Home-based formal wear hire by appointment
Hire out prom dresses, suits and occasion wear from a spare room, with fittings by appointment.
- £1.5k-6k
- 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 stock of dresses, suits or tuxedos hired out for proms, weddings and formal events. Customers book a fitting at your home, choose an outfit and return it after the event for cleaning and re-hire.
Your first three steps
- Check local hire prices and choose a niche, such as prom dresses or men's suits, then price a starter range of 20 to 40 pieces
- Source stock from wholesalers, end-of-season sales or second-hand, and set up a simple booking calendar and hire agreement with a deposit
- Set up Instagram and Facebook pages with photos of your stock, and contact local schools, prom groups and wedding fairs
Who pays
Teenagers and parents at prom time, wedding guests, groomsmen and people attending black-tie or awards events.
How it makes money
A hire fee per outfit for a few days, plus a refundable deposit, with extra charges for accessories, alterations or late returns. The same item can earn again each time it is hired.
Skills that help
- Eye for style and sizing
- Organised bookings and stock tracking
- Basic sewing or pressing
- Friendly customer service
Watch out for
- Check your lease, mortgage terms or council rules before welcoming customers to your home
- Public liability insurance is worth checking, along with cover for stock that is damaged or not returned
- Take deposits and use a clear hire agreement covering damage, stains and late returns
- Demand is seasonal, with peaks around prom and wedding season, so plan your cash flow
- Dry cleaning costs between hires can eat into profit, so build them into your prices
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: home-based formal wear 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 formal wear hire business?
Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £6,000, depending on how much stock you buy and how you set up your fitting space. These are estimates, so add your own figures for dresses, suits, cleaning and pressing.
What should I check before holding fittings at home?
Check your lease, mortgage terms or council rules before welcoming customers to your home. It is also worth checking public liability insurance and cover for damaged or unreturned stock, and using a clear hire agreement with deposits.
How much can a formal wear hire business earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £2,500, depending on your stock, pricing and the time of year. Demand peaks around prom and wedding season, so plan your cash flow and build dry cleaning costs into your prices.
Other ways to run this business
Similar events ideas
Exhibition stand fitting crew
Build and dismantle exhibition stands at trade fairs as a subcontractor for stand builders and agencies.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Audio hire from home, small events
Hire out speakers, mixers and mics for parties, pub gigs and community events, run from a spare room or garage.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Bouncy castle hire from home
Start with a couple of castles stored at home and hire them out for local children's parties at weekends.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Hybrid event video hire and tech host
Hire out cameras and kit and run the tech so remote guests can join talks, meetings and events.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Pop-up model car track for events
Bring a portable remote-control car track to fetes, parties and school events and charge per go or per day.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Local AV equipment hire, delivered
Hire out projectors, screens and PA kit from home, delivering to local events, clubs and meetings.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home