Many of us regularly receive emails or calls from "wannabe" stagers .... I've had so many that I came up with a letter to send them.  They deserve to know the "reality" of the staging business and not just hear about how "easy" it is (as shown on TV and by some staging training companies) .... 

Dear Wannabe Stager,

Thank you for inquiring about the home staging business.  I’m often contacted by people who’d like to know more about staging and how to get started.  One of the most important things to consider is that professional stagers should be committed to running a business which is so much more than “decorating” someone’s home.  There are a lot of costs to consider, such as:

• Inventory and props – even if you plan to rent some of the furnishings, you’ll still need to invest a substantial amount of money into accessories, rugs, wall décor, linens, plants, etc.  The cost of these items adds up much quicker than you might imagine. 

• Storage space – once you’ve accumulated accessories and small furnishings you’ll soon find that you need more than just your garage or spare bedroom to store them.  Public storage or warehouse space will add to your expenses. 
  

• Special insurance to cover your staging company for liability in the event you or your helpers damage something in the client’s home, and also to cover your staging inventory whether it’s in transit, in the client’s home, in storage, or in your own home. 
  

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• Legal help – you’ll need a good business attorney who can help you develop a staging contract for occupied & vacant homes;  this is very important as you’ll find that being in other people’s home exposes you to liability you may not have thought about, or what happens to your rented staging inventory in the event of non-payment, etc.  It’s best to seek help even if you have a “template” contract, to make sure everything in it applies in your state.

• A good accountant who can help with taxes and what requirements your city & county have for small business owners. 

• Labor help with packing, loading & unloading, transport, and the actual staging and de-staging.

• Register your business with the city and county you’re in and get the proper instructions on your responsibilities; get a TAX ID number.
  

A domain name for your website & a reputable host for it; SEO help to get your site noticed.

• A great blogging platform to help your business grow (Active Rain) 

• A portfolio and website with photos of your own work  (not the work of your training company or stock photos off the internet!).

• A reliable vehicle that can carry your many staging props to each job.

• Office space with a good computer, printer & supplies ~ and good computer skills.

• Marketing advice on the look of your company logo, letterhead stationery, flyers, etc.

• Investment in advertising & marketing to potential clients in your area.   

•  Cost of joining local professional organizations to network and get support from others in the industry 

• Sources for purchasing your inventory and for local furniture rental if needed. 

 

• The ability to give presentations to Realtors and Homeowners

 

 

These are just a few of the things to consider when thinking about setting up a staging company. The best advice I can give someone interested in staging as a career ~ and not just a hobby ~ is to take one of the professional foundation staging training courses that are available (some are better than others so be sure to get recommendations from established stagers).  Continuing education in this field is vitally important.  It’s also just as important to maintain contact with other local stagers for support and to further our common goals.  We have a lot of work to do to educate real estate agents and homeowners about the powerful benefits of staging their properties. 

If you’re truly committed to starting a professional staging company then I hope this advice has been of help to you.  Home staging is an extremely rewarding career ~ but please don't quit your current job just yet until you've really considered all the facts.  You  may also want to read this blog post about running a staging company.  Best of luck to you as you move forward with meeting your goals!

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Maureen Bray is a fulltime professional home stager in Portland Oregon. 

       Staging that sells Portland homes!