Have you ever been to a party or event that had a bounce house? The kids were probably having a blast. Maybe you’ve even rented a bounce for your own party. But have you given any thought to the profit that can be had with your own bounce house business?
Bounce houses rent for anywhere from $85.00/day on the west coast to $250.00 & up in other parts of the country. Here in Indianapolis, we rent ours for around $225.00 for four to six hours. Soif you charge $150.00 for your rental, you can make an extra $300.00 per week in income.
Like any business, you’re going to have some expenses. A bounce delivery requires a truck or a small trailer. You’ll need extension cords, business cards, insurance, dollys and other small business supplies. Most rental company owners start by doing deliveries and bookings themselves so they won’t have a lot of additional labor costs. The real joy of this business is that you work when you want to work, and if you feel like taking time off….just don’t take any bookings for that day. But, the downside is that if you want to make a great deal of income, you’re going to have to be available when people want to rent. And that’s generally on the weekend.
Your most expensive cost still be insurance. You can save on insurance by purchasing more units, but many people want to start with just one. One bounce house will run around $1500.00 and the insurance for that unit will cost about $750.00. If you rent your unit for $150.00 you pay off your investment in less than 20 rentals. Of course, you can pay it off faster if you charge more. However, if you’re in California it will probably take you longer to pay off the original investment.
You might be surprised to find that there is a lot more to rentals than bounce houses. Our initial start up five years ago was two bounces but within just a short time we have grown to over 50 inflatable and interactive games. You can find giant slides, obstacle courses, casino tables, Bungee Runs, Toddler Games and fun foods. The business actually will grow as large as you want it to. As long as you get the equipment out in front of people, you’ll be booking rentals. The units themselves are their own advertisements.
To get going on your new business you just need to follow these simple steps.
-Check with your local & state boards on what’s needed to start a bouncehouse rental business. You might find restrictions on what you can do.
-Check on suppliers. You can look on the web for “bounce house” or “inflatable games”.
-Request insurance information from possible suppliers. One thing you don’t want to do is purchase your units without having your insurance.
-As soon as you’ve secured your insurance, order your unit(s)
-You have plenty to do while waiting for equipment. Design fliers and business cards. Get your phone number and Domain name. Start on a website. Tell ALL your friends about your new business.
-Although you’re starting to advertise, it’s not recommended to book your units before they arrive. That’s just asking for trouble.
-The day your equipment arrives is so exciting. Make sure though that you fully inspect your equipment for damages before your delivery driver leaves. And also check to make sure you’ve received everything.
-Now for the fun part. Inflate your new unit and get familar with it. Let the neighborhood kids play. You want your unit seen so people will want to rent it.
It’s hard to believe it’s so easy. These are broad tips but the start up isn’t a whole lot rougher than this. Once you follow the steps, you’ll be selling FUN, and you’ll be making a profit! What a great business!
