Should You Start an Event Rental Business in the U.S.? A Real-World Profitability Breakdown

Event Rentals Business in the U.S.

A Tangible, Trend-Driven Business for Logistics-Savvy Entrepreneurs

About the Writer

Dickson Wasake, CPA has more than 20 years of experience, including with global accounting firms PwC, Baker Tilly, and Deloitte, and various roles such as a fractional CFO and advisor for clients. He is an ex-audit partner (Baker Tilly CI). Dickson is both a UK CPA (FCCA) and a US CPA (IL), with experience working with clients of various sizes, ranging from start-ups to a $1.3 trillion listed company. He has travelled to 30+ countries, including Sub-Saharan Africa, the Bahamas, the UK, and Canada. He lives in IL, USA. Connect with him on LinkedIn or view his detailed resume/CV.

📍 Introduction: Where Pinterest Dreams Meet Rental Realities

Many years ago, by day I was a CPA in training at a Big 4 public accounting firm, and by night, I was a mobile DJ who went by the DJ name “Wickie Dickie!”  Some gigs were good – as in really good, the adrenaline rush when revelers are happy kept you buzzing, and yet others, sigh, I hate to admit, but they were disasters, when, for example, equipment fails or you just can’t get the taste right for your guests!

I therefore know a thing or two about this sector – such as its seasonality, or the fact that you are the first to arrive and the last to leave after every drunken guest (“DJ, one more song”), so watch out.

But well, for those who want to dive deeper, what’s the story of this sector, and is it worth it?

Imagine this: a couple is planning a backyard wedding. They need 100 gold Chiavari chairs, a tent, a mobile DJ unit, a drinks bar, and string lighting. You deliver. And you charge per chair, per hour, plus transport.

Welcome to the event rentals business, a model built around repeatable inventory, creative themes, and logistics precision. From weddings to birthdays to corporate galas—your warehouse becomes a treasure trove of rentable moments.

Stat Snapshot: The U.S. party and event rental industry is worth over $8 billion, with weddings contributing a large chunk (IBISWorld, The Knot).

💬 What We Think About This Business

It’s physical, seasonal, and delivery-heavy—but if you enjoy logistics and working behind the scenes, this is a solid local business with great margins.

Rental inventory has a long shelf life and the ability to turn a single investment into dozens of bookings. It works well in urban and suburban markets.

⚖ SWOT Analysis (Critical Matters in the Events Rentals Business)

Category	What It Means	Examples
Strengths	Repeat use of assets, clear pricing	Chairs rented 20+ times per year
Weaknesses	Setup/takedown labor, warehouse required. Seasonal business	Peak season = high workload
Opportunities	Weddings, baby showers, corp. events	Also expanding into micro-weddings and pop-ups
Threats	Damaged inventory, weather risk	Rain + cancellations can hit hard

🧠 Key Things to Know Before You Start

✅ Requirements:

●       Local business license + liability insurance

●       Clean, dry storage or warehouse facility

●       Delivery van/truck and moving equipment

●       Inventory management system or spreadsheet

⚠ Risks & Controls: (Risk Management in the Event Rentals business)

	Control
Lost/damaged items	Signed rental agreements + credit card holds
Last-minute cancellations	Deposits + clear cancellation policies
Injuries during setup	Staff training + equipment (dollies, gloves, straps)
Double bookings	Inventory tracker + calendar sync tools

🔐 Internal Controls (Systems to put in place in the Events Rental Business to Keep the Business Flowing Smoothly)

Risk	Internal Control
Broken items	Inspection logs pre/post delivery
Overbooking	Real-time inventory app or cloud spreadsheet
Late payments	50% deposit up front + balance due before delivery
Team delays	Route planner + Slack or dispatcher system

Typical Founder Concern: Balancing Weekends, Warehouses, and Wear-and-Tear

Many founders ask about this sector: “How do I keep my inventory profitable without burning out?”

Event rentals look glamorous from the outside—Instagram-worthy setups, happy clients, steady bookings. But the reality is a logistics marathon: weekends swallowed by setups, muddy chairs returning Monday morning, and the constant shuffle between deliveries, warehouse resets, and staff scheduling.

The key is to treat the business less like a “party supplier” and more like an asset-management company. Build systems around:

● Inventory Utilization – track how many times each asset earns per year (your ROI is hidden here).

● Seasonality Buffer – diversify into baby showers, corporate events, and backyard birthdays so you’re not reliant on summer weddings alone.

●Contracts & Deposits – protect against cancellations and damage by locking in upfront payments and clear replacement policies.

●Staffing – part-time crews, delivery checklists, and route planning tools reduce founder burnout.

Founders who fail to systematize quickly get trapped in a cycle of long weekends and warehouse chaos. Those who succeed? They turn chairs, tables, and tents into steady, repeatable revenue—year after year.

🪑 What the First Few Months Look Like

Month 1–3 Activities:

●       Purchase base inventory: chairs, tables, tent, lighting

●       Build brand (Instagram, vendor listings on The Knot, Yelp)

●       Create booking forms + policies

●       Set up delivery radius and fuel policy

Typical Day:

●       Morning: Deliveries, setups

●       Afternoon: Site pickups and warehouse returns

●       Evening: Wash + repack + prep for next job

Future Outlook (What’s ahead in the events rental business):

Experiential and outdoor events are growing. Opportunities exist in sustainable rentals, custom photo backdrops, and themed sets. Tech-enabled self-booking is gaining traction.

🔭 Advanced Thinking Tips

Insights:

●       Wedding Report (The Knot): Couples spend an avg. $2,500 on rentals alone

●       Research gate: Experience economy = people pay more for aesthetics

●       Forbes: DIY event planners want transparent pricing + online booking

Tips:

●       Offer package bundles by event type (wedding, baby shower, corporate)

●       Partner with florists, caterers, and photographers for referrals

●       Upsell delivery, breakdown, or last-minute add-ons

Bonus Insight: Buying Instead of Building:

Event rental firms list on BizBuySell with inventory, calendars, and repeat clients. Check asset condition, seasonal cash flow, and delivery systems. Red flags: all cash ops or no CRM system.

Inachee Can Help: We can assess ROI on asset fleets and help model growth by utilization rate.

Business Model – Profitability and ROI in the Events Rental Business

💵 Start-Up Cost Breakdown

Item	Est. Cost	Notes	Source
Inventory (starter pack)	$15,000	100 chairs, 10 tables, lighting, tent, etc	CORT, EventStable
Delivery van	$20,000	$12k - $20k. Used van or truck	AutoTrader, Craigslist
Storage/Warehouse lease	$4,333	3 months upfront for small warehouse and 2 months security deposit. Estimating 800 sq. feet at $13/sq. foot/year	LoopNet, Craigslist
Website, CRM, booking	$2,800	Wix, Squarespace + Jotform + Stripe. Flyers, banners, branded t-shirts	Platforms' websites
Legal set up	$1,000	Legal zoom, initial CPA advice
Miscellaneous	$4,313	10% estimate

Startup Estimate: $47,447

💸 Operating Costs & ROI (Annual Estimate)

Assumptions:

●       6 events/month, avg. $900/event = $64,800/year revenue

●       Nil COGS assumed as asset heavy business

Expense Category	Annual Cost	Notes
Storage lease	$7,800	May grow if inventory expands. 9 months after initial deposit.
Fuel & delivery	$3,240	Estimate at 5% of revenue
Staff (PT weekend help)	$20,160	About 30% of revenue. Assume 2 staff, at $20 per hour, working about 7 hours per staff per event (delivery, set up, and dismantling).
Phone+ internet	$1,000	Business phone and data plan
Insurance and licenses	$2,000	General Liability, auto and events insurance + permits
Marketing	$2,500	SEO, Instagram, local vendors
Repairs and maintenance	$1,296	Estimate at 2% of revenue
Tools + admin + CPA	$2,500	QuickBooks, templates, software light IT support
Miscellaneous	$2,062	5%

Total Expenses: $43, 298

Net Profit = ~$21,502 ($64,800 - $43,298)

ROI = $21,502 ÷ $47,447 = ~45%

💸 3 Year summary (high level view)

·        Year 1: Basic set up, building visibility

·        Year 2: Higher ticket events

·        Year 3: Add new strategies (e.g photo booths, bar, DJ set)

🧰 Recommended Software Stack

●       Square + Stripe + Jotform (payments + booking)

●       Google Calendar or Tave (scheduling)

●       Canva + Wix or Squarespace (branding)

●       QuickBooks or Wave (finance)

🌍 Global Outlook: Event Rentals Beyond the U.S.

 The event rentals business is booming worldwide, shaped by culture, spending patterns, and local traditions. Wherever people gather to celebrate—whether for weddings, birthdays, or corporate events—there is demand for rentable furniture, tents, and décor.

In Europe, luxury weddings and corporate galas drive the market. Think crystal chandeliers in Paris or branded staging in London. Regulations are strict, so professional rental firms with compliance know-how tend to win. Eco-friendly rentals are also gaining traction, especially among younger clients.

In Asia-Pacific, the scale is unmatched. India’s “big fat weddings” and China’s growing middle class fuel massive demand for tents, banquet seating, and elaborate décor. Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea are leaning into themed pop-ups and tech-enhanced event setups, proving the appetite for creative experiences is strong.

In Africa and Latin America, the sector is more grassroots but still profitable. Community events, local weddings, and festivals often rely on trusted neighborhood operators. WhatsApp bookings, word-of-mouth, and affordability matter more than branding. The inventory may be basic—plastic chairs, tents, lighting—but repeat demand keeps businesses busy year-round.

In the Middle East, cultural expectations for grandeur drive high-margin opportunities. From gold-plated seating in Dubai to lavish staging in Saudi Arabia, partnerships with event planners are critical. Even in downturns, weddings and social events remain resilient here.

Across markets, three global lessons stand out:

1. Culture drives inventory – Gold chairs in the U.S., colorful tents in India, minimalist staging in Japan.

2. Digital tools are everywhere – WhatsApp in Lagos, online booking portals in Berlin.

3. Sustainability is not optional – Younger hosts globally are asking for reusable, recyclable, and green décor.

🧾Conclusion: Is the Event Rentals Business worth diving into?

Do I miss my days of being "wickie dickie"? I don't think so. All the money we earned (clients often paid cash) was usually spent by the next day, because "after the party, there was the after party," and so we went off to blow off a little steam.

This means you need financial and personal discipline to remain cool and calm when others are having fun. It is common for those in the events space to be known as "playas," as this comes with the nighttime entertainment and weekend nature of this sector. For those in steady relationships or with domestic commitments, this can lead to temptations. Can you handle?

Event rentals therefore aren’t for everyone. Some founders burn out fast when they realize weekends get swallowed up with setups, takedowns, and warehouse resets.

But here’s the flip side—your chairs, tables, and tents keep earning over and over again, and unlike food delivery, inventory doesn’t vanish after one use. Weddings, birthdays, and corporate events happen whether the economy is up or down, which means there’s always some baseline demand. The key is to manage seasonality, protect your gear, and build reliable referral partners. If you can stomach the logistics and enjoy being the “invisible engine” behind big celebrations, this sector offers a practical, asset-backed way to build a strong local business.

🏁 Inachee Index Score: 65/100 – Tier C (Fair)

Fun and fast-moving, but seasonal and setup-heavy. Great for logistics-savvy founders and creative hustlers.

What Is the Inachee Index?

The Inachee Index scores sectors using 8 weighted dimensions: ROI potential, startup accessibility, ease of entry, scalability, compliance, market resilience, future relevance, and execution simplicity. Each sector receives a score out of 100 and is assigned a tier (A–D).

How does this sector rank against all others in the US? Check out the US ranking list. 

Want a more detailed financial model or forecast for this sector? Ask us about financial modelling.

Want Your Sector or Business Reviewed?

Submit your idea to be scored using the Inachee Index:👉 Get a Business Sector Review.

📣 Like this Article? Subscribe to www.inachee.com for expert business insights, startup guides, and ROI-based sector rankings.

Join advanced thinking. We regularly provide insights to our 900+ subscribers on accounting, risk management, marketing, governance, the future of entrepreneurship, and best practice to help you start and grow a profitable business. Gift that transforms business when you sign up.

Love what we do? Perhaps there is a fit globally. See what we look for. 

Disclaimer: While we have taken steps to research this information as well as based on our experience, you should not solely rely on the information given here to base your investment decisions. You should seek business advice from a professional knowledgeable of your specific circumstances. (e.g of your specific location and capital structure). The author (or Inachee) shall therefore not be held responsible for any loss you may incur when acting on this information.