How to Start a Balloon Business

Everything You Should Know about How to Start  Your Balloon Company and Grow Sales

Do you want to get into the business of selling joy? You’ve come to the right place. 

 

There are so many great reasons why you should start a balloon business:

 

  • Your starting costs are minimal
  • Your product is non-perishable
  • It can be a side-gig or full-time career
  • You can start your business at home
  • You can team up with other entertainment vendors to sell more product and build your network

 

Here we cover the basics of how to start a balloon business by answering the following:

 

  • How to start a balloon business from home: first steps
  • How to register your business
  • What equipment do you need?
  • How much does it cost to start a balloon business?
  • How to market your balloon business
  • Are balloon businesses profitable?
  • How to price balloon work 

 

Want more help? Call / text Jeff at 206-488-1871



 

How to Start a Balloon Business from Home

 

It’s easy to start a balloon business. It’s much harder to run a successful one.

 

Many balloon business owners start by working out of their homes. This helps them explore what sort of decorations, events, and customers they like working with, so they can market specifically to those needs. 

 

By starting at home, you’ll learn and grow without stressing about paying rent for a physical location. 

 

JOIN OUR FREE

Start Up Class

Business Plan

 
Check out our free Balloon Decor Business Plan Template which you can copy and modify to launch your business.


While you’ll update your business plan as you go, this plan will give you the blueprints you need to run your company. Even if you can’t answer all the basic questions of a plan yet (e.g. what is your unique value proposition?), it’ll help you think about those questions going forward. Here’s a business plan template to get you started.

 

Refer to your business plan regularly and update it regularly. It’ll help you determine if the projects you’re taking on are aligned with your vision and help you make adjustments to your plan along the way.

 

At the beginning, understanding how you will get yourself trained and start selling are two key areas to focus on.

 

Free Balloon Business Plan Template PDF

Name Your Business

 

Make your business official with a name so you can open accounts and invoice customers. Naming your business requires more than coming up with a name. Check to make sure your name—or a variation of it—is available on all the social media platforms you’ll be using. If you need help coming up with a name consider trying our balloon business name generator.

 

Balloon Business Name Generator

Start Marketing

 

  1. Create a Google Business Profile
  2. Create a Facebook Account
  3. Get a Website


All Balloon Suite packages include ready to go balloon decor website templates. Don't spend weeks or months wasting time building a website. We can have your website live tomorrow!


See Balloon Suite Pricing

 

Determine Your Target Customer

 

First things first: what type of balloon business are you running and what kind of balloons are you selling? You don’t want to sell pieces you don’t like creating. That takes all the fun out of it! Figure out what you like and dislike, so that you know:

 

  • What equipment do you need?
  • What you’re selling
  • Who your audience is

 

Start small. You’ll run out of air if you overwhelm yourself with too many offerings. 

 

Consider starting with traditional décor and bouquets rather than the large organic installations you see in Instagram and TikTok.


How to Register Your Business

 

Next up: the legal stuff. What kind of business structure will you have?

 

  • Sole proprietorship
  • Partnership
  • Limited Liability Company (LLC)
  • Corporation

 

Sole proprietorships and LLCs are usually the most common for balloon businesses. A sole proprietorship is the easy and least expensive business license to obtain. However, an LLC protects you from personal responsibility for debts and liabilities. You can also start as a sole proprietor and then become an LLC later on. 

 

Taxes

 

You have to register for taxes before you can get started. You can apply for an EIN (employer identification number) on the IRS’s website. It’s easy and free! You may also have to register for a sales tax permit.

 

Next, open a business bank account and consider applying for a business credit card. These accounts make tax filing much easier, because they separate your personal assets from your company’s. 

 

Permits and Licenses

 

Visit sba.gov to learn and apply for any licenses or permits you may need based on your location, and apply for business insurance to protect your company if something goes awry. It’s better to be fully prepared for these things than to be caught off-guard later.

 

What Equipment Do You Need?

 

Startup costs are pretty affordable, especially compared to the costs incurred by other business types. Here’s what you need:

 

Basic balloon supplies:

 

  • Balloons
  • Inflator
  • Storage
  • Décor recipes
  • Poppers

 

And many more gadgets you’ll see listed from décor trainers.

 

Contact wholesalers and use your network. You’ll likely have to order in larger quantities, but you’ll be grateful for that once you get going! 

 

Office supplies:

 

  • Laptop
  • Phone
  • Printer and paper
  • Tracking and inventory processes
  • Accounting software

 

Customer Relationship Manager


For BalloonSuite customers we recommend using Salesmate because it has an awesome automation capability and you can call and text all your clients without using your personal cell number.

 

Large Delivery Vehicle

 

Inflated balloons take up space. You need a vehicle large enough to accommodate them, like an SUV or delivery truck. 

 

For extra credit, paint your business name and information on your delivery vehicle to increase exposure.

 

Rental trucks work until you’re established.

 

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Balloon Business?

 

Your starting costs will vary depending on what you require. Here’s a general list of things you’ll need and what they may cost:

 

  • Basic balloon business starter kit
  • Supplies
  • Required licenses (varies by business type and location)
  • Office supplies (depending on how equipment you have to buy)
  • SUV, Van, or delivery vehicle (You can just rent one when you need it)
  • Standing location (varies by location and size)
  • Utilities (varies by location and size)
  • CRM
  • Website
  • Google My Business profile

 

You should also set aside money for your advertising budget, which brings us to our next section:

 

How to Market Your Balloon Business

 

You need customers to run a profitable balloon business. At the very least, you should have several social media platforms that you regularly update, and physical promotional materials like flyers and business cards.


Here's what you need:

 

 

Are Balloon Businesses Profitable?

 

Absolutely! They have GREAT gross profit margins. You have low-overhead and offer products with a high profit margin potential. You can also begin turning a profit with your balloon business much faster than you could with a startup that requires perishable products or a brick-and-mortar store.

 

Focus on classic decor to start.

 

How to Price Balloon Work 

 

There are many strategies to pricing, so you have to find one that works for you. Many artists charge based on market rates, while others use a formula based on cost.

 

Here’s a formula to get you started:

 

  • (Cost of Materials + Cost of Labor) X Market Increase + Shipping/Delivery Costs = Total Cost 

 

For example, let’s say you’re creating five centerpieces for a birthday. 

 

Your total cost of materials is $25 ($5 per centerpiece) and it takes you an hour to make them. Let’s say your current labor costs are $30/hr. 

 

Depending on your market, you can charge two or three times total costs. 

 

If you’re shipping the end product, add that to the total cost. For delivery, add how much it’d cost you in time, gas, and wear and tear to your vehicle. To keep it simple, your delivery rate for this project is $15.* 

 


 

As a result:

 

  • ([$25 materials] + [$30 labor costs]) X 2 [Market Increase] + $15 [Delivery] = $125

 

Your labor, market increase, and shipping/delivery costs will vary, so this isn’t an exact science. We recommend seeing what your competitors charge and playing around with this formula to get a better idea of your rates.

 

*Zapiet has a good delivery rates by distance calculator.

 

Look to the trainers in your area to understand market pricing and resist the urge to offer low price service. Make money from the start so you can grow and establish your business.

 

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How to Start a Balloon Business: Final Thoughts

 

Starting a business is never easy, but we’re here to help. We have over 50 balloon decor and twister clients and specialize in building successful balloon websites that increase traffic and deliver results. Let’s chat! We’d love to help your balloon business float off the ground. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do I start a balloon business?

    It’s pretty simple to start a balloon business,  but success requires knowledge and effort on your part. Creating an image for yourself as well as a business plan is a good place to start. You should take the time to establish a brand. After you figure out how you want the brand to be perceived by your consumers you’ll want to come up with a memorable business name. Securing a domain name and building a website would be the next step.


    When you have all these established you’ll want to validate your business with all local, state, and federal agencies. Building your online presence and marketing your product to your target audience is the final step.

  • How do I become a balloon vendor?

    Becoming a balloon vendor involves knowing how to construct creations with balloons. To help you stand out there is always the option of becoming a certified balloon artist. There are less than 3,000 worldwide.


    In order to become certified you’ll have to take a series of practical and oral exams. Although it isn’t mandatory, it is a fantastic way to validate your skills. Keep in mind that the exams are rather challenging and less than 25% of people pass the process on their first attempt.

  • What do you need to start a balloon arch business?

    First and foremost, you’ll want to bring some creativity to the table. Balloons are fun and it’s an art, making it a great profession to express your creativity. Aside from this you’ll need some knowledge of balloons. There are plenty of resources out there that can aid you in this. There is a whole science behind building these beautiful balloon structures.


    When you are at a point where you’re able to craft different kinds of balloon decor items you’ll need to build an inventory of balloons depending on the type of items that you’ll be creating and selling. You will need to think about marketing as well. Establishing a business name, a logo, and a website should be top priority items.


    Laws require balloon business to carry adequate liability insurance as well. Becoming a member of the National Association of Balloon Artists & Suppliers (NABAS) was the easiest way to go about this but there are other options out there.


    You really don’t need much to start a balloon arch business which makes it a great small business to dive into. If you have enthusiasm and like to create then a balloon business would be perfect for you.

  • How do you price balloons?

    This is one of the most challenging aspects of starting a balloon business. However, you can price your balloon creations in a few different ways. 


    The first is an accurate calculation that accounts for profit margin, direct costs, and business overhead. While the other is more of an estimate where you add up all direct costs and then multiply it by two and a half. 


    Regardless of your chosen method, be sure to go back and check your pricing model after completing a gig. This will give you a better idea of whether you're charging too much, too little, or the right amount. You can also consider checking out the local competition and see if your pricing is in line with theirs.

  • How much do balloon artists make?

    There are a few different things that can affect how much a balloon artist makes. It will mainly depend on where you live and the type of designs that you specialize in. Earning around $25,000 is pretty common for individuals that primarily decorate parties.


    Specializing in private events and services that include balloon twisting and custom sculptures can easily earn you up to $50,000+ per year. Creating a six-figure yearly revenue stream is easily reachable if you combine all these services.

  • How can I promote my balloon business?

    As with any industry, there are many effective ways to promote a balloon business. You can take the tried and true methods such as word of mouth, passing out business cards or fliers, and optimizing your website for local searches on search engines. 


    You can also prepare press releases and run ads on social media. If you're looking for the best social media platforms to promote your balloon business check out Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok.

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