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Starting a Bounce House Business

I'm sure you've seen bounce houses at various parties & events. You've probably even rented one. But have you ever thought about the financial windfall that can come with owning a couple of the units?

The price for bounce houses varies in different parts of the country. They can rent from $65.00 per day on the west coast to $250.00 and up in other parts of the country. In the Indiana area, rentals usually run about $225.00 for six hours or so. You do the math. Charging just $150.00 for a rental can add an extra $300.00 a week in your pocket.

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.

Insurance is the biggest cost. Although it seems to get cheaper when more units are added, start up costs are tough. Bounce House purchase prices average around $1500.00 but insurance will be around $750.00. That means your first year start up is going to cost around $2500.00. If you rent your unit for $150.00, you'll still have paid for your costs in less than 20 rentals. And, of course, the more you charge, the quicker your investment will pay for itself.

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.

Here are a few tips for starting your business.

-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".

-Ask the suppliers to give you insurance info. Do NOT make a purchase until you've secured insurance.

-As soon as you've secured your insurance, order your unit(s)

-It'll take some time to get your equipment and you have work to do while you're waiting for it to arrive. Make up fliers and business cards. Do a press release. Get your phone number and web address. Don't forget to tell everyone you know 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!

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

Dont' start your new rental biz without reading Cheryl's ebook How to Start a Bounce House Business. If you're ready to buy your bounces, find out all you need to know at Moonwalks for Sale This article is available as a unique content article with free reprint rights.

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