Is there anything more fun for a child’s party than a bounce house or inflatable? These activities are sure to keep little ones occupied for hours, but no one wants to purchase their own inflatable. Instead, they turn to businesses that rent out these major pieces of equipment.
The bounce house rental business model is relatively easy to follow through on. For more details on what you can expect from this business idea, this guide will give you everything you need to get started.
How Does a Bounce House and Inflatable Rental Business Work?
Starting a bounce house and inflatable rental business is rather simple. As the business owner, you invest in the equipment that then gets rented out by customers. The equipment gets rented out again and again, until your initial investment is paid off.
From then on, every cent that you make from renting the equipment is profit for your new business.
What Is a Bounce House and Inflatables Business Model?
An inflatable rental business plan is crucial if you want to succeed in this industry. Learning how to start a bounce house rental business requires plenty of research.
First, you must ensure that you are purchasing quality inflatables or bounce houses. The cost of the inflatables is your largest business expense, though the additional equipment necessary can add up as well.
Your business will make money each time you rent one of your inflatables out to a customer. Once you have recouped the cost of the initial investment, the money you make goes toward the maintenance of your equipment or becomes pure profit.
How much does a bounce house rental business make? Depending on the number of inflatables you have for your business, you could earn $40,000 per year or more.
What are the Costs of Running a Bounce House and Inflatable Business?
The first thing you must consider is the cost when learning how to start a bounce house business. The most expensive part of getting your business off the ground is the investment in inflatables. Decide what types of inflatables you want to rent out:
- Moonwalks or bounce house castles
- Wet/dry inflatables
- Activity courses
Depending on the commercial-grade inflatable you purchase, you could spend anywhere from $1,000 to $8,000 on your bounce house. Smaller and more traditional moonwalks are the least expensive, with obstacle courses being the most expensive.
If you are following a great bounce house rental business model, then you may want to invest in about three to five different types of inflatables. Many people purchase a smaller moonwalk and a larger one to give customers options. Wet/dry inflatables are great for summer parties where your customers want to cool off.
You may also need rental software that allows you to collect payments, manage your inventory, and track your equipment rentals.
What are the Common Types of Bounce Houses Businesses Rent?
When figuring out how to run a bounce house rental business, you need to consider what types of inflatables you want to rent out. Many business owners start with the common moonwalk or bounce house castles that are popular at children’s parties. The common sizes for these are 8’ x 8’ or 15’ x 15’, depending on the size of the party.
However, you can also rent out other types of inflatables that may be popular with older children or during specific times of the year.
For example, many summer parties can make great use of wet and dry inflatables. These often feature a water slide that leads into a more traditional bounce house. While you may not see a huge return on investment in this type of bounce house during the colder seasons, they are a hot commodity for summer parties.
Another option to consider when thinking about bounce house rental business ideas is an activity center or obstacle course. Kids love the challenge of bouncing along and having to perform to get further along in the inflatable. While these are the most expensive types of bounce houses to purchase, they can also yield the biggest returns.
What Other Equipment Do You Need for Your Rentals?
Most people who are thinking about starting a bounce house rental business startup consider only the cost of the inflatables. However, there is other equipment that you will need to keep the business in proper working order.
The first thing to consider is transportation. Customers do not often pick up these extremely heavy inflatables on their own. They will expect your company to deliver them, which means you need a vehicle that can accommodate their size. Consider investing in a large SUV or a truck.
To inflate your bounce houses, you will also need a blower. Many inflatables come with this piece of equipment, so make sure to check the fine print. If it doesn’t, you can purchase your own for around $300.
Cleaning and sanitizing your equipment is an important part of the process as well. Invest in a quality chemical sprayer that can quickly cover the inflatable with disinfectant. These sprayers are not expensive, but you’ll need one to run a safe and healthy bounce house business.
A generator may also be a worthwhile investment. While most inflatables can be plugged into a three-prong outlet, some customers may not have one of these readily available. A generator can be part of the equipment rental for those who do not have access to an outdoor electrical outlet. They generally cost between $400 and $500.
Who are Common Customers for Inflatable Bounce House Rentals?
Are bounce house rentals a profitable business, and who are the main customers? Understanding the market is essential before you make the initial investment in the equipment needed to get started.
Most of the time, your common customers will be parents of young children or party planners. In your bounce house rental business plan, you will want to target this demographic.
How Can I Grow My Bounce House and Inflatable Business and Reach More Customers?
If you want to learn how to grow a bounce house rental business, then you need to be current on all of the latest advertising trends.
Organic growth is possible through SEO — search engine optimization. To use this strategy, you will incorporate keywords into your business landing pages and social media streams to boost your rankings on search engines such as Google.
Of course, you can also opt for paid search advertisements or social media advertisements. Think about where most of your customers are and tailor advertising to their needs.
Other bounce house rental business ideas include creating partnerships with local event and party-based business companies. When they require a bounce house to complete an event, you will be top of mind for the rental.
No matter what type of growth you intend to pursue, keep a close eye on bounce house rental business KPIs to make sure you are getting a good return on investment.
How Do You Manage Reservations and Inventory?
An equipment rental business is a great way to make a lucrative income for minimal work. If you plan to start this type of business, you do need to have a system in place to manage your rentals and make the process a bit easier.
The best way to manage reservations and inventory is through rental software like Quipli. We can help you with important tasks such as:
- Accepting customer orders
- Receiving payments online
- Managing inventory
- Tracking equipment
Contact Quipli today to book a demo and see how our software can transform your bounce house rental business!
