Equipment Rental

Party Equipment Rental

Tables, chairs, tents, linens. Every party needs them. No skill required.

Monthly Revenue
$5K–$18K
realistic range
Startup Cost
$10K–$40K
to get started
Hourly Rate
$80–$150
per hour billed
Complexity
3/4
skill required

The Business

Party rental companies serve weddings, corporate events, graduations, and private parties. A 50-person party needs $500-1,500 in rentals (chairs, tables, tent, linens). Commercial clients (event venues, caterers) provide steady referral volume. The model is rental asset acquisition — once equipment is paid for, margins are 60-80%.

How to Start

Start with 50 folding chairs ($3/each) and 10 tables ($50-100/each) — your cheapest entry point. Get storage space. List on WeddingWire and local event planning platforms. Add a cargo van or trailer for delivery. Scale by adding new inventory categories based on demand signals from existing clients.

REAL EXAMPLE

A family in suburban Atlanta runs party rentals earning $15K/month in event season (April-October) with a warehouse full of tables, chairs, and tents.

Equipment Needed

  • Tables (various)
  • Folding chairs
  • Canopy tents
  • Linens
  • Delivery truck

Licensing

Business license + permits for large tents

Monthly Search Volume

1,400
people/month search for this business
READY TO START?

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Revenue Calculator

4
$800
25 hrs
$25,000
Weekly Revenue
$3.2K
Monthly Revenue
$13.8K
Annual Revenue
$165.1K
Monthly Profit
$12.3K
Break-Even
3 months
Hourly Rate
$128
Monthly costs: $1,500/mo (insurance, fuel, supplies)
CHRIS'S TAKE

Party rentals are high capital, high reward. The assets work every weekend and the same tables and chairs get rented hundreds of times. Once you're established as the go-to rental company in a market, event planners default to you.

PRO TIP

Specialty items — photo booths, LED dance floors, luxury lounge furniture — have dramatically higher margins than commodity items like folding chairs.

READY TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL?

Form Your LLC Today

You've seen the numbers. Protect your personal assets, get your EIN, and start operating legally. ZenBusiness handles the paperwork so you can focus on the business.

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ACQUISITION ROUTE

Want to buy a Party Equipment Rental instead of starting one?

Skip the startup grind. Existing businesses come with customers, cash flow, and proven systems. Use our valuation calculator to see what you'd pay.

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TOOLS TO RUN THIS BUSINESS

Tools we'd use if we were starting this business today. Affiliate links — we may earn a small commission.

ZenBusinessFROM $0

Form your rental business LLC. Protect personal assets from equipment liability claims.

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FreshBooks30 DAYS FREE

Track rental income by asset, invoice customers, and see which equipment earns its keep.

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JobberFREE TRIAL

Manage equipment bookings, deposits, and returns without spreadsheets.

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Simply Business

Tools-in-trade and public liability insurance for equipment rental businesses.

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