Review Competitors

Long before you open an antique furniture and lighting business in your area, it's essential to determine how you will fit in the competitive landscape. We've provided the link below to help you find competitors nearby. After clicking on the link, type in your city, state and zip code to get a list of antique furniture and lighting businesses near you.

• Locate Antique Furniture & Lighting Businesses Near You

Is the local market large enough to support another antique furniture and lighting business? If not, you had better be sure that you are doing things much better than the competition.

Talk to People Who Are Already in the Business

If you are seriously contemplating launching an antique furniture and lighting business, you really ought to learn from folks who are already in business. If you think owners of nearby antique furniture and lighting businesses will give you advice, think again. Why would they want to educate a future competitor?

However, a fellow entrepreneur who has started an antique furniture and lighting business outside of your community can be a great learning resource for you, as long as they don't view you as a competitive threat. Many business owners are happy to give advice to new entrepreneurs In my experience, you may have to call ten business owners in order to find one who is willing to share his wisdom with you.

Where do you find an entrepreneur who is running an antique furniture and lighting business outside of your area who is willing to talk?

Here's how we would do it. Try the useful link below and key in a random city/state or zipcode.

• Find Your Antique Furniture & Lighting Business Mentor

Don't Rule Out Franchising

Going with a franchise allows you to benefit from franchisor expertise and name recognition.

Prior to starting an antique furniture and lighting business, you ought to determine whether franchise opportunities in your space might alleviate your startup process.

The link below gives you access to our franchise directory so you can see if there's a franchise opportunity for you. You might even find something that points you in a completely different direction.

• What's the Best Home Furnishings Franchise for You?