By Chris Taylor · Updated November 2, 2026 · 2 min read
A one-page estate sale business plan
Your estate sale business plan doesn't need 40 pages. It needs one page you can answer honestly. Copy these eight blocks and fill them in.
The template
1. Your area
Which towns will you serve? How far will you drive for a house? Who else runs sales there, and what do they charge?
2. Your services
Full estate sales only, or also online auctions, buyouts and cleanouts? What will you not do?
3. Your commission
Your rate, any minimum fee, and what it includes. The most common rates are 35% to 40% (EstateSales.net survey via HomeLight).
4. How you price
Where you check sold prices, who prices, and how fast you can price a full house.
5. Sale days
Hours, number system, how you take cash and cards, day-two discounts, how many helpers.
6. After the sale
Online auction for leftovers, donation partner, cleanout crew, how the family gets paid and when.
7. Getting found
Your website with a page for every sale, listing sites, your email list, signs, and the people who refer you: real estate agents, attorneys, senior living staff.
8. First-year numbers
How many sales you expect, the average sale size in your area, your commission, and what each sale costs you. Be conservative.
A filled-in example
Example only, with made-up numbers to show the shape. Use your own.
| Area | One county, up to 45 minutes from home. Three other companies nearby. |
|---|---|
| Services | Estate sales and an online auction for leftovers. Cleanouts through a partner crew. |
| Commission | 38%, $1,500 minimum. Includes pricing, staff, ads, card fees and the leftover auction. |
| Pricing | Every item photographed and priced from recent sold results. Best pieces pulled for online. |
| Sale days | Friday and Saturday, numbers at 7:30, Saturday half off after noon. Two helpers. |
| After the sale | Online auction closes Wednesday. Donation pickup Thursday. Statement and check within 10 days. |
| Getting found | Website with a page per sale, listing sites, email list, cards to four real estate offices and two attorneys. |
| First-year goal | One sale a month by month four. Every sale's numbers written down so year two is based on facts. |
Then read how to start an estate sale business for each step in detail.
Source for commission figure: HomeLight, citing the EstateSales.net 2023 industry survey.
More guides
- How to start an estate sale business
- How much estate sale companies make
- One-page estate sale business plan
- Estate sale franchise or start your own?
- See a sample estate sale company website
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