How to start a furniture assembly business
Season: Year-round · Typical startup: $60 to $350
Flat-pack furniture arrives every day, and plenty of people would rather pay than spend a Saturday with an Allen key. Furniture assembly needs a drill and patience, and new movers often book several pieces at once. Here is the gear, what to charge per item, and how to find customers.
$60 to $350To get started
$80Typical dresser or bookcase
Year-roundSeason
The gear and what it costs
Drill/driverUse one you have. Set the clutch low so you never strip particleboard.
$0–200
Bits, hex keys and a levelA full bit set and a level for dressers, shelves and bed frames.
$40–100
Stud finderFor wall-mounted shelves and anti-tip straps.
$20–50
What established pros charge
| Per piece, typical range · Angi | $50–$150 |
| Most people pay · Angi | about $110 |
National figures from published cost guides, checked November 8, 2026. Local prices vary.
Starting rates for a new business
| Small item (chair, nightstand) | $40 |
| Dresser or bookcase | $80 |
| Bed frame | $90 |
| Wardrobe or large unit | $150+ |
Our suggested starting point for a new business. Price per item by size, or a few hours for a whole move-in. Compare with the pro figures above, and raise your rates once you have reviews and a full week.
How to find your first customers
- Post in town and apartment groups: "Flat-pack furniture built this week. Send me the item link for a price."
- New movers buy the most furniture. Ask realtors and moving-help crews to pass your name on.
- Offer a move-in bundle: everything in the boxes, built in one visit.
- Take a photo of every finished piece. It shows people your work is tidy.
Rules to check before you start
- Install the anti-tip strap on every dresser and bookcase.
- Wall mounting means finding studs and avoiding wiring. Use a stud finder, or leave wall work for later.
- Some cities and counties require a business license, even for a small service business. Check your city or county website before you take payment.
- Once you make $400 or more in profit in a year, you owe self-employment tax and need to file a return (IRS). Keep every receipt for gas and gear.
- Card payouts need a Stripe account. Stripe requires the account holder to be 18 or older for this kind of account, so a parent or guardian sets it up if you are under 18 (Stripe). Cash works from day one. Venmo, Zelle and Cash App need your own account, and under-18s need a parent to set one up.
Stay busy all year
Add handyman jobs like hanging shelves and pictures. The same customers ask while you are there.
Build your furniture assembly plan free
Answer a few questions and get your gear list, prices, local demand and a booking page. You only pay $5 to unlock it.
Build my plan →
Questions
How much does furniture assembly cost?
Angi's 2025 guide says pros charge $50 to $150 per piece, and most people pay about $110.
Should I mount TVs too?
Not at first. TV mounting means drilling into studs and sometimes near wiring. Get good at furniture, then learn mounting properly.
What about anti-tip straps?
Always install the anti-tip strap that comes with dressers and bookcases. Tip-overs injure young children every year.
Can a teenager start a furniture assembly business?
Yes. Flat-pack assembly is a safe, low-cost start. Bring a parent to first jobs in strangers' homes, and leave TV mounting for later. On Launchpad, 13 to 17 year olds sign up with a parent or guardian's agreement.
Sources
Checked November 8, 2026.
Other trades