairs; it’s about finding hidden gems that would otherwise be wasted and transforming them into something more.
This side hustle, when executed with the proper planning and strategy, can yield significant profits. You may even consider turning it into a full-time business.
Whether you’re in Metro Manila or the province, affordable, good-looking furniture will always be in fashion and sought after by anyone.
In addition, checking out furniture stores like Mandaue Foam is a wise business decision, as these are great places to start when looking for inspiration for popular furniture trends and appropriate pricing.