Good news—as long as people have derrieres, they will need someplace to put them, a.k.a. furniture. Bad news—it's a bit of a shrinking job market. An increase in manufacturer's ability to offer new furniture in a variety of styles at low cost has upped the competition for small shop upholsterers.

If you're not working for one of the big-box manufacturers, you can offer benefits not available in the mass-market world. Custom, trendy patterns, for one. Develop your rep as a fashion consultant, and you'll carve a nice niche for yourself. "Green" furniture, which makes use of recycled material, is a growing interest among millennials.

And, of course, if someone has a worn-out but beloved armchair or settee, she can't go to Chairs R Us for a face lift. Fill your shop with restored antiques, and retro-loving clients may walk out with more furniture than they came in with.

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