A Furniture Refinishing Time Log That Improves Your Next Estimate

Start with three completed pieces, not a complicated inventory system. For each, write the purchase cost, additional materials, actual sale proceeds and time spent getting it sold. Keep estimates separate from remembered or measured actuals.

Capture seven stages Use sourcing and pickup, cleaning, repairs, finish preparation, finishing, photographs and listing, and buyer coordination and handover. The exact categories matter less than including the work outside the workshop. Make short entries on a phone or paper beside the piece, then transfer them consistently.

Do not count a full overnight drying period as labor when you are free to do other work. Record drying separately as elapsed time because it still affects space and scheduling.

Compare similar pieces A painted side table is a poor estimate for a veneer repair on a large dresser. Group completed work by piece type and major repair. With only a few examples, show the individual results and their range; avoid treating a tiny average as a reliable forecast.

Before the next purchase, make a low and high time estimate. Multiply each by your target hourly return, add expected costs, and compare with a conservative sale estimate. This reveals how much uncertainty the purchase can tolerate.

Keep the simplest system that works [This furniture-specific spreadsheet](https://www.rusticowlfurnishings.com/products/furniture-flip-profit-breakdown-google-sheets-version) is an existing alternative. Broader resale systems also exist: [Flipwise publishes listing-based tiers](https://help.flipwise.app/article/95-how-much-does-flipwise-cost), including a small free tier. Check their current features against your selling channel.

The planned FlipHours interest offer tests whether fast time capture and an offer comparison improve on a spreadsheet. It is not an available inventory or accounting app.