Is there demand for upholsterers?
Good furniture is built to last decades, and more people than ever want to keep it rather than send it to landfill. Only around 17% of UK furniture is recycled, and restoring a well-made chair is often cheaper, and far more personal, than buying new. Many customers simply can't find a skilled upholsterer nearby, which is exactly the gap a trained maker can fill.
5 ways to make money from upholstery
- Customer commissions: reupholster clients' own chairs, headboards, footstools and sofas.
- Restore and sell (“flipping”): buy tired pieces at auctions, charity shops or online marketplaces, restore them and sell.
- Soft furnishings: cushions, seat pads, headboards and ottomans are quicker wins that build your portfolio.
- Trade work: partner with interior designers, cafés, pubs and holiday lets that need regular recovering.
- Teaching: once you're experienced, local workshops can become another income stream.
Most successful side hustles start with one or two of these and add more as confidence grows.
The skills you need first
Customers pay for a finish that looks professional and lasts. Before you charge, you should be able to confidently:
- Strip a piece safely and assess the frame, springs and webbing
- Re-web, re-spring and build up stuffing using traditional and modern methods
- Pattern and cut fabric accurately, with pattern matching and minimal waste
- Achieve tight, even tension and neat corners, pleats and piping
- Estimate fabric quantities and time accurately so you don't under-quote
Fire safety, HMRC and insurance
Fire safety regulations
If you supply upholstered furniture in the UK, including reupholstering a customer's piece, you need to follow the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 (as amended). In short, filling materials and cover fabrics must meet the required ignition resistance, and you need to understand which labels and records apply. Always buy from suppliers who can confirm compliance, keep records, and check the latest guidance on GOV.UK.
Registering with HMRC
Under the trading allowance, the first £1,000 of gross trading income each tax year is tax-free. Once you earn more than that, you'll generally need to register as self-employed and complete a Self Assessment tax return. Keep every receipt from day one. The membership's business spreadsheets make this easier.
Insurance
Public liability insurance protects you if something goes wrong with a customer's furniture or property. If customers' pieces stay in your workshop, look at cover for goods in your care too.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Check GOV.UK or speak to an accountant for your situation.
Pricing your work
The number one mistake new upholsterers make is under-charging. A simple, reliable formula is:
Track how long each job really takes, including stripping, collecting and admin, and price for the finished, professional result. We go through this in detail in our free guide: How to price upholstery work.
Finding customers
- Before & after photos are your best marketing. Photograph every piece in good daylight.
- Google Business Profile: free, and it helps you show up when people search “upholsterer near me”.
- Instagram, Facebook and TikTok: transformation videos are hugely shareable.
- Local Facebook groups and marketplaces: great for both commissions and selling restored pieces.
- Interior designers, antique shops and holiday-let owners: one good relationship can bring repeat work.
- Reviews and word of mouth: ask every happy customer for a review.
Your 90-day side-hustle plan
Days 1–30: Build the foundations
Complete the core lessons, finish a footstool or drop-in seat, and start a photo portfolio.
Days 31–60: Level up and practise pricing
Tackle a chair with springs, attend the weekly Zoom sessions for feedback, and cost each project using the templates, even if it's for yourself.
Days 61–90: Take your first paying jobs
Set up a Google Business Profile and social pages, offer a few commissions to friends of friends at a fair price, collect reviews and keep records for HMRC.