Home-Based costume hire by appointment
Hire out a small stock of party and fancy dress costumes from home, taking bookings online or by message.
- £500-3k
- Side hustle
- From home
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
1,108 UK companies in this field, 41% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 77299 “Renting and leasing of other personal and household goods”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small wardrobe of costumes for parties, school events, themed nights and fancy dress. Customers browse photos online, book a date and collect or have items delivered.
Your first three steps
- Pick a niche (for example children's, 1920s or Halloween) and buy or make 30 to 50 costumes
- Photograph each item and set up a simple booking page or social media shop with prices and deposits
- Write clear hire terms covering deposits, late returns, cleaning and damage, then tell local parents' groups and event planners
Who pays
Individuals planning parties, parents with school or book week events, and small groups like clubs and workplaces.
How it makes money
A hire fee per costume for a few days, plus a refundable deposit. Add-ons such as wigs, props and accessories bring in extra per booking.
Skills that help
- Sewing and basic repairs
- Organised stock and booking records
- Friendly customer service
Watch out for
- Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to agree to a business run from home
- Check public liability insurance, and whether your home insurance covers stock kept for hire
- Costumes for children should meet UK safety expectations, for example on flammability, so check with Trading Standards
- Cleaning and storage take time between hires, so plan for laundry costs and turnaround
- Check copyright and trade mark rules before selling or advertising costumes based on film or TV characters
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: home-based costume hire by appointment
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a costume hire business?
Startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on how many costumes you buy or make, plus storage, cleaning and any website or booking tools. These are estimates, so start with a small range.
How much can a home costume hire business earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £200 to £1,500, depending on your stock, how often items are hired and your prices. The estimate assumes at least around 6 hours a week. Cleaning and turnaround take time between hires.
What should I check before hiring out costumes from home?
Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to agree to a home business. Check public liability cover and whether home insurance covers hire stock. Check Trading Standards on children's costume safety, such as flammability, and copyright and trade mark rules for character costumes.
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