How to Start a Moonwalk Business by Cheryl Pierce

You've probably seen moonwalks at local events and parties. Perhaps you've even rented one. But have you ever thought about the financial windfall that can come with owning moonwalks yourself?

Moonwalks rent for anywhere from $85.00/day on the west coast to $250.00 & up in other parts of the country. Here in the midwest, our moonwalks rent for around $225.00 (this does not include delivery fees). The rental is generally for 4-6 hours. So, just think...if you only charge $150.00 for your rental and rent a unit twice a week, you can easily make $300.00 per week in extra income.

Since all good things tend to take some time and investment you're going to have some special items to start your new business.You'll need a truck, suv, or van with a small trailer. Also, a good dolly, extension cords, business cards, insurance and other small business items. Most people who start up a rental company do the deliveries and bookings themselves. That's the great think about party rentals. You work when you want to....not when you're told to. Now, the downside is that if you want the income you might as well accept that it's going to be there on the weekend and that's when you'll be working. Most moonwalk rental owners know in order to build a successful business, they're going to be working weekends for quite some time.

Insurance is the most costly start up cost. Although it tends to get cheaper as you get more units the initial cost is around $750.00 and up. Since an average moonbounce is only $1500.00, the insurance seems pretty hefty. On the other hand, as you add more moonwalks into your business, the insurance becomes quite affordable. In years past, insurance was relatively cheap but moonwalks cost 2-3 times more than they do now so the prices will change quite a bit as years move forward. At a rental rate of $150.00, though, you'll have your expenses and covered in less than twenty rentals. Of course...if you charge what we do, you're unit & costs will be paid for in about ten to twelve rentals.

You can expand into other rental items besides your moonwalks. We started about six years ago with two moonbounces and now have over fifty interactive games. Jousts, Giant Slides, Obstacle courses, video games, casino equipment and fun foods. So, as you can see the business will grow as large as you want it to. About the only way to fail is to purchase the equipment and leave it in your garage. Inflatable moonbounces and other inflatables are their own best advertisement.
To get going on your new business you just need to follow these simple steps.

1) Talk to your state and local boards to find out what is necessary to open your own inflatable rental business. Some states have restrictions on what you can do. This is very important because what you buy and who you buy it from can really depend on your state regulations.

2) Start talking to suppliers. Search the web for "moonbounce" , "moonwalk" , "party rentals" or "interactive games"

3) Ask the suppliers to give you insurance info. Do NOT make a purchase until you've secured insurance. One new company that's great to work with is Fun Pro.

4) Once you have insurance locked up, place your order.

5) While you're waiting for your equipment, get some fliers made up, business cards and a dedicated phone number. Tell EVERYONE about your new business. Generally, about the only way to fail in moonwalk rentals is to put the units in your garage and forget to talk about them. Since you're selling fun, EVERYONE is interested in what you do.

6) Although you're starting to advertise, it's not recommended to book your units before they arrive. That's just asking for trouble.

7) If you ignore rule #6 (and most people do), make sure you have a back up plan. A new moonwalk owner has a tough time turning down a future booking. If you choose to take a booking without your equipment having arrived, make sure you contact someone in your area to make sure you can subcontract their equipment if you need to.

7) As soon as your equipment arrives, inspect it for damage before the delivery truck leaves. Make sure it's all there (most units are sold with a blower).

8) Blow up your equipment and get familiar with it. Sit it in your yard or a friends yard and let the kids play. The more it's seen the more people will want it. Learn how to set it up properly with stakes & take it down and roll it up.

Pretty simple, isn't it? Of course I just touched on the steps but it's not much more complicated than that. If you join the Moonwalk Party Rental Industry you'll be sharing fun with everyone. And that's a great way to make an income.

About the Author

Cheryl Pierce is the President of PartyZone Entertainment and has spent the last fifteen years helping companies start up and expand their Party Rental Companies. She and her husband also own and operate their own party rental company in the Indianapolis area. If you would like more information on starting your own moonwalk rental company, you can visit her website at: http://www.startapartyrentalbiz.com
If you have questions you can ema