Have you ever dreamed of starting your own soft play rental business? Well, it’s never too late. With the right business plan, some guts, zeal, and hard work, you can get your business running and start making a profit in no time.
Starting a soft play rental business is a great way to capitalize on the increasing demand for equipment.
With the right strategy, you can provide a unique experience that families can enjoy at home. Whether you wish to start a mobile soft play business or rent out equipment at birthday parties and other events, I’m here to tell you that it’s possible—and easier than you think!
In this article, I’ll walk you through all the basics: from figuring out what kind of soft play equipment to buy and how to market your business to setting up an online store and handling bookings.
What Is a Mobile Soft Play Business?
A mobile soft play business is an exciting venture that allows you to bring the fun of a soft play center to any location.
You’ll provide a variety of inflatable play structures, slides, and other attractions for children of all ages. Instead of setting up in one location, you can rent out your equipment and move around as needed.
The best part about starting a mobile soft play business is that there are plenty of applications for it.
Beyond birthday parties, you can also provide entertainment at school functions, corporate events, festivals and more.
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The opportunities are endless, depending on how much equipment you have and how far you’re willing to travel!
In addition to renting out the equipment, many mobile soft play businesses offer services such as setup help, on-site supervision, and even food and drink options.
By offering multiple services in one package, you can make your business attractive for customers looking to entertain their guests without worrying about extra details!
The Benefits of Owning a Soft Play Business
If you’re considering getting into the soft play rental business, what are the benefits? The good news is there are a lot of perks to being an owner of a soft play rental business.
First, you have the apparent benefit of having your very own business—all the advantages that come with it, like setting your hours, making your own decisions, and being your own boss.
Secondly, soft play rental businesses can be highly profitable. According to one report, an average soft play rental business charges anywhere from $400-$500 per party or event Many of those events happen on weekends, making it even more lucrative.
Plus, there’s potential to expand by adding more equipment or extra services like set-up and take-down.
But that’s not all. You can also gain from the convenience of owning a mobile soft play business because you can choose to serve multiple locations at once.
For example, you could have a weekend in one city and then another in another city—upgrading your existing customers’ experience instead of being tied to just one location.
The combination of these benefits makes owning a soft play rental business an attractive option for anyone who wants to start their own business while enjoying all the benefits of it.
How To Start A Soft Play Rental Business
Starting a soft play rental business can be a great way to make money while providing families with entertainment.
With the increasing demand for mobile soft play, now is the perfect time to start your own business! Before starting, here are some key points you’ll need to consider.
Step 1: Find Your Niche
You must offer mobile or static soft play services. Mobile soft play is great if you want to provide your services at different outdoor locations, while static soft play gives parents the convenience of having a playground in their backyard.
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Step 2: Get Equipment for a Soft Play Business
To start a soft play business, you must consider the equipment cost. While soft play can undoubtedly be expensive, you can save money by renting from a trusted supplier before committing to purchasing your gear.
However, here is the essential equipment you need:
Arrays of Soft Tools
From cool blocks, toy animals, and slides. Get as many eye-catching toys as possible. Ensure they come in bold colors to attract kids. Having balls and cute animals never fails, so get many of them.
Vehicle
You need a reliable transportation form to get the soft play equipment where it needs to go.
Depending on how you want to do business, this could be anything from a van or small truck to a trailer that can tow larger items such as bouncy castles and slides.
Safety Equipment
Stock up on safety equipment such as first-aid kits and fire extinguishers before setting off with your soft play hire business—it’s always better to be safe than sorry!
Storage
Although it is not equipment per se, still crucial, you’ll need somewhere to store your soft play equipment.
You don’t want it taking up too much space in your house or office, so it’s best to rent a storage space to keep the soft play items securely until they are ready for use.
Step 3: Get the Right Insurance for Your Business
One of the most important things you’ll need to do when setting up your soft play rental business is to secure the right insurance. Protecting yourself and your business is essential, so you must get it right!
Having the right insurance will help you in the following ways:
- It will protect you and your staff if any accidents occur on-site.
- It will provide legal coverage if someone decides to sue you or your company.
- It will cover you for any damage that may occur to any equipment during transit or storage.
- It will provide financial protection for any unexpected costs related to running your business.
Before deciding on a policy, research different insurance companies and compare rates and coverage options to get the best deal possible.
Once you’ve found a suitable policy, ensure all necessary documentation is filled out and signed by both parties, then put all paperwork in a safe place.
That way, if something does happen, all your documentation will be readily available!
Advertising and Promoting Your Soft Play Business
Once your business is ready, it’s time to promote it. You’ll need to consider what strategies will work best for you, as each business is different.
To get the word out about your soft play rental business, try some of the following methods:
- Develop a strong presence on social media to reach a broad audience. Use attractive photos and videos to showcase your rental equipment and post regularly.
- Contact event or wedding planners to become a vendor for their events. Offer discounts for multiple rentals per event or package deals for complete party services.
- Network with local businesses to form partnerships that can benefit both parties—like a feature in a cafe’s newsletter or blog post that encourages customers to book with you or offering free soft play at an event hosted by another company in exchange for promotional mentions on their website and social media channels.
- Advertise online through Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and other platforms to target potential customers in specific geographic regions and demographics.
- Create an eye-catching logo and design business cards so that potential clients can easily recognize your brand when they see it.
- Get listed on local directories like Yelp and Google My Business so people can find your contact information when searching for soft play rentals nearby.
None of this will succeed without great customer service; ensure you provide quality service from start to finish!
Testing the Market Before Investing in Your Soft Play Rental Business
Once you know what type of soft play rental business you want to open and how you will deliver your services, it’s time to consider testing the market.
You want to ensure that your target audience is interested in your offering before investing any money into your soft play rental business.
Here are a few ways to test the market:
Join local parent and toddler groups
You can join local parenting and child-friendly Facebook groups or attend toddler meet-ups to introduce your product.
Through this, you’ll be able to interact with parents who would best understand why soft play rental is an excellent service for them.
Create an online survey
You can also create an online survey using a platform like SurveyMonkey or Typeform and send it out on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to gauge potential customers’ responses.
This way, you can get valuable feedback on areas that need improvement regarding the items available for rent, pricing, and more.
Offer discounts or free trials
Another way to test the market is by offering discounts or free trials to customers willing to try out your soft play rental business.
This helps get people talking about your brand while they’re enjoying their experience—and it also helps build trust in your product as customers know they can try it before committing to it fully.
By testing the market beforehand, you can gain critical insights into what works and doesn’t when running a successful soft-play rental business.
Conclusion
Starting your own soft play rental business is a great way to make money while making a difference. Not only can this business be immensely profitable, but it can also create a fun, safe, and educational environment for children and parents alike.
You can set yourself up for success by following the steps outlined above. If you have the capital, start by researching the local market and laws, finding suitable suppliers and manufacturers, and joining networks of professional play rental businesses.
Remember to plan and budget for advertising and marketing and identify and meet legal requirements.
By putting in the effort and using the right resources, you can make your Soft Play Rental Business a success.
With a sound business plan, a positive attitude, and the right tools, you will be providing a valuable, rewarding, enjoyable service that can last for years to come.