Starting a jumping castle rental service is a prime opportunity for anyone looking to start a business or simply earn some extra cash. Not only will you have a thriving company of your own, you’ll be spreading joy to families across SA!
The benefits of a jumping castle business
The biggest benefit of starting a jumping castle business is that, once you’ve invested in the start-up costs, there is very little in the way of overhead expenses. Essentially, you’ll be paying for petrol (which can be offset by delivery fees) and occasional maintenance to your inventory – so once you’ve paid off your initial investment, the rest is profit.
Setting up your business
Naturally, the first thing you’ll want to do is purchase some stock. This includes one or more jumping castles, and the equipment required to run them. Blowers – the motors used to inflate and run your castles – should be included in your jumping castle purchase.
While it can be tempting to go for the cheapest option, this can actually cost you more in the long run. Jumping castles are subject to a lot of wear and tear, and kids hopped up on sugary birthday cake are not going to look after your castles for you. A high-quality castle means less time, energy and money spent on maintenance, less chance of your jumping castle failing on the big day, and less chance of unhappy customers.
Once you have your jumping castles, invest in durable ground sheets to protect your investments. These will be laid out underneath the castles to protect them from any potential damage the ground may cause.
You’ll also need a reliable vehicle capable of transporting your castles and blowers – if you can’t get your castles to your clients, your business won’t be able to operate. Fortunately, people are used to being charged for delivery of items, so this can be built into your pricing. This also enables you to adjust your delivery rates depending on distance, charging more for clients who are further away and offering discounts to those who are close by.
Unlike many other businesses, your jumping castle business doesn’t need an office, and unless you don’t have any space to store your castles at home, you won’t even have to pay for storage. By their nature, jumping castles fold up neatly and are easy to store, so this is one overhead you can do without.
The last thing to do before you start looking for customers is register your business. This is a fairly cheap and easy procedure, and is all done through the CIPC website at www.cipc.co.za or through www.bizportal.gov.za.
Getting your name out there
Once all your i’s are dotted and your t’s are crossed, it’s time to market your business! Create a social media presence, consider online marketing such as Google AdWords, and don’t underestimate word of mouth. Other online marketplaces such as Gumtree may be a good add-on to your marketing efforts.
You can also target spaces such as schools, churches and day cares, getting in touch and offering a fun day for the kids – either by setting up for free and charging each child, or by renting the castle to the institution itself.
Ready to start your very own jumping castle business? Sky Tents has a wide range of jumping castles, carefully selected for their quality and value for money. Explore our full range and take the first step to becoming your own boss today.
