Essential Investments When Starting a Bounce House Rental Company

Investing in a Successful Bounce House Rental Business

If you enjoy working with kids and want to start your own party rental company, a bounce house rental business can be an incredibly fun and profitable venture. However, like any business, establishing yourself in the bounce house rental industry takes diligent planning, significant startup investments, and hard work.

Acquiring Your Initial Bounce House Inventory

One of the first major investments when starting a bounce house rental company is purchasing your initial inventory of inflatables. The specific units you choose to buy will depend on your budget, the demographics of your service area, and the types of events you hope to cater to. Here are some of our top picks for those equipping their first bounce house fleet:

• 13’ x 13’ Commercial Grade Moonwalk Unit - A standard moonbounce is a must for any bounce house operation. Sturdy units with commercial-grade vinyl, heavy-duty stitching, and UL blower motors are safest.
• 13’ x 13’ Disney Princess Bounce House - Themed inflatables like princess castles allow you to charge premium rental rates. Go with licensed characters kids know and love.
• 15’ x 15’ Combo Bounce House with Slide - Multi-play units with accessories like slides maximize the fun and rental value. Prioritize versatility.
• 20’ Obstacle Course Moonbounce - Giant bouncers with interactive elements like climbing zones allow for dual functionality and encourage longer booking times.
• 16’ x 16’ Sports Arena Moonbounce - Sport-themed inflatables can help you corner the market on athletic events, field days, and recreation programs.

Outfitting Your Inflatable Fleet with Safety Accessories

Equally important as the bouncy attractions themselves are the industrial-strength accompanying accessories required to operate them safely and legally at events. Essential safety equipment includes:

• GFCI Outlets - For powering blowers; prevents electrical accidents around water.
• Heavy Duty Stakes and Bungees - Secure inflatables in high winds and active play.
• Sand Bags - Weigh down bounce houses in lieu of staking when on hard surfaces.
• Tarps - Place under units when set up on abrasive surfaces to protect floor vinyl.
• Safety Signs - Display rules of play and supervise attractions at all times.

Don’t cut costs on anchors, signage, electrical gear and other safety measures. One accident can result in equipment damage, legal issues, or worse.

Investing in a Professional Grade Transport Solution

Transporting inflatables and accessories to events requires a truck, trailer or van properly equipped to handle bulky, heavy duty cargo. While you may be tempted to start small hauling items in a pickup, here are benefits of investing up front in pro equipment:

• Larger vehicles allow you to take more rentals per trip, increasing efficiency.
• Built-in shelving and storage keeps expensive inflatables safe from weather and theft during transport.
• Roll-up doors spare staff back strain from loading/unloading massive bouncy castles.
• Higher clearance and dual axels enable navigation into tight event sites.

Shop around at used dealerships to save money, but don’t sacrifice critical functionality that will enable your workflow and maximize bookings.

Assembling Attendant Gear for Operational Efficiency

The crew members assigned to setup, oversee and teardown inflatable rentals are the backbone of your small business. Make their demanding on-site roles easier by supplying:

• Two-way radios - For consistent communication amongst attendants.
• Blower Braces - Prevents tipping that can damage UL motors.
• Transport Dollies - Safely hauls bulky items across fields and parking lots.
• Multi-nozzle hoses - Enables rapid cleanups using less water.
• Portable electric pumps - Quickly inflates moonbounces after unexpected deflations.

Proper gear translates to faster setup/takedown, improved safety oversight, efficient breakdowns, and professional service for your customers.

Prepare with Marketing Materials to Promote Rentals

Even with quality inflatables and ideal transportation vehicles, aggressive self-promotion is required to build awareness and drive bookings when launching a bounce house rental operation. Useful collateral includes:

• Professionally Printed Business Cards
• Branded T-Shirts for Staff
• Yard Signs to Display at Events
• Vinyl Banners With Company Logo
• Promotional Giveaway Items Like Stickers and Pens

While digital ads and social media can help connect with new leads online, in-person displays of professionalism go a long way towards securing gigs. Include branded collateral in initial budgets to aid sales efforts.

Embracing the Investment in Fun!

While items like commercial-grade inflatables, customized hauling vehicles, attendant gear and promotional marketing all represent significant startup costs, they collectively enable successful bounce house operations that families and communities enjoy for years to come. The delight witnessed across thousands of young faces over time is what makes all the investment ultimately worthwhile!

FAQs

What are the most popular inflatables I should buy first?

Focus initially on versatile classics like 13x13 commercial moonbounces, princess combos with slides or obstacles, and sports arena bounce houses. Rent these out at base rates to cover costs as you grow.

Can I haul inflatables safely in my basic pickup truck?

While a pickup can work initially, invest soon in a custom van or trailer to securely transport expensive rental gear and enable efficient loading/unloading of bulky items.

How many staff do I need on site during events?

To properly monitor bouncers and interact with customers, have 1 attendant present per inflatable attraction open at any given time. For large events, also assign a supervisor.

What permits and insurance do I need?

Research local business licensing in your county/city, obtain $1 million liability insurance to protect your company, and have on file all safety documentation provided with commercial inflatables.

Do I need experience in this industry to start my company?

While prior event rental experience is great, anyone with strong customer skills, mechanical aptitude, a transport solution and some startup capital can succeed with dedication and effort.