Hello. What is an acceptable furniture shipping rate, as percentage of
wholesale price, that a retail home furnishings store should expect to
see on an order of around $4000.00 to $9000.00?

Maybe you should be more specific. Your question is nearly impossible
to answer. A $4000-$9000 order in the furniture business could be a
sofa and entertainment center or 20 sofas and 20 entertainment
centers, depending on the quality and WHERE the furniture was made.
Retail stores such as Ashley Furniture Home Store generally purchase
their items from China and have mass amounts shipped in, greatly
reducing their shipping costs. If container freight isn't the case
then the proximity of the retail store to the manufacturing plant
greatly affects the price of shipping. In addition, furniture stores
particularly further away from manufacturers will make sure they are
shipping a full load of furniture, in order to reduce costs. Lots of
factors go into this, if you can be more specific, I might be able to
help you more...